Memorable Moments: What to Watch for at the Democratic National Convention

Political conventions have become highly produced affairs with few spontaneous or unexpected moments. The parties are increasingly using their conventions to expose voters to party big shots as well as fresh voices and up and comers.

Anyone remember when keynote speaker Barack Obama got Americans to sit up and take notice at the 2004 Democratic National Convention?

This year, the Democratic National Convention is actually going kick off with CarolinaFest, a family friendly Labor Day event in host city Charlotte.
6 reasons the convention is worth watching (or following on social media)

1.  San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro is this year’s keynote speaker. He’ll address the convention on its opening night, Sept. 4. At 37, he’s the youngest mayor of a top 50 city. He’s the son of Rosie Castro, a leader of the Mexican-American civil rights movement La Raza Unida in the 1970s.

VIDEO: Castro gave the keynote speech at the 2012 Texas Democratic Convention

 2.  First Lady Michelle Obama also speaks on opening night. Quoted in the ABC News blog OTUS, convention chairman Antonio Villaraigosa said, Michelle Obama is the “person who knows (the President) best, she will offer unique insights into the President as a husband, father and a leader over the last four years.”

VIDEO: Michelle Obama also spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

 3.  The delegates vote on Sept. 5. Since we already know that President Obama and Vice President Biden will be on the Democratic ticket, this might seem a non-event. Not so, say political junkies. It may be long and lacking in fireworks, but this is democracy in action.

Learn more here: The nominating process

 4.  Focus on African-American issues. While many critics of the Obama administration say the president has not done enough for African-Americans specifically, at least one Black official believes the Democratic National Convention may signal a change.

“I know that many issues critically important to the Black community—like poverty, unemployment, underemployment, education, small business opportunities, health care, housing—will be addressed at the convention, and thus thrust squarely into the November election spotlight,” said Michael Williams, senior attorney at the City of Philadelphia Law Department’s Health and Adult Services Unit.

Said historian and author Janus Adams, “As for the conventions, they’re too scripted to expect any real surprises.  But, I would like someone to celebrate the achievements of this administration in the face of terrible – and terribly racist – opposition.”

 5.  Southern symbolism. Williams added that holding the convention in a southern state is significant in itself.

“To me, that exemplifies how this country’s citizens can come together on important issues germane to the country’s present and future,” Williams said. “It de-emphasizes the prevailing media notion that this country is hopelessly divided.”

In 2008, North Carolina voters went for Obama. This time around, it’s considered a swing state.

6.  President Obama accepts the nomination on the last night of the convention. This is bound to big for a number of reasons. In a still-struggling economy and amid an increasingly testy campaign, the nation’s first African-American president must knock voters’ socks off. Obama rarely disappoints at the podium, and this will be a memorable moment, if not the memorable moment of the convention.

Detroit resident David Rudolph, who describes himself as a moderate Republican, will be tuned in.

“I will be watching and listening to see how President Obama seals the deal with the American public as to his plan forward,” he said.

Rudolph said in 2008 Obama inspired him to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time. But, he said:

“Our economy remains sluggish and, as a business owner, I am not seeing the trickledown or bubble-up effect here in Detroit Michigan. What I am seeing is the cost of education raising, job creation flat lined and every other pocketbook issue jumping and it gives me great concern.”

There’s still time review President Obama’s speeches before the convention. Here’s a primer:

• Top 5 Obama “best speech ever” speeches (The Week)
• Obama’s 5 Best Speeches of All Time (USNews.com)
• Over 100 Obama Speeches (ObamaSpeeches.com)
• VIDEO: “Don’t Tell Me Words Don’t Matter” (YouTube)
• VIDEO: “A More Perfect Union” (YouTube)

If these six moments to watch for don’t excite you, at the very least, keep glued to your Twitter feed in case Vice President Joe Biden adds some unscripted drama, humor, or “other” highlights.

Not officially scheduled, but…

Here are a few other moments worth watching for:

• First family sightings. They are almost sure to appear alongside the President as he accepts the Democratic nomination on Sept. 6. Before then, you can be sure that reporters will have eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for Malia, Sasha and First Mother-in-Law Marian Robinson as well as President Obama’s sister Dr. Maya Kassandra Soetoro-Ng and her family.

• Celebrity cameos. Political events seem to draw the rich and famous like magnets. So far, word has it that Eva Longoria and Ashley Judd will be in Charlotte. In fact, Judd is an official delegate for Tennessee.  Eva Longoria, co-chair of the Obama reelection campaign, is expected to speak at the convention. Jessica Alba has RSVP’d, and so has Pitbull, as a performer at the closing night party. According to the ABCNews.com blog OTUS The Roots are expected to perform at a convention concert, as is Bruce Springsteen.

• Protests. Where there are political conventions, can protestors be far behind? On Aug. 20, the North Carolina chapter of the ACLU held a webinar titled, “Know Your Rights at the 2012 DNC in Charlotte.”

Perhaps hoping to keep protests peaceful and contained, Charlotte has erected a designated “speaker’s platform” to serve as the proverbial soapbox.

As reported by The Charlotte Observer, those who use the platform will have up to 30 minutes to speak and can make use of amplification equipment provided by the city. But, critics say there’s a catch:

“Critics have argued that the platform, which will be at the southwest corner of South Caldwell and East Stonewall streets, directly behind the convention center, is in an out-of-the-way location.”

• The melting middle class. As reported by Marketplace (American Public Media) two artists “plan to install ice sculptures, weighing more than 2,000 pounds, with the words ‘middle class’ in four-foot-tall letters.” According to artdaily.org, the artists will film their sculpture as it melts in the Charlotte sun.

Tell us: What, if anything, are you looking forward to once the Democratic National Convention gets underway?

Read more:

• Representing at the Democratic National Convention
• African-Americans and the Vote
• Condi at the Convention: Former Secretary of State Poised for Prime Spot at GOP Gathering