Politics Daily

Harvey Gantt to Shape Charlotte's Plan for Democratic National Convention in 2012

Mary C. Curtis — 2011-02-17T08:37:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Conventions, Democratic Convention, Mayors, 2012 Elections

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has named former Mayor Harvey Gantt to develop Charlotte's action plan for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Gantt will work with leaders of past conventions and officials of the Democratic National Committee, which chose Charlotte as the convention host city.

"Mayor Gantt is the perfect person to help Charlotte transition from recruiting the 2012 convention to now making it a great event for all concerned, and I thank him for his willingness to help on such a short timeline," said Foxx on Wednesday. "He will do a great job of surveying the best practices of previous convention cities and helping to apply those lessons as we seek to build the best organizational and staffing model for the Charlotte Host Committee."

Gantt said he is "excited to assist Mayor Foxx in this very important endeavor to make sure that Charlotte puts on the best convention possible."

Gantt served as mayor from 1983 to 1987 and twice ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Republican Jesse Helms. He is manager of Gantt Huberman Architects in Charlotte and has remained active in public and political service.

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Rebellious Arizona -- the Perfect Venue for Next Week's Tea Party Summit

Suzi Parker — 2011-02-14T22:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Immigration, Conventions, Woman Up, Conservatives, Tea Party

Arizona -- with its battles over immigration and its liberal gun laws -- has become something of a poster child for the anti-government movement.

Which is why the Tea Party Patriots, the largest tea party group in the country, will hold their American Policy Summit at the Phoenix Convention Center Feb. 25-27.

The Tea Party Patriots, which claim more than 3,000 locally organized chapters and more than 15 million supporters nationwide, state on their summit website that they picked Phoenix because the state's tea party invited them and also to support Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's immigration reforms, which have been challenged by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

"Arizonans have been under a lot of pressure this past year in regards to their immigration reforms," the website says. "When surveyed, you said you support the changes that Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona legislature implemented. Going to Arizona for this American Policy Summit is a way to show support to those who implemented these changes."

How Do N.C. Republicans View Democrats' 2012 Charlotte Convention?

Mary C. Curtis — 2011-02-06T22:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Republicans, Fundraising, Conventions, Democratic Convention, Obama Administration, 2012 President, Woman Up, Barack Obama

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- It was no surprise that elected officials here would write a letter of welcome to the Democratic National Committee while anticipating the millions of dollars expected to follow the delegates, media and assorted visitors when the party's 2012 convention comes to town.

We "extend our greetings and heartfelt thanks" to the committee, said the letter from the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, read loud and clear at last week's meeting. It went on to extol the "Southern traditions and hospitality" of Charlotte's "vibrant, diverse community."

But while the message was routine, the messenger -- none other than GOP Commissioner Bill James - was a surprise. James is known for expressing far more critical sentiments about Charlotte's diversity, most recently in December when he disapproved of a letter that commission chair, Democrat Jennifer Roberts, wanted to send to Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina thanking him for backing repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Democrats Pick Charlotte: Southern Charm Meets Political Steel

Mary C. Curtis — 2011-02-02T22:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Conventions, Democratic Convention, Obama Administration, 2012 President, Woman Up, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, 2012 Elections

In the end, was it Southern charm or the lure of the number 15 - as in North Carolina's 15 electoral votes? That combination, along with a compelling story and city leaders who really, really wanted the 2012 Democratic National Convention pushed Charlotte past St. Louis, Minneapolis and Cleveland. "Reaching for tomorrow" -- Charlotte's slogan while campaigning for the convention - fittingly echoes the president's "win the future" State of the Union refrain.

Charlotte welcomes its first national political convention and the international attention, the better to highlight the city's "can-do spirit." (It's a phrase you'll hear a lot in the next year and a half; Democratic National Committee chair Tim Kaine dropped it at a Wednesday walk-through with Mayor Anthony Foxx at the Time Warner Cable Arena, convention central.)

The initial televised views of the sunny city skyline after Tuesday's news played well across a snowbound country, though in the first week of September 2012, the possibility of lingering summer heat and humidity might not be quite so inviting. In this first post-announcement week, however, the mood of the city -- except for a few complaints about traffic -- is euphoric.

Kaine stressed that it was a tough choice, and he denied the conventional judgment that St. Louis was a close second. Each city had a story to tell, he said. But Charlotte's Southern profile and a state economy that has moved from "tobacco, textiles and furniture" to one driven by research and new industries won out. After his arrival at Charlotte's airport Tuesday night, Kaine seemed pleased with a decision he said was made with the support of a "very involved" president and first lady. "The feel was right."

He remembered that as governor of Virginia, North Carolina was a friendly competitor as both states worked to attract new business and economic development. Now, he hopes the enthusiasm generated by the Democratic presence in Charlotte might rub off on its neighboring swing state.

Kaine was even more upbeat during the Wednesday arena tour, led by Mike Crum, chief operating officer of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Crum touted the size and flexibility of the space that's home to the NBA's Bobcats and the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers. "This one, though, is the Super Bowl," Crum said.

Between peeks into locker rooms and private club rooms, trailing journalists and Democratic officials, Kaine and Foxx continued to reinforce the Charlotte (and Democratic) narrative of "an innovative economy," one that's growing and diversifying. Kaine was then off to an afternoon meeting with Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Denver mayor during the party's 2008 convention there that nominated Barack Obama. Charlotte's convention would be special since it's hosting "a sitting president of the United States," Kaine said before his flight to Denver.

Kaine was looking forward but also back, to 2008. Virginia and North Carolina voted for President Obama, shaking up the status quo, particularly in North Carolina, which - by a narrow 14,000-vote margin - went for a Democrat for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

"In 2012, we're not going to play on the old electoral map," Kaine said. A week after the Republicans meet for a Tampa, Fla. convention, the Democrats will plant their flag in the South, as well.

Obama also helped sweep in Gov. Bev Perdue, the state's first female chief executive. Perdue said in a statement that the state, the nation and the world will see "what hundreds of businesses already know - Charlotte's smart investments in infrastructure, cultural attractions and amenities have produced a climate perfect for work and play."

Her optimism comes after a 2010 midterm with mixed results in North Carolina. For the first time in more than a century, both houses of the state legislature went to the Republicans. But in U.S. House races, Blue Dog Democratic incumbents Larry Kissell, Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre - who all voted against initial health-care legislation -- held onto their seats despite substantial financial support for their GOP opponents' campaigns.

During the 2008 campaign, Obama often visited this state few thought he could win; on election eve, he spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

As the economy dipped, so did his fortunes, though last month he posted a positive approval rating in North Carolina for the first time in a year. Recently, the president stopped by Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem to celebrate programs that train students, some laid off from textile and furniture industries, in the growing biotechnology field. In his speech there, the president previewed his call for a "Sputnik moment" advocating math and science education.

Michelle Obama, in her e-mail breaking the Charlotte news, said, "My very first trip outside of Washington as First Lady was to Fort Bragg, where I started my effort to do all we can to help our heroic military families."

Despite all it had going for it, Charlotte's initial confidence faltered a bit as the announcement deadline approached. The 18^th largest city in the country isn't good at shaking off controversy, and recently it had more than its share: pushback from some national union leaders who preferred St. Louis's friendlier union climate, a local NAACP leader who called the city a "racist bastion" and a white nationalist trying to book his own - much smaller - gathering. Shrugging things off - especially jokes about its "world-class" aspirations -- is not something Charlotte does easily.

Among those who never lost faith, Mayor Foxx would have to be at the top of the list. After his 2009 election, the youngest person and second African American to win the post received a call from the president. Since then, Foxx has not been a stranger at the White House; his most recent visit came late last month during the National Conference of Mayors.

A few months ago, Foxx told me he was confident the choice would be Charlotte, a city that's "proving its resilience every day." On Wednesday, he touted the city's "good infrastructure, good facilities," a light-rail train that delivers visitors just outside the arena door.

Foxx acknowledged publicized stresses in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools -- the competition over shrinking budgets that has led to charges of discrimination in school closings and assignment changes. But then he pointed to a business and philanthropic initiative announced this week that has pledged $55 million to reform struggling schools and at-risk students. "We don't just have problems," he said. "We deal with them." As the Bank of America and Wells Fargo's Wachovia have struggled in the nation's second-largest banking center, Foxx talked about developing industries and a region poised to now become "the energy capital of the country."

Finally, what has worked for Charlotte in the past -- Southern hospitality streaked with steel -- might have been a deciding factor. In this case, Susan Burgess, the Charlotte city councilwoman who died in June, was an early believer in Charlotte's chances. Kaine said that shortly after he became party chair, she walked up to him and said, "I'm Susan Burgess. Here's a packet I want you to read" that touted Charlotte as the place for a convention. Her son, Jason Burgess, who was voted into her council seat, brought his 4-year-old son, Shade, to Wednesday's tour. "She was definitely a go-getter," he said of his mother. "I'm so proud."

Now, "the real work starts," DNC member Pat Cotham told me on Wednesday. The DNC said it will have a permanent presence in Charlotte by late spring or early summer. An estimated $40 million to $50 million must be raised and security plans finalized (another personal tie: Kaine and city police chief Rodney Monroe knew each other when Monroe had the job in Richmond).

Charlotte has 18 months to get comfortable with its close-up, to act nonchalant when visitors discover the city is more than the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and that a cultural complex that boasts three museums is one of the hottest spots in town. (That insecure defensiveness is catching, I'll admit.)

Cotham, who lived in St. Louis before moving to Charlotte, said she isn't worried. "We have so much to offer," she said, more than St. Louis. "I was in eighth grade when the arch went up."

Bless their heart.

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New RNC Chief Reince Priebus Fires GOP Convention Staff

Christopher Weber — 2011-01-17T14:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Conventions, Republican Convention, 2012 President, White House, 2012 Elections

Reince Priebus is cleaning house. Just days after being elected the head of of the Republican National Committee, Priebus has sacked the staff involved in planning the 2012 GOP convention.

In a written statement, Priebus said changes were necessary to ensure that the convention in Tampa, Fla., "will be worthy" of the Republican candidate for president.

"Those changes start today. I have discontinued the employment of the convention liaison and the employees of the Committee on Arrangements, effective immediately," Priebus said. "I look forward to bringing on top-notch staff and planning a convention that all Republicans, especially our 2012 presidential nominee, can be proud of."

New RNC Chief Reince Priebus 'Never Forgot the Roots of the Party'

Christopher Weber — 2011-01-14T20:52:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Conventions, Republican Convention, 2012 President, Conservatives, 2012 Elections

Now that Reince Priebus has been named as the GOP's choice to lead the party into 2012's presidential election season, let's get the big question out of the way first: It's pronounced "ryns PREE-bus." (Click here to hear it said aloud.)

We're going to be hearing a lot of the hardworking Midwesterner with the uncommon name in the next two years, as he tries to unify the membership, expand the outreach and organize the muddled finances of the Republican National Committee.

Priebus, the former RNC general counsel who won the chairmanship Friday after seven rounds of voting, unseated his former ally, Michael Steele. He was head of Steele's 2009 bid to run the committee and a close adviser.

Charlotte a Step Closer to Bringing 2012 Democratic Convention South?

Mary C. Curtis — 2010-08-07T23:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Barack Obama, Conventions, Democratic Convention, Republican Convention, 2012 President, Woman Up, Campaigns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Four cities are officially in the running to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. But after a recent site visit from about a dozen Democratic Party representatives, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx likes his city's chances. Not that he would say one negative word about St. Louis, Cleveland or Minneapolis. He would rather talk about Charlotte's "great new facilities" and "vibrant, can-do attitude."

"For almost an entire generation, the Democratic Party has had a hands off attitude toward the South," Foxx told me on Friday. Though it was barely 8 a.m., we watched as workers in a city that keeps bankers' hours grabbed their coffee-to-go on the way to their offices. "The storyline is making the South a battleground," the youthful Democratic mayor said, "coming to a state that has been significantly impacted by the economic downturn, proving its resilience every day."

During the two-day trip, the Democratic National Committee visitors toured the city's facilities, checking hotel capacity, convention space, and transportation, police and other services. They walked downtown streets and ate lunch at The King's Kitchen, a nonprofit restaurant that employs troubled community members and uses its profits to aid causes that feed the hungry.

Foxx said he thought the group was "impressed," an opinion seconded by Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine, who spoke at a College Democrats of America gathering at UNC Charlotte later in the week. However, Kaine did not offer a preview of the DNC's final decision, expected later this year. (Republican National Committee members, at the group's summer meeting in Kansas City, Mo., unanimously voted on Friday to ratify the recommendation of the Tampa Bay region to host the 2012 Republican National Convention.)

Though economists have estimated the potential economic boost to Charlotte from $20 million to 10 times that - depending on how you measure the pluses and minuses of hosting such an event -- supporters look at the bigger picture.

Foxx, who attended the 2008 convention in Denver, said what's equally important is the "opportunity to implant in the national and international consciousness a brand that captures the great character of Charlotte, N.C., and the South."

Duke Energy chief executive Jim Rogers, who co-chairs the effort, told the Charlotte Observer that more important that the economic benefit is leaving "a legacy of a can-do attitude." (There's that phrase again.) Rogers, with Foxx and Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, said at a news conference following the DNC visit that they could raise the money needed to host the convention. Charlotte, they said, represents "the future."
Some residents, however, are grumbling that Charlotte's desire to be world class is causing it to overestimate the convention's benefits and underestimate the cost and inconvenience. Mecklenburg County has been hit by an increase in home foreclosures, and cutbacks in schools and libraries. In a Wednesday editorial, the Charlotte Observer, endorsing the city's bid, added a caveat: "But as convention-boosters spend the coming weeks honing their sales pitches to persuade the Democratic Party to come to the Queen City, we hope they'll also spend significant time thinking through how best to use the convention, if it happens here, for long-lasting help for Charlotte." A guarantee of private, not public, funding for the estimated $40 million to $45 million convention cost would be a good place to start, the paper said. (Meanwhile, a recent statewide poll of 624 voters -- a small sample -- found that 58 percent support the 2012 convention coming to Charlotte, according to Public Policy Polling.)

While the talk now is mostly of cost benefits and hotel rooms, the political calculation cannot be forgotten, Foxx told me. "In 2008, the Obama campaign mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters in the South and transformed this part of the country." Is it a permanent transformation or a blip in a state Barack Obama won by just 14,000 votes? And will a Democratic convention in Charlotte make a difference in 2012?

City leaders want the chance to find out.

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Can Charlotte Regain Its New South Swagger With 2012 Democratic Convention?

Mary C. Curtis — 2010-07-06T23:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Conventions, Democratic Convention, Republican Convention, 2012 President, Woman Up

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- The Democratic National Committee has put Charlotte where it wants to be, in the running for a shiny, potentially lucrative prize. All that stands in the way of the city hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention are Cleveland, St. Louis and Minneapolis. Though Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota are also states with electoral votes the party craves, Charlotte likes being in the hunt.

Private supporters of the idea have set up websites, a Facebook page, a Twitter feed and a YouTube channel with a video extolling the city's virtues, with plenty of images of office towers and tree-lined streets.

Not only would the convention bring $150 million to $200 million to the region's economy, as estimated by the mayor's office, it would also draw thousands of visitors, and "put our city, our region and our state on an international stage," according to Mayor Anthony Foxx. Charlotte's DNC 2012 Host Committee is co-chaired by Foxx and Duke Energy's chief executive, Jim Rogers.

There are, of course, political reasons that make Charlotte a logical choice for national Democrats. President Barack Obama won North Carolina by 14,000 votes in 2008, and a national convention -- with the spotlight and the money that go with it -- could help keep the state competitive, which is looking like a long shot right now. It would be a Democratic showcase in the South, a strong region for the GOP and right next door to marquee Republican and Newsweek cover subject Nikki Haley. Republicans have already chosen Tampa as its 2012 convention site.

But Charlotte would have been just as excited by a Republican bid. As North Carolina's Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue said, "Regardless of party, this event could generate economic benefits through the Queen City area and the state." (Queen City? Charlotte and the county containing it are named in honor of the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, who married British King George III. Visitors to the convention, if Charlotte is chosen, can see a statue of her at the airport.)

The city has something to prove. The institutions that made Charlotte the second largest banking center in the country -- after New York, as most anyone would tell you a few years ago -- took a hit during the financial crisis. Bank of America has a new chief executive; the onetime regional giant Wachovia is part of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo.

Despite some recent bad news -- such as library cutbacks and teacher layoffs that have dogged cities across the country -- Charlotte has some experience at beating out other places for sought-after attractions. The NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opened in May, added a gleaming swoop to the skyline. By 2012, the Mint Museum Uptown will have opened at the Wells Fargo Cultural Campus, which also includes the Knight Theater, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, designed by Mario Botta. (The New York Times approves.)

After hosting 60,000 to 70,000 visitors for the National Rifle Association annual meeting in May, Charlotte is confident it can handle the Democratic convention. Mike Allen's Politico Playbook predicts Charlotte for the win, with St. Louis as backup. Taking a different view, Charlie Cook, editor of the Washington-based Cook Political Report, said he would "be astonished" if Charlotte were picked. The DNC is expected to announce its choice by the end of the year.

Though the city has never hosted a national political convention, the state has had some Final Four experience. The Legislature celebrated keeping the NCAA men's basketball championship in North Carolina's borders two years in a row (UNC-Chapel Hill last year; Duke in 2010). That favored son Michael Jordan now owns the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats has got to be a good sign for a city that's at its best when it's in a fight.

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Four Cities in the Running for 2012 Democratic Convention

Christopher Weber — 2010-07-01T17:43:00+00:00

Filed under: Conventions, Democratic Convention, 2012 President

Four cities will compete to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where the party will put forth its next candidate for president (presumably Barack Obama running for a second term).

In an e-mail to party members, Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine announced that Charlotte, N.C., Cleveland, Minneapolis, and St. Louis are in the running to host the event, which will be held the week of Sept. 3, 2012.

"Throughout this summer, our team will visit these four cities to determine which is the best locale to host our 46th national convention," Kaine wrote. "We look forward to our continued work to ensure that the Democratic National Convention of 2012 is the best that it can be."

A final decision will be made later this year.

Last month the GOP picked Tampa, Fla., as the site for the next Republican National Convention. It will be held the week of August 27, 2012.

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Second Tea Party Convention Postponed Until Fall

Christopher Weber — 2010-06-28T21:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Conventions, Conservatives, Tea Party

With just over two weeks to go before a planned Tea Party convention in Las Vegas, organizers have postponed the event, citing poor planning and the summer heat in Nevada for disappointing registration numbers.

In an e-mail to supporters, Tea Party Nation leaders said the "unity" convention planned for July 15-17 would be rescheduled for fall, but new dates were not announced.

Organizers said they hope holding the convention later in the year would create momentum heading into the November elections. It's not clear yet if Nevada's Republican nominee for Senate, Sharron Angle, would remain on as keynote speaker for the fall event.

"We were so excited about the tremendous success of the first convention, we jumped into this second convention without considering the timing. The heat in Las Vegas in July is keeping many who would like to participate from attending," organizers wrote. "We have also received numerous emails from people who were forced to decide between family vacations and attending the convention."

Read the full e-mail here.

The first Tea Party convention, in Nashville in February, featured former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as keynote speaker.

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Sarah Palin Tells NRA Convention Obama Would Ban Guns if He Could

Mary C. Curtis — 2010-05-14T20:38:00+00:00

Filed under: Barack Obama, Guns, Conventions, Sarah Palin, Obama Administration, 2010 Elections

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sarah Palin told NRA members meeting here that the only reason President Obama and his allies aren't trying to limit gun ownership rights is the fear of a political backlash.

"Don't doubt for a minute that, if they thought they could get away with it, they would ban guns and ban ammunition and gut the Second Amendment," Palin told the annual NRA gathering Friday. She urged some 9,000 NRA members to "stop them in their tracks."

The NRA's "Celebration of American Values" event was part political rally, part Tea Party gathering, with a parade of mostly Republican warm-up acts before Palin, the day's star, spoke. An NRA member, she electrified the crowd with a speech that defended Alaska, the Second Amendment and America, and attacked President Obama, the "lamestream media," and gun control activists -- "anti-Second Amendment rights activists," she called them.

While some might dismiss her as an "NRA gun-nut chick," she said, those folks don't get it. "Criminals are, of course, to blame for the crimes," she said. "It's the bad guys, not the piece of metal." All gun bans do is "take them away from law-abiding citizens."

Palin said Second Amendment rights - which "protect the weak from the strong" -- are "so important especially" for women and minorities.

In front of this friendly crowd that interrupted her speech with applause and stood for much of it, she attacked hypocritical "celebrities, Hollywood types," who produce violent "shoot 'em-up action films." They employ armed bodyguards and live in gated communities, she said, but "have a problem with you owning a gun to protect you and your family."

"Those left-wing groups are supposed to be so tolerant of everybody's lifestyle, but they're intolerant of our lifestyle."

Palin took a comedy break midway through her speech to embrace her "redneck" spirit, saying that some jokes she has heard "aren't funny, these are me." If shopping for dinner involves an orange vest or camo, then you're a redneck? That's me, she said.

But, turning her remarks toward politics and November, she said, "I can't wait for these midterm elections . . . We'll show them what we think of this fundamental transformation of America that we have been promised."

Chelsey Vanderpool of San Diego gave her a thumbs-up. "She seems honest, a real person," said the 25-year-old student, who has served in the Navy. Her husband is deployed and most of her family is military, she told me.

While none of the other speakers had the star power of Palin, a few got ovations for choice one-liners.

Ken Blackwell, former Ohio secretary of state and the author, with Ken Klukowski, of "The Blueprint: Obama's Plan to Subvert the Constitution and Build an Imperial Presidency":
"Rights are gifts from God, not grants of state."

Former United Nations ambassador John Bolton (the U.N. got booed):
"Today we've got a different kind of president, the first post-American president."

Michael Reagan, radio host and son of President Ronald Reagan:
"Liberals are like termites, eating away at the foundation of this country every day. That is their job."

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.):
"When our freedoms are threatened, battle is our calling."

Lt. Col. Oliver North:
"If there was no NRA, then we would have to invent one."

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.):
I am "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order."

Just a few Democrats got face time, and they spent it shoring up their gun-loving bona fides. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina spoke about NASCAR's moonshine-running roots and the joys of father-and-son hunting excursions. "I don't think there's another member of Congress who buys more ammunition in a year than I do," he said.

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GOP Chooses Tampa for 2012 Republican National Convention

Christopher Weber — 2010-05-12T18:23:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Conventions, Republican Convention, Voting, 2012 President, Michael Steele

Tampa, Fla., has been picked as the site for the 2012 Republican National Convention, which will nominate the party's candidate for president.

The Republican National Committee announced Wednesday that its selection team voted to recommend Tampa following a months-long search. After terms are hammered out with the city, the full RNC will vote on the recommendation in August.

"The Tampa area boasts state-of-the-art facilities, exciting and vibrant downtowns, and a clear enthusiasm from the community to host our convention. We look forward to joining our compatriots in the Sunshine State for our convention in 2012," RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement.

The convention will be held the week of August 27, 2012.

Phoenix and Salt Lake City were also in the running.

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Utah Republicans Oust Sen. Bob Bennett in Anti-Incumbent Rage

Tom Diemer — 2010-05-08T19:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Senate, Republicans, Economy, Primaries, Conventions, 2010 Elections, Congress, Conservatives, Deficit, Tea Party

Sen. Bob Bennett, a conservative who fell out of favor among even more conservative Republicans in an anti-incumbent rage, failed to get his party's nomination in Utah Saturday, making it very difficult for him to seek a fourth term.

The gangly, bespectacled senator finished third in the second round of balloting at the Republican state convention in Salt Lake City, sealing his fate, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Businessman Tim Bridgewater and lawyer and Tea Party favorite Mike Lee finished first and second respectively and will face off in a June 22 primary.

When results were announced there were shouts of "he's gone, he's gone," as some GOP delegates waved "Do Not Tread On Me" flags -- a favored symbol of the aggressively conservative Tea Party movement.

In defeat, Bennett becomes the first incumbent Utah senator to be deprived of his party's nomination since Democrats ousted Sen. William King in 1940 over his opposition to the New Deal, the Tribune said.

Bennett, 76, was in tears, saying "the political atmosphere obviously has been toxic and it's very clear that some of the votes I have cast have added to the toxic environment." He was faulted, in particular, for supporting the Troubled Asset Relief Program -- the so-called bailout bill. He could yet try a write-in candidacy, but it would be a huge challenge.

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Arizona, Florida, Utah Finalists for 2012 Republican Convention

Christopher Weber — 2010-03-01T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Conventions, Republican Convention, 2012 President

Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tampa, Fla., are the possible sites for the 2012 Republican National Convention, which will nominate the party's candidate for president.

The Republican National Committee's site selection team will visit the cities in late March and early April, Talking Points Memo reported.

The 12-member panel will submit its findings in time for a July vote by the full committee membership.

"Phoenix, Tampa, and Salt Lake City are all amazing American cities and I wish them the best of luck with their bids," RNC chairman Michael Steele said in a statement.

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Black Caucus Disputes Story on Corporate Ties, Fundraising Practices

Tom Diemer — 2010-02-19T11:50:00+00:00

Filed under: House, Democrats, Fundraising, Conventions, Culture, Congress, Liberals, Ethics

Black lawmakers are raising a ruckus about a recent New York Times story questioning the Congressional Black Caucus' ties to corporate interests -- some of them accused of exploitative practices in African-American communities, Politico reports.

The caucus' chairwoman, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), said the article had unfairly linked the caucus and the Congressional Black Foundation, a separate entity that the Times called a "fund-raising juggernaut" for the caucus.

In a letter to the paper, Lee said it was a "disservice to the CBC" and other organizations named in the article to lump them together in a way that demeans each as well as their work. She asked the Times for an acknowledgment that the story was misleading and "well below " journalistic standards. But she did not ask for a correction.

The Times story said the foundation's corporate backers include Wal-Mart, General Motors, Coca-Cola, AT&T and Altria, the large tobacco company. Millions of dollars have been raised, some of which goes to charities, but a lot of it is spent on elaborate social events and conventions, the newspaper said.

The black caucus is comprised of 42 members of the House of Representatives -- all Democrats.

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Scenes from the Tea Party: A Reporter's Notebook in Nashville

Mary C. Curtis — 2010-02-06T19:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Republicans, Barack Obama, Environment, Economy, Humor, Taxes, Immigration, Conventions, Energy, Sarah Palin, Obama Administration, 2012 President, Culture, Independents, 2010 Elections, Video, Congress, Conservatives, News Media, Tea Party

The Birther Movement Lives
Joseph Farah, editor of the conservative Website WorldNetDaily, opened his speech at the Tea Party convention in Nashville with jokes and questions about President Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship. To loud approval from the crowd, Farah said his dream is that if Obama seeks re-election in 2012, he won't be able to go to any city in America without seeing signs that ask, "Where's the birth certificate?" The fact that the rest of the media has declared the issue settled is proof, he said, that it's not.

Where Are the Young?
A funny thing about the break-out session "How to Involve the Youth in the Conservative Movement" - not too many young people showed up. Mishelle Perkins, a 44-year-old mother of five children, worries about the paucity of young people at local meetings. The Rutherford County, Tennessee activist came Friday to get some tips. Jordan Marks, executive director of the conservative Young Americans for Freedom, suggested that activists use Facebook, volunteer to speak at high schools ("bastions of liberalism") and simply do fun stuff that hooks high school and college-age kids. Marks described a bowling party he organized - "Knock Down the Pinheads of Communism." A strike equaled Mao, a spare, Pol Pot. Perkins said she supplements her children's education with books by Tea Party authors, but right now it's hard to get them too interested.

Tom Tancredo Was Right, Says Tea Party Organizer

Remarks that Tom Tancredo made on Thursday were just fine with convention organizer Judson Phillips, who praised the former Colorado congressman. Tancredo had said voters who "could not spell the word vote or say it in English" were responsible for putting a "committed Socialist ideologue" in the White House. Phillips agreed that those particular Americans "didn't understand what they were voting for."

Which Brings Us to Former Judge Roy Moore

The Friday luncheon speaker wants to be the next Governor of Alabama. That state's judicial ethics panel removed Roy Moore from office in 2003 for refusing a federal judge's order to move a Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Supreme Court building. Ovations greeted his Scriptural references and Patrick Henry quotations. America's "borders are open to criminals and terrorists who now roam among us," Moore said. President Obama "has ignored our history and our heritage by denying we are a Christian nation," Moore continued. "An appeal to the God of hosts is all that is left." Either that or "300 million people armed in the cause of liberty." John Beal traveled from, Spokane, Wash., to support Moore. "I can't vote for him, but I can raise money for him," said the 66-year-old.

JFK Is Their Hero, Too; Al Gore, Not So Much

Democrats aren't getting much love in Nashville - except for President Kennedy. Several speakers have judged JFK the last Democratic president who stood up for America. On Friday, global warming skeptic Steve Milloy urged Tea Party members to become more engaged in environmental issues, often seen as a Democratic cause. But modern environmentalism, he said, is "totalitarianism." South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham was criticized for cooperating with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on climate change legislation; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's environmental efforts had Milloy calling for "reverse immigration." Milloy, who runs the website junkscience.com, questioned the sanity and morality of cap and trade supporters, whom he called "bad people."

Scott Brown for President?

New GOP Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts is second only to Saturday speaker Sarah Palin in popularity here. As his success is held up as a Tea Party triumph, it is clear his spirit is felt in Nashville.

Every Convention Sells Stuff

And the National Tea Party Convention is no different. T-shirts are popular, with slogans like "Keep the Change, I'll Keep My Freedom My Guns and My Money." For $89.99, you can buy a sterling silver tea bag necklace/pendant, decorated with your choice of gemstone. (Buy one, and the second is $49.99, with a free cup thrown in.)

First You Hate Us, Then You Love Us, Sort Of

In the beginning, the National Tea Party Convention held its media passes close. It was a "working" conference, the media relations team said. Organizer Judson Phillips said space and access were limited, with only Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and conservative websites Breitbart.com, Townhall.com and WorldNetDaily making the cut. But by Friday, Phillips instead was bragging about media representatives from Canada, Ireland, France and even Al Jazeera English. (Germany has an especially large contingent.) C-Span is broadcasting sessions, and pjtv.com is streaming some events live. Phillips encouraged cooperation, though in practically every workshop and interview the MSM, or mainstream media, are named as complicit in the downfall of American society. A side effect of the wall-to-wall coverage: I've been stopped by several journalists anxious for reaction from a black Tea Party member. The guy from CNN looked so disappointed when I told him I was a working journalist, too.

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Obama Braves Snow, Talks Politics, as Monster Storm Paralyzes DC

Tom Diemer — 2010-02-06T14:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Democrats, Barack Obama, Environment, Health Care, Fundraising, Conventions, Energy, Obama Administration, 2012 President, 2010 Elections, News Media, Campaigns, Public Option, Transportation

President Obama ventured out of the White House on Saturday, but he was among a mere handful of Washingtonians willing to brave blizzardy conditions, as a record snow storm paralyzed the nation's capital and left tens of thousands without power.
Even the president of the United States had to defer to the elements.

Obama's motorcade was delayed for a few minutes by a fender-bender on its way to the Democratic National Commitee winter meeting. The DNC event was only a few blocks from the White House at the Washington Hilton Hotel, but it was slow-going after one vehicle in the presidential motorcade slid into a press SUV, Politico reported.

At the Democratic Party meeting, Obama acknowledged missteps during his first year in office, but again vowed not to "walk away from health care insurance reform." The DNC is the national party's main fundraising and organizational unit.
"Sometimes we may be moving forward against the prevailing winds," Obama told the party loyalists. "Sometimes it may be against a blizzard. But we are going to live up to our responsibility to lead."

Outdoors, yet another small weather adventure awaited the determined president.

On the way back to the White House, a medium-sized tree branch snapped under the weight of the still-falling snow and landed on top of the same SUV that was nicked in the early incident, Politico said, quoting a pool report.

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Todd Palin: 'First Dude' Was Key Adviser to Governor Palin, E-Mails Show

Tom Diemer — 2010-02-06T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Republicans, Veepstakes, Conventions, Sarah Palin, 2012 President, Culture, Governors, 2010 Elections, Conservatives, Tea Party

"First Dude" Todd Palin was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's main man in state government decision-making as well as in the couple's private life, a trail of e-mails reveals.
The e-mails between the Palins show that Todd Palin was involved in a host of key decisions -- from judicial nominations to bids for gas pipelines, according to the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and MSNBC.com.

Some 3,000 electronic messages, obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests, have Todd Palin weighing in on state board appointments, labor issues and even use of government aircraft during his wife's 2 1/2 years as governor.

Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008, resigned as governor last July. Still enormously popular with conservatives, she is to address the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville Saturday night.

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Palin Stylist Tells the Whole Wardrobe Story

David Sessions — 2009-11-19T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Conventions, Sarah Palin

Lisa Kline, the New York-based stylist who dressed the Palin family for their national debut at the Republican National Convention last year, tells the New York Times that Palin is telling the truth when she says in her memoir that she never participated in any shopping sprees. Kline got the call about making Palin over for the convention only three days before it began, and, after she arrived, was also asked to dress the rest of the family. She says she bought most of the clothes at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis.

Kline's story of the last 24 hours before the Palins took the stage details a whirlwind of shopping, tailoring and "run-throughs." The local Neiman Marcus store opened for her at 7 a.m., and store staff helped her and an assistant rush through selecting clothes for all of the Palin children and Levi Johnston. Once the clothes were bought, Kline set them up in Palin's suite at the Hilton for a hectic run-through.

"Oh, God, it was just staying focused," Kline recalls. "Get each person their outfit, get the clothing tailored right there in the room. The clothes literally went from the sewing machine onto their bodies. It was, 'OK, this is good, let's go, next!' "

There was a breakdown in communication with the campaign about the clothing expenses, which totaled around $150,000, including Kline's $54,000 fee for working "24-hour days" on a holiday weekend. Kline said Neiman Marcus never asked her for payment, as it had been pre-arranged by the RNC. Only after the purchases were made did she and other McCain staffers realize the expenses had not been approved.

Kline says she found Palin "very, very sweet" and enjoyed working with her despite the harried circumstances. She removed gold buttons from the $2,500 Valentino jacket Palin wore to give her convention speech because she thought they were too "grand," and shortened the sleeves to three-quarter length. "I felt I had achieved my goal," Kline said. "I thought she looked great. I really did. It was perfect for the occasion."

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Ron Paul Wins! (Sort Of)

Christopher Weber — 2009-11-02T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Ron Paul, Primaries, Conventions, Republican Convention

A count of missing delegate ballots from Nevada's Republican convention last year concluded with a surprising result. It turns out three delegates supporting Rep. Ron Paul should have been sent from the Silver State to the national GOP convention in Minneapolis.

The result has no bearing on Nevada's role in nominating John McCain as the GOP candidate for president, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. But a group of discontented Republicans who fought for the count say it's vindication for what they've been claiming all along: Ron Paul, who ran as an independent before dropping out in June, deserved a voice at the national convention.

In April 2008, the Nevada GOP convention was abruptly shut down by party leaders after a group of Paul supporters won a rules change that allowed them to alter the way national delegates were elected. As a result, a box of ballots from the 2nd Congressional District was locked up before being fully counted.

For 18 months Paul supporters demanded the remaining ballots be counted, stoking divisions within the Nevada Republican party. The count was finally made Friday and it was determined that delegates supporting Paul should have represented the 2nd District in Minneapolis.

"It's good to get it done," Paul supporter Wayne Terhune told the Gazette-Journal. "It's nice to be vindicated. The fact the three Ron Paul people won, indicates that might have been the reason they shut down the convention. Now it's done. We can put it behind us."

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