« Democrats don't need a lecture on values | Main | Reading It Is Believing It »

August 03, 2004

Sharing The Rafters With A Guy From Ohio

The following entry was written by Ruth Anne Walker, the Democratic Party of Virginia's director of party services.

So, it's Thursday night - the last night. DPVA staff, thanks to E.D. Lindsey and Chair Kerry D., scored credentials to this big, final night of the convention. We tried to get in a little earlier to get on the rail of the balcony section, but we ended up in the EXACT same row as on Monday night - within range of the Virginia delegation on the floor to see Abbi (aka 'The W') boogey with the boa ladies from Tidewater. All of us are there - Adisa, Anne, Elisabeth - wife of Aaron the Blog Photog, Laura, Matt and Antwaun from Congressman Scott's staff.

It's only about 5:30. Man, we are going to be tired by 11, but that's ok--it's worth it! History in the making!! And our Governor is speaking soon........

Just as I'm thinking about ending up in the same row, and how perfectly my fanny will be fit to the plastic seat by the end of the night, look who's heading up the steps our way - one of our convention delegates, Hanh Deniston from Colonial Heights. She's trucked it all the way up about three escalators and through a ton of people to graciously offer us to use her floor pass for a while. (That's what I love about Hanh - always a team player!! One of the hardest working field people I've ever met.) Anne was staffing the delegation on the floor Tuesday, Laura and Matt weren't budging from their perch, and Adisa looked pretty content, too; so I took Hanh up on the offer. I'm goin' to the FLOOR!! Woooo! (See thumbs up picture of me somewhere on this blog.)

I made my way down, said hi to members of the delegation who frankly looked like they were saving their remaining energy for later in the evening (guess those fish oil tablets didn't help much), met up with Aaron, circled the convention floor once, wondered how people would stand the heat there after a couple more hours (for the next convention they might want to install a Stinkometer before letting people on to the floor - whew!), and then headed to the Illinois delegation to go begging.

I went begging for an Obama button. Like Kerry D. during Edwards' speech, Anne had been locked out of the floor during Barack Obama's speech. They both made the mistake of getting up to use the restroom when the hall was really packed, and the fire marshals would periodically stop any more bodies from entering the hall. So, Anne missed Obama's fantastic speech on Tuesday. To say the least, she was bummed.

So here's where we get to the Ohio part, by way of Illinois. Aaron suggested I speak to the Whip for the Illinois delegation. The Whip (actually it was the stand in) indicated it was unlikely that I would get a button, very unlikely, but I could go row-by-row asking. Just as I was starting to do this, two ladies came up in the row behind the Whip and I started in on my spiel, "Hi, I'm from Virginia and I'm looking to trade this 1996 Chicago National Convention hat for an Obama button of any kind. It's not even for ME." Then the big-eyed puppy-dog look was engaged full force. One of the ladies gave me her button, and did not want a trade in return - just gave it to me. SCORE!!

I realize it's time to take the credential back up to Hanh waiting patiently in the rafters, but ... that was a pretty lucky thing with the button, so maybe I could try my luck again and get one more for Adisa (he successfully ran a primary AGAINST Obama and had been looking forward to hearing him speak). As I leave the floor, I see this nice man standing in the hallway. He's wearing an Obama button and a Carpenter's button-I ask if he's from Illinois, and he is. I scored AGAIN! No trade AGAIN! (He didn't want to carry the hat around.) Can't wait to get up to the seats and surprise them both. Thanks, Hanh! That was fun.

Now it's just time to sit back and wait for our Governor to speak at 7:10. As they announce Governor Warner, it becomes obvious to anyone in the upper level on our half of the stadium that we are from Virginia (raucous shouting, flailing and hooting). Governor Warner gives a great speech, we hoot some more as he exits. After a minute or two, this guy two rows down from me turns to say, "What's it like to have a Democratic Governor? In Ohio, we only have Republicans statewide. I envy you." I answered with a big smile that it was great, and thought that was the end of the conversation.

After a few minutes, Ohio guy struck up the same conversation and I mentioned how lucky we were to have Mark Warner overseeing our Republican-induced state budget crisis. We talked a little about how things are in Ohio and then in a spontaneous feeling of spreading the good luck that I got from the Illinois folks, I gave him my administration pin that Governor Warner had made for his political appointees. It says 'Put Virginia First' and is gold and blue, not a political button. Remember what it was like with George Allen (aka Jethro) and Jim Gilmore as our Governors? That's what it is like for Democrats in Ohio. No Democratic Governor since 1990.

I want to give a name to this fellow. Chris Holm. Lives in Dayton, works for the Montgomery County Auditor's Office. Serving on the DNC Standing Committee on Rules. I had already noticed him because he was THE most enthusiastic person in our section - he was obviously thoroughly enjoying the convention, enjoying being a Democrat, being a party of a historic event for the country.

I also want to mention the guy that was in the row between us. He was very helpful in relaying our conversation back and forth-didn't get at all annoyed. He was also from Ohio, but didn't know Chris well. This Messenger Guy said Democrats started calling the Ohio Party headquarters about Chris, that he needed to be included in the delegation to the convention, because he was so dedicated to the Democratic cause, on his own he decided to stand outside in downtown Dayton in any weather and hold up signs supporting Dems for passersby to see. Again, keep in mind that this is a Republican area. But Chris Holm didn't care about any negative comments. Hey, when you're fed up you're fed up!!

Watching Chris's enthusiasm throughout the evening added to my own. It reminded me how fortunate we are to have a strong, common sense leader in Virginia, how fortunate we are to have such good candidates for President and Vice President, and how much downright fun you can have being with a bunch of other rowdy Democrats!

(By the way, Messenger Guy got the 1996 Convention hat - it matched his shirt anyway, and gave me one last opportunity to spread the good feeling started by the Illinois folks.)

P.S. - Laura I hope you are happy now. I finally did the blog entry.

Posted by laura at August 3, 2004 10:23 AM

Comments