As Nevada Democrats gathered in Reno this weekend, a lot has already been written about how even though Hillary Clinton won the state back in January, Barack Obama clearly won this weekend. He did so when the state party decided to take the final delegate counts without seating the alternates from Clark County, who were overwhelmingly for Clinton. This loss of seated delegates resulted in an additional national delegate being allotted to Obama. All in all, there was a positively Obama-like “high” in the air at the convention. Here, we’d like to draw attention to some of the other stories, people and actions that caught the attention of convention attendees, if not the mainstream media, in a little award ceremony we call the “Conventys”:
Show a Little (Working) Class Award—to the many individuals who, during Bill Clinton’s speech, would simply not give the common courtesy of silence, chanting “Obama” and “Yes we can.” So much for his speech advising unity and solidarity among Democrats.
What the Heck is He Doing Here? Award—to actor Kal Penn, best known as the pot-smoking Kumar from the Harold and Kumar films, who gave a best-actor-in-a-political-convention performance with a passionate, if a little canned, speech about the stakes of this election. It made me put my bong down for a moment and really listen.
David Beats Goliath Award—to Erin Bilbray-Kohn, who, through grassroots floor campaigning involving family and friends, managed to defeat Culinary Union-backed Senator Maggie Carleton for National Committeewoman. Significant here is the fact that sources put the amount of money spent on the Carleton campaign, including T-shirts, literature, giant floor banners and hosting a breakfast on Saturday morning at $20,000-$30,000 of Culinary Union money. Bilbray-Kohn spent just over $1,000.
It’s Not What You Say but How You Say It Award—to both State Senator Steve Horsford and State Treasurer Kate Marshall. While conventions are admittedly “rah-rah” affairs, it should be noted that half the room had left to go eat when these two spoke back to back. Perhaps this was the reason for their half-yelling speech delivery, hoping to reach delegate ears all the way out on the casino floor. Bottom line: They both woke up my sleeping 15-month-old with their halting delivery, something neither Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley nor Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto managed to do during their adjoining speeches.
Then Again, Maybe It Is What You Say Award—to a T-shirt worn by one delegate. In a sea of Obama and Clinton shirts, his showed a little girl giggling into her hand, with the caption, “Mommy says Republican is another word for Fucker.” Words to unite, indeed.
Giving Politics a Bad Name Award—to NSDP “consultant” Rebecca Lamb, who sources say solicited and took Senator Maggie Carleton’s application to run for National Committeewoman over the phone in the 11th-and-a-half hour, then allowed the state party office to accept a hard copy of the application after the deadline, potentially in violation of party rules regarding such matters. There are enough cloak-and-dagger details to warrant a separate investigative article, but let’s leave it at the disturbing consideration that the Culinary Union may be inextricably and unethically linked to the Nevada State Democratic Party.