Friday, September 7, 2012

Democratic Convention Wrap Up

by Inga VanWagoner, Democratic National Convention Delegate from SD8

Fired Up! Ready to Go! The Texas delegation is headed home, armed with this go to phrase that embodied the final night of the DNC. We experienced a night of high energy speakers, Hollywood A-listers and music stars as diverse as the national delegation gathered to support President Obama. And most inspiring of all, we heard President Obama's acceptance speech!

The DNC reconvened with Marc Anthony singing the National Anthem and James Taylor performed the classic "Going to Carolina" prompting an arena wide sing along. Shortly after, Representatives Barney Frank, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragiosa addressed the crowd. Wasserman Schultz gave tearful testimony as a survivor of breast cancer and the significance of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Beau Biden, Attorney General of Delaware made the hearty motion to nominate his father, Vice President Joe Biden, to which the delegation gave a boisterous second and verbal vote to pass the motion. Actresses Kerry Washington and Scarlett Johansson followed a Rock the Vote style showing by the Foo Fighters.

Veterans like myself noted the failure to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the night's agenda. We were amazed at the appearance of former Representative Gabrielle Giffords assisted by Debbie Wasserman Schultz to center stage. Giffords led the arena in a joyful recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, which brought many to tears. Also featured were Caroline Kennedy, native Texan actress Eva Longoria, Senator John Kerry and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, whose rowdy no holds barred speech whipped the crowd into a frenzied Democratic fervor.

Dr. Jill Biden introduced Vice President Joe Biden, who accepted the nomination for VP. And of course the surprise second appearance of the First Lady Michelle Obama brought another chant of "We love Michelle" as she introduced our President Barrack Obama. The crowd shifted to chants of "Four More Years" as he stood, taking in the view of assembled supporters. We stood more than we sat for the duration of his speech as the President listed the numerous points of success in the last four years. A humble moment was felt when Obama quoted Abraham Lincoln saying "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go,” promising to continue to do the work to lead our country.

We returned to the host hotel enthralled and emboldened to return home fired up and ready to go, the mantra of Obama supporter Edith Childs. Even as I stand waiting to board my flight home, chants in the airport of Yes We Can abound.

Editor's note: The picture right is of a group of about 60 people gathered for a Convention Watch Celebration at Rugby House Pub, in north west Plano, to hear President Obama's acceptance speech.

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