Apr 7, 2010

Democratic Party Endorsement Convention weekend is a political geek paradise


For political geeks like me, next weekend will be heaven.

April 17 will mark the first ever Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention in Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit. After a day filled with speeches, caucuses and picking the next Michigan Attorney General and Secretary of State, the day will be capped off with the 2010 Jefferson Jackson Dinner.

The keynote speaker will be one of the great American leaders that helped pass the historic health care insurance bill, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Congressman Hoyer is one of the most respected leaders in Washington. He was elected House Majority Leader by his Democratic colleagues in 2006, and re-elected in 2008. Congressman Hoyer is currently serving his 15th term in Congress, making him the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives in Maryland's history. He played an instrumental role in passing health care reform - which will help millions of people in Michigan afford health insurance - and he is well known for pioneering the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

But the weekend is not over with the Jeff-Jack. On Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Cobo, there will be a Democratic Gubernatorial Forum with our candidates, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, House Speaker Andy Dillon, and State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith.

As great as that sounds, I have a problem with the forum. I understand Republicans will be raking in huge sums of corporate cash this election cycle thanks to their spirited defense of insurance companies and the activist court, but I don’t agree with charging $20 to get into the forum. I have a problem with charging for political debates, whether you call them a forum or a debate. I understand there are not a lot of seats available with all the Democrats in the state in Detroit for the weekend and there is limited seating, but that could have been handled with a smaller fee.

At any rate, I will see you on the convention floor and in the caucuses.

1 comment:

Not Anonymous said...

That should be a very fun weekend. One last get together to say goodbye to the current officeholders and the compulsory "good lucks" to those doomed to defeat in just under 7 short months.

Maybe you can plan for a five year reunion while you're there where you can all gather and say "remember when..."