IMPACT | DNC Stories

DNC Tip Sheet

DNC Tipsheet — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:29:00 GMT

TODAY, President Obama and Vice President Biden accept the nomination.

HAPPENING TODAY: Pen and pad press briefing at 2:00 p.m..…Gavel in for day three at Time Warner Cable Arena…Sen. John Kery speaks tonight in national security segment…Vice President Biden speaks…President Obama speaks and accepts the nomination

Convention fun fact of the day: The DNCC staff set a goal of performing 2,012 hours of service to the Charlotte community before the convention in its 2,012 hours for 2012 campaign. Today, as the First Lady and Dr. Biden participate in a USO service project, the DNCC will announce that it doubled its goal, performing 4,034 hours of service.

After the speeches last night: Delegates unanimously nominate President Obama, Democrats are united behind the President.

Democrats make the case for President Obama……..
Washington Post: Bill Clinton offers forceful defense of Obama’s record
Former president Bill Clinton delivered a spirited defense of President Obama’s handing of the nation’s struggling economy here Wednesday night, criticizing the agenda and philosophy of Mitt Romney and accusing the Republican Party of ideological rigidity and an unwillingness to compromise. In a speech formally nominating Obama for a second term, Clinton argued that the president has spent the past four years putting in place policies that will lead to a more vibrant and balanced economy and asserted that, despite problems, Americans are “clearly better off” than they were when the president was sworn into office. “No president — not me or any of my predecessors — no one could have fully repaired all the damage in just four years,” Clinton said. Obama, he added, “has laid the foundations for a new modern successful economy, a shared prosperity, and if you will renew the president’s contract, you will feel it.” Clinton took the stage just after 10:30 p.m. to a chorus of cheers and applause, with delegates waving signs that said “Middle Class First” while his 1992 campaign theme song, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow),” blared on the public address system. After Clinton concluded, almost 50 minutes later, Obama walked on stage to acknowledge the work done on behalf of his reelection. The two men shook hands, embraced, smiled and waved to the audience and then walked off together. At that point, the roll call of the states began to formalize Obama’s nomination

USAToday: Analysis: Clinton argues the case for re-election
President Obama and his Republican opponents have fought to a draw for nearly four years over the best way to fix the economy. On Wednesday, Obama turned to the Democratic Party's explainer-in-chief to win the argument: Bill Clinton. The former president did what he does best. He made the case for a Democratic-style economic revival based on investments in individuals and innovation. He stood up for the man who defeated his wife four years ago and stated the case against Mitt Romney better than anyone else has been able to do. For 48 minutes, he delivered a stunning tour de force that had delegates on their feet.

"In Tampa, the Republican argument against the president's re-election was pretty simple: 'We left him a total mess, he hasn't finished cleaning it up yet, so fire him and put us back in,' " Clinton said in nominating Obama for a second term. "I like the argument for President Obama's re-election a lot better."

Politico: Warren gives fiery defense of Obama, blasts Romney
Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren delivered a fiery endorsement of President Barack Obama on Wednesday evening while blasting Mitt Romney as a plutocrat blind to the needs of the middle class. Warren, a consumer watchdog and hero of the left, aimed her remarks squarely at blue-collar, middle-class voters, repeatedly calling them victims of a “top-down” corporate world that, she said, had a close ally in the Republican presidential candidate. “I talk to nurses and programmers, salespeople and firefighters, people who bust their tails every day. Not one of them — not one — stashes their money in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying their fair share of taxes,” the Massachusetts Democrat said of Romney, a barb that elicited a roar of applause. “Mitt Romney wants to give billions in breaks to big corporations — but he and Paul Ryan would pulverize financial reform, voucherize Medicare and vaporize Obamacare,” she added. Warren, who’s locked in a pitched battle against Sen. Scott Brown for a seat that could determine the balance of power in the Senate, steered clear of mentioning her Republican opponent.

USA Today: Democrats press Bain case against Romney
The Democrats sought to make their case against Mitt Romney and Bain Capital tonight with a string of witnesses: workers laid off after Bain bought their companies. "When Mitt Romney talks about his business experience, remember it is not experience creating good-paying jobs," said Cindy Hewitt, a former worker from Miami. "It is experience cutting jobs. It is experience shutting plants." David Foster said that Romney and the private-equity firm Bain loaded up his old Kansas City steel mill "with millions in debt -- and within months, they used some of that borrowed money to pay themselves millions. Within a decade, the debt kept growing and was so large the company was forced into bankruptcy." A laid-off worker named Randy Johnson said he doesn't think Romney is "a bad man," or fault him because some companies fail. "What I fault him for is making money without a moral compass," Johnson said. "I fault him for putting profits before people like me. But that's just Romney economics ... Mitt Romney will stick it to working people." Romney aides said Bain saved many more companies than it lost, and created more jobs in the bargain. Meanwhile, Romney spokeswoman Michele Davis said, Obama "doesn't want to talk about his record -- unemployment over 8% and 23 million Americans looking for work." "Mitt Romney helped build new companies and fix struggling ones," Davis said. "He knows how to get America back to work."

DNCC Announces Thursday's Convention Proceedings will Move to Time Warner Cable Arena Due to Severe Weather Forecasts

DNC Tipsheet — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:01:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that convention programming, originally planned for Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, September 6, would be moved to Time Warner Cable Arena, the site of the first two days of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, due to severe weather forecasts. The DNCC also announced that President Barack Obama will address community credential holders in a conference call on Thursday. Call information will be emailed directly to community credential-holders.

"We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday's proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests," said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan. The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the President in person. We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history. The President will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow's event will be invited to see the President between now and election day."

SOURCE: DNCC

Obama speech moves to arena

By DNC In-house WBT Reporter — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:58:00 GMT

President Obama will now deliver his renomination speech at Time Warner Cable Arena, Democratic convention organizers said Wednesday.

The threat of severe weather during Thursday's speech prompted the move from Bank of America Stadium, where the president and Vice-President Biden were scheduled to accept renomination.

"We have decided to move... to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests," convention committee CEO Steve Kerrigan said in a statement.

The move likely means those holding "community credentials" to see the president's speech at the stadium will not able to see the arena speech.

More than 65,000 of the credentials were given out to campaign volunteers and other members of the public. The arena has 15,000 seats after convention renovations removed some seats.

Two-hour standoff in first DNC confrontation

By DNC In-house WBT Reporter — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:12:00 GMT

Police and about 100 protesters stood their ground in uptown today in the first confrontation of the Democratic convention.

The two-hour confrontation began as protesters led an unauthorized march from Marshall Park, where Occupy Charlotte has camped since Saturday.

The march, which began with a crowd of more than 200, ran into a wall of police bicycles at the intersection of Stonewall and Caldwell Streets near the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

"Let us pass!" the marchers began chanting.

The two sides stared at each other for about 25 minutes when police began tightening the ring of bicycles around the protesters.

"This is unnecessary," said protester Adam Price of Winston-Salem. "We're not violent, we're not going to be violent. We just want our voices heard."

Over the next 90 minutes, protesters shouted obscenities at police, pitched a tent to see how many could fit inside (13), and waited out a brief afternoon shower.

Shortly before 3 p.m., police told the protesters, whose numbers had dwindled to a few dozen by then, they could continue their march on the sidewalk of Stonewall Street, as long was it was peacefully.

"We're going to let them keep moving," Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief Rodney Monroe said.

One person was arrested almost as soon as the march arrived at the police barricade. John Penley, a 60-year-old veteran from Asheville, was charged with trying to cross a police barricade.

Democratic Party Releases 2012 Platform

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:52:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE, Sept. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Democratic National Committee announced that it has posted online the 2012 Democratic Party Platform, which will be officially adopted by the Delegates to the Convention tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4. The Party Platform articulates clearly President Obama's vision for moving our country forward by restoring economic security and building an economy that is built to last.

The Democratic Party Platform reflects President Obama's vision for the future. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, led by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, approved a platform that supports the same top-down economic policies that hurt the middle class and embraces extreme positions on issues and policies from Medicare to immigration to women's health.

In July, the Platform Drafting Committee, chaired by former Governor Ted Strickland, met in Minneapolis to receive input from the public and to write the first draft of the Platform. Then on August 11, members of the Platform Committee, chaired by Mayor Cory Booker and retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, met in Detroit. At the Platform Committee Meeting in Detroit, committee members submitted amendments to the draft Platform before unanimously approving the draft and sending it to Charlotte for the vote by delegates tomorrow.

Below please find excerpts from the Preamble of the Platform, which lays out the President's vision for our country.

Moving America Forward

"Four years ago, Democrats, independents, and many Republicans came together as Americans to move our country forward. We were in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, the previous administration had put two wars on our nation's credit card, and the American Dream had slipped out of reach for too many.

"Today, our economy is growing again, al-Qaeda is weaker than at any point since 9/11, and our manufacturing sector is growing for the first time in more than a decade. But there is more we need to do, and so we come together again to continue what we started. We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth - the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.

"This election is not simply a choice between two candidates or two political parties, but between two fundamentally different paths for our country and our families.

"We Democrats offer America the opportunity to move our country forward by creating an economy built to last and built from the middle out. Mitt Romney and the Republican Party have a drastically different vision. They still believe the best way to grow the economy is from the top down - the same approach that benefited the wealthy few but crashed the economy and crushed the middle class...

"The Republican Party has turned its back on the middle class Americans who built this country. Our opponents believe we should go back to the top-down economic policies of the last decade. They think that if we simply eliminate protections for families and consumers, let Wall Street write its own rules again, and cut taxes for the wealthiest, the market will solve all our problems on its own. They argue that if we help corporations and wealthy investors maximize their profits by whatever means necessary, whether through layoffs or outsourcing, it will automatically translate into jobs and prosperity that benefits us all. They would repeal health reform, turn Medicare into a voucher program, and follow the same path of fiscal irresponsibility of the past administration - giving trillions of dollars in tax cuts weighted towards millionaires and billionaires while sticking the middle class with the bill. But we've tried their policies - and we've all suffered when they failed...

"The problems we're facing right now have been more than a decade in the making. We are the party of inclusion and respect differences of perspective and belief. And so, even when we disagree, we work together to move this country forward. But what is holding our nation back is a stalemate in Washington between two fundamentally different views of which direction America should take.

"We must keep moving forward and doing the hard work of rebuilding a strong economy by betting on the American worker and investing in a growing middle class."

SOURCE Democratic National Committee

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry to Address Democratic National Convention

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 01:23:00 GMT

Ms. Henry Available for Interviews During Convention to Discuss What's at Stake for Working People This Election

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On behalf of SEIU's 2.1 million members and other working men and women across the country, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry will address Democratic National Convention delegates on Tuesday, Sept. 4, during the 6 p.m. hour.

Ms. Henry will focus on what's at stake for working people this election and the stark difference between President Obama's inclusive vision for America and Mitt Romney's plan to continue failed policies of the past.

WHO: SEIU President Mary Kay Henry to address DNC convention
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 4, during 6 p.m. hour

SOURCE Service Employees International Union

Marchers lament NC union stance, but support Obama

By DNC In-house WBT Reporter — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:27:00 GMT

Union activists walked a political tightrope on Monday voicing support for President Barack Obama's re-election bid while lamenting adversarial attitudes toward organized labor in the state Democrats chose for the presidential nominating convention.

More than 300 people marched in the Charlotte Labor Day Parade a day before the kickoff of the Democratic National Convention, carrying signs, wearing matching shirts and chanting. In contrast to a protest the previous day, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly pro-Obama, family-friendly and generally low-key. The police presence was much lighter.

For Gil Crittendon, it was important for the marchers to show that organized labor is alive in North Carolina even though the state has the lowest percentage of union members in the nation. The member of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 305 brought his four grandchildren with him for the walk in the hot sun.

``I want them to know what it's like to stand up for your beliefs,'' he Charlotte resident said. ``A lot of people politicians want to break the unions. It's important that we stick together and push back.''

The selection of Charlotte for the convention has been a sore point with union leaders. While organized labor gave $8.3 million toward the 2008 convention in Denver that nominated Obama, many unions are refusing to financially support this week's convention for reasons including North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining for teachers and other public workers.

It has been an uphill battle to organize in the South, where many people have negative attitudes toward unions. Crittendon believes it has to do with workers' fears that companies will move if employees unionize. As a counter example, he cited North Carolina's textiles industry which had few unions but still saw its plants shuttered and jobs moved overseas.

``How do you think the middle class was built? With strong union wages. We fought for better working conditions. We fought for higher wages. Yet, people attack us for that,'' he said.

He was walking in one of the many clusters of union members wearing shirts from their locals who were interspersed with marching bands for the parade around the central business district of North Carolina's largest city.

Many carried pro-Obama signs. Danielle Rozelee was part of a group wearing light blue shirts with Obama's picture on it. She works at a Freightliner plant in Mt. Holly, N.C., that assembles long-haul trucks.

She credits Obama with saving the jobs for many in her industry because of the auto bailout.

``He saved our jobs. He saved our industry. We're going to save his job in November,'' she said, repeating the slogan on her shirt. ``We support him 100 percent.''

About a dozen members of the Occupy Wall Street movement, who have been camping out in a city-owned park, marched in the back of the parade. They held anti-Obama signs. When they reached the end of the parade route in the park where they are staying, one of the Occupy members got into a shouting match with an Obama supporter who ended up walking away.

Phil Wheeler, 70, came to Charlotte from Connecticut to serve as a convention delegate but marched in solidarity with other union members. He wiped the sweat from his forehead a few times. It was hot and humid, but Wheeler said he was going to stay with the march.

``I know people on the left who are criticizing the president. I understand their frustration. You can't accomplish a lot when people are working against you. But do they really think they're going to be better off with Romney?'' asked the retired member of United Auto Workers Local 376 in Hartford, Conn.

He said the GOP agenda would hurt working class Americans.

``For unions and working people, there's a big difference between Romney and Obama.''

Storms dampen DNC block party

By DNC In-house WBT Reporter — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:40:00 GMT

Late afternoon storms forced an early end to the uptown CarolinaFest block party kicking off the Democratic National Convention.

James Taylor, whose scheduled hour-long concert was the finale of the daylong festival, ended his set after two songs.

The festival was delayed earlier in the afternoon as a wave of storms rolled through uptown. Performers returned to the stage, only to have a second set of storms force the cancellation.

It was a soggy end to a party that had thousands standing shoulder to shoulder on five-blocks of Tryon Street.

"We're having an awesome time," said Mickey Cantor, who came up from Atlanta.

Many took the city's advice and used the LYNX light rail line to the festival. "Like a can of sardines," said one man emptying out of a cramped train at the Stonewall Street station.

Mayor Anthony Foxx began the party by boasting of Charlotte's hosting of the convention - and President Obama.

"I believe in my heart and soul that President Obama is the right leader for this country," Foxx told the cheering crowd.

Earlier, Foxx told reporters at a news conference North Carolina "will be tight this year," but remains a state Obama "can absolutely win."

The three-day convention gavels to order Tuesday. Convention organizers said speakers would focus on strengthening America's middle-class.

A few blocks from the uptown block party, Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, opened a GOP "war room" at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

"The thrill and pixie dust of the Barack Obama presidency is gone," Priebus said at a news conference.

Piedmont Natural Gas Partners With Industry Group To Provide Natural Gas Shuttle Buses For Democratic National Conventio

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 19:18:00 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Delegates, media and other visitors in Charlotte this week for the 2012 Democratic National Convention will get around town on shuttle buses fueled by clean, affordable, American natural gas, thanks to a partnership between Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) and America's Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA).

Piedmont Natural Gas, which serves more than 1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, will provide the compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel 12 buses that will be used to provide transportation to convention-goers for the Sept. 4-6 event.

"Piedmont Natural Gas is pleased to partner with ANGA to showcase the benefits of natural gas vehicles, including substantial cost savings over other transportation fuels and significant environmental benefits," said Jane Lewis-Raymond, senior vice president of Piedmont Natural Gas. "As part of our broader commitment to sustainability, Piedmont is diligently working to promote the use of natural gas vehicles throughout our service territory. We are collaborating with both private- and public sector fleet operators, expanding the number of refueling stations available to natural gas vehicles and converting our own fleet of service vehicles to natural gas."

With the discovery of vast supplies of American natural gas from shale deposits driving down the wholesale price of natural gas, a CNG-fueled shuttle bus like the ones being used in Charlotte this week can be operated at a cost savings of $1.69 per diesel gallon equivalent. That's how much less it would cost for a natural gas bus to travel the same distance a conventional bus could travel on one gallon of diesel fuel.

"Residential, commercial and industrial customers are also reaping great benefits from these new supplies by converting to natural gas for heating, hot water, power generation and other needs, " Lewis-Raymond said. "In the process, natural gas is creating American jobs and increasing U.S. energy security, which is great news for everyone."

ANGA also provided CNG-fueled buses for the Republican National Convention in Tampa Aug. 28-30 under a similar partnership with TECO Energy Inc., a Tampa-based energy services company.

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas

Public Schedule for First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:03:00 GMT

CHICAGO, Sept. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday afternoon, First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The First Lady will speak on the opening evening of the Convention and will attend various events throughout the week, including speaking at Caucus meetings and participating in a service project.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4

10:35 PM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the Democratic National Convention
	Location: Time Warner Cable Arena
	Charlotte, NC


WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5

10:50 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the African American Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC

11:20 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the Hispanic Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC

12:40 PM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers Remarks at the Human Rights Campaign/Victory Fund Luncheon Honoring LGBT Elected Officials
	Location: Marriott City Center
	Raleigh, NC


Evening:	First Lady Michelle Obama Attends Democratic National Convention Evening Program
	Location: Time Warner Cable Arena
	Charlotte, NC


THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6

Morning:	First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Participate in USO Service Project
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC
	Details: The First Lady and Dr. Biden will help pack care packages containing comfort items like shampoo, razors and wash cloths for service members returning from overseas deployments who often don't have access to these types of items on their first nights back in the United States. The service project, organized in cooperation with the USO of North Carolina, is part of the 2012 Democratic National Convention's commitment to service and active participation in the local community. In March 2012, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the "2,012 Hours for DNCC 2012" program, a commitment by the DNCC staff to perform at least 2,012 hours of service before the start of the convention.


11:35 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Speak at the Women's Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC


Evening:	First Lady Michelle Obama Attends DNCC Evening Program
	Location: Bank of America Stadium
	Charlotte, NC

SOURCE 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee