Obama’s Promise and a Time for Change

Finding Kevin Danaher ensconced on the Club Level of Pepsi Center suggested big changes at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) from eight years earlier. In 2000, Kevin was one of the main organizers of the demonstrations at the DNC in Los Angeles where people protested the failure of the two-party system to deal with some of societies biggest problems

”I think the balance has totally changed,” he told me as delegates streamed past us on the third level of Pepsi Center. ”In LA we were lucky enough to have an insider give us the addresses of all the fundraising parties and we had flying squads in fifteen-seater vans that zoomed around to the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills to demonstrate outside these fundraising events.”

I remembered these events because I had joined him that week at a lavish party put on by Patton-Boggs, one of the biggest lobbyist firms in Washington DC. It was only one event in a week of marches and protests that brought thousands of people onto the streets of Los Angeles.

”Now Barack Obama’s people have shaken that up,” he continued. ”Objective conditions have shifted the Democratic party in a more progressive direction. The environment is more destroyed at the same time that renewable energy is more profitable. The war in Iraq is a huge failure, and a majority of the people wants to see the troops come home. Finally, Democratic outsider Barack Obama came to the fore. He brought a whole new crew of young people, African Americans, community activists, environmentalists and a lot of young people into the party. So, yes, it is the same old Democratic Party that is dominated by corporate money, but there is an upwelling within the party saying, ‘look, we have got to go in a different direction. We cannot have money values dominate life values. We have to have life values dominate money values.’

“We have to see it as a set of scales. The corporations are in Washington throwing their weights on their side of the scales to keep things the way they are and we need to throw our weight on our side of the scales to say ‘No!’ We need massive change in this country. We need renewable energy, green building materials, and green jobs. If we get organized and involved in these debates, I think the intelligence and moral authority of our arguments can win out, but it is about organize, organize, organize. If government is bad, that is our fault. We are supposed to be a self-governing citizenry It is our responsibility to fix it.”

Barack Obama and his supporters took on this responsibility at Invesco field. Barney Smith, a proud Republican got right to the point when he said, “We need a president who puts the Barney Smiths before the Smith Barneys. I’m going to put country first by voting Barack Obama for President.”

On stage, Barack Obama highlighted ways he would help justice rise across the country. He emphasized that, “We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500…But by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business…an economy that honors the dignity of work.” He invoked that “the market should reward drive and innovation.” Government, he said. “should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work…Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.” He promised to “stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas” and “to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses.” He proposed to fund his changes by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens and in a page out of Riane Eisler he implored that “I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century.” Finally, in a nod toward the importance of grassroots power he told his 80,000 supporters gathered at Invesco Field “You have shown what history teaches us— that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it—because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time. 

America, this is one of those moments.”

As the speech came to an end, the crowd erupted and the fireworks exploded. After four days the Democrats surged out of the stadium, determined to ensure that Barack Obama is elected to the presidency of the United States and that our system is changed forever.

It was time to clean up and move on. After collecting our bags from the media workspace at Pepsi Center we headed for the light rail. On the way Kevin Danaher stopped us. Standing by a series of garbage cans with huge dumpsters behind him, he told us “We got the contract to do the recycling and composting for the event…It is all about training people. We want to expand this to all of the events of the campaign. Then we will leave a legacy of new practices all across the country.”

Change may come with Barack Obama. Like his image at Invesco Field, however, he is surrounded by corporations and their endemic political power. It will take an effort by all those interested in change to make sure that his promises come true.

Biden, Empire and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

photo: René Clement

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) occupied the gates to Pepsi Center as the Democrats prepared to nominate Senator Joe Biden, the preeminent imperial warrior, as their Vice Presidential candidate. One of the senior members of the US Senate, Biden has helped design US foreign policy for thirty years. For most of this decade, he has chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In that position, he promoted Bush’s plan for war in Iraq. Weeks before the Bush Administration began rattling its war sabers in August 2002, Biden predicted that the “United States was probably going to war.” Later that year he claimed, "I do not believe this is a rush to war. I believe it is a march to peace and security.” Many political observers point out that the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee was the chief architect of gaining congressional approval for the war. He has continued to vote for funding of the war.

Biden has also been criticized for his support of the 2005 Bankruptcy Bill that benefitted MBNA, one of the world’s largest credit card issuers. MBNA, headquartered in Biden’s home state of Delaware, has been the largest single contributor to his campaigns, giving him $214,00 during his Senate career. As one of only 18 democrats that voted for the bill, Biden also voted against amendments that would have weakened the bill. Referring to the bill Joshua Holland of Alternet observed “it's clear that it has contributed to the financial sector's woes, making it harder for consumers to dig out from under mountains of consumer debt, forcing more people to walk away from their homes and adding to the large amounts of bad paper being held by finance companies.” As a key player in support of business and an imperial US foreign policy, Biden has regularly attended the World Economic Forum where business and political leaders convene to discuss the future of the planet.

Meanwhile, backed by 4000 supporters, a contingent of Iraq War Veterans pressed against police holding the line at Pepsi Center’s gates. They came to deliver Barack Obama a letter. Dutch journalist René Clement described the situation between the two uniformed forces as tense. As the confrontation intensified, the Obama campaign agreed to meet with an IVAW representative. Former Marine Liam Madden took the veterans’ letter inside the Pepsi Center. They asked for three outcomes: removing U.S. troops from Iraq immediately, providing full health care benefits to returning veterans, and paying reparations to Iraqis for the damage done during the war. Francesca Lo Basso, IVAW media coordinator showed emotion as the confrontation eased. “We won,” she cried. “We accomplished what we came here for.”

As Obama’s staff worked to assuage the critics of American Empire, Joe Biden claimed the Vice Presidential nomination. He told the 4400 Democratic delegates that, “The Bush-McCain foreign policy has dug us into a very deep hole with very few friends to help us climb out.” He failed to mention that he had been a chief promoter of that foreign policy. Then, with the world watching through 15,000 journalists, he predicted that an Obama/Biden administration would lead the way to an invigorated American Empire. “We will hold Russia accountable for its actions,” he warned. “With Barack Obama as our president, they'll look to us again, they'll trust us again, and we'll be able to lead again.” We have to make sure that Joe Biden does not reinvigorate the American Empire.

Pepsi Center, Wal-Mart and the Iraq War

People are so packed into Pepsi Center, I can never get onto the convention floor. I barely have time to get down the stairs to the floor and back in the allotted half hour I have with my rotating floor pass. The other night the stairs were jammed and I was stuck with Teresa Heinz and John Kerry. She looked hot and bothered while Kerry was in his element, yucking it up and slapping the backs of every New York and Massachusetts delegate within reach. “Hey! there’s Darth he exclaimed,” leaning way over the railing to shake an outstretched hand. Smiling at the adoring crowd following his every move he continued, “We always called him Darth Vader. Isn’t that right Darth? ” Everyone laughed, even Darth.

Unfortunately I could not get a clear photograph of him, perhaps because he was so close, or the crowd was jostling us or my hands could not stop shaking. For the record, he did shake my hand and we exchanged a few words as we stood cheek by jowl on the crowded stairs of Pepsi Center.

Pepsi Center is a walking advertisement for corporate America. It’s home page sports the corporate logos of Pepsi, Qwest, Conoco, Coors and the Denver Post. Pepsi bought 20 year naming rights to the venue in 1999 for $3.4 million a year. It is privately owned by Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Inc., headed by sports entrepreneur Enos Stanley "Stan" Kroenke. His wife, Anne Walton is an heir to the WalMart fortune.

This morning at the California delegation breakfast, where John Kerry spoke along with Senators Barbara Boxer, and Claire McCaskill, someone made an announcement about Wal-Mart. They said. “Friends, it is important to support the unions and we have to talk about Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is now telling all of its employees not to vote for Barack Obama. Remember that, whenever you think about shopping at Wal-Mart.” It seems odd, given Wal-Marts anti-union and anti-Barack stance that the Democrats brought their convention to a facility closely tied to Wal-Mart.

Listening to the proceedings, you would never know about corporate connections to the convention. It is more about the American Dream. Tuesday night Michelle Obama encapsulated that dream in a speech that even left the cynics gasping. She was poised elegant and personable. One die-hard Code Pink friend exclaimed. “I want her to be President.”

Meanwhile, outside Pepsi Center, Progressive Democrats of America are sponsoring forums, and a gathering place for conversations and tables of progressive political groups. This morning John Nichols of Free Press moderated a forum with Tom Hayden and Jim McDermott, Congressman from Washington, titled "Out of Iraq." As these progressive Democrats talked about responsible withdrawal from Iraq, an irate middle-aged spectator rose from his seat and exclaimed, “I am outraged. I want withdrawal. Forget responsible withdrawal. We have to get out of there now!”

Tom Hayden pointed out that the anti-war movement has to deal with domestic issues like the military draft, which would drive youth to vote in vastly greater numbers. He added that McCain has been quoted as saying the draft might be necessary. Hayden suggested that a group research, and then post a You Tube of McCain's position on the draft, and then contact the press to ask McCain about his position on the draft.

Out on the streets, the religious right is in force. They blocked the 16th street Mall. The next day saw at least two anti-abortion demonstrations by the religious right— one on the mall and one at the walk-in entrance to Pepsi Center. In both instances the police were present but did nothing to stop the disruption.

Tuesday morning there was a big puppet march downtown in a procession for the future and that afternoon Iraq Veterans Against the War carried out Operation First Casualty that recreates Baghdad combat scenes on the streets of Denver. Today, Iraq Veterans Against the War lead a march to Pepsi Center in conjunction to a Rage Against the Machine concert. I wonder what John Kerry, a founder of the Viet Nam Veterans Against the War, thinks about the insurgent Iraq Veterans Against the War. I should have asked him.

Politics, Money and Grassroots Democracy.

The End the Occupation and Reclaim the Streets party greeted our arrival in downtown Denver—indicating that the Democratic National Convention week here includes more than promotional speeches, smiling politicians and lavish corporate parties. This bubbling mix of politics, money and grassroots democracy roils around the streets of the mile-high city. Outside the Sheraton—delegate central for the convention—smiling, young Talley Spiller handed out literature for Project Vote Smart, a group that has begun “A battle to protect all of us from the selfish interests that strip us of the most crucial component in our struggle to self-govern.” Their website provides US citizens with knowledge about the true nature of our political landscape by outlining special interests financing politicians and their voting records on key issues.

Meanwhile, down at the Pepsi Center, where delegates and politicians will spend four days in a long political ad for their presidential candidate, a 20-foot banner thanking their corporate providers greets everyone as they go from their seats to the main entrance. Wall-high corporate ads greet people throughout the facility. VISA and US Bank logos festoon the water bottles given to the 15,000 credentialed media.

Massie Ritsch and Sheila Krumholz from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) have come to Denver to keep the world reminded that these corporate donors are funding not only the conventions, but also the politicians running our country. I caught up with them down at the Big Tent where Massie told us that the Democrats and Republicans “are raising more than 112 million dollars from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals who are putting up money for a multi day infomercial for particular political candidates…(which is) part of a larger lobbying strategy these corporations and other interests pursue once everyone gets back to Washington.”

The big tent, where we found the CRP contingent, is a project of the Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado. It is a two-story hub of activity Downstairs a beehive of new media journalists, bloggers, reporters and non-profit leaders are putting out their own coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Up stairs Google and others are putting on a host of public forums covering politics, the environment and new-age media.

Meanwhile out on the streets, a plethora of groups are carrying on a constant barrage of street theater. Code Pink dressed up its legions as sheep and led them to the vacant, dry free-speech zone, out of sight of the delegates, fenced on all sides, occupied only by the police and notable for its absence of either water or toilet facilities. Here they protested the demise of free-speech in a land built on the power and strength of all citizens being able to communicate their thoughts and opinions openly and effectively.

Iraq Veterans Against the War carry out actions daily. Their Operation First Casualty recreates the streets of Baghdad where participants in full military uniform—less the weapons—secure an area complete with hooded and hog tied citizens. From delivering letters to Senator Obama to leading marches to the Democratic Convention, their intent is to bring attention to the ongoing illegal occupation of Iraq and all the horrors that entails.

Rage Against the Machine, Critical Mass Bike Rides, shaking hands with John Kerry and corporate promoters of Clean Coal spreading their propaganda makes up the roiling mass of politics, money and grassroots democracy that will continue to inundate the streets of Denver this week.