Friday, August 29, 2008

Invesco Field...6 hours before Obama's speech

We arrived 6 hours early to get good seats, and well...we did! Check out the video below to see just how great of a view we had for Senator Obama's acceptance speech.




Outside the Pepsi Center in Denver

After a relatively short wait in the security lines, we stopped outside of the Pepsi Center to give you a quick view "from the ground."

One correction from the video I should add, the arena passes we had were not enough to get us to the seats, but thanks to Alice and Susie (who stood in line every morning for the limited number of passes the DNCC doled out), we got the right passes and got in to hear President Clinton and Sen. Biden's speeches!




Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Video Update from Wendy

Just wanted to give you an inside view of the Big Tent. It's a little dark form my preference Bloggers evidently like their surroundings a little darker than most...guess it's all the bright computer screens. (I'm learning, slowly.)

Enjoy!



Live from the Big Tent

We hit up the Politico/Yahoo!/Denver Post events again this morning--this time to hear Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Speaker Pelosi spoke to many of the Democratic Platform issues important to the lives of women (education, immigrant rights, fair pay, healthcare, child care, scientific research, energy policy, reproductive rights, economics, etc.) and reemphasized the need for US citizens at both ends of the political spectrum to unite for the common good.

After a short jaunt to the convention center, we met up with hundreds of women from around the country for the Women's Caucus. Here, we heard up and coming musician Rissi Palmer; FMF friend and CNN contributor Donna Brazile brought the house down with a tribute to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and a call for a unified push for equal rights for women--and all Americans; and numerous Hollywood celebs added their voices--including Rosario Dawson, Eva Longorio, and Fran Drescher.

Check out the video below for an update from Margie and me... (Be sure to listen for the tamborines provided by Lifetime. They were a huge hit!)



Women's Equality Day (...and Day 1 of the Convention)

Today was most definitely interesting--and jam-packed! This morning, I headed to a panel discussion on race issues in the election, sponsored by Politico, Yahoo, and the Denver Post. Panelists included from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL), former Virginia governor Douglas Wilder, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Tavis Smiley, and Dr. Cornel West. Each panelist offered a unique perspective on the current state of race in the election (and the country) that encouraged participants to continue the discussion long after closing questions.

This afternoon, I had the priveledge of celebrating Women's Equality Day (marking 88 years of women voting in the US!) with NOW and the Feminist Majority at the Women's EqualiTEA. National feminist leaders at all levels (from DC Women's Information Network members, to Dolores Huerta, E. Faye Williams, and Congresswomen Maloney, Waters, and Capps) gathered to celebrate women's enfranchisement and remember the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Despite the dozens of anti-abortion extremists who brought their messages of hate and fear-mongering, the 500+ EqualiTEA participants stood together in solidarity to remember the focus of the day: women's equality through the right to vote!

Following the EqualiTEA, I attended the tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama's keynote speech. Over the course of the 2-hour event, fair pay, Women's Equality Day, health care, education, and a livable wage were all mentioned multiple times! As a feminist, I am glad to hear these important issues being spoken from the podium, but there is much work yet to be done to achieve true equality for women.



On deck for tomorrow...
  • another Politico event featuring Speaker Pelosi (!!!)
  • Women's Caucus event
  • EMILY's List event(s)
  • Senator Clinton addressing the Convention
  • meeting more incredible feminists!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Feminist History by Ellie Smeal

As we prepare for the start of the Convention, Ellie Smeal is giving a history of feminist activism at the political conventions. For this first time convention goer, it's simply awesome to hear how these passionate women have changed the face of politics with their activism.

More to come, but time to take notes for the meeting....

Meeting with CO students today!

We've made it to Denver and we're ready to roll with all of the exciting convention events! First and foremost on our agenda, Campus Team members are meeting with local students this afternoon to Get Out HER Vote here in Colorado. We'll talk specifically about the ballot initiatives threatening choice and affirmative action here in Colorado, how students can get involved on campus, and the obvious importance of taking the feminist voice and vote to the ballot box this November! (For more info on our Get Out HER Vote (GOHV) campaign, check out www.feministcampus.org/vote .)

Throughout this week, we'll be hitting up all of the feminist activities to be found! Stay tuned for daily updates here--and for up-to-the minute info, be sure to follow FeministCampus on Twitter.