My Impression of Candidates After Attending Wing Ding Dinner

[askew]

I drove down from Minnesota to attend Wing Ding event to see all candidates in person. I'm an O'Malley supporter but was interested in all candidates.

First of all, it was insanely hot. We had to stand in that heat for about 1/2 hour waiting to get in. During that time, we watched the O'Malley and Hillary supporters chant back and forth at each other. There teams were about equal in size but O'Malley's team was better organized. They were signing people up left and right. Sanders and Webb had tables setup but I didn't see any organized campaign from them. I didn't see any Chafee supporters.

Inside you could see it was mostly a Hillary crowd though we ended up sitting by some enthusiastic Bernie supporters which was fun.

Impressions of the candidates:
Hillary - Came across as softer in person and much warmer. I thought her speech weirdly focused too much on her and her biograghy. But she got everyone on her feet when she went after GOP. I thought the parts focused on women were her strongest parts of her speech. There were a lot of chuckles by me when she talked about getting money out of politics. And people just stopped mid clap after her joke about emails/snapshot. It went over like a lead balloon.

Sanders - He came across exactly like he does on TV. He got a good response. Definitely not a Bernie crowd but he had even the Hillary people standing during his "black lives matters" portion of his speech. That was an incredible moment.

O'Malley - Hillary supporters started getting up and leaving right as he started speaking. He started off a bit slow trying to be heard over the media surrounding Hillary. But about two minutes in, he hit his stride and had everyone's attention. He is much more dynamic in person than on TV. Got standing ovations after listing off his accomplishments. Saw Hillary and Bernie supporters nodding along and clapping along as speech went on. Got one of the biggest ovations of night for his assault weapons ban. His closing riff about I voted for you won over even the diehard supporters of other candidates. Best call. And response of night. He won some people over with that speech. His speech was the only optimistic speech of the night. Really created huge contrast with other candidates.

Chafee - much better speech than Hall of Fame Dinner. He basically trolled Hillary with entire speech about ethics and Iraq war.

Chafee was the only candidate to walk. Around pre-speeches. He also circled ballroom to meet people after event.

O'Malley closed the place down again. He really excels at retail politics. I got to meet him briefly and was so impressed with him. I really think he is going to catch on in Iowa after his state fair event yesterday and his performance tonight.

[tazkcmo]

1. Thank you for your report. n/t

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Great report, and thank you! n/t

[elleng]

3. SO GREAT to hear this from you, askew!

Thanks for attending, and thanks for your fascinating point of view.

[askew]

5. IF you get a chance, you got to see hi. In person.

he's coming to Minnesota as part of DNC summer meeting and has a fundraiser in town. It's pretty pricey though so I don't think I'll be able to con anyone into going with me.

[elleng]

6. Will do my best;

I live in MD as does he (tho less than very likely he'll be available often!)

[slipslidingaway]

4. Thanks for the report! n/t

[tavalon]

7. Thanks for the report!

[elleng]

8. VERY happy to see: 'O'Malley's team was better organized.

They were signing people up left and right.'

[delrem]

9. Nice report. Thanks. n/t

[MrModerate]

10. Imagine the glee in the Republican camp . . .

. . . If they had 4 sane candidates running, instead of the insane clown posse throwing pies at one another.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. "I thought her speech weirdly focused too much on her and her biograghy."

She ALWAYS does that.

To quote a line by Michael J. Fox in "The American President": "Two hundred and sixty-four million people don't give a damn about your life, they give a damn about their own."

[Sancho]

25. That's the result of watching the 2014 election results...

First, check out this editorial:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251519340

Next, I thought that was weird too, but we saw many, many ads in Florida about "Rick Scott's mother" and "Rick Scott's wife". He's the worst governor EVER, but uniformed voters (not the political junkies) listen to personal stories.

Voters vote because of a group affiliation (Democrat, union member, church, etc.) or over a single issue (women's right, guns, etc.) or because of PERSONAL connection. If you are one of the first two groups, you likely are already set to vote now. If you are part of the large group who are undecided and don't follow politics - then a personal story is the winner.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

66. It's been said she has a hard time connecting to voters....

This is all part of her campaign to get voters to connect with her.

[Sancho]

76. I don't think she has a hard time connecting...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251519340

[Spitfire of ATJ]

81. That's also how Republicans campaign, in well screened small groups.

[Sancho]

82. It seems to work...the repubs are winning more elections than they have registered...

Hillary's groups are not well-screened except for some planned trips designed to exclude crazy press or others that make it impossible to hear what people have to say.

For decades she has worked with education groups, church groups, and immigrant groups. That's why the polls show her on the ground efforts are appreciated. Here's a few examples....no other candidate from any party has such a record.

No one can change the good will she has earned. That's certainly the case for me.

Through the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative, Hillary Clinton unveiled a new program, CHARGE: The Collaborative for Harnessing Ambition and Resources for Girls Education, to provide secondary education for 14 million girls over five years. The plight of women and girls around the world is a concern Hillary Clinton knows well. As Secretary of State, she raised the status of women and girls around the world, increasing the chance for girls to receive an education and to improve their futures. Recognizing that no society can achieve its full potential “when half the population is denied the opportunity to achieve theirs,” Sec. Clinton made advancing education for girls a major focus of U.S. foreign policy efforts.

Transforming Playgrounds to Make Play Time Talk Time - See more at: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/blog/2015/07/18/transforming-playgrounds-make-play-time-talk-time#sthash.qIzHMw9G.dpuf

Senator Clinton fought alongside America’s mayors and governors to protect AmeriCorps from budget cuts. Senator Clinton stood with the nation’s governors and mayors in 2003 against budget reductions to the AmeriCorps program. Senator Clinton noted that 44 governors, “including Governor Bush from Florida,” and 145 mayors sent a letter to the President and Congress asking for additional funding for AmeriCorps. [Senator Clinton floor speech, 7/31/03 (via archive.org)]

Children’s Defense Fund Honors Hillary Rodham Clinton at 40th Anniversary Celebration - See more at: http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/cdf-in-the-news/press-releases/2013/honoring-hillary-clinton.html#sthash.nCXkm3oJ.dpuf

In Arkansas, Hillary Clinton's Legacy Remains Potent, Clinton was, no doubt, referring to her husband. But in truth, “Billery,” as Bill and Hillary Clinton were known in Arkansas, was indeed a singular force, and it was impossible to talk about the achievements of the former without mentioning those of the latter.

Even today, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s legacy in Arkansas -- particularly in the realms of education, health care and childhood welfare -- remains nearly as robust as her husband’s.

[askew]

37. I swear she didn't do that in 2008.

I think her team really misunderstood why they lost and are making worse mistakes this time around. This time she is doing fewer public events, her speeches are more about her and offer little specifics. There is nothing to win over Dems/Ind who don't already support her.

[JDPriestly]

12. Thanks. Interesting.

O'Malley is a good guy, but he has, I understand, some embarrassing corporate ties that are bound to come out. Also, it's how a candidate comes across on TV that matters. Out here in California, and in many other states, we don't see the candidates really up close. I saw Bernie on Monday night. By that I mean I sat in a crowd of maybe 13,000 sitting in a stadium and maybe more than twice that standing outside and even in the stadium. You have to be a strong enough, committed enough candidate to dome across to people on TV. You can't be quiet and laid back, and from the little I have seen of O-Malley, he, like Biden, might make a good supporting vice president or cabinet member, but not a president.

[elleng]

14. to what 'embarrassing corporate ties' do you refer?

[elleng]

16. He's teaching at Johns Hopkins, I think;

haven't heard of anything else.

As chair of nat'l governor's ass'n he had to 'relate' to corps for various reasons (years ago,) and some site those relations as pejorative/suspicious.

This re: blm?

[JustAnotherGen]

28. I don't understand the insinuation either

Pretty clear to me that there is nothing shady, sketchy, or illegal going on here.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/martin-o-malley-wall-st-ties-big-banks-article-1.2246630

But while he was the finance chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2008, Goldman Sachs gave $100,000 to the organization.

O'Malley admitted on Wednesday that he "probably" had asked for big checks from financial giants in the past before refusing to rule out soliciting more from the financial industry for his presidential bid.

"I probably have. I was the chair of the Democratic Governors Association. I'm quite sure I've called everybody that they've put up sheets in front of me," he said when asked about past donations during an event in Washington with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, referring to the fundraising call sheets candidates dial through looking for donations.

"I'm not prone to call up the head of Goldman Sachs or those individuals, nor am I inclined to tell those people in the financial industry that they shouldn't be involved in my campaign, in fact I think they should," he continued. "There's a lot of good people who work in our financial industry."

[elleng]

54. Thanks for this big of concrete fact, Gen!

[JDPriestly]

49. Maybe that is what they were talking about. I think I need more information and will delete that

from my post because you know more about O'Malley than I do.

[elleng]

52. Thanks, I appreciate that, JDP.

Facts is important, after all!

[Snotcicles]

63. They may have been talking about this.

[link:http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/maryland/about-big-chicken-omalley/|

[nankerphelge]

70. Yep

That's why I won't support him.

[elleng]

73. Not THIS, I guess:

Poultry industry critical of O'Malley's stance on biofuel.

When it comes to Maryland agriculture, poultry is king.

But in Iowa — the nation's first presidential nominating state — corn is the top crop.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, is winning praise from corn farmers in Iowa for his support of a federal mandate to blend biofuels into gasoline. But the stance does not sit well with the poultry industry in his home state.

Because much of the biofuel used to meet the federal standard is corn-based ethanol, the requirement helps drive up the price of the crop — a boon for the farmers who grow it. But poultry producers, who fatten their birds with corn feed, want to keep the price low.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-omalley-farmers-20150724-story.html

If anyone thought governing was simple, maybe they'll think again?

[JustAnotherGen]

74. My turn - who loves ya?

Action - reaction - impact!

[elleng]

75. You got it, Sweetie!

Was in NJ last weekend, returned to MD, will be in NJ for grandbaby's birth early October, thinking of you!!!

[questionseverything]

77. bio fuel out of corn was always a mistake

yes i know the republican farmers love it but

it takes like 7 times more water to create the corn fuel than switchgrass or hemp would

and yes it increases the price of food for all of us..not just chicken farmers

it is part of why freaking hamburger is 4 bucks a pound

<shrugs>

[FSogol]

18. From Michael Steele's piehole straight to DU.

[msrizzo]

24. LOL, that cracked me up. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

30. It's this big 'scoop' you know!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/martin-o-malley-wall-st-ties-big-banks-article-1.2246630


Because this is like - a big huge 'scoop' - he was a member of the DLC and wrote an op-Ed with Harold Ford 8 years ago . . .

The two wrote then that Democrats must seek a "centrist agenda" and praised Bill Clinton's presidential campaign for its "sensible ideas."

And when O'Malley was governor, he appointed former Legg Mason CEO Richard C. Mike Lewin to the Maryland Transportation Authority and former Deutsche Bank Alex Brown managing director Mark Kaufman to head Maryland's committee on financial regulation.

And when O'Malley was governor, he appointed former Legg Mason CEO Richard C. Mike Lewin to the Maryland Transportation Authority and former Deutsche Bank Alex Brown managing director Mark Kaufman to head Maryland's committee on financial regulation.


Kaufman helped O'Malley keep banks from foreclosing on families during the financial crisis and was named the 2014 consumer advocate of the year by the Maryland Consumer Rights Association.

I would agree with the Maryland Consumer Rights Association - Good job Mr. Kaufman - you vile plutocratic oligarch corporatist fascist turd way loser !

[FSogol]

33. Great post. Some people say....

[elleng]

55. Gen, have I told you lately I love you???

'Kaufman helped O'Malley keep banks from foreclosing on families during the financial crisis and was named the 2014 consumer advocate of the year by the Maryland Consumer Rights Association.'

[MH1]

57. What blanket demonizers fail to realize

is that one of the easiest ways for a person to obtain experience managing a large organization - is in a large corporation. Sure there are large non-profits but many of them are corrupt (*cough* Komen Foundation *cough* Red Cross *cough*) or very inefficient.

Not all people who come from the corporate world are evil. Even if a large number are.

This is probably not the best place to leave this comment but I think the previous subthread demonstrates it pretty well.

[elleng]

59. Sure does demonstrate it well, MH1.

'Blanket demonizers' get points when others just accept their crap, but many here don't sit still for it.

[freshwest]

13. Thanks for the report! Sounds like everyone is ready to win in 2016 together! n/t

[Fairgo]

17. Thanks for the review

This is the fun stuff! Where we get to hear about vision and platform from everybody. It makes me optimistic to see a range of ideas, quality candidates, and shared values...all that's missing are the debates. I can't wait.

[FSogol]

19. Good analysis. Thanks. n/t

[DCBob]

20. Why was it not a "Bernie Crowd"?

[lovemydog]

22. They were busy yelling at everyone on DU.

Just kidding.

[DCBob]

23. LOL..

Seriously though this should spell trouble to the Bernsters.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Before the snorty laugh . . .

[askew]

38. It was full of party leaders, donors, etc.

many of whom who volunteered, fundraised for Bill Clinton, then Hillary. Many of them were older and I think Bernie's anti-establishment message didn't work as well with them.

[DCBob]

42. Interesting.

That doesn't bode well for the Bern.

[askew]

43. Not necessarily. Just not his crowd.

i do think he needs better organization on the ground. Was surprised at how there were so few Bernie staffers at event and how O'Malley's team seemed most organized.

[DCBob]

44. Then maybe not his state either.

If he is serious about winning he needs to have people attending events like this. It suggests he doesn't have much of presence there yet... or simply that he isn't catching on there like in some other states.

[askew]

78. Or his campaign is just disorganized.

I volunteered for Dean in Iowa in 2003 and it was like that. Just a mess.

O'Malley's team really seems to understand Iowa and how to do grassroots politics.

Not sure that matters in the end though, if he can't get people enthused about his campaign.

[lovemydog]

21. Thanks for the firsthand report.

Very cool.

Did you eat any wing dings?

[askew]

45. I'm a vegetarian so no.

it was also so incredibly hot that we didn't even want to eat.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. I didn't see the dinner, but on a related note

there was a segment on MSNBC about the Iowa state fair in which supporters were enthusiastically chanting a chant with a candidate's name in the background of the MSNBC reporter on the ground, and the studio person said 'Who are they chanting about?' and the reply was that it 'sounded like Hillary.'

It was extremely clearly 'O'Malley'. The MSNBC folks both either needed hearing aids, or else they were deliberately trying to avoid noting that O'Malley had any supporters there.

[restorefreedom]

35. i say the latter

m$nbc is in it for hillary or even a gop candidate. they are terrified of bernie and om, cuz they know the corporate party will be over

[askew]

40. Reading media reports of the event and shocked how biased they were.

they treated O'Malley as a footnote when he had as many if not more volunteers than Hillary at event. Media also said he was stealing narratives from Hillary/Sanders when he was talking about issues that he's been talking about for years. Many of the issues O'Malley had acted on as Governor.

[Peacetrain]

60. Gov O'Malley is very popular with the base..

And his supporters are out there.. We do have to get his name out to the general public a LOT better.. Its early, and the media hogs of the republicans are eating every bit of the air time here locally..

[elleng]

64. If anything, they've 'stolen' from him!

Debt-free tuition???!!! Drives me NUTS!!!

MO'M's plan was FIRST, and was/is a PLAN!!!

[MH1]

67. I was disgusted with M$NBC this morning

I was sort of half watching "Up" so maybe I missed something. But it seemed they talked about Hillary and Bernie, then everyone was talking about how the Dem party "needs a bench" and needs to "develop some young up and coming leaders". "Where is their future" type nonsense. And NO ONE said anything about O'Malley. WTF. Seemed like they were deliberately ignoring him.

Which raises the question, why? I think the answer is that if people take a good look at him they will realize he is a good alternative to Hillary and Bernie. And luke-warm Hillary supporters who get spooked by the email thing, or whatever the next attack is on her, could start jumping to O'Malley as a more palatable alternative (to them) than Bernie. Likewise to a lukewarm Bernie supporter who is queasy about his electability, O'Malley is a more palatable alternative than Hillary. Okay, to be fair, I don't know a whole lot of "lukewarm" Bernie supporters, lol. So I think this is more a concern for the Hillary campaign.

That said, on a later show they did talk about O'Malley a little, and I thought it was fair, but should have been more.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. The Clinton supporters started to get up when O'Malley spoke?

But were attentive to Sanders?

O'Malley - Hillary supporters started getting up and leaving right as he started speaking. He started off a bit slow trying to be heard over the media surrounding Hillary. But about two minutes in, he hit his stride and had everyone's attention. He is much more dynamic in person than on TV. Got standing ovations after listing off his accomplishments. Saw Hillary and Bernie supporters nodding along and clapping along as speech went on. Got one of the biggest ovations of night for his assault weapons ban. His closing riff about I voted for you won over even the diehard supporters of other candidates. Best call. And response of night. He won some people over with that speech. His speech was the only optimistic speech of the night. Really created huge contrast with other candidates.

I would love to know why?

Bathroom break?

Or was the breath of fresh air too much for them?

[Peacetrain]

29. That is excellent..

Thank you for the run down of all the speeches.. really appreciate it

[cantbeserious]

32. A Vote For HRC Is A Vote For The 1% - HRC and WJC - Adjusted Gross Income 140 Million Since 2007

"Everyday Americans" Hillary And Bill Clinton Report $140 Million In Taxable Income Since 2007

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-08-03/everyday-americans-hillary-and-bill-clinton-report-140-million-income-2007

Ever since Mitt Romney's tax disclosure fiasco in which allegations of tax avoidance and usage of offshore tax shelters played a major part in the democrat counter campaign, there has been great interest in the Adjusted Gross Income reported by presidential candidates. Which is why to avoid any surprises on the primary circuit, Hillary Clinton released the full data of her and Bill's tax income going back to 2007.

So without further ado, here is the Clinton family's adjusted gross income since 2007. The summary: $139.1 million in income since 2007, most of it thanks to speeches starting at $225,000 and going much higher.

And that is your "everyday Americans."

Snip ...

[A Simple Game]

39. What a success story, to think that they were eating out of dumpsters in '01. n/t

[cantbeserious]

41. Cry Me A River - This One Does Not Believe That Pablum For A Moment

eom

[A Simple Game]

47. Yeah I wish I had the same problems they had back in '01. n/t

[DCBob]

46. You seem to be a one trick pony.

I think we have all seen that graphic. Maybe try another angle.

[cantbeserious]

61. She Has Indicted Herself - She Will Have To Suffer The Consequences

eom

[azmom]

58. The problem is that she will push for their agenda. Bernie

Will push for ours.

[cantbeserious]

62. ^^^ This ^^^

eom

[Le Taz Hot]

34. Thanks for the first-hand account.

And thank you for full disclosure at the beginning and for trying to give a balanced non-nuanced report.

[Raine1967]

36. Thanks for bringing this back here, Askew.

It's really heartening to see people come out to listen to as many candidates as they can.

The media, I am sad to say is really hyper focused on a two person Democratic Race.

and for now, I think O'MAlley expects that and is campaigning accordingly.

[Piasladic]

48. Great Report

I wish I could have been there.

[True Blue American]

50. Very Good Report.

Thanks.

[Raine1967]

51. Regarding people leaving, I thought this was great:

@jeffzeleny 15h
.@HillaryClinton is still sitting in audience at #wingding -- applauding with the Democratic crowd at @MartinOMalley speech. #iacaucus

Thank you for that Ms. Clinton!

[Historic NY]

65. Yup appears some other speaker had to leave.

[Koinos]

68. Very gracious of her.

Glad she did that.

[fredamae]

53. Thank you, very much! n/t

[retrowire]

56. Thank you for the unbiased report. Good perspective! :) n/t

[Spazito]

69. Great read...

Thanks for this, it is very interesting and covers all candidates fairly, imo.

[Sunlei]

71. Thanks very much for the report. nt

[Gigabear]

72. I saw a video clip of her joke about emails/snapshot on the news

the audience laughed and cheered, no stopped in mid-clap as far as I could tell.

[askew]

79. There was definitely a pause and people looking at each other in the crowd

where I was sitting. I think it took people a second to process what she was saying because I think everyone thought the snapchat joke was going to go somewhere else and we were all laughing at the beginning, then she made the email reference and it made people pause. It was a tone deaf moment in an otherwise good speech.

[Gigabear]

80. The clip I saw ended just after her remarks

I can understand people initially applauding and then stopping as her words were processed.

[swilton]

83. Excellent wrap up!

Admittedly from a Sanders supporter, I see O'Malley from a different set of lenses....

To me, he's still evolving between progressivism, corporatism or somewhere in between...His history is mixed and having experienced the Obama turn-around between candidacy and presidency, there is not enough evidence on O'Malley to say he's genuine....

I did hear O'Malley's presentation at one of the Nevada venues and I know what you mean by his optimism - you're right that it does set him apart. But in my view, anyone who is optimistic isn't paying attention.

[askew]

85. O'Malley is either the best actor in politics or is truly sincere.

He comes across as authentic and really took the time to engage with everyone he talked to. He excels at retail politics.

I've been following his career for a long time and he is incredibly consistent and progressive on the issues that matter to me - immigration, gun control, death penalty, environment, refugee issues, etc.

He also has accomplished more than anyone else running on the Dem side. Actions not words isn't just a slogan. It is reality.

[elleng]

86. What in the heck has been 'corporatist' about Governor O'Malley?

[NBachers]

84. "And now a report from DU's On-The-Ground correspondent, Askew. Take it away, Askew!"

I can't help it- I'm enthusiastic about all these candidates (except for, well, LC) and I really appreciate your "You Are There" reporting for us.

[rocktivity]

87. But what was your impression of the wings?

rocktivity

[bigtree]

88. k&r!

...great report, askew!

And not just because my guy got top billing...



Haley Morris ‏@haleymorris Aug 14
Big crowd around @MartinOMalley after a fiery #wingding speech. He will stay until the bitter end!

[askew]

89. I was in the back of that line somewhere.

[Hekate]

90. Thanks for the report.

[Number23]

91. This is a good report and is very much echoed by a Guardian report on the same evening

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/15/martin-omalley-steal-the-show-democratic-primary

Guardian thinks he brought the house down too. This is very interesting and a little exciting!

[elleng]

92. askews report is great;

guardian's article is mostly pejorative b.s., only thing good about it, vis a vis Governor O'Malley, is the title. First bit: 'standing like a tall, handsome, safely male candidate with a slightly affected southern twang.'

[Number23]

93. Hmmm... I didn't think it was a bad characterization of O'Malley. But I'm open to all of the

candidates right now (though on DU, because of the current environment I've been K&R more Clinton threads than I normally would just to try to balance this fucking place out) so I didn't read it for pros or cons on anyone in particular.

[elleng]

94. Do have to read the article carefully;

I almost posted it in 'GD-P' but then read it more carefully, and left it in MO'M Group. Another DUer agreed with me: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12812358