Denver Host Committee Cancels Delegate Parties

[El Supremo]

Source: Denver's CBS4

Fundraising shortfalls have apparently prompted the Democratic National Convention Host Committee to begin cancelling parties for out-of-state delegates that were scheduled at a number of venues throughout the metro area. CBS4 has independently confirmed that delegate parties have been pulled from the following locations:

Denver Zoo - was scheduled to host a party for the Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota delegates.

Colorado History Museum - was scheduled to host a party for the Arkansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin delegates.

Exdo Event Center - was scheduled to host the California delegates; however there is a contract in place and negotiations are underway.


Read more: http://cbs4denver.com/denver2008/denver.delegate.parties.2.740338.html

[aquart]

1. Money didn't pour in when Obama clinched the nom?

Odd.

[damntexdem]

7. Let me put it this way: I'll donate to Obama, not to the DCCC.

But I admit that it is tragic that so many parties are cancelled. (sarcasm)

[Hissyspit]

15. Money has been going to Obama INSTEAD of DNC. RNC has outraised DNC this year,

in case everyone here is not aware of it.

I gave equally to his campaign and to the DNC.

[MaineDem]

20. These aren't DNC functions

It's the host committee, the Denver people, that can't raise the money.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. When Obama taps his massive

donor base, we'll be more than happy to ensure that the DNC gets what it needs to celebrate our nominee. Bitter much?

[Tippy]

21. Obama raised more than probably any candidate in history

Who gives a hoot about big parties for those going to the convention...It's a huge waste of money...We will see contributions continue to drop as money gets tighter...."It's the ECONOMY....

[Poll_Blind]

2. Does anyone know if the Clinton backers who threatened to pull money from the...

...DCCC have any hand in this? Threatening to pull money from the DCCC is a threat on the Democratic Party, itself, and I would not put further shenanigans past them.

PB

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I stopped giving donations to the DCCC last year and I'm not a Clinton supporter. Nor have I been

excited by Obama. I stopped my annual contributions to the DCCC because I decided to give money only to progressives.

[mac2]

34. Me too.

Even they seemed to roll over once their fannies hit their seat in Congress.

[mac2]

8. Hillary to blame? Oh get real. It's more the DNC shenanegans

than anything.

[tridim]

3. Be sure to thank Hillary's massive ego for the fundraising shortfalls.

This is why she should have been an adult and suspended when the math said she should.

[Tippy]

22. Clinton put how many millions of her own money into the campaign?

Obama has said he will help...He will hold a fund raiser for her...I didn't know these bills have to be paid off before the Convention..agree on one point Hillary does have a massive ego problem. But I believe it is the ECONOMY that is to blame...obama was smart he went after the smaller donations and he got them...

[mac2]

27. Obama's campaign is rich and is not gone.

The will or need to have the parties is Dean's idea not the state party members. It silences them. A big party where half can't even discuss or meet with the delegates is planned. DA!!

[Tippy]

32. They have had these parties for as long as I can remember

Both the Democrats and Republicans...Remember in 2004 Tom DeLay rented a huge cruise ship....

[Botany]

4. Can't the delegates just get their own escorts to their hotel room?

Just saying ..... :rofl:

[El Supremo]

9. Oh. You must be referring to this story:

Prostitute Numbers Expected to Jump During DNC

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/04/16/prostitute-numbers-expected-to-jump-during-dnc


Maybe the DNC should make them pay a surcharge to help pay for the convention.

[Tippy]

23. Moving that many people to and from is no easy task...but yes they can pay their own way

[mac2]

6. Ya don't let them get together to talk before the convention.

Silence them. Your're running this pep rally eh Dean? You suspect they may not be happy with the taking of their votes and the Super Delegates? Delegates have reason to be very concerned over this primary manipulation.

[Botany]

10. please

like they don't have e-mail & cell phones or will meet @ meals or in the hotels.

[DCKit]

11. Well it seemed like a good idea when they thought it up.

They didn't expect it to bite them in the ass so quickly.

No election in recent history has been this important, yet they seem determined to create controversy within the party right up to November.

Those who would attempt to control the party and steer the elections are no better, or different, than the Republic machine.

[tkmorris]

12. That is one of the sillier notions I've ever heard.

[mac2]

13. Like our elections and primaries have been honest since

2000? The conventions just pep rallies.

[Changenow]

31. How was the primary dishonest?

Not liking the rules does not equal dishonesty.

[MaineDem]

14. Press Release:

CONVENTION DELEGATES TO UNITE IN A SINGLE EVENT WITH FRIENDS OF NEW ORLEANS TO COMMEMORATE EFFORTS TO REBUILD AREAS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

Denver, CO - June 4, 2008 - After consultation with the Democratic National Convention Committee, the Denver 2008 Host Committee today announced that it will direct delegates to a single celebration commemorating the recovery and rebuilding of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in lieu of individual delegate welcoming events. The event, to be hosted by the Friends of New Orleans, will be held Sunday, Aug. 24, three years after Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region in August, 2005.

The single-event format provides a natural forum to unite delegates and other convention guests in a festive environment for a worthwhile cause on an important anniversary. Friends of New Orleans is an international organization committed to supporting the ongoing recovery and rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region.

"People across the country have poured their heart and soul into helping rebuild New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast Region," said Host Committee President/Chair Elbra Wedgeworth. "This event will recognize those efforts, and we hope all of the delegates and guests to the Democratic National Convention will join in this commemorative event."

This consolidation supported by the Democratic National Convention Committee will enable the Host Committee to focus greater resources and energy into activities taking place in and around the Pepsi Center, where the actual Convention is being held Aug. 25-Aug. 28. This also provides the City of Denver and Convention attendees a chance to honor the three-year anniversary of Katrina.

Previous plans for delegate welcoming events included gatherings at 24 different locations around Denver, each of which would host anywhere from one to five delegations. The consolidation of the delegate celebrations will not, however, detract from Denver's efforts to showcase itself to the tens of thousands of elected officials, delegates, media and other guests who will be in Denver for the Convention. Hundreds of events are planned in and around Denver that will highlight the city's cultural diversity and rich history. The Historic Five Points Jazz Festival, Media Welcoming Celebration and Symposia of the Rockies are just some of the events taking place at unique spots around the city during Convention Week.

In addition, the Host Committee and City of Denver are engaging citizens across the country through its Call to Democracy efforts highlighted by the America:Live and In Person initiative and Cinemocracy Short Film Festival. People in Denver for the convention will also be able to view the 10 site-specific art installations of Dialog:City, which combines art, democracy and digital media.

Friends of New Orleans is a non-profit organization dedicated to the ongoing recovery efforts in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Following this event, which will invite all 56 delegations attending the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Denver's Fillmore Auditorium will present the "New Orleans All-Star Jam-Balaya," a concert featuring both the music and food that made New Orleans famous.

[Tippy]

24. This is really great idea....

[originalpckelly]

16. Crap, my brother works for a company that had contracts for those parties!

He had to go through all this bullshit! And now this! :grr:

[Trajan]

18. Well ...

The same mouths will eat the same food sitting at the same tables on the same chairs ....

A zero sum outcome ... He should be able to keep his contracts .... They will still need them ...

[pfitz59]

19. I love that picture of Obama in Portland!

The PACNORWEST has gone for Obama in a big way!

[Tippy]

25. Feel really bad for your brother.....he can thank GW Bush's economy

[mac2]

26. Has little to do with the Bush economy.

Dean doesn't care about the (elected) delegates. He likes the Super Delegates (unelected and out of power). He wants to run the convention like a pep rally and you'd better get ready to cheer on the Neo Cons and DLC agenda.

[MaineDem]

28. This has nothing to do wtih Dean - it's a Denver committee

It's the Mayor and his fundraising that's lacking. Not the DNC. Please get your facts straight.

[unauno]

36. Horribly confusing.

This is the kind of stuff that drives me crazy, and makes politics seem like a racket.

[MaineDem]

38. It's simply logistics.

Really has nothing to do with politics. Just the local community promising so much to the national party and not coming up with all the money.

[Doremus]

30. Neocons and DLC agenda????

Are we reading the same article?

Good grief.

Howard Dean works for the DNC. He doesn't even particularly get along with the DLC, which is putting it mildly.

[mac2]

33. Just wait and see in Denver.

[Dave From Canada]

29. Even worse, "The single benefit party means the Friends of New Orleans helps pick up the tab"

So a charity set up to help the city of New Orleans after Katrina will have to help pay for the convention? What the hell is up with that?

[mac2]

35. Katrina truth and funding is important but does it belong

at the convention except as another outrage which needs investigation and accountability like 911? It seems to be a distraction to the platform to get out of Iraq, stop the attack on Iran, and address our debt.

[paulk]

37. I have to say - as someone who doesn't have a very high

opinion of our city government - especially our boy wonder mayor - I find this really funny.

And predictable.