RNC Diary - Tuesday (liberal dweeb in the land of the Right)

Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror ^ | 9/1/04 | Patrick Ottenhoff

[islander-11]

Nantucket summer resident Pat Ottenhoff is spending the week in New York City at the Republican National Convention as an intern for the New Jersey Network. In addition to working for the public television station deep within the bowels of Madison Square Garden, he will chronicle for The Inquirer and Mirror the events leading up to and including President George W. Bush’s acceptance of the Republican nomination for president. He will also be keeping a convention diary which he will update periodically throughout the week in this space.

This morning at the Crowne Plaza breakfast, the mood among the New Jersey delegation was much more laid-back and relaxed. After all, many had gone the night before to the RNC’s party at the midtown restaurant Serafini (shuttles ran until 2 a.m.) and since there was no morning session today at the Garden, there was no rush.

The ones who were there, though, praised Guiliani’s speech from last night. I arrived at MSG around noon and as opposed to yesterday, the crowd of delegates and guests was nowhere to be seen. I found the usual press contingent abuzz though. Shortly after I arrived, we heard a rumor that Barney’s, the chic Manhattan retailer, was offering free food, massages, facials and other perks for the press. So I was promptly sent by my female bosses on a reconnaissance mission to find out the scoop. Before I arrived, however, I got a call telling me to postpone that search and get some floor passes ASAP. This is one of my more important and frequent jobs.

When the producers decide they want to do an interview on the floor, we must first acquire two passes: one for the reporter, one for the cameraman. It’s my job to run over to the other side of MSG, sign out passes with the authorities and meet them at Gate 60, which is the closest gate to the NJ delegation.

This requires going through one major checkpoint and flashing my badge a good dozen times. During prime time, this can take forever (a half hour), especially when celebrities are arriving, as was Dick Cheney and the Bush daughters last night. There’s also competition to attain these passes, as all the non-major networks, including scores of international contingents, get their passes at the same point. This means we’re given a half-hour limit, maximum. (Last night I had to convince the lady giving out passes to grant me two even though I already had two checked out – for two separate interviews. This was no easy task considering our first duo was late to return their passes to me, but I’ve become friendly with this lady, who cut me a break).

When I was called to get the passes today I did, running to the other side of MSG, only to later find out that a) you don’t even need them if the convention’s not in session and b) our producers decided they didn’t even want to film now anyway.

So I took advantage of being on the floor and having some down time. I relaxed in the NJ delegation and watched Tom Brokaw and George Stephanopoulos, about 10 feet away, preparing for tonight. The dynamic between these two was hilarious: It’s blatantly obvious that Stephanopoulos looks up to Brokaw. At one point, a trio of Republican suits came up and gave Brokaw a pat on the back. Yet their body language toward him signaled cockiness and contempt. As they walked away there was obvious whispering and trash-talking on the part of Brokaw and his people.

As I left the Garden to go back to the Farley Media Center I took what I thought was a shortcut and got lost in the underground halls. It turned out to be an RNC leadership hub. I passed by RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie in the hall, but he was apparently too busy to reply to my "How you doing, Chairman?"

Back in the media center for now, I expect an interview with the Mass delegation later . . .

A Tale of Two States

Massachusetts and Texan voters rarely agree. Texas has in recent years developed a solid Republican base, sending two Bushes to the White House and offering such Congressional conservative pooh-bahs as Dick Armey and Tom DeLay. Massachusetts, on the other hand, has a strong Democratic background, is the home state of President John F. Kennedy and two of the country’s most powerful senators in Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. That’s why here, in Madison Square Garden, it’s interesting to see these two groups together.

Obviously the two delegations are here for the same reason. Representatives from both states are here to nominate the president for reelection and offer their support. What the two groups share in common beyond their political views is interesting, and how they differ is even more suggestive.

Both delegations received great press coverage. After all, both have elected officials dueling it out on the national stage. Both are wearing the same convention uniform; but what they’re wearing is strikingly different.

The Texas delegation all has on blue denim shirts and jeans and are wearing white cowboy hats. Every time someone mentions Texas or the screen shows George H. W. Bush, the delegation starts hootin’ and hollerin’ and waving their hats everywhere.

The Massachusetts delegation, in stark contrast, is dressed in red polo shirts nicely tucked in. On the front breast pocket is a neat “Republican National Convention 2004” logo and on the back in bold capital letters is written “JOHN WHO?”

Both sides express solidarity with themselves and with their party, yet dress and look extremely different. They are from different parts of the country and come from different backgrounds, but share a common view.

It’s an ironic notion: solidarity and conformity coupled with diversity within one party. The only explanation I can offer is that this party is united as ever and is truly in support of this president. The theme for the convention may change every night, but if the week has one underlying tone, it’s an unquestioned enthusiasm for this incumbent.

Check back for periodic updates from the RNC.

Patrick Ottenhoff graduated this spring from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. where he majored in political science with an emphasis on foreign relations. He lives in McLean, Va. and summers with his family on Hummock Pond Road.

[islander-11]

Again, I lament that I was not selected to go to the Big Apple on this assignment... Republican heroes all night, whupping up on smelly, worthless, nitwit hippie-types all day - it would have been Pulitzer material! Instead, they sent this faux-Islander - arrrrghhh!