Posted on 09/03/2012 7:13:03 PM PDT by smoothsailing
The DNC shines the spotlight of the world stage on our Queen City. Delegates from all 50 states, 15,000 journalists, and more than 350 foreign leaders will experience Charlotte . . .
— Charlotte Business Journal, August 31, 2012
I can’t speak for the delegates or the foreign dignitaries, but many of the journalists I have spoken with here are appalled at the accommodations in Charlotte to which they were assigned by the DNC. National Review was assigned to two Knights Inn properties. Everyone who saw them fled immediately across state lines to an available Marriott in South Carolina rather than stay there. As one of our political correspondents reported:
The Knights Inn was the worst hotel I have ever seen, and I’ve stayed in many bad motels in my life. Two guys were dealing drugs in the room next to me, and a prostitute was working out of the parking lot. And this was in the early afternoon. The room itself was dirty, full of other people’s stuff, etc.
I have never requested a hotel change in 3 years at NR. This was the first time I felt absolutely compelled.
It’s not as if the DNC couldn’t have figured out something was wrong with the properties. TripAdvisor had these recent comments on one of the Knights Inn properties: “wouldn’t recommend it to my worst enemy,” “scared to death,” and “pimps and prostitutes at night.”
Nor was National Review singled out. Staff members from Politico and the Hill abandoned their assigned hotels, too. Staffers from the Hill found refuge in a cheap Microtel and considered it a comparative oasis.
Tucker Carlson, editor of The Daily Caller, told me that the Quality Inn his staff was assigned to was “the worst hotel you can imagine.” TripAdvisor carried these recent reviews: “barely a Bates Motel,” “scary area and parking lot,” and “the worst.”
Some of the scarcity of good hotels is due to Charlotte’s relatively small size. It is the least populous city to host a national convention since the GOP held theirs in New Orleans in 1988, and the Big Easy had lots of hotels because of its popularity with tourists.
But there really is no excuse for anyone, especially women, to be assigned to hotels that are beyond dingy and in some cases clearly unsafe.
Better send in Dirty Harry.
Assigned hotels? ‘Journalists’ have become perfumed princes completely lacking in initiative.
The rat delegates should feel right at home.
Considering the kind of people who vote for Obama, maybe the DNC figured the crack cribs wouldn’t matter.
I must say that I find this surprising, since NC is overflowing with cheap, illegal labor to keep motels clean.
Microtel rooms are small, and the walls thin, but I have found that Management does a good job making sure the properties are clean and safe. And there's breakfast for those interested, if memory serves.
I just read this over at The Corner- was hoping it was posted here.
This is mindboggling. Didn’t the DNC understand any of this before the decision to go to Charlotte? Don’t they have someone in charge of researching the city?
This is pitiful...if even Politico is complaining...
Reporters from National Review assigned to a crackhouse motel in Charlotte...and we’re supposed to believe it’s a coincidence? Ditto for the Daily Caller journos staying at that Quality Inn. Nothing more than old-fashioned Chicago hardball. Write negative stuff about us and we’ll put in in the worst hotel we can find in Charlotte, and hope you get mugged to boot.
Here’s the real question: since the Dims assigned media lodging for their convention, where are the reporters from the New York Times, Washington Post, CBS, NBC and ABC staying? It’s a gimmee they aren’t bunking at the Knights Inn.
And those were the GOOD hotels in Charlotte.
Doesn’t matter though as most of the DNC’ers will be cruising Wilkinson and West Boulevards..or the bus station...looking for a good time.
What goes around comes around. The pubs can do it to ALL the lame-stream media in 4 years.
What goes around comes around. The pubs can do it to ALL the lame-stream media in 4 years.
In the words of Hillary during the Clinton’s first White House tour, “We just screwed all of these people.”
lmao, Knights Inn? The bedbug haven from hell. And they will still kiss the DNC’s butt.
“The Knights Inn was the worst hotel I have ever seen, and I’ve stayed in many bad motels in my life. Two guys were dealing drugs in the room next to me, and a prostitute was working out of the parking lot. And this was in the early afternoon. The room itself was dirty, full of other people’s stuff, etc.”
In 2016 that may be a luxury hotel.
Doesn’t reflect well on city leadership, either, considering the national exposure it stands to get from the convention.
Seems to me they should have had code enforcement working overtime to clean up neighborhoods and properties and make the place spiffy and safe.
Charlotte is pretty small, isn’t it? According to TripAdvisor, they have a Staybridge, Hampton Inn, Hyatt House and Drury Inn that receive the highest guest rankings. There’s also a Ritz Carlton, if he wants an upgrade =)
Hubby went to a Fulbright meeting in Charlotte and said the SAME thing about the accommodations. His roommate slept on the floor because the bed was so dirty.
Ick!
That got my attention too. At first I figured the DNC didn't care or was deliberately dissing National Review, but no! The DNC just doesn't care at all, period! Talk about low rent, sheesh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.