AJC.com > Talk of the town > Archives > 2008 > September > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USConcern for Gustav victims, excitement for McCain and Palin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[Vincent Russo and Baoky Vu, members of the Georgia Young Professionals for McCain, are blogging this week from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.]
While I await the arrival of my co-blogger, Baoky Vu, in Minneapolis, I wanted to take a moment to give our readers an idea of my first impressions of the Republican National Convention, the convention attendees, and the city of Minneapolis, which might have less public transportation than Atlanta.
Upon arriving in Minneapolis last night, I decided to ride the light-rail public transit downtown. Although the train only has one line that does not extend through the city, the locals were quite pleasant and did not conjure up any memories of the infamous “MARTA Soulja Girl” on YouTube. In speaking with some of the locals, it was clear that they were very excited about having the convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, but were concerned with the inevitable impact of Hurricane Gustav on the convention and the storm victims.
While on the light-rail transit, I began receiving phone calls from friends from Louisiana and the Georgia delegation, and I was informed that the convention schedule was altered as a result of Hurricane Gustav. Due to the hurricane, the convention would be called to order today at the Xcel Center in St. Paul, but the remainder of the events were canceled.
Despite the somber mood of the convention attendees due to Gustav, excitement for John McCain, Sarah Palin and the upcoming election is still in the air. Last night the Georgia delegation, along with members from all other delegations, attended the delegate reception. The reception was at the Minneapolis Convention Center and was full of talk about politics and Gustav. During the reception activities, I spoke with Bryan Jeansonne and Michael Bayham, members of the Louisiana delegation, about Gustav and the decision to cancel Monday’s plans. Both Jeansonne and Bayham expressed their personal concerns that Gustav posed to them and the people of Louisiana, and they believed that the decision of McCain, Palin and the RNC to alter the convention schedule was appropriate.
In addition to McCain’s decision to focus on the victims of the storm and not his nomination, I was informed by Jeansonne that the McCain-Palin campaign chartered a plane to Jackson, Ms., so that delegation members could fly home to be with their families. Clearly, the members of the Louisiana delegation were appreciative of McCain’s immediate response, especially in light of the response three years ago to Hurricane Katrina, and believe McCain’s actions demonstrate not only his ability to be a lead without any on the job training, but also his ability to be empathetic to the stresses experienced by people impacted by natural disasters.
Despite the concerned tone toward the victims of Gustav, previously scheduled parties not sponsored by the RNC continued well into Sunday night after the Delegate Reception. One party I was invited to and attended was the Impact Film Festival/MySpace party. A native Minneapolis band, the Alarmists, played on stage and lines of people waited to enter. I was lucky to have a VIP pass, so I didn’t have much waiting to do. Members of the Georgia delegation were in attendance, and while politics centered most conversations, everyone had a great time.
With Labor Day here and Hurricane Gustav making landfall, First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain attended breakfast with the Louisiana delegation this morning. As a native of Louisiana, I was very happy to see the continued support and outreach to Louisiana and its delegation. Mrs. McCain introduced Mrs. Bush at the breakfast, and both women expressed that the people of Louisiana were in their thoughts and prayers. The statements by these unbelievable women were warm and sincere, and I believe Mrs. Bush and Mrs. McCain helped ease some of the anxiety shared by members of the Louisiana delegation.
Finally, and in addition to the outpouring of support by party leaders, many of the convention attendees have also begun to take action to support the victims of Gustav. Several groups, such as the Republican National Lawyers Association, will be holding receptions later today will collect donations for Gulf Coast charities identified by the governors of the impacted states. This outreach will surely be a continued theme throughout the convention.
Be sure to check back for more updates.
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Comments
By TruePatriot
September 1, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
While charity is a great thing we all do, it would seem you haven’t heard the most recent news about Palin’s pregnant 17-year old daughter.
We know Palin was not fully vetted by McCain – How could they claim to have done so when he only began to consider her a month ago and had only be in contact with her twice. I doubt they knew about the pregnancy, because even they admit they did not look at Palin’s family – just her (if that). If McCain did know, I suppose with all the infidelity and cover-up in his past, this would seem trivial to him.
If nothing else, it shows poor judgment and how out-of-touch McCain is. He thought he was being so clever picking an unknown from a small town. McCain/Palin are only releasing this information now because of mounting concerns about Palin and because it is a slow-news holiday and people are preoccupied with Hurricane Gustav.
When candidates seek to hold the highest office in the land, people expect them to be good examples for our country and the world. That is why Bill Clinton was attacked. It is such a hypocrisy for the Republicans and in particular Evangelicals to say that a pregnancy out-of-wedlock is a private matter, or for Palin—who is against birth control and who favors abstinence only—to ignore the problem of teen pregnancy when it happens in her own home.
That Palin’s daughter Bristol is pregnant only adds fuel to rumors that this girl is a “Preacher’s Wild Child” who may have been pregnant out-of-wedlock before. Except this time (if it is true about Trig), Palin knows they can’ try for another cover up. If this blows up in McCain’s face, it is better that Americans see them for who they really are now.
By Butt Geyser
September 1, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
A: Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, and John McCain
Q: Name two hockey moms and a puck
By dittohead
September 1, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
Regarding the mindless, violent anti-WAR protestors at the Convention..Isn’t than an Oxymoron…..What can they be protesting..They are Marxist-socialists
By Jay Black
September 1, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
I dont thinkthe RNC will generate nearly the amount of enthusiasm as the DNC did. Even without Gustav.
By maz hess
September 2, 2008 6:09 AM | Link to this
Palin was member of the alaskan secession