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Monday, September 1, 2008
One Georgian reached the podium
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Aaron Gould Sheinin asheinin@ajc.com
St. Paul, Minn. — While congressional hopeful Rick Goddard saw his slot vanish at today’s session of the Republican National Convention, another Georgian did get a moment at the podium.
Alec Poitevint, John McCain’s Georgia chairman, delivered the report of one of the RNC’s standing committees. While his entire appearance was perfunctory and lasted all of three minutes, Poitevint was the only Peach Stater to address the crowd at the Xcel Center.
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Goddard still hopes for speaking slot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Aaron Gould Sheinin asheinin@ajc.com
Minneapolis — Georgia Republican congressional hopeful Rick Goddard was a casualty of today’s shortened session of the Republican National Convention.
Goddard, who is trying to knock off U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) in November, was originally slated for a prime speaking time during the opening session of the convention. But when the RNC and John McCain’s campaign decided to significantly scale back the day’s activities out of respect for the Gulf Coast, Goddard’s spot at the podium disappeared.
On the bus ride back to the delegation hotel this afternoon, however, Goddard said he’s still hoping for a slot Tuesday or later in the week.
“We haven’t heard anything, yet,” Goddard said.
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Proof that the Palins are an average, American family
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
His advisors say Republican presidential candidate John McCain knew about this when he named the Alaskan governor his running mate, which might imply that the timing of the announcement — while the nation is focused on Gustav — isn’t an accident:
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is pregnant.
A statement released by the campaign said that Bristol Palin will keep her baby and marry the child’s father.
“Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents,” Sarah and Todd Palin said in the brief statement.
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Save the barbs for tomorrow, Everhart says
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Aaron Gould Sheinin asheinin@ajc.com
Minneapolis— Georgia GOP chairwoman Sue Everhart told her delegates this morning that the Republican National Convention will not be canceled due to Hurricane Gustav.
Beyond, that, however, information on what will happen the next three days is still unclear.
“None of us know exactly” what will happen, she said.
Most of today’s convention schedule has already been scrapped, although Everhart told delegates they need to be in their seats for this afternoon’s session, which begins at 3:30 p.m.
But it won’t be a party, she said, and asked delegates to dress appropriately, meaning no funny hats or outfits that are staples of political conventions. And as for Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, be nice was her message. At least for now.
“Don’t be too hard on the other side today,” she said. “We’ll go after him tomorrow.”
The focus, at least for now, she said, should be on those affected by Hurricane Gustav.
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Breakfast is on, and then …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Aaron Gould Sheinin asheinin@ajc.com
Minneapolis — So far, we know this much: Breakfast will be served to Georgia’s delegation to the Republican National Committee. Beyond that, the first day of the GOP national convention is likely to be fairly quiet.
Delegates who ventured out to dinner Sunday night returned to find a letter from Georgia chairwoman Sue Everhart under their hotel room door. Everhart wrote:
“Let me begin by asking you to keep our neighbors on the Gulf Coast in our thoughts and prayers,” she began.
She reminds the delegation that the RNC has significantly scaled back the day’s events. The convention will convene at 3 p.m. (that’s Central time, i.e., 4 p.m. in Georgia), but it will be a purely perfunctory session, meaning delegates will approve business items such as the report of the credentials, rules and platform committees. They plan to adjourn by 5 p.m.
The decision to scale back the first-day of the convention was made Sunday as we all await the impact of the now category 3 Gustav. What happens to the planned four-day event is still very much up in the air.
The move here to take a wait-and-see approach to the convention was applauded by Georgia delegates and officials.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) said Sunday that it was “an appropriate response to a bad situation.”
John White, the Georgia GOP parliamentarian added that “Republicans are caring people. When Americans are a risk, we’re there to help.”
National Republican Party officials, along with nominee-to-to-be John McCain has encouraged delegates to turn their attention to helping those affected by the storm.
McCain’s wife, Cindy, will still address delegates and current first lady Laura Bush will, as well. They are both expected to relay ways convention-goers can help victims of the storm. Planned appearances by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were scrapped, however, as both men will remain on duty, monitoring the storm and its aftermath.
“This is another example of John McCain putting nation before politics, regardless of the political implication,” said Georgia GOP executive director Ben Fry. “This is the right thing to do where our focus is on coming together. (Georgians) are going to do whatever we can to be helpful. We’ll adjust our schedule to accommodate the needs of the residents of the Gulf Coast.”
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