Oxley prepared a written speech.  Then Indiana was told that Illinois (just before Indiana) would be the last state to make a presentation, because Illinois would yield to New York which would put Barack Obama over the top.  Protests ensued, vigorous protests. 

About a minute before the moment of truth, Indiana got the word that it was back on.  By then Oxley had discarded his speech.  After a brief search he decided to ad lib the whole thing.

Congressman Brad Ellsworth told a story of how, when he made his first speech on the floor of Congress, he misspoke saying, “I want to spank the Congressman from Minnesota.”  He says that sort of thing doesn’t go over well in Indiana.

Andre Carson told delegates to call him if they have problems.  He said, “I have a 21 month old so don’t call after 8.  But call me.”

Finally, Lieutenant Governor candidate Dennie Oxley went after Governor Mitch Daniels.  “When he comes to southern Indiana, he talks like me,” said Oxley.  “That accent comes and goes.  Mine stays the same.”

Joe Andrew, the former Democratic National Chairman who followed a dramatic May first superdelegate endorsement of Obama by failing to vote in the Indiana Primary, was not among the no-shows.

]]> http://blogs.wishtv.com/2008/08/27/behind-the-scenes-at-the-dnc/feed/ 0 http://blogs.wishtv.com/2008/08/27/democratic-parties/ http://blogs.wishtv.com/2008/08/27/democratic-parties/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:39:40 +0000 Jim Shella http://blogs.wishtv.com/Jim_Shella/?p=321 The social scene is a big part of any national political convention and this week’s gathering in Denver is no different.  That’s why some in the Indiana delegation to the Democratic National Convention questioned the reason why Chairman Dan Parker missed this morning’s breakfast meeting.

Parker says he was legitimately ill and says the altitude may be a factor. 

For others in search of a fast cure there is a bar in the corner at the Indiana breakfast meetings stocked with screwdrivers and bloody Marys.  For the record, it doesn’t get much business.

David Sanders appeared on the floor of the convention last night wearing tattered work gloves.  Sanders says he wore the gloves while taking part in an archaeological dig in Israel and the leader of the dig insisted that he wear them at the convention.  I wonder what I can talk him into?

Bill Crawford shows up everyday in a monochromatic outfit.  Everything matches, the shoes, the pants, the shirt, and the Obama ‘08 cap that tops it off every day.  Monday was white, Tuesday was orange, today is blue.

The existence of a threat helps explain all the visible security here.  When you come to national conventions you expect to see police and guns but this is different with roving golf carts carrying police officers, Chevy Suburbans with 5 and 6 SWAT team members hanging on the sides circling the convention hall, and sharpshooters on nearby buildings.

The perimeters around the Pepsi Center are bigger than I remember at previous conventions, too.

Congressman Baron Hill addressed the Indiana Delegation here in Denver today and got emotional at one point. 

Hill shared how his son-in-law, Josh Hamilton, died of cancer just over a month ago and how Barack Obama took time out to make a personal phone call to Hamilton about a week before he passed away.  Hill says Obama told Hamilton to keep fighting and said the phone call is evidence of the kind of person Obama really is.