![]() |
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
![]() |
Security Once conventions ceased to be deliberative bodies, they became four-day forums, with a particular order of business: credentials challenges on Monday; platform discussions on Tuesday; nominations and voting on Wednesday; acceptance speeches on Thursday. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s there were highly publicized conflicts over credentials and the platform. The parties didn't like the negative publicity these generated so over time they tried to move disputes out of sight. The conventions ceased to be places where anything was openly discussed and became shows. In 2012 the conventions were held in Tampa Bay, FL and Charlotte, NC. Having become more festivals than forums, they were appropriately reduced to three days. The Republicans had planned a four-day convention, but it was shortened by Hurricane Isaac (which gave Tampa only a big wet kiss on Monday as it rushed off to embrace New Orleans). The Democrats only scheduled three days of meetings. Thursday was to be a public celebration of the President, concluding with his acceptance speech in an outdoor stadium for 60,000 people. The venue was moved because Charlotte was repeatedly doused by short but violent rainstorms throughout the week. Since umbrellas were prohibited inside the arenas, the speeches had to move inside so the audience would not get soaked. In the end, Mother Nature overruled months of planning by both parties.
Security
The security plans were designed by the Secret Service, which sees no benefit to ease of access. As barriers went up in both convention cities, it became harder and harder for anyone, with or without credentials, to go from place A to B. Indeed the security maze and numerous check points appeared to be designed both to induce stress and to relieve it with lots of walking.
Although the 2012 Democratic convention advertised itself as the most open and accessible in history, it was the least open and accessible of the 14 conventions I have been to. All the barricades and security provisions made it hard to go anywhere, even to events open to the public. The security perimeter was larger than that in Tampa, though outside the security zone there was less of a dampening effect. Most of downtown Tampa looked like a ghost town populated by uniforms; the streets of Charlotte were bustling. Offsetting the numerous physical barriers and sometimes ridiculous rules, the cops in both cities were pleasant and arrests were few.
Messaging Convention planners select the messages they want the TV audience to absorb. Some of these messages are obvious; some are subtle. They are emblazoned on the walls of the convention bowl and printed or painted on signs to be waved by delegates. The Republican convention had a different message every day.
To Top Books by Jo | What's New | About Jo | Photos | Political Buttons Home | Search | Links | Contact Jo | Articles by Jo |
||||||||||||