Heather’s Blog
What an interesting view of culturesI have from inside our compound at the Pepsi Center. Here the KRDO crew issandwiched inside the ABC block just east of the venue, amid the maze of tents and trailers. Under a constant buzz of generators,I make my way past yet another security check. The ABC network tent – where there’s a constant stream of producers, writers, and engineers – is straight ahead.
Meandering through, I find our very own trailer (well, it’s not all ours… we can only claim one room of the single-wide trailer. Trust me, it makes for fun times under the deadline crunch time).
Sharing our pad with us is FUJI TV from Japan. Al-Jazeera TV is to our left. And we couldn’t be more different. Scanning from one end to the other, so go our habits. Here are the folks from Japan – diligently typing away, taking feeds, disturbing no one. I seldom hear a peep (even when we declare, somehow always on cue each night, ‘Whew! Why’s it so hot in here?!’ only to discover FUJI has turned off the AC – again -without fessing up).
The Al-Jazeera clan, well, like to smoke and talk. Their plastic chairs are arranged in a circle, turning the concrete slab of precious real estate outside their doorway entrance into their own patio. Cigarette butts abound.
Then there’s us. We fit somewhere in between on the decibel scale. As for our refuse, we don’t bother to take it outside like Al-Jazeera, it’s just there with us – wrappers, half-eaten sandwiches, old scripts – all on the floor around our feet. And the smell that comes with days-old garbage. Yeah, it’s time to meander over to Invesco Field.
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I have no hairspray. No, I didn’t misplace it. No, I didn’t run out. No, it wasn’t abducted by aliens. The security lady took it away. It was the night of Hillary Clinton’s speech, and security was noticeably tighter than our first day through. Even our apples were confiscated! Ahhh, the produce is of no consequence… but the hairspray! It’s the life and blood of the on-air journalist! And she took it. Right there, just took it away. But I’m not bitter. Really. I’m not.
Okay, maybe just a little.
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Reporting from inside the Pepsi Center is a hoot. It’s incredible for me to be experiencing history like this. What an honor to be here.
Our early shows are especially full of excitement. People in the crowd are on their feet, dancing to the music. Signs are waving, delegates singing along with the all-American songs like “Born in the USA.” The only challenging part is hearing Tak and Marshall as we banter back and forth in between stories while we’re live. The background noise is deafening, so I’ve become an expert lip-reader. Or guesser at best. It’s a constant game to decifer what they’re saying! Keeps me on my toes.
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So label me a name-dropper. I got to meet my idols in the business today: Charles Gibson, George Stephanopoulos, and Kate Snow. How cool is that??
Wow, what a day!
My alarm clock sounded at 4:30 this morning, a rude awakening. Actually, let me re-phrase that. It was an awakening that I was relieved to hear – I’d been eagerly awaiting my alarm for my chance to cover America’s big story.
And I leapt out of bed (a rarity, if you really knew me – I’m a serial sleeper-in-er). My photographer, Isaac, well – not so much. He logged a long day prior, getting only three hours of sleep (sorry, Isaac, I owe you one).
It was off to find Ben Taber, Colorado’s youngest delegate at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. I kept calling the 18-year-old, hoping to snag him walking out of the elevator doors. 30 minutes later and we had our man – he quickly confessed that it was due to my calls he didn’t oversleep (see, we’re not all “evil media”).
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Hours later, I found myself inside the Pepsi Center. It’s really a sight to behold, and one that the TV screen doesn’t do justice. Bright blue carpet canvasses the entire floor, asort of subliminal messageissued from the Dems. The front stage is covered with flashing lights, a la Vegas. In every corner, you see the who’s who of media moguls (hopefully captured on my camera – will get those downloaded – a challenge for this technologically-challenged writer).
We’re doing liveshots from the ABC Newsone skybox. Throughout our early shows, we were flanked by ABC’s Linsey Davis (to my right) and Sam Donaldson (to my left). We have to be extra-careful where we’re standing, so as not to step into the shots of the others surrounding us.
The best thing I packed so far: my tennis shoes. Yup. Don’t care about the fashion statement (or lack thereof). We’ve sprinted to each live shot (Tak, I totally beat you up the stairs), and heck – Idespise blisters. One thing’s for sure: today won’t be the last time I’ll be rolling out the sneakers… even if I do look like a mall-walker.
The most diverse delegation ever. Listen up, America: your voice is being heard.
It’s in times like this, my buttons are bursting. I’m so proud of my country. Here, we see democracy in action – without exclusion. Where others worldwide must remain silent, our opinions can be heard.
Young and old, white and black, rich and poor, are converging. We are privileged, indeed.
The Pikes Peak region has it’s own bragging rights. Our seven delegates comprise one-tenth of the Colorado delegation.
We’re home to the convention’s youngest delegate: Benjamin Taber. The 18-year-old will be a freshman this coming fall at Colorado College. Inspired by Obama and the political process, Taber says the passion of his could translate into a declared major: International Political Economy.
For Taber, the DNC is taking top priority: he’s even missing freshman orientation so he can participate as a delegate.
“It’s worth missing,” he says. “I’ll find my way around back on campus.”
James Tucker, from Colorado Springs, is also experiencing his first time as a delegate-at-large.
“It’s time for change,” says the war veteran and publisher of the African American Voice. “I’m excited to be working with people of like minds.
Then, there’s Mike Maday, a district-level delegate from Colorado Springs. Here’s a guy who’s been involved on some level of politics throughout the years, and is yet on the brink of experiencing something entirely different as a first-time delegate.
He tells me that he’s ready to represent his party, especially when it comes to issues of environment, health care, and the U.S. place in Iraq.
Everyone has their story – their journey of arrival. Each bringing with them a reason for speaking, for making this country free.
And by the way, my photographer, Isaac Blancas, is poking fun as I write. He says “All for naught” (used in my most recent KRDO story) sounds too Shakespearean. He won’t stop repeating it. “All for naught! All for naught!”
Eh. That’s his opinion. After all, this is America.
