The convention should not be held in NC

[47of74]

This is the tweet I just sent;

@Obama2012 Hole the convention someplace else than NC. You finance bigots by going to NC.

Link: https://twitter.com/#!/47of74/status/200037559928229888

And I mean every word of that too.

[JoePhilly]

1. Then you don't get it.

The GOP pushed this nonsense in an attempt to push Dems out of NC. That's why they put this in a low turn out primary.

They want NC to be a red state. And they would LOVE for Obama to abandon it. One less state that they have to compete for. And they can spend less money here, and more money somewhere else.

Consider prop 8 in CA. The GOP manipulated the positioning of the election to maximum effect. Should the Dems drop CA??

btw ... earlier today ... my wife, my son, and I voted AGAINST amendment one in NC.

[ruggerson]

6. How nice that you get to call someone your "wife" legally.

n/t

[SteveABG]

14. Does it make you feel better

To attack someone who is your ally?

[ruggerson]

16. Do you think it makes him

feel better to belittle the opinion of the OP?

(and I don't buy your characterization of an "attack." I was reminding him that he is coming from a place of entitled privilege on this issue and it might behoove him to listen to the voices of those who are currently second class citizens in the country of their birth.)

[Hissyspit]

2. Would note that Mecklenberg County, where Charlotte is, voted against the amendment.

[gauguin57]

5. As did Wake, Orange and Durham Counties (where the Triangle is).

University towns filled with students, liberals and people who read.

Results in the Raleigh Observer

[Tx4obama]

3. To late to cancel it now. Folks have been working on it already for several months. n/t

[morningfog]

4. Even better is if Obama had come out strongly against it.

[bigwillq]

10. Or refuse to attend the convention.

The party could go on, just without him.

That would be taking a real stand, though.


edit: Ok, I googled and came up empty and I am not ashamed to admit that I don't know this:

Can the president not attend the convention and still accept the nomination? I don't see any reason why he/she wouldn't be able to, but I am not sure what the rule is.

[jeff47]

20. Yes

It was common for the nominee to not attend the convention back before train travel made it easy to reach the convention.

However, I think it would be more effective for Obama to attend and call NC a bunch of bigoted dumbasses in person.

[LAGC]

7. Keeping it there as scheduled might help the backlash come November.

It would be sweet irony if NC went blue come the General, re-electing Obama and sending Democrats to Congress.

As for the bigoted Constitutional Amendment, I'm sure the courts will over-turn it soon. It's written way too broadly to encompass too many couples.

[jberryhill]

8. Charlotte voted against it

What do you want to do to the 40% of Noth Carolinians who voted against it?

[book_worm]

9. too late--it will be held in NC

[AynRandCollectedSS]

11. There's a petition that got like 2,500 signatures in one hour...

...going around from Change.org. Not sure if it will make a difference, but I signed it anyway! A LGBT intolerant state doesn't deserve the tremendous revenue a huge convention like that would bring them and Democrats should represent better than that!

[link:https://www.change.org/petitions/democratic-national-convention-committee-move-the-national-convention-out-of-north-carolina|

[James48]

12. Boycott.

Anti-Union state. My Union talked about boycotting when they first started talking NC.

Now this.

If we don't boycott, then we better damn well organize and Unionize every hotel worker, and every manufacturing or service worker we can find while we're in town. Set up booths to teach workers there how to form a Union, and then walk through each place with petitions and get signatures and file while we are in town.

Period.

[Alcibiades]

13. This was the last state in the south to pass this POS

I am a native North Carolinian, but I did live in California when they passed prop 8. I've been a union member, and have been a progressive Democrat for my entire lifetime.

Who voted to pass Amendment One? Old people. Young people don't vote in primary elections, for a list of reasons as long as your arm. It was also an uncontested presidential primary for Democrats.

Thanks for your concern. We're not giving up on this, that's for sure. I'll see you in Charlotte.

[Drunken Irishman]

15. Yes!

Let's cancel the convention only a mere months before it's held, go out and try to find a suitable replacement on short notice, with no funds, since so much has already been sunk into the convention in Charlotte, and hope that, come September, we're not hosting the convention in some Lowe's Parking Lot in Cleveland, Ohio!

C'mon, now. Do you guys want to lose in November?

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. "C'mon, now. Do you guys want to lose in November?"

Great question. Even I hadn't given consideration to the amount of money that's already been spent and would have to be recouped somewhere. If Change.org can guarantee that they can raise the necessary funds, and find a suitable location in time for the convention, I'm all for it. However, I think a move like this would definitely take NC out of play.

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Sadly, there wouldn't be enough time...

This is why they made the decision a year ago, because you need a year to get things up and running. Laws have already been passed, local and federal money has already been invested in infrastructural, security, training and other areas. Hotel/motel rooms have been purchased throughout the Charlotte area, a stadium has been reserved, an arena has been reserved. Pulling out, even if to make a point, would cripple the convention. We might as well not have it and that would cede huge ground to the Republicans, as a convention does provide clarity and generally, though not always, positive polling bumps.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. I know it would be a logistics nightmare. But there has to be a way to register our displeasure....

at this turn of events. I live in the Triad area of NC, and haven't bothered to check the results for my county yet. This is disappointing to say the least. Passage of this travesty is bad on so many levels, and I fear the GOP got a twofer. They wrote more discrimination into the law, and created ill will in other parts of the country. We're fucking Arizona now.

But you know what? At the end of the day, the blame can't be squarely placed on the backs of the GOP. We, Democrats, who were "disillusioned" in the midterms bear some blame as well. I just hope this isn't a foreshadowing of Nov.

[rufus dog]

17. I understand your concern... but

Gay rights get trashed everywhere in the States.

I can't explain it, because I can't comprehend it, but even in CA Prop 8 passed with about 54% if I recall correctly.

Now I don't believe it is issue that should be up to a vote, it is basic Civil Rights. That being said, it is on to NC for the convention.

[FreeState]

19. Gay rights get trashed because people make excuses for not taking a stand n/t

[wildeyed]

23. News flash, it didn't pass in Charlotte.

We voted solidly against. And many of us busted our ass fighting this thing. I am embarrassed by my state too, and I understand people are upset by this outcome, but please don't paint all of us with this broad brush. Believe me, many NC residents are hurting today too.

You know why the people in power put this type of thing up? Not because they give a damn whether gay people get married. They do it to rile up their base and to DIVIDE THE OPPOSITION. So posting crap like this is just playing their game. Progressives in NC did not fall for it. We banded together and worked together. We will be stronger for the General Election thanks to their interference in our business.