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The Non-Insider Inside the DNC

From the hats to the protests to the food, a look at the DNC, DAME style. And no, we didn't sneak in.

By Jennifer Nielsen
Published: Sep 03, 2008

During the week of August 25th, thousands of journalists, pundits, delegates, campaign staff, party heavy-hitters, political strategists and celebrities descended on Denver to take part in the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention.

DAME’s own Jennifer Nielsen is none of the above, yet in an unbelievable twist of fate (aka knowing someone who knows someone), she was given better access than most of them. Here she gives us her (clearly) non-political daily diary – you’ve probably had enough political dissection anyway.

Monday - August 25
All day, wrangled on the phone with "John" in Delhi (right, pretty sure your name isn't John) to get my flights to Denver straight. This call is a precursor to one I'll receive later that week from the airline bumping me from my flight home. Loving the airline industry right now. Won't mention the one I’m on, but it rhymes with Screw-nited.

The convention opens with great speeches by Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama. I missed them because I couldn’t get a flight. See comments above regarding airline industry.

Tuesday – August 26
6:30am, on train to airport, I try not to dork out and tell all the other subway riders where I'm going.

10:45am, stress-free flight to Denver on one of those fancy new 767’s with the on-demand movie selection. Watched “Married Life” with Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson and Rachel McAdams (she and Ryan Gosling are back together – even on the way to an historic DNC , I obsess over them as a couple.) Kind of a lovely and demure movie. My last demure moment for the next week.

11:15am, car-rental lot - really? A silver mustang that actually has "Mustang" written on the side? I look like an asshole. [Postscript – my next traveling escapade involves being assigned a red Mustang. What is it about me that screams Mustang?]

1:05pm, arrive outside Pepsi Center, home of the DNC until Thursday when it moves to the quaint Invesco Field/Mile High Stadium.

1:06pm, witness my first protest! A group of pro-choice priests are arrested right outside the media entrance. I count over 50 police surrounding these less-than-a-dozen really dangerous looking… priests. Overkill anyone? A big bus is brought in to cart the ‘offenders’ out. Sidenote – saw the mounted police patrol – the horses are decked out in riot gear as well, they have plastic shields on their heads. I can’t help but wonder why police still use horses.

1:30pm, enter convention floor. My magical green and purple credentials (there are 6 different kinds of passes) get me everywhere but the podium. Literally. The only thing I can’t do is give a speech. Good thing, as I’ve not prepared anything.

1:40pm, production level. Meet the guy who designed the stage and video screens – they look amazing in person, just as they do on TV. My favorite thing about this is he also did the Motley Crue tour this summer.

2:20pm, convention doors open in 40 minutes. Someone has brought out four women’s pantsuits to hold in the spotlight on stage. Could they be Hillary Clinton’s outfit choices for tonite? We know her love of the pantsuit.

3:15pm, five feet away from CNN set on convention floor. Wolf Blitzer needs to tone it down a bit on the pancake make-up. He appears to be made from clay. I do love that their make-up artist is tatted–up, lots of ornate tattoos on her right arm – pretty sure this isn’t the case over at FoxNews. I try to avoid being one of the fools that walks behind them to get on camera, while simultaneously calling someone and waving. It’s shockingly hard to abstain from this.

3:45pm, walk over to MSNBC floor set. Terry McAuliffe, Hillary’s campaign chairman is waiting to be interviewed, rocking out to the convention band’s rendition of the Pointer Sister’s “I’m So Excited.” He’s got decent rhythm.

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