Monday: Michelle Obama and Ted Kennedy

Monday Breakfast, California Delegation

I spent some time passing out the “300” button to those who had signed the Nomination Petition. Gave Gloria Allred her button, as she had signed earlier. We had a meeting with Gloria scheduled for 10 am to discuss our legal positions. More on that tomorrow.

Our California elected officials talked at breakfast: Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the main speaker. Before breakfast, we received our credentials for the day, good to get into the Pepsi Center. The credentials are given out each day, for that day only.

Had our meeting with Gloria Allred, with nine of our “300” project team members.

Went to the Unconventional Women meeting hosted by Ambassador Swanee Hunt in partnership with the White House Project, the Latina Initiative, Women’s Voices Women Vote, and Judi Wagner’s Electing Women Program. Unconventional Women features non-partisan conversations among internationally-known leaders and experts intended to galvanize women in political action as candidates, supporters, and mentors. You can learn more at www.unconventionalwomen.org Speakers included Senator Barbara Boxer, who introduced a film made by her daughter, Nichole, and the sister of Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, that focused on the 14 women in the US Senate. Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA) and Congresswoman Carolyn Mahoney (D-NY) who praised Hillary’s accomplishments and former Governor Jane Swift (R-MA) was the moderator. A very powerful, uplifting, experience.

Monday Night: Michelle Obama’s speech; Ted Kennedy delivered also.

Got on the bus to go to the Pepsi Center. A slow bus ride, and much talk on the bus among the delegates. It was a thrill to walk into the Pepsi Center and see what I had been seeing on past conventions on TV. The California delegation overlooks the CNN TV booth and we could see all of the talking heads and the guests as they appeared during the night. Dan Rather walked by. The event was very well done. There were many speakers that were normal people to talk about Obama, a very nice touch. Caroline introducing her Uncle Ted made many tears fall from our delegation’s eyes. Then seeing Senator Kennedy giving a fired-up speech, knowing that for him to just be there was a miracle, more tears fell from many men and women in the delegation. Then Michelle Obama gave her very strong and very well delivered speech. There were many times people stood up to clap for her during her speech. After her touching family oriented speech, Michelle was joined by her two daughters. They were “joined” by Obama via TV hookup. They exchanged some words, and the Obama delegates were really shouting it up, and the Hillary delegates joined in to a lesser extent. Overall, it was a great opening night, and it was very exciting for me to be there and take part in this process.

UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT:

SAVE the DATE
You can watch the Women's eNews forum with grassroots activists live on Thursday, August 28 at 2 p.m. EST, and you can access it from our Web site's home page: www.womensenews.org!

The Memo, our Special Report on the Status of U.S. Women, will be inserted in the official packets of all 20,000 delegates at the Democratic Convention.

The Panel, What Women Want: Journalists and Activists Connect Stories and Solutions. Seven grassroots and national activists will tell about their successes-and what remains to be done-to address the key points of The Memo: wages, barriers to employment, poverty, reproductive health, violence and homophobia.

Confirmed panelists are: Sara K. Gould, Ms. Foundation for Women; Liz Abzug, Bella Abzug Leadership Institute; Rita Smith, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Mary Kay Harris, Direct Action for Rights and Equality; Althea Francois, Safe Streets/Strong Communities and Jacinta 'Jacy' Montoya, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights-and myself, representing Women's eNews.