Dr. Saundra Curry Ardrey is the Department Head for Political Science at Western Kentucky University. She is attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC, this week. During the week, Dr. Ardrey will be providing a Kentucky perspective to the activities at the Democratic National Convention.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

And so it begins. The Democratic Convention got off to a rousing start last night at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC with First Lady Michelle Obama.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Convention, gaveled the 46th Convention to order at 5:00pm. What followed was a parade of elected officials, dignitaries and special guests that answered the question, “What is Obama’s vision for a second term?” North Carolina governor Bev Perdue said Obama is “standing up for middle-class families and growing an economy that’s built to last.”

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, raised by a single mom, was taught to take pride in his hard work, to take responsibility for his actions and to understand that education could expand his mind and transform his life. He said he had seen President Obama at work and knows he shares those same values. A second term, according to Foxx, would see plans “to give every child an opportunity to succeed, every American a fair shot to go as far as their talents can take them.”

Delegates applauded, cheered and gave standing ovations to keynote speaker Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio that talked of immigration, the economy, fairness and a vision with values.

Five hours and thirty minutes later the stage was finally set for what delegates were anticipating. Mom-in-chief, Michelle Obama, took the platform amid cheers and thunderous applause. She told the delegates of a president that still eats dinner most evenings with the family; a president that “believes that success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives”.
She asked the delegates and the nation to trust her husband to keep moving this country forward.

What’s on the agenda for Wednesday? Today, the Kentucky delegation focus on the automobile industry. Bowling Green delegate Michelle Thomas explained that, “the delegates are staying in Concord, NC near the NASCAR speedway to highlight the importance of the automobile industry to Kentucky”. They will attend a luncheon with the owner of Jim Hendrick Motor Sports who has special ties to Bowling Green. Hendrick has 300 Corvettes and has won more races than any other race-car owner. Thomas plans to present Hendrick with a ‘hot off the press’ Corvette 60th anniversary hat.

Former President Bill Clinton heads the list of speakers at the Convention. A favorite of Democrats here at the Convention, Clinton is set to challenge Americans to stay the course, to rally behind President Obama and to move forward.