Julian Castro, Mayor of San Antonio Texas the first Latino Keynote Speaker at a DNC Convention! Castro to share stage with First Lady Michelle Obama, & former President Jimmy Carter!

The Democratic National Committee will be gaveled in today to formally nominate  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for a second term.  The DNC Convention Delegates and state Delegations reflect such a diverse group of people of all walks of life that represent the national Democratic Party. Further this convention will reflect the milestone that Latinos have achieved as Texas Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio becomes the first Latino ever to serve as the Keynote Speaker at a DNC Convention.  Introducing Mayor Castro, is his twin Democratic Nominee for Congress and State Representative Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.  Today, the nation and world will meet two young rising stars in the Democratic Party at the 2012 DNC Convention.  They are close like the Kennedy brothers, but one is older by only minutes. Their humble roots hardly reflect the Standford and Harvard education they both achieved together.  Their mother Rosie Castro, is the foundation in their young lives, as America and the world are introduced to the Castro twins.     

Mayor Julian Castro is now in the category of Texas legends. He is the third Texan to serve as Keynote Speaker of the DNC, his predecessors are Congresswoman Barbara Jordon, and Governor Ann Richards.  Barbara Jordan was a politician and a leader of the Civil Rights movement who became the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first southern black female elected to the United States House of Representatives. Governor Ann Richards was the 45th Governor of Texas and the second female governor of Texas.  Richards first came to the national political arena as the state treasurer of Texas, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Today, history is made once again.

Juan Sepulveda also of San Antonio has led the leadership at the DNC for Latino outreach for the convention and this is proving to be a big convention for Latinos at the DNC.  The DNC has increased political participation and engagement of Latinos in the party at all levels.  At this convention, every record of Hispanic convention participation has been broken.  This includes:  naming  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, California as Democratic National Convention Chair, and naming  San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro as Convention Keynote Speaker, two key positions for the Democratic National Convention.

In addition the following reflects the outreach and leadership positions of Latinos in the Democratic Party and for the 2012 DNC Convention:

*Los Angeles, California City Councilman Eric Garcetti serving as Chair of Democratic Municipal Officials (representing city council members, mayors, and other municipal elected officials),

*Record number of Latinos participating in the2012 convention—there are 759+ Delegates, Alternates, or standing committee members to the convention in 2012 (a new record); there were 658 in 2008 (a record then),

*There are a Record number of Latinos named as national members of the 2012 Convention Standing Committees—Chairwoman Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed 19 Latinos of 75 national positions, over 25% of spots.  For the first time more than ten Hispanic leaders have been appointed to national spots on the convention standing committees.  Past Democratic conventions had anywhere from 0 to 7 Hispanics nominated to these positions,

 *Record number of Hispanics named to leadership positions for 2012 Convention Standing Committees—5 of 18 positions, nearly 28% of spots,

*Five Latino leaders have been selected to the 18 leadership positions of the 2012 Platform, Credentials and Rules Committees.  In 2012, nearly 28% of the Convention Committee leadership positions will be held by Latinos;

·         Credentials Committee Co-Chair, San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro

·         Credentials Committee Vice-Chair, Nevada State Assemblywoman Lucy Flores

·         Platform Committee Vice-Chair, Colorado State Representative Crisanta Duran

       Platform Committee Vice-Chair, Futuro Fund Co-Chair Andres Lopez of Puerto Rico

·       Rules Committee Vice-Chair, Los Angeles, California City Councilman Eric Garcetti

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Two Latino leaders were also named to the Platform Drafting Committee: Stanford Law School Professor Tino Cuellar and New Organizing Institute Special Projects Director Carlos Odio.

In addition, a record number of Hispanic national organizations are attending the 2012 Convention (in comparison to only 5 groups attending in 2008); 43 organizations accepted the invitation to participate in the 2012 convention (this was the first time most of these organizations have been asked to attend a Democratic National Convention).  The list includes: the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials,      Hispanic Federation, National Assoc. of Hispanic Federal Executives, National Council of La Raza,·         National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc., US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, SER- Jobs for Progress National, Inc., U.S.- Mexico Foundation, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Hispanic-Net, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, New America Alliance, Voto Latino, Mi Familia Vota,·         National Hispanic Corporate Council, Nat’l Assoc. of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Latino Leaders Network,  Aspira, The Hispanic Institute, National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Association of Hispanic Publications, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National Immigration Forum, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), National Hispanic Council on Aging, Colorado Immigration Coalition, National Society of Hispanic MBA's, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute,  Latinos in Social Media, Chirla (Los Angeles), AARP, Multicultural Markets & Engagement, North American Integration & Development Center, New York Immigration Coalition,Hispanics in Philanthropy, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), MANA, A National Latino Organization, Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, and the United Farm Workers (UFW).

The Obama Administration and the Democrats have demonstrated their commitment to public policy initiatives and causes that positively impact the greater Latino community.  This election has been considered “the” election where Latinos can flex their political muscle and influence the outcome if not determine who the next President will be.  But although polls show 70’%  of Latinos support Obama, the challenge continues to be to get out the Latino vote. In addition the Latino vote in Florida, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and other battleground states can determine who is elected president. 

The unprecedented outreach by the political arm of the Obama Administration is unmatched by the Republican National Committee, and reflects the commitment by the Obama Administration to include Latinos in all facets of political activism which results in political empowerment and policy initiatives that reflect the needs of the greater Latino community.  This is not tokenism or political propping.  This is a major step forward.

The Keynote Speaker address by San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is tonight!  Don’t miss it!  It is on prime time and will be on every network, if not – you must go to CNN for their live coverage.

CNN Democratic Convention Coverage
Fox News DNC Convention Coverage
MSNBC DNC Convention
Huffington Post DNC Convention Coverage
Politico DNC Convention Coverage

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Pre DNC Convention! Beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina

Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina I took care of the most important convention task for me to do, and that is attend my first national committee meeting for the DNC Standing Committee on the Rules.  Basic rule of thumb, be a good committee member (you were appointed) and attend the meeting on time, listen, learn, and be helpful if needed.   Simple presentation of the party officers, the agenda,  the rules that will govern the convention and a formal vote by the committee.  Task complete!

The vendors are setting up outside the convention as well.  Lots of cool stuff here already including this years "Obama Bobblehead" complete with his hand on the bible, and American flag (I think his smile is bigger on this editions bobblehead).

The Texas Delegation hotel this convention is the Great Wolf Lodge. Texas is a red state and seems as though because we are a RED state we always get the farthest away real estate assigned to us.  This convention is no different as we are in Concord, North Carolina, not exactly where all the action is Downtown.  The trip coordinators told someone that we are so far because our delegation is so big.  California is a huge state but a blue state and their delegation is Downtown!!  So I don't buy it.  We are ALWAYS far and since I've been going to Democratic Conventions we've been a red state!  So I say let's get Paul Sadler elected to the US Senate so we can be considered a "purple" state and get better hotels at next DNC Convention!

(Photo from Google search)

On the plane I met some Texas Delegates, guests, committee members, and volunteers. Everyone is gearing up for the convention and the election! Lots of people are excited about the "whisper" campaign regarding who in Hollywood and in the entertainment industry will be coming in for the convention.  The airport whispers I heard were that special celebs Beyonce and her man Jay-Z will be here for their friends the Obamas, big question is will Blue Ivy be attending her first Democratic convention? Last convention in Denver, celebs mixing with the people on the convention floor included Spike Lee and Oprah was seen going from one secret agent door to another (wink wink). The "whisper" campaign (with a lot of media speculation) includes that Betty White would bring down the house if she is the elder stateswoman to address the convention after Clint Eastwood had his "senior moment" talking to an empty chair at the RNC Convention!

Today kicks of 12 parties around Charlotte, welcoming 6,000 delegates. Texas's bash is with other states (I'll share more later on this).

The protesters have set up too including bus loads joining Occupy Charlotte at Marshall Park. Estimates of protesters converging on the convention are between 2,000 and 10,000 (only 500 attended the RNC although Hurricane Isacc was a factor).  I haven't ever been to a DNC Convention where there weren't protesters!

BORDER TALK will NOT be on location here!!

And the media biggies have rolled in and set up. CNN, Fox News, ABC have stages set up for on location broadcasting. Considered the media mouth piece for the Republican Party, The Fox is broadcasting out of the NASCAR Plaza Building and interesting to note that a Republican Party source stated that the GOP has rented space at the NASCAR Plaza Building for the Democratic Convention! Guess Fox News will be getting their "dummie talking notes" from a GOP runner inside the building to their stage outside!!

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The DNC Rules Committee Called to Order by Gov. Martin O'Malley & State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris

The DNC Standing Committee's have convened!! Governor Marin O'Malley and State Attorney General Kamal D. Harris has called the meeting to order.  He has presented the members of the committee and DNC Parliamentarian for the meeting.

The Rules Committee authority and interpretation of the rules that will govern the Convention.  The committee consists of a base of 161 members, allocated to the states and territories in accordance with the same distribution formula used to allocate delegates to the Convention.  Former State Representative Rick Noriega is here and on the Committee.

The other standing committees of the 2012 Democratic National Convention that are meeting include the Standing Committee on Platform, and Standing Committee on Credentials.

The entire Convention is governed by the rules!

(This is my first DNC Convention where I serve on a Committee.  I will be posting a potpourri of things from the convention from the blog.  I will be updating this post as well..)

Day 1 2012 DNC Convention