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Better Believe It

(18,630 posts) Wed May 9, 2012, 05:46 PM May 2012

Activists Want Democratic Party Convention to Move out of North Carolina After Amendment One Passage

Activists Want DNC Convention to Move out of North Carolina After Amendment One Passage
By: David Dayen
May 9, 2012

As you know, North Carolina passed Amendment One, a constitutional amendment initiative that not only puts the existing ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution, but will also ban civil unions and domestic partnerships and could actually make things difficult for heterosexual couples that co-habitate. Despite – or perhaps because of – confusion about the consequences of the measure, 61% of voters supported the amendment yesterday.

But there’s another wrinkle with this outcome. The 2012 DNC convention will take place in Charlotte, with President Obama set to accept the nomination at Bank of America Stadium, where the NFL’s Panthers play. And some activists are unhappy about the fact that Democrats will celebrate in Charlotte four months after the state took rights away from LGBT families.

For the record, President Obama formally opposed Amendment One. He didn’t campaign against it, as Bill Clinton did, but he did send the message that he rejected discrimination and the denial of rights and benefits to same-sex couples. After the vote, Obama’s campaign released a statement where he pronounced himself “disappointed in the passage of this amendment.”

The larger point here is that this controversy isn’t likely to go away. And the DNC convention, instead of a PR event for the President’s re-election, could be dominated by this conversation about gay rights, from the addition of a marriage equality plank to the platform to the protest against the convention site. There are already waves of criticism against the selection of Charlotte – North Carolina is a right-to-work state, there are no union hotels in Charlotte for attendees to stay at, it has a reputation as “Wall Street West” and is the home of Bank of America – and this just gets layered on.

Obama plans Convention speech at Bank of America Stadium

Read the full article at:

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/05/09/activists-want-dnc-convention-to-move-out-of-north-carolina-after-amendment-one-passage/

12 replies

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Highlight:

Activists Want Democratic Party Convention to Move out of North Carolina After Amendment One Passage (Original Post) Better Believe It May 2012 OP

So lets take our marbles because we didn't get our way and move it to another state. southernyankeebelle May 2012 #1

Fuck Charlotte! Chan790 May 2012 #2

What state would meet that criteria? None on the Gulf or southeast, Northeast/Pacific NW are kelly1mm May 2012 #3

not that the wingnuts will care but our party cannot have the convention there now Demonaut May 2012 #4

Charlotte voted overwhelmingly against the bigot amendment emulatorloo May 2012 #5

I said on another thread that this idea is the antithesis of Dean's 50-state strategy RZM May 2012 #6

Running to the most right-wing "right-to-work" union free state is not the answer. Better Believe It May 2012 #8

The paramount concern was picking a place that would most benefit the president's campaign RZM May 2012 #9

The national Democratic Party is spending time, money and energy in NC to do what? Better Believe It May 2012 #11

Shouldn't have been there in the first place. Brickbat May 2012 #7

That would be me. Zorra May 2012 #10

I think it is a not a good idea to buy into the opposition's false dichotomies. nt patrice May 2012 #12

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)

1. So lets take our marbles because we didn't get our way and move it to another state.

Reply to Better Believe It (Original post)

Wed May 9, 2012, 05:55 PM

May 2012

Yes let's screw the people who did support the gay community both straight and gays. That will do them. Leave it where it is. Obama still has a chance to win the state. This is a swing state. He gave the gay community the support and that is great. Don't show your asses because the community didn't get what they wanted. People knew this is an uphill battle.

Chan790

(20,176 posts)

2. Fuck Charlotte!

Reply to Better Believe It (Original post)

Wed May 9, 2012, 06:05 PM

May 2012

Yes, please move it. Someplace warm and liberal with nice beaches, no right-to-work laws or marriage discrimination or laws aimed to curb protest or free speech.

Move it on out of Charlotte.

kelly1mm

(4,734 posts)

3. What state would meet that criteria? None on the Gulf or southeast, Northeast/Pacific NW are

Reply to Chan790 (Reply #2)

Wed May 9, 2012, 06:13 PM

May 2012

not warm, and CA voted for Prop 8.

Demonaut

(8,924 posts)

4. not that the wingnuts will care but our party cannot have the convention there now

Reply to Better Believe It (Original post)

Wed May 9, 2012, 06:16 PM

May 2012

I feel bad for the 40% who voted against but to have the convention there now
is a slap in the face to the LGBT community

emulatorloo

(44,178 posts)

5. Charlotte voted overwhelmingly against the bigot amendment

Reply to Better Believe It (Original post)

Wed May 9, 2012, 06:17 PM

May 2012

And we put the "Bank of America Stadium" fake outrage to bed months ago.

RZM

(8,556 posts)

6. I said on another thread that this idea is the antithesis of Dean's 50-state strategy

Reply to Better Believe It (Original post)

Wed May 9, 2012, 06:20 PM

May 2012

Running away isn't the answer. The answer is trying to convince these same people that there are plenty of other issues where the positions of Democrats are more in line with their interests than those of Republicans.

Saying 'screw you guys, I'm going home' sends the opposite message.

Better Believe It

(18,630 posts)

8. Running to the most right-wing "right-to-work" union free state is not the answer.

Reply to RZM (Reply #6)

Wed May 9, 2012, 09:10 PM

May 2012

Is the Democratic Party making a major political push to organized the millions of unorganized workers in North Carolina?

Is it doing anything at all?

Did the Democratic Party leadership not know that the many union delegates and other progressives at the convention would be required to eat and sleep at non-union facilities?

RZM

(8,556 posts)

9. The paramount concern was picking a place that would most benefit the president's campaign

Reply to Better Believe It (Reply #8)

Wed May 9, 2012, 09:26 PM

May 2012

To quote Karl Rove on election night in 2008 - 'without North Carolina, Republicans aren't in the game.' I actually think Romney will win North Carolina. But it's going to cost him time and resources that he would prefer to spend elsewhere.

So that's why it was chosen. Same reason the DNC picked Denver last time and the same reason the RNC chose Tampa. You take the good with the bad. Perhaps if North Carolina turns bluer, it might become a more union friendly-state. You don't make it bluer by running away, you make it bluer by spending time, money, and energy there.

Better Believe It

(18,630 posts)

11. The national Democratic Party is spending time, money and energy in NC to do what?

Reply to RZM (Reply #9)

Wed May 9, 2012, 11:57 PM

May 2012

Hold a convention at non-union facilities?

Wow.

That's powerful.

What sorts of demonstrations, other mass actions and movements in defense of working people, our rights and living standards from the attacks of Wall Street and big business is the national Democratic Party spending time and money to organize in North Carolina?

I'd like to know specific details.

Thanks.