One Expensive Pep Rally: Cost of the Democratic National Convention
Regardless of your party affiliation, it is impossible to escape the nonstop news from the historic Democratic National Convention in Denver where Barack Obama will accept the party’s nomination tonight. I can tell you it’s not my kind of thing and I watch little to none of the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the events. I’ve always found these things to be like a frat party, prom, or self-admiration society for adults. Pictures of grown folks dressed whacky, standing ovations that last for minutes on end, and enough applause to make you feel like a kid in potty-training boot camp.
While all this activity mills around, there is more money flying around than most of us can even fathom being a part of, at least not in those super-size-me chunks. Wrap your head around these numbers… Donkey Tales ’08 cites in “Convention Party Animals”:
Private money, expected to exceed $112 million for the two conventions combined, will pay for an estimated 80% of their cost.
It doesn’t come as a cheap trip even for the delegates. The North Platte Telegraph reports:
Several Nebraska and Iowa delegates said they expect to spend $2,500 or more to attend.
The good news is at this party at least there is a draw for for those of us in the LGBT community. One of the few reasonable bargains of the week seem to have been the $98 General Admission for Rock to Win at The Fillmore for DNC.
There are some serious business lessons in this campaign for future marketers. Obama continues to push the envelope on what it means to be viral. Unprecedented demand for tickets to tonight’s speech have been reported all over:
Tickets for Barack Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech at the Invesco Field in Denver sold out within 24 hours, according to campaign officials.
Inc. Magazine had a long article recently called “Does It Matter That One Candidate is Comfortable Using Technology and One Isn’t?” that drives home the innovative thinking and technological savvy of Obama.
This whole political process is an amazing microcosm of finances in America today — one of excess and big sums of money– simultaneously in touch (free tickets for some) and out of touch (HUGE donations required by others) with the reality of most people’s finances in today’s economy.
While no one person is perfect or ideal…let’s hope, at least in my opinion, that all these folks in their nice outfits can rally around together in a cohesive effort to win the election in November. You never know, but, if the Dems lose, there may be a large rush of queers headed for the northern border.
For those of you, like me who can’t stand to sit through all the commentary – save yourself some serious time and just watch the key speeches online at http://www.demconvention.com/.
Paula Gregorowicz, owner of The Paula G. Company, works with women who are ready to create their lives and businesses in a way that fits who they are rather than how they were told they “should”. Get the free 12 part eCourse “How to Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin” http://www.coaching4lesbians.com and start taking charge of your own success.
I’m with you — I’ll catch up later.
Thanks for the link! đŸ™‚
Micah was listening to them last night (radio) and said he thought it was kind of fascinating how much procedure they went through. Even voting…as though Obama wasn’t already the nominee.
It’s awesome and historic this time around, but one wonders if it’s ever really a good use of the money. Maybe donors thing that making sure the right person gets elected is even better than giving to some charities because they hope he’ll fix systemic problems.
Are you shitting me? What kind of analysis is that?
What does that $112 Million figure mean? You’re comparing apples to . . . nothing. If you want us to take you seriously, at least provide some comparison, talk about other events, or the same events in other years.
Make an estimate, or at least a guess, about the impact that conventions have. Talk about how conventions got this way, and where the pressure to spend so much comes from. Talk about where the money actually goes, at least!