The Democratic National Convention is so typical of Democrats. They want to tell you it's about "joy."
But meanwhile, behind the scenes and frankly spilling out in front of the scenes are protests, backstabbing, drama, division, and complete dysfunction. These are the folks who want your vote, but they can't even put on a simple event without it being a complete mess.
We've reported on some of the mess already, including things running late on Monday night, so that Joe Biden's address was pushed back until very late in the evening.
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But it turns out there's even more of a mess than that — even basic things like just getting the mechanics right.
The DNC is the worst event I’ve ever been to. People are getting trampled, jumping over barriers.
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) August 19, 2024
Floor delegate behind me just called it “absolute chaos,” another said “a really bad system in terms of somebody getting trampled”
I’m legitimately shocked at how catastrophic the logistics of the DNC are. I’m talking to an Illinois State Rep, Cyril Nichols (D), who has given up on trying to get in. “This is horrible,” he says, pointing out other State Reps still stuck on the endless “line” to nowhere pic.twitter.com/bzEKbA0Snj
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) August 21, 2024
Even the media wasn't happy with what's going on.
The DNC told press we could get credentials starting at 9:30.
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) August 19, 2024
Now everyone in the media is standing around because they don’t have them—the volunteers were told credentialing doesn’t start until 11.
A lot of scoffing and eye rolling, complete cluster
This is Slate's Communications Director, Katie Rayford:
This is the current situation trying to get into the Democratic National Convention perimeter. This is supposed to be a media entrance and hundreds of delegates got dropped off here and are trying to get in. So wildly disorganized @DNC pic.twitter.com/rD2NYm9Mfr
— Katie Rayford (@katie_rayford) August 19, 2024
Senator noted while Kamala Harris had been getting positive press, the media was not happy with what was going on at the DNC.
[L] ogistical headaches, like long lines, bad internet connections, expensive price tags, and limited access to the floor, leaving many of the 15,000 credentialed media grumbling, and their representatives openly battling convention organizers.
“We are concerned that the decision to reduce dedicated and accessible workspace by hundreds compared to prior conventions will hinder journalists’ ability to cover the historic nature of this convention,” the Standing Committee of Correspondents, the apolitical representative of journalists on Capitol Hill that represents the media to political conventions, said in a statement shared with Semafor.
They pleaded with the DNC for more space but were turned down.
It was also more expensive (which follows, because it's Democrats).
TV network executives also told Semafor that the event was more expensive. Broadcast suites inside the United Center were nearly double the cost and much smaller than those offered a month earlier at the RNC.
They also noted the difference between the DNC and the RNC, which they called a "smoothly operated event."
A Trump official didn't hold back on how symbolic this was.
“Waiting in lines are all part of the Kamala economic plan …bread lines , gas lines …you name it , you’ll be in line for it. Be Joyful!” Chris LaCivita, Trump’s campaign advisor and chief operating officer of the RNC, said in a text message.
If they lose the media, they lose the only thing that has been holding up Kamala's vacuous campaign.
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