Convention dilemmas: Clinton roll call and sling-backs vs. flats
We are flying into Denver on Sunday, and we have been somewhat fatigued.
Not only have we been packing to send our youngest daughter off to college, we're also recovering from a great event for Barack Obama at our home on Saturday, Aug. 9th.
My husband and I, along with the entire Anne Arundel County for Obama volunteer group, sponsored a fundraiser to Elect Obama in our home. We had approximately 350 people in attendance that day in a three-part open house beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
There were great feelings of euphoria and exuberance as we greeted people that just eight short months ago were strangers -- some of whom we now call our friends.
But now it's off to Denver.
Each day in the mail, there is an invitation to yet another event. Americans For Democratic Action; Working Families WIN; Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Emily's List -- just a small sampling of the invitations that are coming my way. All of this in addition to the many gala events sponsored by many local and national politicians.
There are the usual packing dilemmas, of course: flat comfortable shoes vs. sexy diva sling-backs, shawls for the very cold air-conditioning environments and sleeveless for the hot!
For all of my excitement about this social extravaganza, there are feelings of anxiety and discomfort that I just can't seem to shake about the Clinton roll call.
What does it mean to have a roll call at a national convention? How will this affect the party? Will it weaken the presumptive nominee and his chances for securing the presidency?
I know that it is intended to unite the party after a divisive primary fight and I pray that it will provide the necessary healing.
But what if it doesn't?
Just when I seem to be overwhelmed by all of the negative possibilities, my eyes go to the screen saver on the computer. It is one of the many pictures (below) taken of guests and volunteers at our fundraiser, many of whom were Hilary supporters during the primary season. I let out a deep sigh of relief! I just know that "everything is gonna be alright"!
(Written by Cheryl Miller)
Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 to 2004, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission. A native of Baltimore and graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters, before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000, and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention. Her backing has not wavered, and this year, Amedori is the Western Maryland regional director for McCain. She has also been cleared to be a surrogate — meaning she has the blessing to speak on McCain’s behalf when called upon.
Cheryl Miller, 55, and her husband, Michael, coordinate the Volunteers for Obama office in Anne Arundel County. She is an Annapolis resident and mother of two who runs a home-based event planning business. Despite studying political science at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, Miller was not particularly involved in politics until this year. She was invited to a fund-raiser last fall, and soon found herself immersed in the Obama campaign, working phone banks and traveling to Ohio and Pennsylvania to door-knock. This will be her first convention.