DNC Chair Howard Dean
announced yesterday that the 2008 Democratic National Convention will be held Aug. 25, through Aug. 28. No decision has yet been made on location.
I'm here to start the ball rolling on a campaign to select New Orleans for 2008. There are many good reasons to choose New Orleans beyond the apparent symbolism. This is an opportunity that must not be ignored.
New Orleans has been battered by both nature and human neglect. It has been victimized by corrupt corporations and politically connected cronies. It is staggering and grasping for footing as it strives to recover and rebuild. Is it wise to embrace the obvious risks of making such a commitment at this time?
Absolutely. By 2008 there should be substantial rebuilding completed and in progress. Taking this leap of faith would further serve to encourage development and speed restoration.
There are challenges, to be sure. A large convention facility would be required. But this would be high on the priority list anyway for a city that has depended so much on tourism and conventions.
Lodging would be another concern. The big hotels, however, were amongst the least impacted by the hurricane. The cost of repairing the damage they did incur would be borne by the giant corporations that own them. They could be recruited into the effort to show how quickly their city can recover. They would profit from the positive PR as well as the event itself.
A bigger problem is labor. A couple hundred thousand residents have been displaced around the country. But this would create a reason to come back. There would be investment and jobs and renewed hope.
The whole time, from the announcment until the convention, would be a huge Katrina Relief Telethon. Its progress would be followed by the national media who could be persuaded to cover it as if it were a real reality program. Instead of finding out who gets fired or voted off, viewers would be treated to new and uplifting stories of redemption, week after week. There would be the drama of whether or not the job could be completed in time. The convention preparation would become an ongoing commercial for the compassion and patriotism of the sponsors of this effort. That of course would be the Democratic Party. And a successful execution would be a tribute to our resolve and produce an even brighter post-convention glow.
It would be a gamble of sorts. Anything that goes wrong would look bad. Transportation and communications infrastructure have to be perfect to pull off a national nominating convention, with its traffic and the media coverage. But I think its worth the risk. The payoff would be so fulfilling. And not just for the massive PR boost, but the real GOOD that we can do for the region.
Some people might be uncomfortable with the symbolism, but the Repubs never hesitate to exploit 9/11 and it hasn't hurt their electoral ambitions the last few years. And there is a big difference. 9/11 was a tragedy that touched the lives of all Americans. The symbolism of New Orleans is uniquely Democratic for the following reasons:
- It is a predominately Democratic city.
- The aftermath shined a new light on race and poverty (Dem issues).
- No one can forget the criminal neglect and incompetence of Repubs post-Katrina.
The initiative for this needs to be exercised now. This is not an original idea. The
National Review editorialized on it in September, except they were pushing for a Republican convention. Others have proposed
both parties jointly announcing New Orleans convention plans.
Frankly, I'm not sure I feel much like sharing.