Tag Archives: Greg Rodriguez

Dem convention: Day 4

Posted: September 6th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Political Insider | Tags: , , , , ,
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Before grabbing a seat for President Obama’s speech, Palm Springs’ own Greg Rodriguez sent us another round of updates from the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

California delegates started today with a breakfast that featured U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. As an added bonus, Rodriguez reported that “MC Hammer’s in the house. ”

Rodriguez then headed to a series of caucus events that focused on women’s issues as well as lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual rights.

He was able to spot First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden at the various morning events.

“I feel like I’m on the Hilda Solis tour today,” Rodriguez noted about seeing Solis repeatedly. “Third time, but she has changed up her speech.”

Interestingly, Rodriguez noted that this was the second day that anti-Obama rallies had made traveling difficult. But he notes that they’re not Republicans, but rather protesters from “the far left.”

It seems traffic woes is a bipartisan issue.

Dem convention: Day 3

Posted: September 5th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Political Insider | Tags: , , , , , ,
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We got some more convention updates from Greg Rodriguez, a Palm Springs political activist who is one of seven locals in Charlotte to attend the Democratic convention.

Rodriguez had nothing but praise for the first full day of floor speeches, dubbing it “absolutely incredible.”

“I love the personal stories of ‘regular’ Americans who have been positively impacted by the president’s policies, especially in the area of healthcare,” Rodriguez wrote by email.

Today’s events started with a breakfast for the California delegation. Rodriguez said there was “very light turnout” for the morning kickoff.

“Everyone must have been celebrating the incredible first day of the convention, especially our first lady’s moving speech,” Rodriguez noted.

Speaking of First Lady Michelle Obama, Rodriguez had a chance to meet her today at a lunch with the Human Rights Campaign and The Victory Fund. Both groups advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

In short summary, Rodriguez said “Michelle was amazing.”

Other early speakers he had the chance to hear from included California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Former President Bill Clinton is the headliner of tonight’s events. The Democratic convention wraps Thursday, with President Obama officially accepting the party’s nomination.

Dem convention: Day 2 update

Posted: September 4th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Political Insider | Tags: , , , , ,
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We got another dispatch today from Greg Rodriguez, who is one of seven Coachella Valley residents in Charlotte this week.

Before the floor session even kicked off, Rodriguez rambled off a list of people who he had the opportunity to hear speak. They include: Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett; California Assembly Speaker John Perez; and U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Rancho Mirage Democrat.

A big theme of today has been how Democratic policies would help women, Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told the audience that “women have everything to gain if President Obama is reelected and everything to lose if he’s not.”

As noted earlier, The Desert Sun will be printing updates from Rodriguez as part of its convention coverage.

We should also note that the number of local delegates has changed once again.

On Sunday, the Insider reported that there would be six delegates in Charlotte based on information from the local Democratic headquarters. Then Jackie Lopez, a spokeswoman for Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez, told us that both she and Perez were delegates too.

Turns out Perez never made it: The Assemblyman’s office today informed us that Perez, a Coachella Democrat, is in the desert for jury duty.

Dispatch from the Dem convention

Posted: September 3rd, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Political Insider | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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At least eight Coachella Valley residents are in Charlotte this week as delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

As part of the paper’s coverage, we’ve asked veteran campaigner Greg Rodriguez of Palm Springs to send in regular updates about what he’s experiencing.

Rodriguez, who said there was a “rousing welcome” for California’s delegates this morning at a breakfast that featured House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as well as Reps. John Lewis, Jared Polis and Donna Edwards.

Edwards and Polis highlighted the state’s “Red to Blue” races — which are targeted congressional districts Democrats think they can snag from Republicans — and Rodriguez said they gave “a shout out” to 36th Congressional candidate Raul Ruiz.

The emergency room physician from Palm Desert is challenging Rep. Mary Bono Mack.

Rodriguez said he also spent time at an event that focused on Latino voter outreach efforts.

The speeches, Rodriguez said by email, highlighted “Romney’s stand on self deportation and the devastation the Romney/Ryan budget plan would do to the Latino community.”

With most of the official business done for the day, Rodriguez plans to spend the evening discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights at events sponsored by the Victory Fund and the  National Stonewall Democrats.

As noted in Sunday’s Insider, the local Democratic headquarters provided The Desert Sun with a list of  six Coachella Valley residents who are attending the convention.

They are: Rodriguez, Jennifer Fitzgerald Wilson; Vern and Paula Kozlen; Mary Jane Sanchez; Robert Westwood.

After Sunday’s column ran, we got a note from Jackie Lopez, a district spokeswoman for Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez. She said that she and Perez, a Coachella Democrat, also would be attending the convention.

The Democratic National Convention officially kicks off Tuesday. It wraps with President Obama’s speech on Thursday.