Local delegates enjoy the moment
With the Democratic National Convention three days in, local delegates described this year’s virtual proceedings as a success, considering the circumstances.
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler and Groton Town Councilor Aundré Bumgardner are all delegates to the convention. Butler and Bumgardner are congressional District 2 delegates, and Courtney is an automatic delegate because of his role as congressman.
Bumgardner said he’s been busy since the convention began, but in a lot of ways it’s been the same for him as for others in Groton and southeastern Connecticut who have tuned in from their homes.
“Aside from watching the convention on CSPAN, I’ve been participating in many caucus discussions that
“Usually, you’re all together in a hotel, you’re sitting in the convention arena together ... but the delegation has been diligent about joining in on Zoom calls, and we’ve had invited speakers and opportunities to hear from other delegations.”
U.S. REP. JOE COURTNEY
they have throughout the day,” Bumgardner said. “We’ve also had an opportunity to meet as a delegation.”
The Connecticut delegation, including the state’s U.S. senators and representatives, Gov. Ned Lamont and others, is meeting in-person on Thursday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford to take in Joe Biden’s assumption of the nomination.
On Tuesday night, Connecticut participated in the nationwide delegation roll call with a video of Lamont and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin at a Hartford fire station, with firefighters and a firetruck behind them. The video featured firefighter union President Peter Carozza endorsing Biden and casting Connecticut’s 75 delegates in favor of Biden and on behalf of Lamont.
While Bumgardner noted the frustration of not being able to meet Democrats from across the country in person, he celebrated the smaller virtual caucuses and events among Democrats connected to the convention. He said his favorite moment thus far took place on Monday evening.
“The Connecticut delegation met with Sen. Chris Murphy, who invited Beto O’Rourke to have a discussion with us,” Bumgardner said. “It was great to see the faces of our delegation and to ask questions of Beto O’Rourke about his life experiences and why he supports the Biden-Harris ticket.”
Bumgardner said he was “blown away” by the race O’Rourke ran against Ted Cruz in deep-red Texas “without taking a dime of super PAC money.”
The delegation has held daily breakfast calls with members such as Lamont and Courtney. Butler said he’s enjoyed these 8 a.m. discussions, as well as the nightly events organized ahead of the big speeches.
Bumgardner said he had the opportunity to ask Lamont about his early executive orders related to COVID-19.
“I asked him, ‘Will the legislature have to codify or revisit these executive orders, which in some ways have improved our lives?’” Bumgardner said. “He answered that question and indicated that would be the case in the long term.”
All the delegates praised the convention’s way of bringing geographically distant participants together, although Butler and Courtney, who have both been to conventions in the past, said not sitting among Democrats from elsewhere in the U.S. has been the most difficult part.
“It’s not the same as sitting in the arena and enjoying that moment and being present and sharing stories and meeting people that have common interests and common perspectives about what we’re doing as a country,” Butler said.
Still, he noted a panel on women’s leadership moderated by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Wednesday night’s meeting with U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5th District, the banter between Connecticut delegates, the Native American caucus and Michelle Obama’s Monday night speech as highlights. He and Courtney were especially impressed with Jill Biden’s remarks during her Tuesday night appearance.
“I think having Michelle Obama night one was a great way to kick off the week with just that perfect level of humanity and civility and pointedness,” Butler said. “She hit you and you didn’t even know she did it.”
Courtney said he felt the party put together a productive convention.
“Usually, you’re all together in a hotel, you’re sitting in the convention arena together, you’re comparing notes and going to different seminars and workshops and getting a chance to meet people from other parts of the country — that part is tougher,” Courtney said. “But the delegation has been diligent about joining in on Zoom calls, and we’ve had invited speakers and opportunities to hear from other delegations.”
On Wednesday night, Courtney said, the delegation listened to South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip. Courtney credited Clyburn as one of the architects of Biden’s victory.
“When he endorsed Biden in South Carolina before the primary, it was a pivotal moment in the campaign. Biden was struggling at that point, and South Carolina completely turned the race on its head,” Courtney said. “Clyburn just has this gravitas about him from his personal experience in the civil rights movement and as a leader in Congress. Watching the faces of the people on the Zoom call, they were in totally rapt attention.”
Bumgardner said the party could be conducting more discussions among delegates to maintain connection in the future. He praised Wednesday night’s lineup of speakers, which, he said, “is sure to raise the arm hairs on our president.”
“With our next Vice President Kamala Harris speaking, our former president Barack Obama speaking, our former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking and Sen. (Elizabeth) Warren, whatever they say tonight will be sure to get under his skin, but they will most importantly lay out a message that is inclusive,” Bumgardner said.
A number of Republicans spoke at this year’s convention, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich. The decision to give so much time to nonparty members drew ire from the left of the party, though it has been mostly applauded from the center.
“I think the organizers of the convention want to send a message to Republican voters that you’re not alone if you’re having second thoughts about President Trump,” Courtney said. “Biden is in a really solid place for people to land in terms of his governing style and his respect for people.”