DNC 2012 Schedule and Speakers: Obama Sand Statue Gives GOP Fodder for Attack
The Democratic National Convention 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina, doesn’t kick off until Tuesday and the event -- in which the Democratic Party will nominate President Barack Obama for reelection -- it’s already filled with controversy.
A larger-than-life Mount Rushmore-style sand sculpture bust of President Obama is being readied for the event. The sculpture is being carved from 15 tons of sand brought in from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to be displayed at the entrance of the Ritz Carlton hotel and greet Democratic delegates anxious about a tight election amid a slow economic recovery.
And, though the statue will probably look cool under the right lighting giving Democrats much needed enthusiasm ahead of a nasty general election campaign, Republicans are sure to seize in what they will say are Obama’s megalomaniac tendencies.
The looming controversy is characteristic of a bitterly divided campaign in which Democrats will claim the Obama/Biden Administration saved the country from another Great Depression, and Republicans will seek to paint Obama not necessarily as a bad person, but as a "bad president.”
2012 Democratic National Convention Schedule and Speakers:
The first two days of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5, will be held at Time Warner Cable Arena. President Obama and Vice President Biden will accept the Democratic nominations for President and Vice President on Thursday, September 6 at Bank of America Stadium.
Speakers:
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Congressman Xavier Becerra of California
Newark Mayor Cory Booker
Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina
Former President Jimmy Carter (via video)
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a Democratic National Convention
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee
Congresswoman Judy Chu of California
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri
Former President Bill Clinton
Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina
Former Republican Governor of Florida Charlie Crist
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Walter Dalton
The Honorable Arne Duncan
Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado
Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois
Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts
Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Congressman Charlie Gonzalez of Texas
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland
Former Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt
DCCC Chairman Congressman Steve Israel of New York
Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau
Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.)
Congressman John Larson of Connecticut
Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California
Congressman John Lewis of Georgia
CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon
President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan
Caroline Kennedy
U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts
Women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter
Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
Delaware Governor Jack Markell
Boston Mayor Tom Menino
The Honorable Karen Mills
U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, together with the women of the U.S. Senate
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will also lead a presentation of the women of the House:
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez of New York
Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania
Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland
Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Joyce Beatty of Ohio
Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii
California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez
Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado
Congressman David Price of North Carolina
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada
President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
The Honorable Ken Salazar
Journalist Cristina Saralegui
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Los Angeles Mayor, Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Senate candidate from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren
DNC Chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida
Congressman Mel Watt of North Carolina
