I wrote this originally for the online version of the Missourian.
As I See it…
The Obama Delegate selection process, the trail to Denver and Victory in November
I am honored, humbled and blessed to have been elected one of two delegates for Barack Obama from the 9th Congressional District. How Delegates are elected and the Primary/caucus/convention process is a bit obscure and I will go into that later, but I will say that I very much look forward to our State Democratic Convention here in Columbia on May 10th , and to the National Democratic Convention in Denver August 25th thru 28th. In Denver, I will proudly cast the vote given me by 9th Congressional District Democrats, for Barack Obama.
My father, Karl Monroe was the Editor of the Collinsville (IL) Herald for over 40 years and wrote a column “As I See It” twice a week, for that paper. I was especially thrilled therefore when a reporter from the Missourian asked if I might write a piece for MyMissourian.com on the Obama delegate process as I have experienced it.
As I see it, there is a lot to the political process in Missouri, and nationally which, despite all the civics classes and news reports, remain a mystery to most of us. (More below the fold)
Inspired five years ago by the campaign of Howard Dean for President, I became more involved in the political process than I had ever even considered before. It has been a learning process and I have learned a lot. I started attending Democratic Party Central Committee meetings and Democratic Clubs, and thru the organization that Dean founded, Democracy for America, I have worked to both promote the party, champion progressive issues and elect progressive candidates to office. The idea of DFA is to help to transform the Party and open it to new folks and new energy. A major part of that is simply to show up at Democratic functions and to be willing to help organize and do the work of growing the Party.
Barack Obama was in the original group of candidates supported by Gov Dean’s DFA. I actually sent Barack Obama a small contribution while he was a primary candidate in his run for U. S. Senate…before his famous speech to the Kerry 2004 Convention.
That Convention speech inspired me to look more into just who this Barack Obama was. As I worked to elect John Kerry and Linda Jacobsen and other “down ticket” Democrats in the Fall of 2004, I read Barack’s newly republished autobiography, “Dreams of My Father”. His history is unique, and his honesty and genuine desire to affect positive change in America shown thru the book and blew me away. I knew that I definitely wanted to be present at the next Convention if Barack Obama were the nominee and that if he decided to run, I would be there to help.
Early last year, I was thrilled when Senator Obama announced his run for President. My son was in Springfield as one of the 18,000 people who turned out in 18 degree weather to witness Barack throw his hat in the ring. A look at Obama’s position papers, and his
riveting speeches confirmed my support for him in his run for President.
Using the great online tools available at http://BarackObama.com, I signed up to volunteer for the campaign and connected with folks in Mid Missouri who were also supporting Obama.
We had our first meeting of Mid Missouri for Obama in March 07 and have met from time to time in the months leading up to the Primary and after. Together we planned house parties, voter Registration, a “Barack A Que” picnic, and worked to distribute information on Senator Obama. I helped collect over 350 names of people interested in joining and working with the campaign and communicated with them for our local group. I volunteered for Obama in Douglass Park on Juneteenth, “tabled” at Columbia Twilight Festivals in June and September, leafleted at the County Fair and Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival, marched in the MU Homecoming Parade and helped with other events.
It was with this background of Obama campaign work and activism and with the support of many friends and colleagues from the Mid Missouri and Mizzou Obama groups that I pursued the race to become an Obama Delegate to the Denver Democratic Party National Convention.
And the Delegate process begins…
In every County there were Delegate election caucuses in late February. The only requirement for attendance was that folks must have voted in the February Primary and declare themselves as Democrats.
I live in Fulton and attended the Callaway County meeting where 30 Democratic Callawegians came together to elect Delegates and Alternates to the State Democratic Party convention. As it happens, we were equally divided with 15 supporters of Hillary Clinton and 15 for Barack Obama. The available delegate and alternate slots were allocated depending on how the Primary vote went in each County. Obama received enough of a percentage of votes in Callaway County to have three delegates and three Alternates elected from the 15 present.
After some preliminary discussion to make it clear to all present how the process worked, everyone interested in being a delegate or alternate to the State Convention gave brief one minute speeches. In a secret ballot process, all the slots were filled and I most gratefully was elected as a delegate.
Everyone elected at the County level will go to the State Convention in Columbia on May 10th, and also attended the Congressional District meetings which occurred on March 27th.
The Congressional District Convention…
The 9th Congressional District meeting which took place in Mexico had the awesome responsibility of electing a very limited number of Delegates to the National Convention in Denver. As a Delegate elected at the County level, I was able to receive a list of all those elected to attend this meeting. I sent these 90 folks my Obama campaign history and a clip from the Fulton Sun on the canvassing we did before the Primary. I also made a few phone calls to folks as well.
The 9th Congressional District meeting in the crowded and hot Audrain County Courthouse basement was a chance for Democrats from all over the 9th District to meet and make common cause for November. For the most part we were divided into separate meetings for Clinton and Obama, but the atmosphere was one of unity as Democrats determined to take back the White House. I knew I had a lot of support in the Obama caucus but was very nervous about my speech and speaking ability. Quite at the last minute, I got some excellent advice when I went over the speech with a delegate friend. I threw out what I had written and practiced for two days and simply sincerely stated what inspired me to support Senator Obama, relate some of the work I had done and how very much the Delegate election would mean to me. This friend was one of the many College students who have been inspired by Senator Obama, and who have come out in historic large numbers to support him. I can not stress too much how the help of Mizzou for Obama and Mid Missouri for Obama folks who were elected in the Boone County meeting, aided my election. At the Mexico Obama meeting, there were 6 people running and delivering short speeches for the one male Obama Delegate slot from 9th Congressional District. Despite my pre speech nerves, I was elected. I am still elated to be going to Denver as a Delegate. The female Obama Delegate from 9th Congressional District is Robin LeBrunerie of Columbia, another Mid Missouri for Obama volunteer.
What an honor for both of us!
I would like to take this public opportunity to thank all who helped get me elected and who are working so hard to assure that Senator Barack Obama is our Party’s nominee and our Country’s next President.
I now look forward to the State Democratic Party Convention at Columbia’s Holiday Inn Select on May 10th. At this convention, 8 “at large” Delegates for Obama will be elected by Delegates from all over the State. Those who missed being elected at the Congressional District level, or deferred in favor of someone else, will have a chance to be el
ected to go to Denver.
And on to November…
With 81% of the population in recent polls expressing that the Country is headed in the wrong direction, the November election is all about change. At the JJ Dinner, the Missouri Democratic Party’s major fund raising event held in St Louis April 5th, the banner behind the podium read “Unite for Change”. Barack Obama will bring the change and the judgment the Nation so sorely needs and in Denver, I will proudly cast the ballot given me by the 9th Congressional District, for Barack Obama for President of the United States.
Thank you…I will have more for MyMissourian from Denver!
Bill Monroe,
Obama Delegate to Denver, Obama volunteer and past President Democracy for Missouri