By Dawne Leiker, FHSU
“For me, it was the fulfillment of a dream of a lifetime to be a delegate,” said Len Schamber of Damar.
Kansas First Congressional District delegates were given the chance to recap and revel in the events of the Democratic National Convention at a party in the Double Tree Hotel Thursday night in Denver.
The week was “a blur,” according to Schamber. The process of sorting out the events of the week had just begun for the delegation.
Delegates attended caucuses throughout the week. The caucuses focused on many of the relevant issues facing the Democratic party, including faith, health, immigration and education.
Delegate Shala Mills, Hays, attended caucuses that focused on faith and women’s issues. She said that the faith caucus in particular “was an effective caucus and one of the highlights of the convention.”
The Rev. Jim Wallis spoke at the convention’s interfaith gathering. His message of putting faith into action to solve social issues resonated with Mills, who shares Wallis’ and other progressives’ vision of poverty, climate change, human rights and abortion--not just as policy causes but as moral ones.
For delegate Etta Walker of Sharon Springs, one of the outstanding moments of the convention was hearing Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy speak. The fact that he was able to present such a compelling speech while undergoing treatment for cancer was a shining moment for Walker. Kennedy is currently battling a malignant brain tumor.
“This may be my daughter’s only chance to see Teddy,” said Walker. Catherine, 14, attended the convention with her mother all week.
“The most delightful speech was (Montana) Gov. Schweitzer,” Walker said. The delegates heard him at breakfast Tuesday morning. His down-to-earth approach to politics, as well as his engaging sense of humor, made him a favorite speaker with many of the delegates.
Mills said she enjoyed hearing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s speech at the convention Tuesday evening. “Hillary gave an effective speech to unify the party,” said Mills. That evening’s convention line-up was all the more meaningful for Mills as her husband, Darrell Hamlin, was able to join her on the convention floor.
Mills has been blogging throughout the convention, and readers who would like to learn more about her convention experiences can find them online at everydaycitizen.com/.
Wednesday’s activities for the delegates included a service project for Project CURE. The delegates seemed inspired by the work the Project CURE is doing in delivering medical supplies to countries in need. They were joined by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in helping sort and pack medical supplies for shipping.
While highlights of the week varied among the First Congressional District delegates, a common thread was a sense of awe surrounding the events at Invesco Field Thursday night. There Sen. Barack Obama officially accepted his party’s nomination for president.
Schamber said, “I really believe Obama has an incredible vision.” Schambers’ favorite Obama quote was, “It’s never been about me. It’s about you.”
Mills echoed Schamber’s sentiments regarding Obama’s speech. “It was wonderful,” she said. After the speech, she called her dad to give him her opinion of the evening, telling him it was “like a rock concert and a revival on steroids.”
Kansas’ First Congressional district delegates indicated they understand the importance of taking the enthusiasm home to others in the state. According to Schamber, America is facing immediate critical issues. Dependence on foreign oil, education, the environment and poverty are some of the primary issues that Schamber believes must be addressed.
Eighty thousand Americans from all over the country shared the Kansas delegates’ experiences at Invesco Field. The hopes of thousands of Americans ignited much the same as the fireworks display that capped the night’s events.
Summing it up, Schamber said, “I believe we’re on the threshold of a historic time.”
