Ray Buenaventura, originally a Pledged Delegate for Hillary Clinton from California’s CD-12 (including Daly City!), sporting his custom made Filipinos for Obama shirt. We are United for Change! Ray’s image was featured on CNN’s broadcast of Barack Obama’s speech.

Quick video of our blogfather at the convention!

I have to admit that after the amazing speeches and powerful emotional moments of Day 3 from the roll call vote to the video tribute to veterans, I was a little worried that Day 4 would end up being a disappointment.  Sen. Obama is a powerful, enthralling speaker, but I fretted that even his singular talents wouldn’t be enough to make the last day everything I hoped and dreamed.

Fortunately, I was wrong.

I’m not even going to attempt to describe Sen. Obama’s speech other than to say it was pitch perfect, hitting every note correctly - answering the criticisms, dispelling the misconceptions, laying out the specifics of his proposals, defining his opponent, challenging the other side to an honorable campaign, all without sacrificing one bit of the eloquence and inspiration for which he is known.  Otherwise, I will let Sen. Obama speak for himself - you can watch his speech in my post below.

But not only was I wrong that Sen. Obama himself was not up to the task of making the last day the climax that it needed to be, I was wrong that the rest of the program as well.  Speaker after speaker and performer after performer impressed.  And the sheer atmosphere of 84,000 Americans cheering, crying, and, above all, hoping for the change we so desparately need in this country truly did make this day different and remarkable.  This was the people’s convention, the open convention - from the unprecedented access and participation to the open air of the stadium.

Read the rest of this entry »

So much happened on Day 3 that it’s going to be tough to keep this recap reasonable in length.  In terms of official convention business, the main event was the official nomination of Sen. Barack Obama.  Since the primary season ended in early June, Sen. Obama has been the presumptive Democratic nominee as he won the majority of pledged delegates in the various primaries and caucuses, and he had enough pledged superdelegates to capture a majority of the total delegates at stake.  However, until the delegates cast their ballots at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, the nomination wasn’t official.  In a dramatic, though not unexpected, gesture for unity, Sen. Clinton interrupted the traditional roll call vote of each state’s delegates to move to suspend the rules and confirm Sen. Obama’s nomination by acclaimation (voice vote).  The emotional impact on the convention was palpable; you can hear my live play by play of the events in my post below.  As a young person, it’s easy to forget just how unbelievably momentous Sen. Obama’s candidacy is; during the roll call vote, Bertha Means, an 88 year old African American delegate from my Senate District in Austin, sobbed uncontrollably for over 15 minutes as the votes for Sen. Obama were being called out.  She understood the history, the improbability of the moment.

My day began with the AAPI Caucus meeting, where Maya, Konrad, and several AAPI political figures spoke to the AAPI delegates and guests about voter registration and outreach for the critical remaining weeks of the election.  Celebrities Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita also made appearances.  I also got to meet Georgia McCauley, Barack and Maya’s hanai mother (a Native Hawaiian adoption tradition comparable to being a godparent, but with even deeper implications) and the Chair of Democrats Abroad Philippines.  Georgia reminded the audience that US citizens living abroad can vote in the presidential election, and it’s important for us to reach out to our friends, family, and colleagues abroad to vote for Sen. Obama. Read the rest of this entry »

KGMB reporter Keahi Tucker caught up with Kelly Hu & Daniel Dae Kim at the Pepsi Convention Center following Joe Biden’s speech.

“The stars have come out in Denver.

People have spotted Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, comedians Seth Meyers and Sarah Silverman.
Ashanti performed at a local club. Oscar award winning actor Richard
Dreyfuss even made an appearance live on our sunrise program.

Local-born actress Kelly Hu and current resident Daniel Dae Kim spoke with Keahi.”

Watch it here.

Kelly Hu and Daniel Dae Kim Cheer the Convention Speakers with the Hawaii Delegation at Invesco Field on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention

KGMB reporter Keahi Tucker caught up with Kelly Hu & Daniel Dae Kim at the Pepsi Convention Center following Joe Biden’s speech.

"The stars have come out in Denver.

People have spotted Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, comedians Seth Meyers and Sarah Silverman.
Ashanti performed at a local club. Oscar award winning actor Richard
Dreyfuss even made an appearance live on our sunrise program.

Local-born actress Kelly Hu and current resident Daniel Dae Kim spoke with Keahi."

Watch it here.

Kelly Hu and Daniel Dae Kim Cheer the Convention Speakers with the Hawaii Delegation at Invesco Field on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention

Listen to Ramey Ko share his thoughts on the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver as he heads to the airport to fly home to Austin.

Courtesy of TIME Magazine Photo Essay, Backstage with Barack

I have just one thing to say to John McCain:

How are you going to top this?

Barack’s Moving Bio Video:

The Acceptance Speech:

For text of full remarks as prepared for delivery, go below the fold.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have just one thing to say to John McCain:

How are you going to top this?

Barack’s Moving Bio Video:

The Acceptance Speech:

For text of full remarks as prepared for delivery, go below the fold.

Read the rest of this entry »