The 2oo8 Republican Convention kicked off last night in downtown Minneapolis although the mood could certainly be described as subdued. For many in attendance, including me, our primary thoughts were on Hurricane Gustav and the thousands fleeing for safety.

As widely reported, the Convention has been drastically scaled back for today as Senator John McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, issued the announcement that “We are deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of the residents of the Gulf State region…This is not a time for party and celebration.”

It was reported that McCain was chartering airplanes to fly delegates from the Gulf Coast region back for free to deal with any evacuations. There were even rumors circulating that the Convention may end early so that disaster relief could ensue. This was a particular point of consternation for many of the party faithful who felt that the convention, which includes business and platform aspects, should go on even if the festive nature is diminished.

One can certainly understand the hesitancy of the McCain campaign with the important battle for undecided voters so close between him and Senator Obama. The last thing that McCain wants is to be characterized as apathetic, a charge that was levied against the Bush administration after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, with the announcement that neither President Bush nor Vice President Cheney would be in attendance this week as a result of the hurricane, this offers McCain an opportunity to distinguish himself from the charges that he is a clone of the current regime, which has been one of the main Democratic talking points this summer.

Blacks and the Republican Party…

Talk about your steps being ordered, you never know who you will run into in America.

I arrived in Minneapolis late Saturday evening after an extremely long layover in Atlanta. Unlike most of my college football loving friends, I was forced to watch Florida and USC play while sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool in the Hartsfield Airport Chili’s. Later that evening I kept up with the FAMU-Alabama State score via the Tallahassee Democrat online---congrats to Coach Taylor and the Rattlers on the beginning of a new era.

Yesterday while trying to relax, I took the liberty to peruse the Mall of America since I had heard that it was the largest mall in the world. The structure is visually impressive, complete with amusement and water parks for kids.

Like most men, I immediately realized how much I hate the mall and shopping (except at Nic’s Toggery Big & Tall) so I did what comes naturally, I wandered into the Napa Valley restaurant to enjoy a filet mignon while watching Kentucky play Louisville.

As I was leaving the mall I ran into Rufus Montgomery, an Atlanta lobbyist and friend from my graduate school days at FAMU. Montgomery founded the FAMU College Republicans while a student back in the late 90’s. Accompanying him was Renee Amoore, a frequent Fox News contributor, business owner and Deputy Chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party. Ms. Moore is also the only Black scheduled to speak at this year’s convention. In 2000, she became the first Black to conduct the roll call that confirmed George W. Bush’s nomination.

The two invited me to hang out with them at the kickoff and provided much insight into what it means to be black in the GOP. While this was only the first event, there were few Blacks, maybe 25, out of the thousands in attendance. What clouded my headcount was the fact that several Blacks were members of the media looking for Black Republicans to subject to an Inquisition.

While I found some of the questions to be trite, both More and Montgomery deftly answered them all while establishing their beliefs that Blacks benefit from participating on both sides of the political spectrum. Additionally, while both expressed the immense pride that they felt in Senator Obama’s ascent, they clearly established that they disagree with his politics.

Some of the other five or six Black Republicans that I met were not so effusive in their praise for the Democratic nominee. One in particular, William Owens Jr., used the opening ceremonies as an opportunity to promote sales of his soon to be released book Obama: Why Black America Should Have Doubts. A Bill that he handed out contained the following quote:

“Author William Owens, Jr., will discuss the dangers of an Obama presidency. Looking through the lens of the traditional Black American value system and the Judeo Christian principles America was founded on, Owens asserts that most Black Americans do not understand the dangers that Obama poses.”

While I was certainly unaware that there was or is a codified “Black Values System”, I do know that Owens touches upon a complaint that I have heard from several of my black Democratic leaning friends that are planning to vote for him despite having reservations about the depth of his faith. Interestingly enough, I have heard similar reservations from some Republicans who are concerned that McCain, too, is indifferent about religion. Nevertheless, while the week progresses I hope to glean more information as to why so few blacks are in attendance or in prominent roles during this convention.

First Celebrity Sighting…

I had the pleasure of meeting Arianna Huffington, the heiress and Democratic activists who is in town to make the rounds on the pundit circuit. It was interesting because I could immediately sense that those who recognized her looked upon her much in the same way as I would imagine Sean Hannity would have been viewed at last week’s Democratic Convention. I was impressed by her courage to mix with her ideological enemies with no fear or huge entourage. She was extremely gracious in the few minutes that I spoke to her about the week’s events.

Excitement about Governor Palin…

I, like most Americans, knew absolutely nothing about McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin until he chose her last week. While some left-leaning pundits and blogs spent the weekend excoriating the pick, the party faithful were extremely excited last night about her chances of becoming the first woman vice president.

I had the opportunity to speak at length with the Georgia delegation, including Liz Haufmann, a former chair of the Fulton County Republican Party and current City Councilwoman for Johns City, Georgia. Ms. Haufmann felt that Governor Palin was a great pick because of her solid conservative credentials.

Some were concerned that the attacks on Palin’s motherhood, her commitment to home versus politics and probably the most disgusting and disturbing allegations of all, that she is either: a.) the grandmother, not the mother of her youngest child Trig, or b.) she is the actual mother, but contributed to Trig’s diagnosis with Downs Syndrome because of her negligence. Read http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137

With such rumors circulating, one can sense that was already becoming a bitter campaign may eventually become even more acrid.

This is one of the downsides of not only modern politics, but non-traditional journalism, too. I do believe that evidence of past character “flaws” is important, but only if it impacts one’s current ability to lead. Is the nature of Palin’s child’s disease fecund for public inspection about whether she is fit to lead? If it is even remotely true that Trigg is her grandson, does that not actually increase her character for not wanting to have her teenage daughter have to deal with the stigma of being a parent at an early age?

This confirms that sexism can actually emanate from the left when it is politically expedient. Men would never be subjected to the aforementioned rumors nor criticized about juxtaposing family time with professional duties, like Governor Palin has this weekend.

What is ironic is that those who proffer such opinions hoping to discredit Governor Palin may unwittingly help her with undecided voters, quite similar to the bump that Senator Hillary Clinton received after the Iowa caucuses when she became emotional discussing allegations that people found her unlikable---a factor that reminded many politically active women that there is still a strong double standard in how the sexes are dealt with in the political arena.

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