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01 October 2008
Delegates Review the 2008 National Conventions
Ask America webchat transcript, September 8
Two young party delegates, Kim Ahern and Brian Graham, participated in a September 8 Ask America webchat on their reactions to the parties’ conventions. Kim Ahern was a delegate from Rhode Island to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and Brian Graham was a delegate from Florida to the 2008 Republican National Convention.
Following is the transcript:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
The New Media Landscape in Campaign 2008
Guest: Brian Graham and Kim Ahern
Date: September 8, 2008
Time: 10 a.m. EDT (14:00 GMT)
Webchat Moderator: Welcome to our final webchat as part of the 2008 conventions. Our chat will begin shortly at 1400 GMT. You may submit questions now.
Welcome! Our guests are online and will join us in just a moment.
Brian Graham: Hello, This is Brian Graham, I'm the Chairman of the Florida Federation of Young Republicans. I'm 24 and live in Green Cove Springs, Florida (Near Jacksonville). I served as a delegate from Florida's 6th Congressional District.
Kim Ahern: Hello everyone! My name is Kim Ahern and I’m a 24-year-old law student from Rhode Island. I’ve been organizing for Sen. Obama since June 2007 and ran for delegate and was lucky enough to be elected!
Question [JJ]: How would u assess the conventions? A tradition is a bump in support...so who has the bump?
Brian Graham: I think the Republican National Convention was a huge success. It highlighted the diversity and strength of the Republicans. In providing for an economically stable and secure America, the Republicans have the edge.
Kim Ahern: I believe both Presidential candidates benefited from a “bump” in the polls after each respective Convention. These bumps are of course to be expected since each candidate gets an entire week for uninterrupted media coverage. However, I’d also add that traditional polling data is difficult for this election because of the many young voters that are coming out to support Sen. Obama and do not have traditional land lines for their phones (a typical way to conduct polling).
Brian Graham: In regards to a bump, McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republican's biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA Today poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.
Webchat Moderator: Our speakers are drafting answers to your questions now. We'll post questions/answers as they become available.
Q [Lingo]: What is the "Big Story" of the convention so far?
Brian Graham: I think the big story from the Republican National Convention is that McCain's Vice Presidential choice, Sarah Palin has exceeded expectations and rallied the base.
Kim Ahern: For the Democratic Convention, it was definitely the positive energy and commitment that all the delegates and others came out of the Convention with, especially after hearing Sen. Obama speak to the crowd of over 80,000 people on the last night! One thing that I thought was great (and perhaps the “big story”) was how Sen. Obama decided to open up the Convention so it was not just the delegates, but an additional 75,000 individuals who were able to come participate in the final night.
Q [Chat]: Joe Lieberman said: Vote for the Person not the Party. Will American voters do this?
Brian Graham: I think that if you look at the electorate in the United States, you will see that Americans will vote for the person they feel is best suited to serve the country.
Kim Ahern: The Obama Campaign has definitely energized many Republicans and Independents who are disengaged after the past eight years. Generally, I think the Party is important based on the vast differences in the Party Platforms; however Sen. Obama has demonstrated that he can reach across the aisle and galvanize a large group of individuals not affiliated with any specific Party.
Brian Graham: There are more Democrats in America than Republicans - more Democrats by far. However, when you look at the past 20 years, there has only been one Democrat President. There is a reason for this.
I agree with Joe Lieberman, and think that people will (as they have in the past) vote for the person, not the party.
Q [media]: Why is Obama's ethnicity such an issue in the elections? Would this mean that race is still a social barrier in the U.S?
Webchat Moderator: Perhaps our guests could also address gender as "a social barrier in the U.S.?"
Q [Mohammad]: excuse me
Webchat Moderator: Hello Mohammad, welcome to our chat.
Kim Ahern: I think it’s such an issue because of a few things – first, as he said in his acceptance speech (45 years to day after Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech), his story wouldn’t be possible in any other place except our great country because of people like Rev. King. Additionally, the media has placed a lot of emphasize on race and gender, but I think it’s important to move past identity politics and instead, focus on the person and what they, as Americans, are going to do to bring much needed change to our country.
Brian Graham: I don't think that Obama's ethnicity (half black, half white) is really a major issue for Americans. Nor do I think that Sarah Palin's gender is really a major issue for Americans. My mother is an elected official and I have run campaigns for minority candidates – never with the thought that they were disadvantaged. However, I do think it is important to realize that history will be made this year, not matter which ticket is elected.
Q [Mayeso]: Why is Germany and other European countries crazy about Obama? Does that tell an American voter anything?
Brian Graham: That's a great question, perhaps because Mr. Obama shares the socialist views of many Europeans.
Kim Ahern: A great question! While American voters are going to decide this election, it is important to look outside of our borders and think seriously about how other countries view us in order to maintain our moral standing in the world. After the last eight years, we need to engage with other countries, particularly European allies. If you get a chance, watch Sen. Obama’s speech while he was in Germany. I find it truly ironic that we see adds displaying Sen. Obama’s “celebrity” popping up now, because this kind of transatlantic dialogue is exactly what our country needs to continue to be that last, best hope on Earth.
Q [Ken Wang]: Hello. My name is Ken Wang. I'm a college student from Shanghai, China. I watched both U.S parties convention on CNN. American presidential election is so amazing! I'd like to ask one question.
Webchat Moderator: Hello Ken, welcome to our chat.
Webchat Moderator: We continue to take your questions. Please be patient as our guests review and answer your many questions.
Benny Ng (China,ShenZhen): I want to know, which party can REALLY improve the speed of the processing of integration [immigration reform].
Brian Graham: I think that is you look at who is best to improve immigration processing you need to look at which party has the best managers in it. Republicans believe that we need to run Government more like a business, where customers (taxpayers) are the bosses. What we need to do in Government is improve efficiency and the Republicans understand how to reform a system and make it work, just like in the business world.
Kim Ahern: Hi Benny – glad to see this chat has brought together many individuals from around the world. I’m not entirely sure what you mean by “speeding” it up, however I’d point you to read Sen. Obama’s stance on immigration, that is in this link below. Additionally, Sen. Obama has sponsored legislation called the Citizenship Promotion Act, which was to help improve the speed and accuracy of background checks. Obama on immigration here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/immigration/.
Q [GP San Antonio]: The conventions seemed to be a noisy accumulation of loud music, crazy hats and puppet signs and speeches also loud and providing nothing new. Why have them?
Brian Graham: Well the answer to that would be the legally to have a nominee you must have a convention. It is a legality and it helps to rally the base.
Kim Ahern: Before going to the Convention, I had only known what I had seen on TV (similar to what you described). However, after being there – all of those things are really there to energize the delegates and show the public at large just how fired up we are about our candidate (Sen. Barack Obama). Also, with today’s 30 second sound bite media world, the campaigns need to be constantly on message and constantly thinking about how the image is being portrayed the entire country (hence, the signs!).
Q [Najim]: What new commitments will have senator obama or mccain to Afghanistan if he wins the elections?
Webchat Moderator: We continue to take your questions. Please be patient as our speakers review them.
Brian Graham: Senator McCain is the man who encouraged and supported the surge in troops that has been and is working in Iraq. Senator McCain is a huge supporter of our military and I'm sure that under President McCain, Afghanistan will get the support it needs and the attention it deserves.
Kim Ahern: If you watched the Democratic Convention, you constantly saw Sen. Obama and all of the speakers mention Afghanistan. After Sen. Obama’s recent trip there (and before as well) – he has consistently said that we need to refocus our military and diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan in order to catch Osama bin Laden. He has said for over a year now that he would deploy additional troop to Afghanistan to find and capture those who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks against us.
Q [mys]: Well oil prices are a domestic issue ... and are connected to Foreign Policy ... [How was Energy Policy addressed at each convention?]
Brian Graham: I'm so glad this question has been brought up. Energy policy links directly to national security. There is no better person to protect America and American allies than John McCain. He has the experience to lead and the courage to do what's right.
John McCain understands that the American public must get off of foreign oil. This means that we must invest in new clean energy solutions, but for the short term, we must drill, refine, and produce petro products right here in America.
This will be good for the American Economy. It will provide jobs, decrease rising fuel costs, and protect America from dependency.
Kim Ahern: Energy is one of the most important issues that the next President will need to address. Since the 1970’s we’ve heard from Congress and previous Presidents how foreign oil is completely tied to our national security interests and how we need to cease our dependence on foreign oil. The real question is who is going to bring about the change we need in energy (from renewable to wind/solar) – that person is Barack Obama. Additionally, he’s made the connection clear that simply focusing only on new drilling (hence, more oil) will: 1. Not show us any economic benefit for many, many years and 2. Add to the problem of climate change that every nation needs to address.
Q [YeEr]: Obama has visited several European countries before the big election, has this appeared before? i mean in history? i think it is a big brave action.
Webchat Moderator: We'll take one additional question.
Brian Graham: Yes, as a matter of fact it has happened before. John McCain has made many trips abroad, however the media has not covered it to the extent they have covered Senator Obama's trips. As a matter of fact, Senator McCain has traveled to visit our troops and foreign leaders many more times in the past two years than Senator Obama.
Kim Ahern: Thanks for the question; I’d point you to my previous answer regarding how important transatlantic relations will be for the next President. In terms of the historic nature of your question, I’m not entirely sure how many candidates may have traveled to other countries while campaigning – but both Barack Obama and John McCain have in this election cycle. Also, here is the link to watch Senator Obama’s speech in Berlin from over the summer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAhb06Z8N1c.
Q [doggycat]: Who will win the final success?
Brian Graham: I think that the in the end the American people will decide that the President of the United States is too important of a position for 'on the job training.' They will decide that Senator McCain's broad experience and bold leadership is the right choice for the Oval Office.
Kim Ahern: Our country needs change. Our country needs change from the last eight years – who is most likely to bring about that change? Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I’m going to work my heart out for the next 59 or so days to make sure that we are victorious come November. Sen. Obama is drawing thousands to come hear him speak, he’s engaged an entire young generation previously deemed “apathetic,” and is he doing it because he believes the American people aren’t willing to take a chance on four more years of the previous eight years come Nov. 4th. My answer = Obama/Biden!
Brian Graham: Thank You.
Kim Ahern: Thank you!
Webchat Moderator: We wish to thank Kim Ahern and Brian Graham for joining us today. We hope you will understand that there were many questions and our speakers tried to answer as many as possible. Learn about upcoming webchats at our site http://www.america.gov under multimedia "Ask America".
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