President Obama delivering acceptance speech at DNC.

CHARLOTTE, NC – President Barack Obama, in a crisp, straight-forward speech at the Democratic National Convention last night, laid out the the central choice embodied in his re-election campaign.

"Over the next few years," said the President, "Big decisions will be made in Washington, on jobs and the economy; taxes and deficits; energy and education; war and peace – decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and our children's lives for decades to come. On every issue, the choice you face won't be just between two candidates or two parties. It will be a choice between two different paths for America.  A choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future."

Obama's speech did not have the rhetorical flash of former President Bill Clinton, or the moving narrative of First Lady Michelle Obama, or the fire-in-the-belly grit of Vice President Joe Biden. But it did something else, something quite substantial, in knitting together all the themes we had heard -- and for those in the hall, that was something like 15 hours of speeches across three days -- crystallizing the complex and ramified into the simple logic of decision-making.

In a word, the speech was Presidential. Because while we do expect our presidents to have rhetorical flash ("Yes our road is longer – but we travel it together.  We don't turn back.  We leave no one behind.") and self-revelatory ("I began my career helping people in the shadow of a shuttered steel mill, at a time when too many good jobs were starting to move overseas.") and even with a bit of grit (""Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!"), at the end of the day, we know that the person in the Oval Office needs to have, in addition to those necessary-but-not-sufficient skills, a powerful ability to synthesize.

We need a President who can look out across the pressing challenges, the spectrum of issues, the diversity of voices -- and anyone who attended to the full content of previous 15 hours could not miss their range and import -- and, guided by their values, develop a vision and manage a path forward. It is an act of synthesis, not brute-force reduction to binary choices so painfully on display in Tampa.

In an election, this is of necessity reduced to a single decision point, a "go-no-go" decision (like the one pointedly evoked multiple times during the convention. You know the one I mean.)

And in perhaps the boldest rhetorical move, Obama turned this entire process inside out to show us how implicated we, the voters are: "So you see, the election four years ago wasn't about me. It was about you. My fellow citizens – you were the change."

It was a brilliant way to make his case. "As I stand here tonight," Obama said, "I have never been more hopeful about America. Not because I think I have all the answers. Not because I'm naïve about the magnitude of our challenges. I'm hopeful because of you."

Because if you had listened, really listened to what speaker after speaker testified to in Charlotte, and you had followed the logic of Obama's framing (Sandra Fluke said it best: "Six months from now, you're going to be living in one of these futures."), and if you were the kind of person that the President thought you were -- the kind of person you hope, in your best moments, to be -- then you had to rise above the cynicism or "other voices will fill the void."

Brilliant.

Carol Dhue, David Wellstone and Patrick Kennedy.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Former RI Representative Patrick Kennedy was a guest speaker at yesterday's Recovery Caucus meeting at the Democratic National Convention and he brought his message of full mental health parity to a standing-room-only session.

The panel was chaired by RI delegate Tom Coderre, who works for Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed. It also featured David Wellstone, son of the late Senator, and former cable network anchor Carol Dhue.

Coderre recognized the work of Kennedy (Twitter, web site) in backing the Recovery Caucus, which is sponsoring recovery rooms every day in all of the DNC's venues. "This is the most recovery-friendly convention ever," he said, and praised the 2012 Democratic platform which "recognizes recovery as the public-health crisis that it is."

But Coderre and the other speakers also stressed how much work remains to be done.

Although legislation ensuring parity in mental health coverage was signed into law, Kennedy argued that it was time for the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue the final rules that would enable enforcement.

"We expect implementation that will not have any loopholes," he said. "Right now, these issues affect a new population: veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan." Kennedy expressed outrage that more veterans are now dying by suicide than enemy action. "Our vets are being caught behind the enemy lines of addiction and depression," he said.

Closing potential loopholes is especially critical, Kennedy said, for those members of the National Guard and Reserve returning to their jobs after deployment.

And veterans are only part of the "besieged minority" affected by these diseases, said Wellstone, quoting his his father, who was an early advocate. "It is not just the right thing to do, it's the fiscally responsible thing to do," Wellstone said, given the estimated $400B yearly cost of untreated addiction and mental health issues. Without the final HHS rule, said Wellstone, "we don't have the teeth."

"If your father was here," Dhue told Wellstone, "we'd already have teeth in the bill."

She lamented the fact that unlike other diseases, addiction and mental health are improperly overlaid with moral attributes.

"It comes down to science," she said. "I was wired to be an addict."

Carol McDaid [no relation], a Washington, DC-based advocate, asked caucus-goers for their support in launching a petition to fight for the final regulations, and announced a web site for the effort, parityispersonal.org.

RI Delegation Chair Gordon Fox with former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas Wilson

CHARLOTTE, NC – Each morning at the Democratic National Convention, delegations gather for breakfast to plan the day and hear from a couple of speakers, and on Tuesday, Sept. 4, they were visited by the VP of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) David Rolf and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas Wilson, one of the architects of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Wilson, who served as the highest-ranking openly gay senior official at the Pentagon shared his perspective on DADT and the Obama administration.

For Wilson, the most significant fact about the repeal was the way it was accepted by the men and women of the armed forces. "The greatest testament," he said, "Was that nothing happened. The earth did not shift."

He praised the Obama administration for the support they had shown to the troops -- not just with the repeal of this measure, but also in hosting earlier this year the first state dinner ever for returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And his respect extended to President Obama's role as Commander in Chief as well. "I was glad to work for an administration where the President can show he's tough -- but not stupid."

SEIU VP Rolf speaks with delegate Onna Moniz-John.

The other guest at yesterday's breakfast offered thoughts on the election from the vantage point of the 2-million member SEIU. In remarks that presaged the floor speech by SEIU President Mary Kay Henry later that night, Rolf stressed the differing visions of labor rights offered by Obama and Romney.

The Republican party, he said, "Led a generation-long assault on every institution that supports the middle class."

"And I'm not a conspiracy theorist," he said of the Republicans. "They tell you everything they're going to do." That's why SEIU was working hard to re-elect the president with member contacts, outreach in swing states, and financial support through 527 groups. He lamented the necessary evil of large-dollar campaigns, but noted pragmatically, "There's no reason you should bring a butter knife to a gun fight."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse addresses delegates.

CHARLOTTE, NC – With official proceedings beginning tomorrow at the Democratic National Convention, members of the Rhode Island delegation met at a reception this evening where Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse urged them to have take advantage of the next three days.

"There will be a lot of good material to bring back to Rhode Island and send a strong message about President Obama and the work to be done to get this country moving again," said Whitehouse to his fellow delegates. "Have fun, but pay attention for those telltale moments that you can take home."

Before the reception, harddeadlines caught up with RI Democratic Party Chair Ed Pacheco and Executive Director Stephanie Mandeville at their temporary office in the delegation's hotel in Concord, about 20 miles north of the city.

RI Democratic Party Chair Ed Pacheco and Executive Director Stephanie Mandeville.

Both were still excited from the delegation's first look at Time-Warner Cable Arena convention site yesterday. According to Pacheco, the RI delegation has prime spot behind Pennsylvania and just about 100 feet from podium. If you're looking for Rhode Island on TV tomorrow night, they will be to the left of the podium. How did our state score such a good location? "I don't reveal my secrets,"said Pacheco.

The delegates were delighted to finally be in the convention hall, said Mandeville. "It was like a kid's first trip to Fenway."

They had a chance to tour the convention floor, get the feel for Rhode Island's space, and participate in a rehearsal of the roll-call process led by Convention Secretary Alice Germond. In something that sounds like it could be either a bit of wisdom from a ten-time convention veteran -- or perhaps a wee bit of a prompt to keep things moving -- Pacheco reported her advice to the delegations: "Pretend it's 1:30 in the morning."

According to Pacheco, delegation Chair Gordon Fox is still working on his roll-call announcement. "He's trying to work in they typical things, like coffee milk," said Pacheco, "But also wants to recognize that in Rhode Island, we stand on the shoulders of great senators like Claiborne Pell, whose policies we not just important for our state, but the whole country."

Update: Today was also DNC's CarolinaFest -- some pix up on Flickr.

Obama for America press secretary Ben LaBolt, DNC Secretary Alice Germond, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, DNC Chair Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan.

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Charlotte this morning with a press conference previewing the week and repeatedly stressing two key messages: that the convention is the most open and accessible in history, and that a key Obama campaign theme will be "rebuilding America from the middle class out."

The 50-minute presser featured DNCC Chair Steve Kerrigan, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Convention Chair Los Angeles Mayor Antionio Villaraigosa, DNC Secretary Alice Germond, and Obama for America Press Secretary Ben LaBolt.

The main news from the session was that the draft platform will be distributed to all delegates when they arrive in the hall tomorrow, and that Georgia Rep. John Lewis has been selected as Sergeant-at-arms for the proceedings.

"It's been incredible to see the ground energy for this convention and this President," said Foxx, who expressed pride that Charlotte was hosting its first major political convention in 150 years, and while he predicted a close race, he expressed optimism about Obama carrying the state again in 2012. "The people of North Carolina understand that this President has had their back."

Just as the convention four years ago in Denver helped the campaign focus the energy of its 25,000 local volunteers, Villaraigosa said that Charlotte would do the same for North Carolina. "This is the start of a new way to engage in the political process," he said, promising a "working convention," that would engage and energize volunteers and participants as well as laying out a vision and articulating a path forward.

And the people doing that work on the delegate side represent a true cross-section of America, said Germond, noting that among the 5,556 delegates and 407 alternates -- 50% of them women-- there were increases in African-American, Latino, and youth representation, with a record 644 young delegates, including 285 students. "In many cases, this is their very first convention," she said. "We will learn from them."

In the Q&A, LaBolt responded to a question about the significance of today's Gallup results which found Romney's convention speech last week produced only a marginal bump. "Most Americans who tuned in were looking for answers," he said, "but the Romney convention speech didn't address their questions." He promised that President Obama's speech -- which he said is still being fine-tuned -- would "lay out the pillars for rebuilding the economy from the middle class out."

RI Democratic delegation Chair, Speaker Gordon Fox

The 40+ members of the Rhode Island delegation to next week's Democratic National Convention wrapped up their final bits of business at a meeting tonight at Camille's in Providence, and the main agenda item was electing the delegation's chair. By unanimous vote, the delegates chose RI House Speaker Gordon Fox.

In brief remarks to the delegates, Fox discussed the importance of the upcoming convention as an opportunity to offer America an "alternate vision," and he stressed Rhode Island's strong Democratic roots. "Rhode Island is the bluest of blue," he said. "We want to showcase and highlight that we understand what the middle class needs."

"We are not parties to divisiveness," Fox said. "We understand that we inextricably benefit from each other's work. I'm looking forward to a great week in Charlotte."

In addition to Speaker Fox, delegates attending the session included Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, Treasurer Gina Raimondo, and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, as well as several members of the general assembly and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. Among the delegates, some have substantial convention experience, like nine-time veteran DNC National Committeewoman Edna O'Neill Mattson — and some are first-timers like Onna Moniz-John from East Providence.

RI Democratic Party Chair Ed Pacheco praised the diversity of the group. "Our delegation is made up of firefighters, teachers, elected officials, newcomers, and people who returning," he said. "This speaks volumes about what Rhode Island stands for."

"I'm proud to be a Democrat," said Pacheco. "Let's go get 'em."

Additional pictures from the event up on Flickr.

Editorial note: I'll be reporting from the DNC in Charlotte all next week, and I will be following the Rhode Island delegation.

The Democratic National Committee announced new speakers for next month's convention and a new headliner for the entertainment preceding President Obama's nomination speech.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be one of the featured speakers presenting the platform on Tuesday, September 4th, joined by Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9), the DNC announced today.

Other speakers added to the agenda are Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal, and Los Angeles Mayor and Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa.

The other announcement today was the lineup for the festivities at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, September 6, with North Carolina icon James Taylor headlining an evening of local talent that will perform for the delegates, convention guests, and the tens of thousands of Americans who signed up for "community credentials" to attend President Obama and Vice President Biden's acceptance speeches.

In a release, Taylor said, "I'm all fired up to take the stage at the Democratic Convention for President Obama right here in North Carolina. I think it's so important that he have a second term to keep this country moving forward." Taylor is a five-time Grammy winner known for "Carolina in my Mind" – the iconic song that many from North Carolina consider to be the state's unofficial anthem.

"Highlighting such amazing talent from North Carolina as part of the entertainment at the convention's closing event is just one way that convention organizers are working to bring the flavor of North Carolina to all Americans," said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan. "Whether you're one of the tens of thousands who received community credentials to attend this historic event in person, or tuning in remotely, you will have a taste of the wonderful region that is home to this year's convention."

Editorial note: Written from press releases.

Some of the most high-profile women in American politics will be front and center at the Democratic Convention in Charlotte next month, including Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, fair-pay activist Lilly Ledbetter, and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced today.

Other speakers announced today are Caroline Kennedy, Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, actress and Obama campaign co-chair Eva Longoria, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth, Denise Juneau, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Montana, and U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, "together with the women of the U.S. Senate."

Previously announced speakers include: San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a Democratic National Convention, President Bill Clinton, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Elizabeth Warren.

Editorial note: Written from a press release.