Denver vs. St. Paul on Torture Posted by Moira Whelan

There are some stark contrasts here in St. Paul from what I experienced in Denver. It could be the lack of crowds…anywhere, the absence of big stars at the One Campaign event, or just the general lack of enthusiasm.

I attended events in both Denver and St. Paul hosted by the Human Rights First folks. In both cities, they brought in groups of retired Generals and Admirals to urge leaders in both parties to commit to ending torture in the name of the United States. Human Rights First started about 18 months ago reaching out to all of the presidential candidates and gathering flag officers to talk to them privately…8 took them up on it, and to the credit of the flag officers, none of the many I’ve spoken with have revealed those conversations.

Many eloquent speakers in both cities, and a number of committed former military officers who are doing this simply because they believe strongly in the issue. In Denver, more than 10 former flag officers attended. In St. Paul the number was smaller, but still excellent. I’d never heard from Bud McFarlane talk about his experience in a POW camp before, and I’d recommend it. It’s pretty moving.

One thing that stood out to me was the audience:  In Denver, I spoke with key advisers to the Obama and Biden camps at the event, as well as Members of Congress and even movie stars who came out to support the issue. In St. Paul, none of McCain’s top advisers dropped by, despite the fact that it was blocks from the Convention area, and if there was a Member of Congress in the room, I missed it.

Now, I understand at convention there are many things that one can do, but in this case it seems to me that either other issues or competing parties won out.  In both cases, the event was in the afternoon when little else is scheduled, and those who attended in both places did so because they are committed to the issue.

It said a lot to me that the party with the POW at the top of the ticket –a fact they brag about all the time--had a much lighter showing. Perhaps it has something to do with McCain backing down on the issue when it mattered most. Regardless, if conventions are about influence, the influential who brag about their POW candidate, weren't listening to the generals on the ground in this case.

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