On Mass-Produced Signs at Political Conventions
Last night, while watching coverage of the Democratic Convention, I noticed how yet again, the organizers were passing around signs featuring the name of the current speaker, then it was those vertical signs with “Biden.” Â The night before it had been signs with “Hillary,” and the night before that “Michelle.”
I recall the first political conventions I watched on TV when you looked out into the audience and saw a great variety of signs, some mass-produced, others handmade.
In recent years, there seems to have been a focus (in both parties) on making sure everyone in the audience is waving the exact same sign. Â Looks fake to me, almost like a rally in a Communist country when such things existed in mass quantities (Communist countries that is).
When the entire audience is waving the same sign, they all look like automatons. Makes the convention look more like a media stunt rather than a rally of delegates enthusiastic about their candidate and eager to rally ’round him in the coming campaign.
Now it just looks like they’re extras on a movie set who will move on to some other project as soon as the media leaves town.
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In a couple of recent campaigns here in Pennsylvania they have gone out of their way to not have pre printed signs. You’d see people with hand made signs at rallies. An organizer would hand out the poster board, a large marker and tell a loyalist what to write. Still managed, but it looks a lot more real, spontaneous and appealing.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — August 28, 2008 @ 4:42 pm - August 28, 2008
These national converntions are so strictly stage managed. Every part. The roll call of states, I couldn’t help but think of other countries, where democracy was just a game or facade. The Obamites had California pass during the roll call just so Hillary’s delegates and the public wouldn’t see her ahead of Barack at any point in the voting. I mean it is the Republicans as well as Democrats, but geez, nothing spontaneous, in 4 days? Boring, boring. And are they really that worried about him looking the least bit vulnerable?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — August 28, 2008 @ 4:46 pm - August 28, 2008
#2 – “And are they really that worried about him looking the least bit vulnerable?”
In a word, Gene: YES.
The emperor has no clothes.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — August 28, 2008 @ 4:58 pm - August 28, 2008
So I’m getting ready for tonights big speech by Barack Obama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lLU5-yji8&feature=related
To prepare I watched another speech by a dynamic public speaker. He also liked night time affairs, oddly lit for dramatic effect. Watch it….and if the 80,000 spectators tonight start lighting torches and screaming to the heavens……run, run very fast.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — August 28, 2008 @ 5:02 pm - August 28, 2008
Gene… good call!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — August 28, 2008 @ 7:17 pm - August 28, 2008
Boosh!!
At least on WCW, the fans are given handmade signs. To be fair though, I wouldn’t mind a pre-fab sign given that I’m artistically challenged. That, or if Teddy gets blitzed and spews all over your hand made sign the first day.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — August 29, 2008 @ 12:28 am - August 29, 2008
Then, of course, if you have a flag on your sign at the DNC, there’s always the chance some a-hole liberal will light it afire.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — August 29, 2008 @ 12:29 am - August 29, 2008
At the 1968 GOP national convention, our delegation, like others, had one delegate and one alternate assigned to distribution of signs as scheduled. One person was assigned air horn responsibilities. The day before the nominations our delegation had a special meeting to learn the aisles we would use, the directions we would go, etc., as soon as Dick Nixon’s name was placed in nomination. The Rockefeller and Reagan demonstrations were just as well organized.
Comment by Jack Allen — August 29, 2008 @ 11:32 am - August 29, 2008