Posted on: Sunday, July 25, 2004

Delegates do more than pick candidates

By Jerry Burris
Advertiser Editorial Writer

Hawai'i's Democrats — or at least a good sampling of them — are in Boston this week for that grandest of political traditions: The party's national convention.

For what purpose? many ask.

It's a legitimate question. Why would a bunch of local Democrats haul themselves and cartons of flowers, foliage and other Hawaiiana to sweaty, crowded Boston for an event that has already been decided?

The decision on the presidential and vice-presidential nominee has already been made. And even if it had not been made, there is little chance that Hawai'i's 29 votes would make much of a difference.

There are reasons, however, why these events still matter to people who live and breathe politics.

The major networks, which once offered gavel-to-gavel coverage of the conventions, will be offering as little as three hours of live coverage this year.

To political junkies, that's a shame — some of the best theater in any convention, even pre-washed gatherings such as this, takes place on the floor, in caucuses and in unexpected moments from the podium. It is well worth watching.

Hawai'i has rarely played much of a prominent role in conventions, either Democratic or Republican.

One high point was Sen. Dan Inouye's keynote address at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. That highlight was, unfortunately, largely drowned out by the protests, ugly controversy and rioting.

In fact, it was the chaos of that convention that led directly to the more stage-managed spectaculars we see today.

Hawai'i also enjoyed a moment in the spotlight during the 1976 Republican convention in Kansas City, which was the last time there was even any serious doubt about the nominee by the time the convention opened.

In 1976, Ronald Reagan made a determined run against Gerald Ford, the eventual nominee. The convention began without a clear sense that either man had enough votes to lock in the nomination.

Hawai'i Republicans sent 19 delegates to Kansas City, most of them technically uncommitted although leaning toward Ford. With retiring U.S. Sen Hiram Fong as delegation chairman, Hawai'i delegates milked their role in the uncertainty to the hilt.

In the end, the delegation went 18-1 for Ford and it was the last time Hawai'i had even an outside role in choosing its party's nominee.

But conventions are more than nominations. There are workshops, shmoozing, political gossip and opportunities galore for Island delegates to rub shoulders with big timers in politics.

The speeches, rah-rah rallies and intensity of the convention send delegations home with fresh energy for the political battle ahead and a deeper understanding of what their party stands for.

That makes it all worthwhile.