Marin Maven: The Unity Edition

February 11, 2008

Last night I decided to attend the Assembly District 6 Democratic Unity Day over at Howie Center (ie. Marinwood Community Center) to see what all this unity was about. I say that because being on several progressive/democratic forums I have found that there is something a little less than unity going on. Clinton and Obama followers have been going at it and it hasn’t been pretty.

I got to the parking lot and cheered at the woman who had an Obama sign and she warned me that we were not supposed to do that inside since it was Unity Day. It seemed like I was going to have to use code words like “Si, Se Puede” to ferret out my fellow Obama supporters. Given that Marin and surrounding counties came out strongly for Obama, chances were good to find many Obama-ites.

A lot of local politicos showed up. There was Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Mark Leno, San Rafael City Councilman Damon Connelly, Marin Supervisor Judy Arnold, and Senator Carole Migden were among the few. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey was absent (she is going to be having back surgery so let us wish her success and a speedy recovery), but sent someone from her office. Apparently, Woolsey has been getting a lot of calls and mails in regards to her super-delegate status. Woolsey has come out for Hillary Clinton when Marin and all the surrounding counties overwhelmingly voted for Obama.

I delighted in updating folks on the latest returns from Maine where republicans completely dissed front-runner Mccain and Huckabee by resurrecting Romney. Romney gets 57%, Mccain 21%, Paul 19%, and Huckabee 6%. It didn’t hurt that our man Obama won by a 19 point margin with an incredible record turnout from 14k in 2004 to 46k this year.

Students for Obama showed up and I was able to talk to one young man and was very impressed. Students for Obama has a chapter in all of the Marin County High Schools. The organization is using this opportunity to create ai broader movement to get our kids active in politics. Huzzah!

The crowd last night were chatty, friendly, and in high spirits (the wine and beer didn’t hurt). Generally, people were willing to support whoever was going to be the nominee even if they had a strong opinion of the two candidates. In talking to people was some concerns that the party need to work on its message to combat republican manipulation of language, the prospect of a California that is turning redder, and the whole super-delegate role in the convention.

A good time was had by all and apparently there are more to come. I highly recommend all Marinites to come out and get involved in politics.