Day One (9/1/08) – Special Report by John Wheeler Jr.

The North Carolina delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention met in caucus on Monday, September 1, at the Holiday Inn Metrodome hotel in Minneapolis. NC GOP Chairman Linda Daves opened the meeting at 11 a.m. prior to our afternoon bus trip to the convention center in St. Paul.

Ms. Daves introduced several prominent speakers, including North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, former Secretary of Agriculture John Block, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, former Indiana Senator Dan Coats, and former Vietnam War POW Lee Allen. All of these speakers praised Senator John McCain, the GOP presidential candidate, for his demonstrated courage, leadership ability and history of service to his country.

Senator Burr declared that McCain’s decision to cut short the opening day’s activities at the national convention demonstrated his ability to make hard executive decisions appropriate to the situation, in light of the uncertainties surrounding then-impending Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans. He noted that McCain had taken an aggressive hands-on approach to the emergency situation and said that is the kind of leadership America needs.

Mr. Block declared that a McCain victory in November is essential to prevent a massive move toward more socialism and higher taxes under a Barack Obama presidency.

Mr. Roemer recounted his long history of working with McCain in Congress under Ronald Reagan, when at the Gipper’s request McCain agreed to influence Democrats and Roemer lobbied Republicans to work across party lines to accomplish compromises that were for the good of the country. Roemer also praised McCain’s 22 years of military service to his country while in uniform.

Mr. Coats expressed his delight at being able to talk about the “superb choice” of Sarah Palin, Alaska’s governor and McCain’s chosen candidate to be his Vice President. Coats noted that conservatives were universally delighted with the Palin pick because of her commitment to faith, family and public service. He expressed his confidence that “the best possible combination on the ticket” will prevail in November. While we may defer gratification today and focus on serving others in their time of need, Coats added, we will all get to celebrate at a great victory party on November 4.

Mr. Allen, who like McCain was a POW at the Hanoi Hilton, gave an inspirational account of his experiences there. An F34 Phantom fighter pilot, Allen was shot down in December 1967, just 11 days after McCain had crashed behind enemy lines. For five years he and McCain lived in the same prison but never saw each other. Allen and the other American POWs knew about McCain, however, and knew that the Viet Cong were keeping him alive despite his serious injuries and trying to use him as a “bargaining chip” for propaganda purposes because McCain’s father was a four-star admiral.

But when McCain courageously refused three times to be released, thus frustrating their propaganda plans, the enraged VC beat and tortured him and threw him into solitary confinement for 18 months. The two men actually got to know each other personally just a few months before they were released. Allen and McCain were eventually released on the same day, March 14, 1973, and flew back to the USA together on the same airplane.

Allen’s honest firsthand account of their grueling ordeal — and his heartfelt endorsement of John McCain’s patriotism and courage – was challenging and inspirational to everyone who heard it. It made us all feel proud to have a genuine national hero for our candidate.

After the speeches, NC GOP Executive Director Chris McClure gave us some instructions about convention procedures. Security was tight because of the self-declared anarchist protestors who were trying to disrupt the event, several of whom had already been arrested on Sunday by a joint task force of state and local police and the FBI.

The delegates were also given advance warning about the breaking news that Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant out of wedlock, and we were told that the national media would try to use this unmercifully as an issue to undermine Palin’s moral credibility. However, Bristol is planning to marry the father of her child, and the family is offering them unconditional love and support. We were all urged to pray for the family and to tell the media to leave them alone and respect their privacy.

At the convention center, the first day’s short session was largely limited to procedural matters concerning the adoption of rules, delegate credentials and the 2008 party platform. However, First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain did appear in person to urge the delegates to support the hurricane victims in states all along the Gulf Coast. Videotaped speeches from the GOP governors of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida were shown.

The first day of the convention was adjourned at shortly after 5 p.m. Central time and will resume at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, at which time several prominent national figures are expected to address the convention.

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