General Discussion

Normally going to a national convention is a once in a lifetime experience. I had worked really hard inside the party on campaigns and voter protection issues for a very long time to be in the position to run for and be elected as delegate. Too bad that Sanders and his vetted delegates ruined that experience and did their best to help TFG. A candidate has absolute approval rights over their pledged delegates because these delegates can change their votes and these delegates represent the candidate and campaign. I helped vet Clinton delegates and I know that I was vetted. The Clinton campaign told us that we represent her and that our actions would reflect on her and her campaign.

In contrast, Sanders sent one very weak text the Sunday night before the convention and then did little or nothing to control his delegates. It was nasty I was there when the Sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis., Elijah Cummings and Stacy Abrams. I was warned about each of these stunts 30 minutes before it happened by my Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, Sanders was asked to stop this event and declined.

I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of Sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to Sanders.

Sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that Sanders talked about was himself. Sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.

Finally, a group of Sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. My daughter was my guest and she got to attend the first night and see Michelle Obama. Again, Sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and Sanders refused.

Texas may change the way it selects delegates next cycle, and I will see if I want to run. I was a day one contributor to Joe Biden and got to meet Joe Biden at two different private fundraisers. I was amused when Joe signed some floor speech signs from his speech at the 2016 convention while not missing a beat talking to another guest. Joe then took my iPhone took three selfies with me better than I could do. One of the floor speech signs were inscribed with "Keep the Faith." At the next fundraiser, I had maxxed out for the primary and so got to talk to Joe about stuttering.

The process of running for and getting elected to be a delegate to a national convention takes a great deal effort and you still have to be vetted before you are an official delegate. I have friends who were at the 2008 and 2012 conventions, and they had a good time. Time will tell if I try again.