DistortedSoul.com – The FUNK According to Nadir Omowale

Cue the instrumental to Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice”:

There’s so much drama in the GOP
I’m kinda glad that I’m coverin’ the RNC

We didn’t know at first.  When John McCain made the decision to limit activity at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota because of the threat Hurricane Gustav posed to the Gulf Coast, some of us in the MTV Street Team’s RNC contingent were worried that there wouldn’t be much to cover.  But a few hours later, I was coughing, hacking and wheezing because of the tear gas in my face…

Yes, this gathering was already expected to lack the grandeur and majesty of last week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver.  But, if anything, there are many more compelling stories developing within the void and uncertainty that was created by the GOP’s surprising move.

Gustav is a heavy storm, no doubt, but it was not the malicious monster maelstrom that many feared would devastate New Orleans on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  The Republicans didn’t want to be perceived as partying while New Orleans drowned (as happened during Katrina).

Cancelling the RNC’s first day of scheduled activities was perhaps expected to net a positive result for the GOP.  Shining a spotlight on the failures of the George Bush/Dick Cheney administration would NOT have been the most prudent way for McCain to distance himself from his Republican bedfellows in the White House.  Did Gustav offer a convenient excuse?

Well, no such luck. Bush is scheduled to speak at the convention after all.  He will give his make up address on Tuesday.

Another unfortunate development for the Republicans was that the lack of stories coming out of the Xcel Center left more room in the news cycle for the many scandals that are quickly emerging about McCain’s vice-presidential pick, Sarah Palin.  The latest bomb-shell is that her 17 year-old daughter is five months pregnant.

With hundreds of reporters from all over the world in town with nothing to do, many of the back stories that normally would have received only scant attention are gaining the prominent media coverage they probably deserved in the first place.

Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic, a September 2, event that is billed as “… a clear call to the Republican Party to return to its roots of limited government, personal responsibility, and protection of our natural rights,” sold out the Target Center.  According to the event’s press contact, Jesse Benton, the RNC’s move has helped them gain more attention from the press than they had anticipated.

Nadir interviews Jesse Benton of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty about Rally for the Republic

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) held it’s first annual “Take Back Labor Day Festival” at Harriet Island in St. Paul.  According to SEIU president and event organizer Andy Stern, the festival was designed to make labor unions “more hip” for a young audience.  The concert featured performances by Tom Morrello, Mos Def, Steve Earle, The Pharcyde and others.

Nadir with SEIU President Andy Stern at Take Back Labor Day

Interview with Minnesota’s David Gilbert-Patterson. The 17 year-old was the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

10,000 protestors (or more) marched from the Minnesota State Capitol in Minneapolis to the Xcel Energy Center, site of the RNC, on Day 1 of the Convention.

RNC Protest March outside Minnesota State Capitol

More protest footage

Anarchists rally at protest

Anarchy in action

With nothing happening inside the convention, more reporters followed the many activists who showed up to air their grievances.  284 people were arrested, including Democracy Now host Amy Goodman and two of her producers.  I didn’t get arrested, but I did get my first taste of tear gas when I found myself upwind after the canisters were fired at a group of anarchists.  View that video above.

All in all, what could easily have been a stodgy, stuffed-shirted GOP shindig morphed into one exciting adventure after another.  And that was just Day 1.  I’m thrilled to see what the rest of the week has in store…

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