The 2012 Democratic National Convention
| Last night, Barack Obama wrapped up the 2012 Democratic National Convention, accepting his party's nomination for president of the United States. He spoke of past successes and the continuing challenges ahead, seeking to frame the election as a choice, rather than a referendum on his first term as president. His address followed days of presentations and speeches by fellow Democrats in Charlotte, North Carolina, where thousands of delegates gathered to give the nomination to the Obama, the incumbent, and his vice president, Joe Biden. Collected below are scenes from Charlotte over the past week. also, you can click here for images from the Republican National Convention, last week in Florida. |  |
President Barack Obama waves after his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
DNC Funding: Corporate Cash Ban Changes Face Of Democratic Convention
Barack Obama steamrolled into Denver in the summer of 2008, vowing to change the very nature of American politics as a four-day celebration coronated him the Democratic nominee for president. The entire affair, give or take a few bucks, was brought to you by corporate America and the 1 percent.
Three-quarters of the funding for the $61 million Democratic National Convention that year came from donors who individually gave more than a quarter million dollars, according to a study by the Campaign Finance Institute and the Center for Responsive Politics. One-third of that money came from a dozen contributors -- companies, rich folks and unions who gave at least a million each. Half of the big donors gave to the conventions of both major parties. Only 5 percent of the money came from people who gave less than $100,000.
At a typical convention, corporations get what they pay for: the type of informal access that is highly prized when it comes to building lasting relationships.
"The convention was a great way to build relationships with members. People are usually in a good mood. The whole thing, you feel like it's historic, it's once every four years, you remember the people and the parties," said one top Democratic lobbyist who requested anonymity so he could speak openly about these relationships without damaging them. "For my clients and for me, it's really about access and building a relationship, having the ability to go in and meet with a member or meet with an office."
This lobbyist, who works with a variety of corporate clients, had considered skipping the Democratic convention in Charlotte, N.C., the first he would miss in three decades.
That's because Obama vowed during his 2008 campaign that if he won the White House, the next convention would be, if not an all-volunteer effort, at least less of a corporate show. The promise was part of an anti-lobbying effort that has also barred lobbyists from donating to his campaign and working in the White House. While corporations aren't lacking for influence on politics in general, and plenty of lobbyists have received waivers to work in the administration, the convention reform has been surprisingly effective.
By changing the rules under which the 1 percent contributes, Democrats altered the balance of power at their convention. For the 2012 gathering, Obama banned all contributions from corporations and lobbyists and capped individual donations at $100,000. Unions, meanwhile, were still welcome to kick in generously.
Covered with stickers, Washington state delegate Chris Porter waits in line at a concession stand at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) #
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama fist-bumps actor and Obama administration official Kal Penn, the associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, as she tours the stage a day before her speech to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Young) #
A delegate gestures "four more years" during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/Eric Thayer) #
Oregon delegate Kendra Murray poses with numerous buttons as she attends the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi) #
First lady Michelle Obama addresses the first session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi) #
U.S. President Barack Obama and his daughters Malia (left) and Sasha, watch on television as first lady Michelle Obama delivers her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House in Washington, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/White House/Pete Souza) #
First lady Michelle Obama addresses delegates in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jason Reed) #
A delegate watches as first lady Michelle Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Young) #
Michelle Obama speaks to the crowd at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, on September 4, 2012. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images) #
PBS production-assistant Meena Ganesan wears a "Hatcam", a Go-Pro camera, a shotgun microphone and a transmitter attached to a plastic hat, as she collects live video reports for the PBS NewsHour at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. PBS came up with the idea to equip staffers with the "Hatcam" to collect eye-level live reports at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images) #
Delegates wait for their phones and other electronic devices to be charged up in a hallway during the Democratic National Convention, on September 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) #
Delegates participate during the second session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. (Reuters/Eric Thayer) #
A cutout of US President Barack Obama, at a vendor's booth in the American Presidential Experience exhibit, on September 3, 2012 in Charlotte. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) #
Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren speaks during day two of the Democratic National Convention, on September 5, 2012. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) #
A woman cries as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, of Missouri, speaks at the Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #
Former President Bill Clinton waves to the crowd as he arrives to address the second session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi) #
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton views Bill Clinton's speech from her stop in Timor Leste. She is in the middle of an Asia trip with stops in the Cook Islands, Indonesia, China, Brunei and Russia's Far East. (Nick Merrill/U.S. Department of State) #
Former President Bill Clinton addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) #
Former President Bill Clinton bows as President Barack Obama walks on stage after Clinton's address to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) #
President Barack Obama hugs former President Bill Clinton after his speech in Charlotte, on September 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David Goldman) #
Colorado delegate Julia Hicks attends the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Adrees Latif) #
Renee Watson of San Antonio, Texas, wears a cowboy hat decorated with campaign buttons in the Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images) #
Delegates hold up signs reading "Thank You" in the midst of a convention segment on U.S. veterans during the final session of the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Steve Nesius) #
A veteran salutes during the final session of the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Eric Thayer) #
Actress Scarlett Johansson addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Eric Thayer) #
Joseph Block wears an Obama '08 yarmulke at the Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) #
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) #
The Foo Fighters perform onstage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/David Goldman) #
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) #
Democratic vice presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #
People wave American flags as Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama takes the stage to accept the nomination for president in the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) #
President Barack Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) #
President Barack Obama accepts the nomination for president on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) #
First Lady Michelle Obama looks over at daughters Malia (left) and Sasha (center) as President Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 6, 2012. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images) #
President Barack Obama speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) #
An overhead view of President Barack Obama onstage at the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) #
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hug onstage during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Philip Scott Andrews) #
President Barack Obama celebrates with first lady Michelle Obama after accepting the 2012 U.S Democratic presidential nomination, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Young) #
President Barack Obama smiles following his address to the final session of the Democratic National Convention, on September 6, 2012. (Reuters/Larry Rubenstein) #
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their children Malia and Sasha, and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, wave to the crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) #
Democratic presidential candidate, President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential candidate, Vice President Joe Biden, after accepting their nominations on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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