Tear down the walls

We learned where we’ll be working during the convention today. I’m with the New York Post. Can’t say much more about that at all, really, until I find out about their policy on blogging. Fun fact, though: I’ll be in the same press quarters as the one of the Post’s sister publications…the Weekly Standard.

Anyway, on to today’s events:


Sound byte of the day … wait, week: “Tearing down the walls [of the Pepsi Center/at the Convention/and letting the public in/etc.]”

A laundry list of DNCC speakers who’ve used this phrase so far this week:
• Director of Media Logistics Wally Podrazik.
• Travis Dredd (I believe), Deputy CEO for operations inside the convention center, eliciting a knowing nod of the head from his speaking partner, Cameron Moody, CEO for operations outside the hall.
• CEO and Faith Outreach Leader Leah Daughtry.
• Producer Ricky Kirscher (If I remember correctly.)

No, I’m not talking about a worst-case-scenario, havoc-ridden, ’68 convention redux, or next week’s Rage Against the Machine show in the “protest zone.”

I’m talking party message, and boy, this little phrase seems to have lodged itself square in front of every DNCC speaker’s mind this week. Maybe they’ve just read these words in so many memos, they can’t help but subconsciously blurt them out every time they talk about Invesco Field. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

Otherwise, I think there must’ve been some mass indoctrination session during which everyone organizing convention was systematically brainwashed into mentioning how they’ll “tear down the walls and bring the whole world in” to the convention at least once per public appearance…twice if you’re lucky.

It’s fascinating: This might be the first time I’ve ever witnessed the birth of a cliché.

Expect to see this buzz phrase quoted at least five times by prominent DNCC and party folk over the course of the convention. You’ll hear it from Howard Dean, to be sure. You might even hear this week’s buzz phrase from Obama himself, come next Thursday.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to be harsh. I’ve just never been this close to the metaphorical horse’s mouth before. There’s little doubt in my mind that countless campaign catch phrases get uttered a hundred times a day at every convention.

And as strong as the urge is growing to giggle every time I hear about “tearing down the walls,” it’s a great message for the Obama campaign. The decision to move Obama’s acceptance speech to Invesco Field was a brilliant one — especially when paired with these buzzwords.

After all, Obama’s team has crafted much of his image around the idea that he’s a Washington outsider — that he’ll rip down partisan divides and take back Washington for the American people. By tearing down the proverbial convention walls and giving unprecedented access to the public — be they bloggers or Colorado folks pouring into Invesco Field — the campaign and party are truly underscoring this message.

Let’s just hope an Obama administration actually has the chance to carry this post-partisan message to the White House…and that this isn’t just a message, but a promise.