OK - I'm pissed here and I probably should listen to my mother, who is right here attending YKC 07 with me, and not blog in the heat of the moment.
But I'm furious.
It was just announced that Hillary Clinton, while able to attend the Leadership Forum, can't stay an extra 45 minutes and meet us face to face for her breakout session. So now I'm stuck with a worthless wristband, and can't go see Obama, or Edwards or ANYONE ELSE, 'cause I WANTED TO GIVE HER A CHANCE.
Follow my fury for more.
When we showed up at registration for YK 07 (awesome, by the way - wish you were here) we had to choose whose breakout session we wanted to go to, and get a colored wristband to allow us access: yellow for Hillary, orange for Obama, etc.
Well, my mom and I, we're not Hillary supporters. We're not really supporting anyone at this stage - we're foolishly hoping for Gore, but listening respectfully to everyone else. And neither one of us really wanted to end up in the Hillary camp.
But here's the thing. She's kickin' ass. Her campaign is a machine, and she's really showing she knows her stuff in the debates.
So we figure - let's go see Hillary. Let's meet her in person and get to know who she is and shake her hand and look her in the eye. Make sure we're comfortable with her if she's the nominee.
But tonight, right after an awesome speech by Dean, it's announced that Hillary won't be coming to her breakout session - and we know from friends that Edwards and Obama are "sold out".
For some reason - which I'm sure the campaign will paper over with some platitude about competing commitment or back to Washington to vote for something, Hillary can't stay the extra 45 minutes (yes, really) to meet with 500 curious Kossacks. Someone named Ann Lewis is her replacement. Is that the woman with the sockpuppet Lambchop?!?
WTF??!!
Has the campaign lost it's mind?
As soon as the announcement was made, 1400 people let up a huge hiss - we knew we'd been diss'ed, and the anger in the room was palpable.
When we rushed over to registration to try to trade in our wristbands for anyone else (Dodd??! Gravel?!?! ANYONE??!!) we discovered that registration was closed - and a cluster of other folks were there for the same reason.
And, notice to the Clinton campaign - the rumbling was unanimous - we WANT to give Hillary a chance. WE WANT TO. Seriously. But this was just effing rude.
I bought my MOM a YK registration so she could meet candidates, and you just HURT MY MOTHER'S FEELINGS, Senator Clinton.
Come on - don't chicken out on us - we want to give you a chance. Just talk to us in this most fundamental form of retail politics.
Do I really have to explain this to you?
Really?
UPDATED: OK - I just got back from post-YK parties, and discovered that my diary has been recommended, started a war, and that Gina herownself has responded to it. Yikes!
I accept what Gina says, and understand that there was some "miscommunication" with Sen. Clinton's campaign - and so Mea Maxima Culpa - to Sen. Clinton and her team, I apologize.
But I SINCERELY wish that this had been communicated better at the end of the keynote - I assure you that I and my mom were NOT the only ones who jumped to the conclusion that we had been snubbed.
YKC is truly retail politics to rival Iowa and New Hampshire. I'm a voter. My mom is a voter. Everyone here is a voter - and, obviously, lots of us blog about what we FEEL and what we THINK.
And Sen. Clinton - if truly 1400 bloggers jumped to an erroneous conclusion about why we couldn't meet you in person - and that is a reflection of your relationship with this site - well - I think you're pretty lucky to have that kind of feedback pretty instantaneously.
Gina and all YK volunteers - your event is fantastic - and we're all obviously still learning how to do this - do despite this big mix up - thank you for creating an event that I can bring my mom to and see her get tears in her eyes watching Howard Dean speak. It's more than incredible - it's revolutionary. Little "d" democracy is messy - and here's the proof.
Thank you.