Convention Diary: Even in a classless society... the other half live it up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As tradition dictates, convention delegates were shoehorned on to the arena's floor, while plebs took up plastic chairs in "the Gods". But the most comfortable seats were reserved for Masters of the Universe.
Among the organisations spending big cash on luxury "suites" was Bank of America, which (as those of a cynical disposition may recall) received a $97bn bailout a few years back. Shortly before Obama's big speech, lucky guests in its two corporate boxes took delivery of a trolley-full of fried chicken from junk food chain Bojangles'.
How the other half live!
Presidential entry gives sense of déjà vu
The President's walk-on music was "City of Blinding Lights" by U2. Exactly the same track was used four years ago, when he strode messianically on to the stage of the Mile High Stadium in Denver. Obama's opening line was also near-identical to that of 2008: the words "thank you", repeated five times, and "thank you very much", uttered twice.
Who writes Clint's scripts? Er, no one, actually
And finally, as convention season closes, a lingering postscript from last week's Republican meet in Tampa, where Clint Eastwood stretched his acting skills during an address to an imaginary President Obama, represented on stage by an empty chair. The bemused response has prompted a defence of sorts from the Hollywood star. Speaking to the Carmel Pine Cone newspaper in California, he said Mitt Romney's team had asked for an early peek at his speech. "But I told them, 'You can't do that with me, because I don't know what I'm going to say'," he said. So that explains that, then.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments