The 2012 Democratic National Convention is underway in Charlotte, North Carolina and the incumbent party is making its case for another four years in the Oval Office.
Walking the streets of bustling downtown Charlotte is Native Charlotte resident Janalyn Walton. She only has one criticism for Barack Obama’s first term in office.
“In the beginning he wasn’t tough enough and I don’t fault him for that because I think his intentions were at the best, but if he stays for another four years which I hope to see, I want to see hard Barack. I want to see him do what needs to be done regardless and if they are mad about it oh well.”
Walton is no stranger to the sunshine state, she studied theatre at Florida A&M University. She was one of many voters who ran into problems during Florida’s contested 2000 Presidential election, and had to march to Florida’s Capitol.
“[I] slept in the Capitol in 2000. A lot of the students who were from other states who had registered in Tallahassee, when we got there to vote, there were issues with our voter cards not being there in time,” she said.
Walton, a registered Independent, said she doesn’t want to see anyone go through what she’s gone through as an eligible voter being told she couldn’t vote. She’s now concerned about all the Republican-backed voter ID laws that could disenfranchise those who want to vote for president Obama.
“It’s being so exaggerated, I mean the cases of fraud was so miniscule.”
Democrats roving the streets of Charlotte say it’s now their turn to drown out with a little respect and the truth, what Republicans were saying last week during their convention. State Representative Allan Williams, says there will be no “Eastwooding”-type posturing going this week.
“You’re not going to see any empty chairs on the stage here in charlotte, I think the empty chair fiasco was disgraceful.”
And Tallahassee Mayor, John Marks says, instead you will see and hear progress.
“What he’s going to try and do is show that this economy is moving forward, contrary to what you’ve heard from the Republicans”.
Just How much progress will be seen when August job figures are released on Friday. In the meantime, First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton and a host of others will be making the case against what they see as the failed Republican policies of the past.