Delegate from Valley gets message

The Warren man was impressed and encouraged by what he saw and heard.
By BRAD PERRIELLO
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
BOSTON -- The national political education of Tim Callion began early Monday and ended late.
During a 16-hour day of speeches, shuttle buses and security checks, the Warren delegate to the Democratic National Convention was fed and feted, energized and inspired, all with a single purpose in mind: To send him and his fellow delegates home to Ohio ready to spread the word about John Kerry and John Edwards.
At 7 a.m., Callion, 42, a union plumber and pipefitter and first-time delegate, stood outside a ballroom at the Sheraton Boston, one of New England's largest hotels and home base to the Ohio delegation, for the beginning of the 159-member delegation's first breakfast meeting.
Jerry Springer, a Cincinnati delegate, worked the room like the seasoned politician and talk-show host he is, shaking hands and signing autographs. Callion hit the well-laden buffet tables for a breakfast courtesy of Ohio's labor unions.
As the delegates ate, former Vice President Al Gore welcomed them to the convention via a live teleconference beamed simultaneously to each state's breakfast meeting. The Ohio delegates then heard a series of speeches by Dennis White, president of the Ohio Democratic Party; U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th; U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia; a surprise guest, the actor Richard Dreyfuss; and former Georgia senator Max Cleland.
Special attention
All spoke of their belief that the country is on the wrong path under the Bush administration, and urged the delegates to spread their message upon their return to Ohio. As delegates from a pivotal state, Callion and his fellow Ohioans were getting a taste of the kind of special attention expected to be showered on the Buckeye State by both parties from now until November.
The meeting closed with a short video set to Tom Petty's "Feel a Whole Lot Better [When You're Gone]," lampooning some of President Bush's more famous misstatements.
Callion said the meeting inspired him.
"Very encouraging, very uplifting," he said, adding that he plans to use the copious notes he took to deliver the speakers' messages to his union, Local 396 of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters. Callion's fellow delegates, he said, seemed similarly enthused.
"Everybody seems to be pumped up and encouraged," Callion said. "This is something we definitely have to share when we get back [to Ohio]."
Black caucus
Next on the agenda was the black American caucus meeting across the hotel lobby.
After a brief time spent waiting for the credentials that would allow him entrance to the convention at the FleetCenter that night, Callion made his way to another large ballroom for a slate of speakers that included Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill; Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama; Donna Brazile, manager of the 2000 Al Gore Campaign; and a fiery Rev. Al Sharpton from New York.
Callion said he marched with Sharpton in Washington, D.C., to protest the Supreme Court's decision affirming the Florida election results in 2000. He stood and cheered, "That's right," during the many standing ovations that interrupted Sharpton's speech affirming the importance of the connection between blacks and the Democratic Party.
After a lunch with fellow union members from around the country, Callion made his way to the FleetCenter, the location of the main convention events. A huge American flag hung above the stage, directly above an immense video screen.
Callion chatted with his fellow Ohioans at front right-center stage.
Party platform
At 5:15 p.m., members of the Platform Committee began enunciating the party's ideals and policies. From Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack on national security to Tallahassee, Fla., Mayor John Marks on immigration reform, each speaker detailed a plank of the platform.
For Callion, none of the planks came as much of a surprise.
"It's pretty much what Kerry and Edwards have been talking about," Callion said, adding that he didn't disagree with any of the platform's tenets, as they most likely would be revised over time.
"I'm sure there will be special interests that will ask for alterations," he said. "It's just general statements right now."
Gore once again addressed the delegates, delineating the need, in his view, for change in the Oval Office,
"It was complete," he said of Gore's speech. Callion was especially happy, he said, when Gore asked the delegates if they were angry over the results of the 2000 election.
"We need to use that energy to get Kerry and Edwards into office," Callion said.
Next was the presentation of female Democratic senators and a speech by Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. After a brief intermission, former President Jimmy Carter arrived to thunderous applause. Carter gave a speech lamenting the current state of American foreign policy, specifically the Iraq war. It was, Callion said, a "very good, very composed" speech.
"I hope Kerry will be able to get control of this situation [in Iraq]," Callion said.
After short speeches by several U.S. representatives -- among them Rep. Stephanie Tubb Jones of Ohio, who spoke about the economy -- and live appearances via satellite by groups from around the country (one featuring steelworkers from Canton), Callion said all of the speakers so far had been excellent.
"I hope all Americans are watching this, Democrat and Republican," he said. "Come November, we're going to make a change."
The Rev. David Alston, who served with Kerry in the Navy, recounted Kerry's heroism while the two were on their patrol boat during the Vietnam War.
Clinton
The evening's keynote speaker, former President Bill Clinton, was then introduced by his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. Both received lengthy standing ovations. Callion said Clinton's remarks, encapsulating the Democrats' messages from throughout the day, were right on the mark.
"He's still got it, that's for sure," Callion said. "I thought he laid the facts out so that any intelligent person could make a decision as far as where we are now, where we were before and where we need to go."
Callion then made his way to the shuttle waiting to ferry him and the rest of the delegation back to the Sheraton. He said the first day of the convention was terrific.
"It's very much reassured me," he said, "how great this country is."