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Jigsaw Puzzles & A Swear Jar: Democratic Convention Chief Prepares For Philly

Who would you turn to to build a temporary city that will come to life for four days, then disappear? That’s what planning and managing a national political convention amounts to, and the Democrats have turned to a Pentecostal minister and jigsaw puzzle master with a gift for organization and politics.

The Rev. Leah Daughtry was CEO of the 2008 convention, remembered for Barack Obama’s speech in Denver’s football stadium. Now the party has turned to her to handle the one in Philadelphia next summer.

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Apropos of #BlackLivesMatter and @HillaryClinton

I’m talking about the video of the conversation that is making its way around the internet. Consider this the beginning of a rant …

  1. If you have not watched the entire video … THE ENTIRE VIDEO … from start to finish, unedited, you are unqualified to comment.
  2. If what you know about the conversation is what you learned from twitter, Facebook, Medium, the (insert city) Times or Post, CNN, NBC, ABC, other networks, or –lawdhammercy – FOX, you are not qualified to comment.
  3. If you have spent any time at all complaining about the MSM and its “biased” viewpoint, then don’t use the MSM as the basis or the confirmation of your opinion. How you gonna declare that the MSM is a tool of the government, the Republicans, the Democrats, the oppressor, or whoever else is allegedly holding us  back, down, or under, and then believe everything MSM says about everything?
  4. If you are posting commentary and reaching conclusions based on a redacted statement or ONE LINE or ONE PART of the conversation, your commentary, conclusions, and analysis cannot be trusted. Any one statement considered outside of its full context is a soundbite, and not useful for either critique or praise. Remember what “they” did to Jeremiah Wright or Adam Clayton Powell or INSERT PUBLIC FIGURE’S NAME based on one snippet of one moment in time.
  5. Where we are in the political cycle and in the life of the Movement deserves more than fly-by analysis and unthoughtful (and unhelpful) commentary. The advance of the Movement is at stake. The future of the country is at stake.
  6. And God’s sake, stop posting vapid, uninformed, one-sided, unconfirmed accounts of stuff with the disclaimer “I’m just gonna leave this right here.” You are helping no one and are potentially contributing to the intellectual deficiency of way too many people. No, don’t just leave it here; take it with you.  Or better yet, keep it to yourself.

Done … for now …

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DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz Announces Leah Daughtry CEO of Democratic National Convention

Thursday, April 2, 2015

DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz Announces Leah Daughtry CEO of Democratic National Convention Committee

Washington, DC – Today, Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced the appointment of Reverend Leah D. Daughtry to be Chief Executive Officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee.

“We are thrilled to have Leah Daughtry return to lead our convention team. She will bring so much expertise, and enthusiasm to this important event,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Our Convention will be a key opportunity to showcase our Democratic values, lay out our Democratic vision for the future and celebrate our nominee. I am delighted to have Leah on board to lead this effort and propel our nominee on to victory in November 2016.”

For the past several years, Daughtry has been a Principal at BCT Consulting, which creates and produces high-profile, mission critical events.  She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, responsible for all aspects of planning and execution of the Democratic Party’s quadrennial presidential nominating convention. She simultaneously served as Chief of Staff of the Democratic National Committee where she was responsible for the day-to-day management of the national Party’s affairs.  A native of Brooklyn, New York, Reverend Daughtry held various senior government posts, including Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (Acting) at the United States Department of Labor with oversight of the Department’s management programs and a $35 billion budget.

She is founder of Faith In Action, the Democratic Party’s outreach initiative to communities of faith, and serves as Pastor of The House of the Lord Church in Washington, DC.

“I could not be more excited to lead the Democratic Convention team,” said Leah Daughtry. “This is an exciting time to be a Democrat, and we have an important opportunity to build on the progress we have made over the last six years and to nominate and help elect the 45th President of the United States. The road to the White House will begin right here in Philadelphia!”

Additional details on the convention will be made available in the coming weeks