Stars, Activists and Snoopy See Dems Debate in LA (VIDEO)

Cordial inside, Hollywood outside -is about the only way to describe the CNN/LA Times/Politco Democratic Debate at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. BlogHer's Katy Chen and I walk outside the debate hall to give you a glimpse of California's voter diversity:

In Pat Morrison's latest LA Times column she notes the problem many voters are facing on Super Tuesday, especially those who voted absentee before John Edwards and Rudy Guiliani dropped out, "Casting an absentee ballot so far ahead of election day is like picking a Super Bowl winner based on who's ahead at halftime. It's like recommending a book you've only halfway read. It's like getting married on the first date."

While locals like Victoria Lane were lamenting the traffic, other bloggers were star struck by the Hollywood feel (yes, there was a red carpet) -but most were talking issues.

Why Black Women Are Angry writes, "Hillary delivered a great line: 'It took a Clinton to clean up the mess after the first Bush, seems like it is going to take a Clinton to clean up after the second.'"

Rachel Sklar at the Huffington Post writes, "Clinton lands a punch: 'I just have to correct the record for one second, because, obviously we do agree about the need to have comprehensive immigration reform, and if i recall, about a week after i said that i would try to support my governor, although i didn't agree with it personally, you were asked the same question and could not answer it. so, this is a difficult issue.' The whole drivers' license thing from the Philly debate in October must still sting — the moment when her inevitability disappeared."

In BlogHer's open thread of the debate, contributing editor Dana Tuszke takes on Senator Hillary Clinton's immigration plan, "Hillary says the illegals will be offered a path to citizen ship. Pay a fine for entering illegally, pay back taxes, learn English, then wait in line? Why? We don't owe them that privilege. They entered illegally, plain and simple."

Contributing editor Jennifer Satterwhite surprised herself, "Watching these two really is changing my opinions on these two. I have much stronger opinions about them both now. Very interesting."

BlogHer's Arse Poetica, Maria Niles, and Mom101 were just some of the women talking taxes, and Morra Aarons called Clinton "wonkish" on health care.

This was the final debate before "Super Tuesday" on February 5th when over 20 states go to the polls.

Contributing Editor Erin Kotecki Vest also blogs at Queen of Spain Blog

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest (view blog

) on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 8:04pm

Posted In

Comments (19)

Twitter

Facebook

StumbleUpon

Comments

So great.

You repped BlogHer SO WELL. You all work fast, and I love the videos. Now I'm even more irritated that you couldn't get in last night.

Not journalism. WhatEVER. ;) Can't wait to see the convention coverage.

Laurie
LaurieWrites

Submitted by lauriewrites on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:14

I have to say...

Katy and I are so very used to turning around stories for a 20 minute news cycle that this was just soooo much fun!

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:27

Nice job Erin & Katy

Who was the woman in the hat? And, did Snoopy hit you up for $10 for taking your picture with him? ;-)

Submitted by Maria Niles on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:29

Thanks, Maria!

And that's hilarious! Snoopy can't talk, or else he probably would've! I should've titled the woman in the hat. That's Pat Morrison, Pulitzer prize winning writer, columnist, and on-air host. Here's her bio:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100936

Submitted by Katy Chen on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 23:23

Pat Morrison!

Thanks, Katy - I am familiar with her work - very cool!

Submitted by Maria Niles on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:29

I'm didn't realize you can't hear me...

until I watched it myself, but yes, that is Pat Morisson of the LA Times.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:36

Awesome video of that action

Awesome video of that action in LA.

Submitted by Dana J. Tuszke on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:32

Thanks!

Love the on-the-scene reportage. I'm so glad BlogHer is going live and direct to the scene of the news.

Submitted by suebob on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 20:54

Great Job

You all have done a great job, and I have to say that it is mainly because of the efforts of BlogHer that this is the very first presidential election that I actually feel fully engaged by and in the debates, discussions and campaign process. I've voted in four other presidential elections and felt distanced from each right up until election day in November. This is exciting. Thanks for all of your hard work.

Sleepingmommy.com
"If sleep deprivation is an effective form of torture, then the CIA should seriously consider employing my children."

Submitted by sleepingmommy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 21:19

This makes my day!

Sleeping Mommy says, "...that it is mainly because of the efforts of BlogHer that this is the very first presidential election that I actually feel fully engaged by and in the debates, discussions and campaign process."

Officially that is the best thing anyone has ever said about anything I've ever been involved in-so THANK YOU

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:37

It's so much more engaging

Knowing that no matter where we are, we're all focused and thinking about this.

Thank you so much.

Jill
Writes Like She Talks

Submitted by Jill Miller Zimon on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 04:55

There Is Always A Story on The Boulevard

I wish I could have been there. Yes, that is what a L.A. political protest can look like. A little bit of everything and everybody. My kind of surreal.

I would also like to record Tuesday at the polls but that is a problem in CA. I tried videotaping my casting a ballot the last presidential election. There is a state law that prohibits cameras and recording devices near or inside poling places. The exception is for "traditional news media".

It is a rule that is inconsistently applied. I have been able to shoot photos/video and also told to not record video. It depends on the precinct and if I want to explain what I are doing to the local police, if called. (It can be considered a form of election disruption.)

So if you want to record casting a ballot in California go for it but understand if a poll worker tells you to stop. But should you be wearing a hat-camcorder and forget to turn it off then upload that video!

Yours for democracy exposed,

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Submitted by Gena Haskett on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 16:47

Outside 100 Feet?

I'd love to see video from BlogHers of Super Tuesday across the country. If it is more than 100 feet can you video? Unfortunately I don't have a video camera but I live next to a polling place. Maybe I'll just try to get some interviews and report back.

Hmmmmm - off to hatch a plan.

Submitted by Maria Niles on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:33

I thought that applied to all media-

that no reporter or anyone could ask questions or get with in like 100 feet of the polling place unless it was to film the candidate or something. I forget. I need to go brush up...

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 16:50

Here Are The State and Federal Codes

California Code 18541 and Federal Code 42 US Code 1973 i (b)

I was mad as hell and called every election phone line for confirmation. I didn't want to record other people. I just wanted to record my vote. I spoke to an attorney in Sacramento and we went line by line - he had to use a book to find it. I also found the codes online.

But every election you see news cameras in poling places. In California. I understand the spirit of the law. It is to keep people from intimidating voters. But if I can't do it why can KNBC, Fox and the others violate state elections laws?

This is an historical primary. It should be documented.

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Submitted by Gena Haskett on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:14

I know when I covered polling places...

and mind you this was years ago...we couldn't actually TALK to anyone unless they came to us.

That being said--i had a polling place worker once take a picture of me voting with my then 8 month old son when I took him to vote for the first time.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 17:43

So can you record on the premises at all?

I'm doing a video assignment for school and just thought of covering our primary here - February 12, Maryland is so late. But I don't know if I can get close enough to be interesting. I suppose I can interview students about voting.

Laurie
LaurieWrites

Submitted by lauriewrites on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 18:23

It Depends On The State...

You can go to http://www.videothevote.org/resources.htm or
http://www.videothevote.org/docs/statedocs.html

From what I could tell of the Maryland rules there is no prohibition of recording. You can download the Maryland document and check it out. They still can nab you for disruption but if you are cool there might not be an issue.

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Submitted by Gena Haskett on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 19:04