The World Newser
World News' Daily Blog

« Previous | Main | Next »

Edwards Supporters Rush Door at DNC Fall Meeting

November 30, 2007 6:56 AM

ABC News' David Wright Reports: A riot seems about to break out here at the Democratic National Committee Fall meeting in Vienna, Virginia. 

About a thousand supporters of former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., have waited Friday for three hours to hear their candidates address members of the Democratic National Committee. 

So many are here that the DNC organized an overflow room for them.  There's a widescreen TV where you can see the candidates clearly enough.

But there's no sound.

Many in the overflow area are trade union veterans and they're not shy about expressing their disappointment about not being able to hear their candidates.

"We want sound, we want sound," they started chanting, just outside the doors to the packed meeting room.

"Let's storm the room!" one of them shouted. 

There was a sudden rush for the door, but so far security guards have managed to keep the mob at bay.

"This is not okay!" John Edwards is saying up on stage -- referring to oil company lobbyists and their hold on US policy.

Edwards appears to be unaware of the scuffle among his supporters outside the door. 

The DNC recently announced it would move its winter meeting from Baltimore to suburban Virginia Sheraton hotel west of Washington because of a labor dispute at the Baltimore hotel.

A DNC official tells ABC News that they only recently booked the Sheraton and there was significantly less space than needed, thus the overflow room.

UPDATE: Apparently someone fixed the sound problem in time for Obama's speech.  As he took the stage, Obama gave a shout out to the overflow room.  Immediately, a cheer went up in the distance … and you could hear the loud stomping of feet.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller contributed to this report.

November 30, 2007 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Did somebody say that Edwards supporters are not enthusiastic about their candidate? Just checking...

Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Nov 30, 2007 7:23:57 AM

Go John Edwards! Go John Edwards! I want a change in America and I have one vote therefore I want to bet my hand on a winner - John Edwards!

God Bless America! God Bless John Edwards - all the angels on earth are behind you! Go for it! Go John!

Posted by: sue from texas | Nov 30, 2007 7:42:39 AM

In America, everyone should have a fair opportunity to realize their dreams, no matter where they came from. John Edwards is running for president to build One America where every American can work hard and build a better life, the same opportunity that Edwards had. At the same time, America's leadership role in the world has grown out of our moral strength as an example for the world, not just our economic and military strength. In today's Two Americas, it is no coincidence that most families are working harder for stagnating wages when there are nearly 60 lobbyists for every member of Congress. America's image overseas has been tarnished by the war in Iraq, our refusal to join the world in working to halt global warming, and repeated violations of Americans' constitutional rights. Building One America will take strong, bold steps, not incremental steps and half measures. Edwards has proposed detailed plans to put Washington back on the side of regular families. THIS IS WHAT JOHN EDWARDS IS ALL ABOUT! It's okay if you are a republican and want to stick with your party, go for it! However, I seriously doubt there will be another Republican president because the current administration tried and had good intentions - but their programs were not good enough........additionally, I cannot recognize Mitt, Mayor Rudy, the Huckleberry fella, as a Republican President. The only candidate I believe would have an opportunity is McCain. Honestly, Thompson is excellent with the camera he’s an actor however without being offensive he might fall asleep in important business meetings like Cheney did.

Posted by: sue from texas | Nov 30, 2007 7:44:03 AM

That's just funny.

Posted by: VeteranD | Nov 30, 2007 8:13:23 AM

BIG YAWN.............

Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Nov 30, 2007 8:14:48 AM

The senior Republican Senator Domenici from New Mexico respectfully stated that Richardson has done more for New Mexico than any other Governor in recent history. Richardson has increased investment and brought good jobs in high tech, aerospace, and motion picture imaging are just a few and well as lowered taxes and balance the state budget five times. Governor Richardson's pro-growth and tax cut policies has resulted in New Mexico to rank in the top 10 ranking of fastest growing state economies. Governor Richardson believes the people of our country deserves high paying skilled jobs, low taxes for growth, and economic partnership with industry to foster innovation and develop an economic pipeline in critical competitive sectors.

Posted by: threeriverscrossing | Nov 30, 2007 8:55:24 AM

Folks need to get a clue.

None of the Democrats running in 2008 are even qualified to be president.

All junior one term Senators (Hillary Rotten-Clinton is just starting her second term)..........fyi

Posted by: Allen Ridge | Nov 30, 2007 9:20:29 AM

Allen Ridge: What part of the planet do you live on?? Joe Biden (Dem. running for Pres. has been in the Senate for 20 something or 30 years), Bill Richardson is a long time Governor who has been in politics for years including playing the part of Ambassador (I think - something like that)(see threeriverscrossing comment above for more Richardson statistics, Hillary Clinton is in her 2nd term as Senator and served as a very political, involved First Lady (not the tea party type) to the President of the United States for 8 years and to the one time Governor of Arkansas.-------Which of the Republicans do you feel is qualified - The mayor of a city, an old tired actor, a lost his chance a long time ago aging John McCain, etc.????????

Posted by: JUDY | Nov 30, 2007 10:13:19 AM

This is kids stuff...Chicago 1968...now THAT was a DNC meeting!!

Posted by: Bill | Nov 30, 2007 1:08:46 PM

The only qualified Republican, and that includes the neocon R`s like Romney and Rudy, is Senator McCain. Disagree with him on some things but that does not mean I would not vote for him rather than Hillary.

Posted by: Luke | Nov 30, 2007 1:27:09 PM

1988-bush/1992-clinton/1996-clinton/2000-bush/2004-bush/______? GIVE US A BREAK! DONT KEEP HIRING THE BUSHES AND CLINTONS! as long as you do we will have the equivalent of the hatfields and the mccoys. why do you think these forums are so divided? its because of the divisiveness of the clintons and bushes. look at us, we are ready to kill each other! oh dont be so smug! i know its not just me!

Posted by: geo | Nov 30, 2007 5:58:27 PM

can you imagine john edwards with dirt under his fingernails like a real man? rofl, if he saw it, he would probably throw up and pass out!

Posted by: geo | Nov 30, 2007 6:02:01 PM

I know all about Hillary. There is nothing new about her anywhere. She has had a ton of nasty books written about her (read some of them). About all she has going for her is that she has slept and eaten in the White House when a President was sleeping and eating there.

I have read a lot about her. As far I as can tell she does not have any managerial or executive experience. She has never run one thing in her entire public life. She has not one significant accomplishment on her resume. She does have to her credit a whole boat load of scandals and near-indictments however. I think it would be fair to say that not only is she ethically challenged but her staff is too.

Why any sane person would vote for her is beyond me. Can these people see what kind of problems she will cause when in power? Can some tell me a couple of good reasons other than the old crock of s*** about it is time to have a woman in the WH? We are not talking about the school PTA here.

Posted by: Mad Jayhawk | Nov 30, 2007 7:59:48 PM

It looks like those Edwards supporters learned something from the Republicans who almost rioted in FL when Democratic judges were getting ready to carry off boxes of ballots to the back room to 'count' them.

BTW doesn't anyone care about the DNC using heavy handed tactics against Democrats in Florida? We don't read a thing about it in the media. I wonder why?

Posted by: Mad Jayhawk | Nov 30, 2007 8:50:36 PM

uh, maybe it is that nobody cares mad jay :)

Posted by: blackey | Dec 1, 2007 7:28:33 AM

Listen to Hillary's voice. How could a person from either party listen to that
another 5 years. Listen to what she says, it will not take long.
She has said nothing new in 12 years or more. Has trouble finding papers.
Wonderful market invester. Magic Money
wants single payer projects that mean we all pay in taxes. and nothing gets paid for. Social Security lock box
never gete examined IOU's never get paid back and the large one time surplus has been squandered but that is never mentioned. And the shrill voice of the contender repeats the same trivia day after day. If You don't think! we will all pay and have the worst health care in the world.
The public servants have the only worth while health care in the world. It is all free. Public service for the Government is the only way to go let the voters pay for it all.
After all it is their fault, Isn't it.?
A woman trying to sound like a man without the Voice is more than I can handle. and with them it is all a matter of knowing the real meaning of "IS"

Posted by: lloyd pflueger | Dec 1, 2007 2:14:39 PM

Post a comment