MINNEAPOLIS8212;The first day of the Republican National Convention was swift and serious, but still had a couple sparks of energy surrounding it.
Monday’s session of the RNC was cut back by Sen. John McCain to provide humanitarian relief to victims of Hurricane Gustav along the Gulf Coast. As a result, many of the events and speakers were suspended or postponed.
The Bush Administration was heavily criticized for inadequately responding to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.
Delegates and convention-goers expected the first day to be quick and solemn, and for the most part it was. Chelsea Beecher, from Bluffdale, Ariz., said she didn’t expect to do much celebrating as she walked into the Xcel Energy Center where the convention is being held. She was attending the convention as a guest and felt the whole situation was heartbreaking.
“The whole situation is tragic,” Beecher said. “It is bad for the people in Louisiana, it is bad for the people coming here.”
However, some excitement developed as protesters clashed with police just a few blocks away and as first lady Laura Bush and John McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, concluded the day’s convention.
Early Monday, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol for a peaceful anti-war rally. Later in the afternoon, a group of several hundred broke off and marched from the Capitol to the Xcel Center, where they were halted by enforcement barricades, tear gas and smoke bombs.
The protesters damaged several police vehicles and local buildings before being subdued by authorities. Various reports have cited the number of arrests ranging from seven to 50.
In the Xcel Center, most delegates and convention-goers were unaware of the chaos outside and were instead focused on moving quickly through official Republican convention business and supporting hurricane relief.
Both Laura Bush and Cindy McCain spoke at the convention encouraging those listening to give aid to relief organizations.
“The effect of Hurricane Gustav is just now being measured,” Laura Bush said. “When such events occur, we are reminded that first, we are all Americans, and that our shared American ideals will always transcend political parties and partisanship.”
Both of their husbands were in the Gulf Coast area on Monday responding to the needs of the southern states coping with the effects of the storm.
McCain backed Bush in the cause and suggested donating to Causegreater.com, a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping those affected by the hurricane.
“I would ask that each one of us commit together to aid those in need as quickly as possible,” Cindy McCain said.
Freddy Cotte of Rochester, Minn., was moved by the plea from the two influential women.
“They did a great job,” Cotte said. “They represented their husbands well.”
President Bush was working with state governments to coordinate federal response to the hurricane.
Ross Vaningen, of Lebanon, N.H., noticed that nearly every other speaker that came to the podium mentioned the hurricane in one way or another.
“It was a great way to rally around our southern states,” he said. “We can’t be there but we can let them know we care.”
Editor’s Note: Jed Layton is reporting from the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis through the Hinckley Institute of Politics and Shantou University Political Journalism Program.
Ma Jing / Hinckley Institute of Journalism ProgramCindy McCain and first lady Laura Bush used their speeches at the opening night of the Republican National Convention to urge Americans to give aid to relief organizations.