This is the story of my trip to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. I was working with Incited Media, preparing behind-the-scenes video packages to run on the web site. If you're lucky, they may still be up for you to watch at www.dems2004.org.

Page 1  |  Page 2
DSC00015.JPG
I was in Boston July 2004 to work at the Democratic National Convention!
DSC00004.JPG
Convention employees stayed in the dorms on the campus of Northeastern University. I had a suite all to myself.
DSC00002.JPG
I was a one-man band, interviewing, shooting and editing video packages for the convention web site - dems2004.org. This was all the equipment I carried with me.
entrance
After working through a quarter-mile of security, I arrived at the front entrance.
credential
Credentials were very difficult to get your hands on.
Preshow Credential
This was the credential for folks working in the Fleet Center before the Convention Started.
Credentials
Once the Convention started, there were several different credentials that could get you into different places. Everybody was striving for Red - Floor Access - or the Holy Grail, Blue - Podium Access.
Lanyard
If you had Podium access, you had to get cleared by the Secret Service. They made me a fancy Secret Service pass that is illegal to reproduce, so you won't see it here.
DSC00007.JPG
Occasionally I had a podium credential, and got to go down to the Convention Floor.
DSC00012.JPG
Before we could start working, the Secret Service did a full security sweep of the whole building. It took a day and a half. Little seals like this were on everything. This seal, for example, was on the toilet paper dispenser in the bathroom stall.
9th Floor Pass
The Web Team was headquartered on the 9th floor in the Scoreboard Control Room. There was a whole set of passes just to get on the 9th floor.
DSC00057.JPG
Ben (seen here) and Joe were running the "Off The Podium Chat."
DSC00022.JPG
When politicians were done giving their speeches, they'd rope them in for a live interview online. People could send in their questions and host Sasha would ask them then and there.
brokenswitcher
gabe and Joe deal with a major malfunction.
DSC00056.JPG
John Stephenson also came out from Los Angeles to work on the team.
DSC00082.JPG
There's Julie, or JZ.
Odette
Odette moderated the Podium Chats, picking the questions Sasha would ask the people.
smiley
There's Dean. It's all smiles on the ninth floor.
emerson_crew
Seriously, no non-smilers allowed. (Photo by Ben)
pen
Welcome to the FREE SPEECH ZONE.
brifge
The "Free Speech Zone" (real name) was a place designated by the convention for protestors to have their rallies. It was set up under a half-demolished bridge, surrounded by a triple-fence and patrolled by Army Soldiers in camo fatigues...
DSC00021.JPG
...Also by M-16 toting Police. Obviously there to protect everybody's right to free assembly.
protest4
Very few people actually used the Protest Pen to protest anything but the Protest Pen.
DSC00055.JPG
The triple-layer fence made it impossible to see into the zone from the outside.
cops
I have never seen so many cops in my life. Even in movies. I don't have many pictures of the cops out in force, but downtown Boston was a fortress.
helicopters
Military Helicopters patrolled the city.
protest1
The "Everybody Protest All At Once" march started out in the Protest Pen. But it didn't go so well.
protest2
Every single group showed up all at once, so you had things like Pro-Choice and Pro-Life marching side-by-side.
Captain Morgan
Even Captain Morgan showed up to make his case.
DSC00017.JPG
Word was a fistfight broke out before the march began.
helicopter
Helicopters were just hanging overhead. Not circling, not following. Just sitting there.
DSC00016.JPG
Watching.
widefloor
Inside events were in full swing.
DNC05
Here's the view from my edit desk. (Photo by Ben.)
stage
The main stage had a podium on either side, and a giant super wide screen in the middle.
DSC00089.JPG
TV Cameras were placed directly across from the podium...
DSC00106.JPG
...And print press were on either side.
press
Each Print Journalist spot had a little lamp for them to see.
coolman
Delegates came from all over the country. The official purpose of the convention is for the delegates to nominate the Democratic Party candidates for President and Vice President.
Obama
The floor was hopping. Here's Barack Obama who would soon be the hit of the convention.
DSC00030.JPG
CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Jody Woodruff (seen here) broadcasted continuously from the convention floor.
DSC00029.JPG
Fred Willard was a Comedy Central commentator.
DSC00010.JPG
I got down to the front of the stage for the first night's big speeches!
Gore
Al Gore came out to thunderous applause.
gore2
A big theme of the night was "Make every vote count."
photographers
The photographers up front all jostled for position whenever somebody big was coming onstage.
jimmycarter
Jimmy Carter spoke out against "Government working only for the super-rich."
tribute
There was a stirring 9-11 tribute.
hillary
Hillary Clinton talked about her experiences at Ground Zero as a New York State Senator.
DSC00037.JPG
She introduced husband Bill, and the place went crazy.
DSC00038.JPG
You can't really get the feeling of the convention floor from television. The applause thundered, you could feel it in your belly. And Clinton was a master at playing to his audience.
DSC00051.JPG
I was fifteen feet away from the podium. It was awesome!
pattilabelle
Patti LaBelle finished the night off with a bang.

Posters - Pins - Celebrity Guests - John Glenn - John Edwards - John Kerry - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - The Big Finale - All ahead on Page 2!

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE...