North Dakota Democrats Planning Protest For NDGOP Convention

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Written By:
Rob Port

Mar 30, 2012
11:48am

I just received word that a liberal group, my source is assuming it’s the North Dakota Democrat party, has requested a permit to protest outside the Bismarck Civic Center this weekend, which is where the NDGOP state convention is being held. By the sound of the request, they’re expecting just dozens of protesters, perhaps thirty in total.

I’m not surprised by the move. In the 2010 cycle, Scott Hennen and I orchestrated a protest the Democrat state convention in Fargo that had more tea party protesters outside than they had delegates inside (admittedly, it was the first day, they had more delegates the second day).

Plus, after their high-profile flop of a convention in Grand Forks where they didn’t get even 1,000 delegates and just barely had 2,000 attendees total to hear Bill Clinton speak, the Democrats really need to muddy the waters around the NDGOP convention.

The Republicans are expecting a big turnout, and anything they can do to obscure comparisons between that turnout and their lackluster convention in Grand Forks is likely on the agenda.

Democrat Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp, too, is launching an ad campaign today (something I called a week ago) no doubt with the same goal.

Distraction.

Update: Teri Finneman has this from a press release sent out regarding the protest:

Today at the ND GOP convention, donut holes will be handed out at the corner of 5th and Bowen, near the Bismarck Civic Center. The activity is to remind people of Berg’s votes this week for the Paul Ryan’s plan to cut Medicare — and Berg’s vote earlier this year to increase costs on seniors by re-opening the “donut hole” that was closed by the Health Care Reform Bill.

Of course, Paul Ryan’s budget doesn’t cut Medicare. It allows people to keep their existing Medicare plan, but gives them more options. What do Democrats have against giving Americans choices?

Update: I hearing that Republicans are worried about disruptions from within the convention as well, including people playing “crickets” sounds on their cell phones. My source says that Ron Paul supporters are who they think may do this.