The press warrens in the CCC were barely populated, though there were more people in them than last week. The women at the Host Committee booth looked downright lonely. There was a media shuttle to the press warrens in the parking structure next to the Q, but it was really too far to run back and forth.
Next stop was a luncheon at the Purple Tent whose keynote speaker was Dr. Ben Carson. The Purple Tent is a local group that believes in identifying common American values that promote unity rather than enmity. It wants people to be civil to each other. While attendees munched sandwiches and potato chips, and drank bottled water, Dr. Carson addressed those themes.
Finished up the night at the Q. On the floor I paid a visit to the Ohio delegation. Usually the host state gets some of the best seats in the house in front of the podium. This time, those went to New York and Florida, The Donald's home states. Ohio had the worse delegate seats, way over to the side and in back. Tuesday night few sat in those seats. Wednesday night they were almost full, but none of the occupants carried a TRUMP sign and I saw only one Trump button. I asked the delegation leader about this and he almost exploded with disdain. Trump is punishing the entire Ohio Republican Party because of Kasich, he said. He's sticking it to the Buckeye state. He didn't do anything for us and we won't do anything for him. "I'll vote for Trump, but that's all I'm going to do."
Thursday I went to the only event specifically for women that I could find. Aimed at women small business owners, by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. Speakers discussed the Ten Things Candidates Need to Know About Women Entrepreneurs.
I didn't find a master events list until Thursday afternoon, in the hands of a woman wearing a badge saying Committee on Arrangements. She said they weren't giving out copies due to 'security' but she did let me read it. There were a couple events with the word 'women' in them. Women did more than I thought, but far less than at previous conventions.
That evening the NFRW bus finally came to life, as it became the site for a small party on the theme of Republicans Who Stay Home Elect Democrats.
Right: A 6-foot bobblehead of Donald Trump, which people can pose with for selfies. The bobblehead's purpose is to show off Youngstown as a hub for 3D printing in the United States
I went to that party after writing this story in a tent sponsored by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which has comfortable couches and free drinks. The AAM is an alliance of the National Association of Manufacturers and several unions, including the United Auto Workers, of which I am a member (via Local 1981 — the National Writers Union). Their slogan is KEEP IT MADE IN AMERICA. The Donald might agree with that.
©2016 Jo Freeman for SeniorWomen.com
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