The 2012 Democratic Convention by Jo Freeman

The Caucuses

The Democratic party is a pluralistic party. It embraces its diversity by holding public caucus meetings, largely along demographic lines. In 2012 there were 14 such caucuses (sometimes called councils). The Women's Caucus was the largest of these, and had the morning time slot on Tuesday and Thursday all to itself, as well as the largest ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center. The second largest was the Black Caucus, though it shared the Monday / Wednesday time slot with other ethnic caucuses. At this convention, members of the public had to register for a caucus in advance, stand in line to pick up a ticket, and go through a security search before entering the Center. Those who did not sign up in advance could pick up a ticket on the day and time of the caucus, if any were left. One had to wear the ticket to get into the meeting itself. Press were largely restricted to a special zone in each meeting and not allowed to mingle with the public. In the early morning and evening the ballrooms were used for prayer gatherings and watch parties for those who couldn't get into the convention itself. After Obama's acceptance speech was moved from the large stadium to the smaller arena due to weather, volunteers who had been given tickets to the former were invited to a special watch party in the Convention Center.

Newark N.J. Mayor Cory Booker speaks to the LGBT Caucus.

Democratic women members of the House line up while Rep. Carolyn Malony addresses the convention on Tuesday. The women Senators lined up on Wednesday.
Women cheer at the Women's Caucus on Tuesday morning.
Valerie Jarrett was one of many prominent women to speak at the Women's Caucus. When not advising the President, she is chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls.
Lilly Ledbetter was a minor celebrity at the convention. She was the plaintiff in an equal pay case that went to the Supreme Court, after she sued her employer in 1998 for sex discrimination for paying her less than her male counterparts. A jury awarded her back pay and damages, but the appeals court reversed, citing the 180-day time limit for filing a case. In a 5/4 decision the Supreme Court interpreted the law to require filing within 180 days of the first discriminatory act. Congress responded by passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was the first bill signed into law by President Obama. Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618 (2007) That law made the time limit for filing at 180 days after the last discriminatory act.
Lilly Ledbetter poses with delegates on the floor. She also spoke at the 2008 Democratic Convention and campaigned for Obama.

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