There are always two shows at any political convention namely what
is
seen by everyone and the other one unfolding backstage
where some really good stuff can be missed.
There was retired UAW President Ron Gettlefinger walking up the
aisle. The camera crew walked up looking for some instant analysis on
the convention. Turns out the usually talkative Gettlefinger declined
basically saying that was his replacement's assignment. "You
talked to Bob King?"
In the course of the off camera interview that followed, the 45-year
veteran of the auto workers labor movement reveals that a
publisher approached him about writing a book on those experiences.
Gettlebinger shot him down because the guts of the book would have been
what went on behind closed doors during all those delicate and
sometimes raucous labor talks. The former president could not bring
himself to tell all.
"What happens in the labor negotiations room, stays in the
negotiation room," he reflected.
Then there was the story concerning who was not there.
If you expected former House Speaker and defeated candidate for
governor Andy Dillon to show up, you expected wrong. He was a no-show
leaving some to wonder if he even wants a future in the state
Democratic Party? Privately he
and Bernero have talked about their differences on the campaign trail.
Other noticeable no-shows included the state's two U.S. Senators
Levin and Stabenow, Congressman Gary Peters, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing,
who did show up for a parade on Saturday, soon to be retired Congress
persons Bart Stupak and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.
Candidate Virg Bernero demonstrated his moxie as a consummate child
of politics after his Sunday speech.
When it came time for the "class picture" of Bernero and the other
candidates at the top of the ticket, David Leyton for Attorney General,
Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State and his running mate Brenda
Lawrence dutifully showed up center stage. As you looked at them from
the audience it was Leyton on the far left, Benson, Lawrence and on the
end Mr. Bernero.
Shortly after the cameras started clicking, Bernero leaned over to
Lawrence and whispered in her ear and then he neatly walked in front of
her and positioned himself, not her, in the center of the photo opt
where the governor candidate always stands.
Smooth move and the right one, too.