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Allida Black, a lesbian and Democratic National Convention delegate, says she’s ‘absolutely bedrock committed’ to Hillary Clinton, despite Barack Obama’s primary victory. (Blade photo by Henry Linser)
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: CHRIS JOHNSON COMMENTS
 
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“going to be the candidate most likely to win and to bring about significant change in this country.”
Clark, 67, said he wanted to be a delegate at the convention because he “wanted to know what the experience would be like” and didn’t know if his age would permit him to attend future conventions.
He attended the 2000 convention in Los Angeles and the 2004 convention in Boston, but neither time as a delegate.
Clark also said he wanted to participate in the convention to ensure there was representation at the event from the gay community in D.C. Clark, who has lived in D.C. since 1972, is a board member of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the retired executive director of the United Mine Workers of America Health & Retirement Funds. He is single.
The delegate was active on Obama’s campaign during the primary season. During the D.C. primary, he served as captain for Ward 1 and canvassed the area. More than 70 percent of the vote in Ward 1 went to Obama. Clark also canvassed and registered voters in Pennsylvania and Nevada.
Clark said he was pleased with how the primary season turned out because Obama, who was an early underdog in the race, ultimately came from behind to beat Clinton.
“I think that when you consider that Obama was virtually unknown … and his principal opponent was extremely well-known, I have to say I’m very satisfied,” he said. “I was really elated at how far we came in such a short time.”
Clark said he hopes Democrats “leave Denver and the convention genuinely united behind Barack Obama.”
“I don’t know anything that could be of greater importance to me right now in addition to being united, inspired to work as hard as we can to make sure he does get elected,” Clark said.
Play within a play?
Although the delegates are pledged to different candidates, they agreed that putting Clinton’s name in nomination for a roll-call vote was an acceptable way to recognize her hard-fought campaign.
The Obama and Clinton camps announced Aug. 14 their agreement to recognize Clinton during the vote.
The move has generated some criticism. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote Aug. 13 that Clinton is trying to orchestrate “a play within the play in Denver ... to show the Democrats they chose the wrong savior.”
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who backed Obama in the primary, told CNN Sunday that he was at first “uneasy” about putting Clinton’s name in nomination, but now is comfortable with the idea as a way to recognize “her historic candidacy.”
Smedberg said he thinks it’
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