Results tagged “Politics” from Access Hollywood

This morning, The Los Angeles Times and People made some maybe-too-quick-calls in calling Yes On Prop 8 a victory so early (both, at around 8 AM PST).

The fight over the controversial California ballot initiative, which has had a combined over-$70 million poured into it from both sides (a national record in spending for an initiative), is not necessarily over yet, although the Proposition looks likely to pass now.

Even though attorney Gloria Allred, who represents the first gay couple legally married in California back in June of this year, has filed a legal challenge, she may have jumped the gun early on this one too.

(there are various other groups issuing challenges, as well -- they are listed here)

The truth is, at 12:30 PM PST on Wednesday, November 5, roughly 400,000 votes separate "Yes" from "No" (with 97% of precincts reporting) - and the "No" campaign expects, "that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted." The No On 8 campaign has not yet conceded defeat.

(note: at this time, the Yes on 8 campaign, has not declared victory on their Web site -- however, some supporters did declare victory at a rally just after midnight.)

These media outlets should take a cue from others (such as KABC and KCBS) and wait until the California Secretary of State speaks on Thursday to declare how many votes are yet to be counted, before calling the race.

This is irresponsible journalism, at best, and the LA Times and People might want to examine why they made the call so early on this controversial proposition.

I'm standing here in Chicago's Grant Park as the first portion of election results are trickling in. It feels like the calm before the storm. The general public has just been allowed into the park and they are racing for position as if participating in a diamond giveaway. It's chaotic, for sure, but exhilarating.

Incredibly, the background is serene. The normally frigid Chicago is actually relatively warm, and the landscape couldn't be more beautiful.  Sky rises are all lit up.Most notably, there's one with lights arranged to read "USA."

The media and general public feel as though they are all ready to be part of history in electing either the first African American President or the first female Vice President. People came out in record numbers to vote, perhaps showing the world that we are, in fact, ready to reclaim our image and redeem the current woes we are experiencing in this country.

Young people showed what they were made of - "rocking the vote" as it were. Celebs are taking a back seat here as I've heard tonight it is all about Obama - no celebs are expected to be in view during his speech. That could change, but that's what we are hearing now.

The energy in the room was palpable. I've watched numerous presidential debates on television but none compared to my witnessing one in person.

My red-eye flight arrived into Cleveland at 7:00 in the morning on Tuesday. The city had just gotten up to 8 inches of snow and many of the flights had been delayed. When I walked outside the airport to my car, the snow-covered trees instantly reminded me of being back in Detroit, my hometown.

After a quick change, I headed to Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. The NBC Press Room had hot plates of food for the crews that were beginning to pile in. My first interview was in the production control room where the director of the debates was mapping out the camera shots and perfecting the lighting on stage for the evening.

"How do you make sure one candidate doesn't get more camera time than the other?" I asked.

"That ball is in the candidate's court. We follow the action."

 One woman had the job of greeting both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when they arrived through the back door of the auditorium.

 

Then we took "the walk," the path that Clinton and Obama took from their rooms, down the hallway, up the stairs, through the curtains, and onto the international stage. My heart was racing, just thinking about the pressure they were about to be under. With the debate just moments away, I got to my seat in time to hear the moderator tell us to hold our applause and comments throughout the debate so each candidate could be heard. Surprised that, for the most part, everyone kept the promise. When the candidates walked out, everyone erupted into applause, whistling and yelling their names, followed by respectful silence.

And after the final "thank you for joining us," supporters rushed to the stage, begging for autographs and handshakes.

And I realized I had just witnessed history.