The convention for grown-ups -- on TV

By Noel Holston | Staff Writer

C-Span is like the late Republican icon Sen. Barry Goldwater: dedicated to the notion of eternal vigilance. During this week's GOP convention C-Span is doing exactly what it did during last month's Democratic soiree: covering the proceedings live and in their entirety, without commercials and commentary. On C-Span alone, it's gavel to gavel and beyond -- everything but the overnight cleaning crew.

And for all I know, the janitors may have their moment. I try to be asleep by 1 a.m.

Now, there are those who would say that this sounds about as compelling as watching paint dry. I am here to tell you, as someone who spent most of Monday's daylight hours parked in front of a TV locked into C-Span, that this is not true. It is more like watching clothes being tossed in a front-loading washing machine.

I jest, of course. The C-Span coverage was as engaging as the show the Republicans were putting on at Madison Square Garden, no more, no less. And the show was not without surprises, touching moments or humor. Carefully stage-managed or not, it had more relevance to our lives than, oh, the Laci Peterson case, which remains a staple of the 24-hour news outlets even during the conventions.

Soon after I settled in Monday morning, whom should I see on screen but a Democrat. A prominent Democrat. Former New York Mayor Ed Koch. He asked the question that was on my mind -- and, no doubt, on the minds of most convention delegates: "What am I doing here?" Then he delighted the Republicans by reiterating that he supports the re-election of President George W. Bush.

I wondered which, if any, of the other channels were carrying Koch. I did a quick channel-surf. The major broadcast networks were ignoring the convention altogether (big surprise, since they weren't even planning to cover last night's festivities). WCBS/2 had "The Guiding Light." Wayne Brady was holding forth on WABC/7. On WNBC/4, Ellen Degeneres was goofing with Steve Martin. Fox News and CNN barely acknowledged that Koch was on the podium. C-Span carried his every word, plus the booster-ish video about the city that convention delegates were shown.

C-Span was on hand when Ann Wagner, Republican National Committee co-chair, read a list of great Republicans who had passed away since the last convention, among them John Lindsay, Strom Thurmond and Ronald Reagan. The roll scrolled by against a pinkish backdrop that recalled a beautiful sunset. The producers of the next Oscar-cast should take note.

C-Span dutifully televised short speeches by a parade of Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives who demonstrated not only ethnic and gender diversity in a party whose critics like to cast it as an old white-boys club but also some conservative humor. Ted Poe, a House candidate from Texas, warned his compatriots about "sitting on the sidelines. It's not a time for being a French Republican."

C-Span was also there for the rather ironic spectacle -- given the anti-Bush protests over the weekend and yet to come -- of Republican delegates getting down to a live R&B band's rendition of the old Doobie Brothers anthem, "Takin' It to the Streets." Well, a few of them were anyway. Most stayed in their seats, some tapping their toes, others just talking.

This is the sort of stuff you miss if you rely on the channels that filter the convention for you and add commentary that is the equivalent of NBC Olympic announcers who keep telling you that the best high divers don't make a big splash when they hit the water. C- Span's coverage is the closest we get to being there. It respects our critical faculties. And we don't have to go through metal detectors.