Tampa, U.S.A. — Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus announced the theme and speakers for Wednesday, August 29, the third night of next week’s 2012 Republican National Convention.  The theme, said Priebus, will be “We Can Change It.”

“We want to remind Americans that we don’t have to settle for four more years of high unemployment, low pay and deep debt,” Priebus said.  “We will devote Wednesday night to showing the country that Mitt Romney’s ‘Plan for a Stronger Middle Class’ will restore our country as the best place in the world to find a job, start a business or hire a worker.”

Priebus said the Wednesday night program “will show that the Romney approach is both optimistic and achievable.”  The Romney plan will work toward energy independence, ensure that middle-class Americans have the skills to succeed, pursue trade that works for America, cut the deficit and champion small business.

“Having suffered through the longest sustained period of high unemployment since the Great Depression, Americans already know we can do better,” said Republican Convention CEO William Harris.  “Next Wednesday, Republicans will lay out Mitt Romney’s plan to do just that.”

Priebus and Harris announced the following schedule for Wednesday, August 29:

• Convention convenes
• Call to order
• Introduction of Colors
• Pledge of Allegiance
• National Anthem
• Invocation
• Remarks by Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman Mitch McConnell (KY)
• Performance by Beau Davidson
• Segment to be announced
• Remarks by Senator John McCain (AZ)
• Video
• Remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi (FL) and Attorney General Sam Olens (GA)
• Remarks by Senator John Thune (SD)
• Remarks by Governor Jeb Bush (FL)
• Remarks by Senator Rob Portman (OH)
• Remarks by Steve Cohen, Screen Machine
• Remarks by Governor Luis Fortuno (PR)
• Remarks by Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN)
• Remarks by Condoleezza Rice
• Video
• Remarks by vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan
• Benediction by Archbishop Demetrios
• Adjournment

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.  Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests.

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From the eleven speakers announced for the Republican Convention, four of them are women: Condoleezza Rice, Susana Martinez, Nikki Halley and Mary Fallin.

Republicans wish to gain women’s sympathy during a time in which they have been accused by the Democrats of waging war against women.

The Democrats have directed hard criticism against the Republicans for trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which Democrats think is a law that offers many benefits and crucial protection for women.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid wrote in a Huffington Post article called “Republicans Renew War on Women” that “thanks to the Affordable Care Act, new insurance plans are already required to cover preventive care like mammograms, colonoscopies, blood pressure checks, prenatal exams and childhood immunizations without cost-sharing. Yet Republicans are so intent on blocking women’s preventive services like contraception coverage from taking effect, they are willing to risk national security.” Democrats want their voters to see the Republicans as the villains on this subject.

Reid continued criticizing the Republicans for blocking the opportunity for women to gain access to contraception methods. Sen. Reid said that the Republicans are only acting for ideological motives and are putting them ahead of scientific reasons.

Mary Fallin is the lastest female politician announced as a speaker for the Tampa Convention, and she is currently the first female Governor of Oklahoma. She is one of the most popular governors in the country, based on a poll made by sonnerpoll.com and released in January; almost 70 percent of the surveyed thought Fallin was doing a good job after just a year in office.

The Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll on the presidential race shows that in key states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Obama has an advantage on female vote over Romney, so Martinez, Rice, Halley and Fallin have a difficult mission trying to gain female voter’s sympathy for the Republicans.

Each of the women selected for the Republican National Convention have something special to offer and have made history in their positions. Susana Martinez is the first female Hispanic Governor of New Mexico and of the Country; Condoleezza Rice was the first African-American women that became Secretary of State, Nikki Haley is South Carolina first female Governor and Mary Fallin is Oklahoma first female Governor. This will hopefully prove to the female voters that the Republicans have women in important positions and that they support them.

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Former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, is repeating his appearance as a speaker in the 2012 Convention; in 2008 he was one of the speakers at the Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is one of the best known conservatives and he will surely help Mitt Romney.

Huckabee remarked on the importance of the 2012 election, stating:

“I’m honored to be invited by Governor Romney to address my fellow Republicans at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, but especially grateful for the opportunity to explain to my fellow Americans why this election provides the most stark contrast of political platforms in American history.

“Four years ago, we were promised an economic recovery and the creation of millions of jobs, but have now seen the longest period of record unemployment since the Great Depression. We were promised that the sacred institution of marriage would be protected, but now we have the first president in history to support changing the nature and definition of marriage.

We were promised that faith would guide these decisions, but instead we have seen a full frontal assault on the conscience and convictions of religious liberty by insisting that this new government run health care system include forcing churches, colleges, hospitals, and businesses to bow their knee to the Baal of the federal government. I will do all I can to help Mitt Romney become our president.”

In his 2008 speech he warned Americans that Obama’s election “would elevate our taxes and our risks in a dangerous world.” He also criticized Obama for taking his campaign to Europe, by saying that Europeans did not vote or pay taxes in the United States. In one of his harder critics towards Europe he stated: “let me hasten to say that it’s not what he took there that concerns me. It’s what he brought back: European ideas that give the government the chance to grab even more of our liberty and destroy our hard-earned livelihood.”

Romney recently made his own trip to Europe in which he visited London and Poland. He also visited Israel. He received a lot of criticism for his trip, and one senior Republican strategist who was granted anonymity to speak candidly said: “Why on earth is he seeking to improve his foreign policy cred when there will not be a single vote cast on that subject?”

Most of the Republican criticisms towards Obama are the same that Huckabee expressed in his 2008 speech, in which he explained that Americans do not want more government but rather a smaller one. This is still one of the main criticisms against the Democrats, that they are trying to make a huge government. Huckabee quoted Abraham Lincoln, and said it was he who “reminded us that a government that can do everything for us is the government that can take everything from us,” which shows how dangerous a huge government really can be.

Critics against Obama during the 2012 campaign are basically giving the same arguments as the ones Huckabee made in his 2008 speech; let’s see if Mike Huckabee surprises us with his speech in the Tampa Convention.

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Rick Santorum, the man who surprised the world with his performance during the Republican primaries, has been announced as a speaker in the Republican National Convention.

Former Pennsylvania Senator, Rick Santorum’s, effort in the primaries made him very popular among the conservatives. His designation as a speaker in the Convention is trying to prove that the differences that arose during the primaries are over and that the Republican Party is united under Mitt Romney’s figure.

His appearance as a speaker in the Convention would greatly help Santorum’s political career and his future aspirations. The Convention is his great opportunity to solidify himself as the social conservative leader of the nation.

Santorum’s official website explains that “Rick Santorum was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2012 and became known as a voice for conservatives who didn’t feel their voice was being represented.  His grassroots approach to campaigning – including visiting every one of Iowa’s 99 counties and his stunning victory in the Iowa caucuses – catapulted him to frontrunner status where he ultimately won 11 states and 3 million votes during the Republican primary process.” Santorum had a great performance in the Republican primaries, even though he didn’t have the money or the resources other candidates had.

Rick Santorum and his wife Karen are the parents of seven children, and during the primaries he consistently talked about the importance of needing strong families to build a strong economy. His basics proposals were that the government should give incentives for “marriage, children and free enterprise.” With his speeches he gained the support of the country’s most conservative sector.

Rick Santorum is also a dedicated believer in the dignity every life has. Santorum’s younger daughter, Isabella, was born with a condition called Trisomy 18, and the doctors didn’t expect she would survive her first day. But the little girl has beaten all odds and celebrated her fourth birthday in May of 2012. This experience has made Santorum a strong fighter against abortion.

His official website tells us his pro-life initiatives. Santorum “wrote and championed legislation that outlawed the heinous procedure known as Partial Birth Abortion as well as the ‘Born Alive Infants Protection Act,’ the ‘Unborn Victims of Violence Act,’ and the ‘Combating Autism Act’ because he believes each and every individual has value and the most vulnerable in our society need to be protected.”

A Washing Post reporter wrote that “Santorum was a tea party kind of guy before there was a tea party.”

Rick Santorum recently tweeted: “Honored to be speaking at @GopConvention where conservatives from across country will rally together for @MittRomney & make voices heard!” Let’s wait to see what kind of speech he has prepared for the Convention.

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The Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus, has described the members of the list of headliners that will address the Republican National Convention as “some of our party’s brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles. Ours will be a world class convention, worthy of the next president of the United States, and these speakers-and those that will be announced later-will help make it a truly memorable and momentous event.”

Republican National Convention Chief Executive Officer, William Harris, said that “these individuals exemplify the Republican Party’s commitment to economic growth and long-term job creation, and reflect our proud tradition of protecting America’s interests around the world.”

South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, is one of the chosen speakers; Haley is Indian-American and was the first woman in her state elected as Governor. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, explains that “minorities are overwhelmingly behind President Obama at this juncture, so the Republicans want to at least show that the party has minorities in high office.”

Nikki Haley’s is considered to be “one of the strongest fiscal conservatives in state government” and she  has always fought for a smaller and more efficient government. She  is also a fierce critic of the public sector, unnecessary spending and led South Carolina in the fight for accountability and transparency in the legislature she is now in charge of.

Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University political scientist, says that Haley’s appearance in the Republican National Convention would definitely help her political career  “both nationally and at home.” Although Haley has said she is not interested in the Vice-president candidate post, Huffmon added that “she is a very good public speaker. It’s probably going to raise her recognition and favorability nationally.” The exact date that Haley will give her speech is still unknown.

Haley has already spoken about the importance of the November election, stating: “The future generations of our children and our grandchildren are at stake in this election. While Americans work to build their businesses and create jobs, leaders of the Democratic party have spent more than three years raising taxes, increasing spending and taking away our health care choices. The Republican National Convention will be a time for not just our party, but our country to come together and get behind Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States. I look forward to being a part of this historic event.”

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Republican convention organizers have announced that TVEyes is the “Official Broadcast Monitoring Provider” for the 2012 Republican National Convention. TVEyes’ online broadcast monitoring service will provide the convention real-time access to television and radio broadcasts.

“We are expecting 15,000 members of the media to cover the Republican National Convention and TVEyes will be crucial to monitoring and organizing the coverage we receive,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris.

“We’re delighted to support the broadcast monitoring needs of the Republican National Convention,” said David Ives, chief executive officer of TVEyes, Inc. “Today’s instant-turnaround news environment means that political candidates and parties must be prepared to respond to news, political issues and competitors in real time, as coverage airs in the U.S. and worldwide. TVEyes, with its real-time search and monitoring of national network, cable and affiliate broadcasts in all 210 U.S. designated market areas (DMAs) and major global markets, uniquely makes this possible.”

About TVEyes

TVEyes is headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut and has operational facilities located across the United States and internationally. The company was formed in 1999 in the field of television and radio monitoring and quickly became the most technically advanced media monitoring company in the world. TVEyes technology has been recognized by the United States Department of Defense as a sole source provider for key monitoring applications around the world.

The TVEyes business model has grown to encompass a wide range of services and market segments involving automated speech-to-text and advanced audio/video search. TVEyes was the first media monitoring company to deploy a worldwide network of fully automated TV and radio monitoring servers and continues to add coverage aggressively to its network.

About the 2012 Republican National Convention

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests. For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.

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Republican convention organizers have announced that AT&T has been named the “Official Wireless Provider of the 2012 Republican National Convention” and will provide an array of products and services to support and enhance carrier-provided wireless communications in and around key convention venues in the Tampa Bay area.

Under an agreement with the convention, AT&T will support convention planners’ overall mobility efforts by providing voice and data communication services and a variety of mobile devices to help maintain fully integrated communications throughout the convention process.

In addition, AT&T is helping the convention expand its outreach and communications through the development of mobile applications and other services.

As part of the official provider announcement, the Republican National Convention announced a text messaging campaign, supported by AT&T technologies, that allows interested parties to sign up to be among the first to receive breaking news about the August event, including convention speakers and a schedule of daily events.

To sign up for these alerts, text “convention” to 99000 from your mobile device.

“This will be the first national political convention of the social networking era, with unprecedented demand for carrier-provided wireless broadband and AT&T is working to making sure that the convention is more than up to the task,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris.

“Thanks to the improvements we envision, Tampa Bay will be the envy of the world,” said Harris. “This will help ensure convention-goers are able to share the sights, sounds and excitement as we nominate the next president of the United States.”

“We are delighted to be working with the Republic National Convention to provide wireless service and support at this summer’s convention,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility.

“AT&T is privileged to offer the technical expertise of our employees and the capabilities of our wireless network to serve the 50,000 visitors expected in the Tampa Bay region. We look forward to continuing to invest and providing Floridians with superior service long after the convention is over.”

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Advancing efforts to make the 2012 Republican National Convention the most dynamic, state-of-the-art event in the party’s history, organizers have announced Microsoft Corporation will serve as the convention’s Official Innovation Provider. The announcement underscores convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris’ commitment to embrace new technology that will spur interest and enthusiasm leading up to the August 27-30 event in Tampa.

The relationship includes a host of pioneering Microsoft solutions such as natural user interface in Microsoft’s Kinect, and video communications technology in Microsoft’s Skype. In addition, collaboration will be streamlined and improved through the use of the Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint technologies and consulting services.

Microsoft technologies are designed to help people stay connected, collaborate and communicate as well as to create, access and share data, information and digital content in new ways. Many of these innovations have demonstrated remarkable uses in education, medicine, business and many other applications“ and can also help transform the convention experience. Microsoft and the convention will continue to find ways to leverage Microsoft’s technologies and experienced support teams to make this convention the most innovative to date.

“Technology is changing the way we plan and conduct conventions,” said Harris, a veteran convention planner who has helped managed three conventions. “We are working with Microsoft to identify new ways to improve the convention experience for not only attendees in Tampa, but interested individuals across the country.”

Added Brad Smith, Microsoft’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President, “Microsoft is excited to collaborate with the Republican National Convention on this important event. Through the use of Microsoft’s latest technology products, services and expertise, we aim to make this the most interactive, engaging and technologically advanced convention yet.”

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The 2012 Republican National Convention has unveiled its redesigned official website, www.GOPConvention2012.com. The enhanced website provides a robust platform for expanded interactive and multimedia capabilities, including video and live-streaming broadcasts of convention proceedings. It fully integrates convention social media channels.

“We are planning an innovative, dynamic and informative convention,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris. “One of our most vital assets in accomplishing this mission is our redesigned convention website and other digital assets such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

“GOPConvention2012.com and our social media channels will provide a vibrant platform from which we communicate our nominee’s messages,” Harris said. “Our goal is to tear down the convention walls and make the 2012 Republican National Convention open and accessible to anyone, anywhere.”

The site offers key features being deployed today and at critical junctures as convention planning continues, including the ability to login via social network platforms for a customized viewing experience and deep integration of Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networks.

GOPConvention2012.com will also include live chats and historic photographs and videos of past Republican conventions. Other features will be added to the convention website in the coming weeks.

“The redesigned website will provide an interactive experience to our web visitors while helping us build a community and make history,” said Director of Communications James Davis.

The redesign effort was led by Alexandria, Va.-based Campaign Solutions, which created and maintained the 2008 and 2004 Republican Conventions’ websites and digital strategies. The company has been recognized for its work, including Pollie Awards for web design from the bi-partisan American Association of Political Consultants.

Campaign Solutions’ online strategy and website design efforts were also honored with the “Best of Show” award for the 2008 Republican National Convention website (Minneapolis-Saint Paul) and the “Best Website” award for the 2004 Republican National Convention website (New York).

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States are now clamoring to move the Republican primary up early, leaving the traditional first states left in the dust. Florida Republican presidential primary is likely going to be held five weeks earlier than normal, moving the primary to January 31, 2012 instead of early March.

The Florida GOP has selected the early date by a vote of 7 to 2, according to GOP insiders. This move is in violation of Republican National Committee guidelines. It also upsets the traditional standards that allows the states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina to be the first primary states in every presidential election.

Although Florida may be sanctioned by the RNC, Florida’s Republican officials seem to be looking past any punishment. They believe by moving up their primary, they will be the fifth and deciding primary of the season. Early primary states are upset by Florida and other states leapfrogging moves.

Arizona had previously announced that they were moving their primary up to the same day as South Carolina’s primary. South Carolina has asked that the Republican National Convention be moved out of Florida where it is scheduled. New Hampshire is also unhappy since they have a state law mandating that the state have the first primary in the nation.

Officials in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada have already said that they will be moving their contests. When Chuck Todd played this out on MSNBC last week, he anticipated that the Iowa caucuses, the first contest of the season , would be moved to Jan. 5. But by the time this all shakes out, it could end up being worse.

As CNN’s Peter Hamby tweets this morning: “NH Sec of State does not rule out holding New Hampshire primary this year. As in, 2011.” This means those potential candidates that are still lingering in the dust better start to announce their candidacy if they are interested. Yes, I am talking to you Sarah Palin, Chris Christie or even Mr. Huckabee.

The chance to build up a campaign was just shortened by a month.
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President Barack Obama launched a three-day bus tour, speaking in town hall meetings through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, but he emphasized that he is not campaigning yet. Obama, however, spent his speeches focusing on jobs and the economy while criticizing the GOP field of potential nominees.

The President criticized the Republicans for their uniform opposition to any deficit-cutting compromise involving new taxes. “That’s just not common sense,” Obama told the crowd at a town hall-style meeting in Cannon Falls, Minn. “You need to take a balanced approach,” he insisted.

Obama spoke about last week’s GOP presidential debate where all eight of the candidates said they would refuse to support a deal with tax increases, even if tax revenues were outweighed 10-to-1 by spending cuts. Obama didn’t mention any of the candidates by name, and prefaced the remark by saying, “I know it’s not election season yet.”

At another town hall meeting, Obama was questioned about his health care reform and used the opportunity to take a shot at Mitt Romney.”You’ve got a governor who’s running for president right now who instituted the exact same thing in Massachusetts,” Obama said, referring the requirement for nearly everyone to carry health insurance. “This used to be a Republican idea,” Obama said. “It’s like suddenly they got amnesia.”

Obama also criticized the anti-government message that the Republican Party embraces. “When you go to the National Parks and those folks in the hats, that’s government,” Obama said. “As frustrated as you are about politics don’t buy into this notion that somehow government is what’s holding us back,” he said.

Obama began his speech at the town hall meetings by criticizing Congress, accusing lawmakers of putting politics ahead of the country and calling on voters to tell them to cut it out. “You’ve got to send a message to Washington that it’s time for the games to stop, it’s time to put country first,” Obama said.

“I want everyone to understand here, I’m not here just to enjoy the nice weather; I’m here to enlist you in a fight,” he said. “We are fighting for the future of our country. And that is a fight that we are gonna win. That is a promise that I make, with your help.”

Not everyone was pleased with Obama’s town hall meetings. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and a few dozen protesters showed up in Cannon Falls. “We won’t stand idly by while he uses our hard-earned tax dollars to spin his failure to put America back to work,” Priebus said.

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