SAN JOSE, California -- Technology was all the rage at the California Democratic Convention in the heart of Silicon Valley Saturday. That is, as long as nobody mentioned technology.
In speech after speech at the state party convention, high-ranking Democrats --including presidential rivals Bill Bradley and Vice President Al Gore -- lauded technology as the driving force behind the nation's current economic boom.
But apart from the economy, politicians had precious little to say about specific issues that might concern California's increasingly expanding tech sector.
Not that anybody really minded. Most of the roughly 2,000 party faithful in attendance didn't seem to care much about wonky topics like encryption, H1b visas, and others.
"I'm not particularly interested in technology issues," said Kim Copper, a 20-year-old Stanford student. "I care more about race and health care," she said.
That comes as little surprise to Leslie Katz, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
"People are not listening to the tech messages out there," said Katz, who, incidentally, has just become a vice president at Petstore.com.
"It floors me that people do not realize that we are in a tech revolution. We need representatives who understand the importance of technology," she said."
Of course, all of the politicians made some reference to the Valley as a technology center, and its importance to the booming economy. But a few speakers merely used the tech-fueled economy as a launch pad for a stump speech.
"I know what it is to be stuck in 101 traffic," cracked Bradley at the start of his speech, referring to the crowded commute that many of the Bay Area's technology workers make on Highway 101 each day in and around the Valley.
Later he got to the point. "Here we are in the midst of this change in this country.... In this time of incredible prosperity, we should be fixing our roof while the sun is shining."
Gore roused the crowd with his new tub-thumping speaking style, breaking into poorly accented Spanish at times to emphasize his point. "We're going to continue creating millions of jobs," he cried to a cheering crowd. "You ain't seen nothing yet!"
Governor Gray Davis, a Gore supporter, opened for the Vice President, talking about -- what else? -- the flourishing economy. "Our economy is booming and the technology revolution [that] began right here in Silicon Valley is transforming the world," he said, before launching into a speech about education.
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo managed to spin the good times into something the Democrats were responsible for. "We are the land of possibility and so is Silicon Valley," she said. "Dreams turn into dot coms here... This place is the hotbed of the 21st century and this accomplishment has a Democratic stamp on it."
But if the Democratic Party is trying to label itself as the party of the tech revolution, why then is there so little talk of technology? Katz said its because the topic would bore constituents to death. "It's a Catch 22," she said. "[Politicians] could mention tech more, but they would risk losing people's attention."
Catherine Grimme, a San Jose contract administrator, said she's listening to what politicians have to say, but it's not technology she cares about.
"I'm a single mom with a daughter in school. I'm working and struggling in Silicon Valley," she said. "I'm a middle-income person; it's difficult." Grimme said her biggest concerns were health care and the Valley's skyrocketing housing costs.
While she said she liked Bradley's stance on issues like health care, she had not yet decided which way she would vote come election day. "I need to do more research," she said.
Tech issues did appeal to some people, however, particularly to younger Bradley supporters.
"He's intelligent," said Aaron Hirsch, a 28-year-old biology graduate student. "I don't think Gore is as smart. To support technology and research, you have to really understand tech issues."
But Katz, who backs Gore, disagreed. "Gore has been a big supporter of advanced technology. This is something he cares about," she said.
Meanwhile, California Senator Barbara Boxer tried to show that she had a firm grasp of tech issues herself when she implored the crowd to get involved with voting more Democrats into the Congress.
"Go to changethecongress.com," to get information on the candidates, she said. "And if you forget that, go to Barbara Boxer.com."
