U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Everett will enjoy a brief moment in the spotlight tonight at the Democratic National Convention when he casts the votes of Washington delegates during the roll call.
Larsen learned of his selection Monday by the chairman of the state party, Dwight Pelz. He expects his appearance will come sometime after 8 p.m.
“It’s really a great honor,” said Larsen, a native of Arlington who’s served as the 2nd Congressional District representative since 2001.
Larsen will get 10 to 15 seconds at the microphone in which his primary task is declaring the obvious – 121 Democratic delegate votes for the re-election of President Barack Obama.
What else might he toss out to the crowd?
“I am trying to think through what I’m going to say,” he said.
Larsen said he intends to talk with other state delegates for ideas and no one in the state or national party will be vetting his comments.
As far as material, there are lots of subjects from which to choose. Washington is synonymous with Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks as well as apples, pears, hops and Mount Rainier.
If Larsen needs inspiration, he can refer back to his previous big moment on national television in July 2006 when he appeared alongside Stephen Colbert on the Comedy Channel.
Republican state Sen. Dino Rossi of Sammamish could also be a source of ideas. He had the honor at last week’s Republican National Convention. Here’s what he’s quoted as having said in the GOP roll call to officially nominate Mitt Romney:
“Madam Secretary…We are from the real Washington, Washington State. Yeah, we’re not from the Washington that is leading us to bankruptcy. We’re from the Evergreen State…the state that’s green with trees, not with other people’s money…and we cast five votes for Congressman Ron Paul. And we enthusiastically cast 38 votes for the next president of the United States, Mitt Romney.”
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