This photo was taken by the friend of a reader at the Democratic National Convention the other day. A little confused, I zoomed in and sure enough, those are indeed press passes; On both Barkley and The Captain.

So to refresh - Charles Barkley is at the Democratic National Convention in Denver posing for pictures with Captain Morgan.

I think that Barkley posing for the picture is nothing compared to the confusion caused when you stop and ask yourself “What is Captain Morgan street team doing at the DNC?”

What is going on out there? Is this really the same place that Shawn Johnson is leading the Pledge of Allegiance? I did a little Googling and found a couple blog posts about the apparent craziness that is the DNC.

Burning Dreams:

I have no idea how they got passes to the DNC, but this just goes along with a theory that I am developing that democracy is suspiciously similar to a corporate Music festival. I mean look at this, we have a giant lighting and sound rig in an arena, souvenir stands, celebrity sightings and autograph requests (Saw Karl Rove and Bill Richsrdson, as well as Charles Barkley today) and sponsors from GM to apparently Captain Morgan’s.

And then there’s the presence of Trojan

What a lucky break for the Trojan prophylactic company, and what a potentially embarrassing, although entirely uncontrollable, image snafu for the Democratic Naitonal Convention.

Reporters, staffers and even delegates walking toward the 14th street magnetometer checkpoint have to first survive a a guantlet of yellow-shirted condom-bearing soldiers hired by the Trojan company to promote its safe-sex, sex-positive message.

The DNC is not amused, although there’s nothing they can do: Trojan rented the parking lot from the owner of the adjacent building.

As one reporter accepted a condom, he was heard to say to the vendor, “You think I have time to get [lucky] this week?”

- The Atlantic via Willamette Week

If you’re thinking about planning a trip with your buddies in 2012, maybe you should wait to see where the next DNC is before you choose the destination.

[Photo: Willamette Week]