The dramas of political conventions were pretty much wiped out after the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. The supporters of Sen. Eugene McCarthy, who wanted to end the Vietnam War, were getting very little voice at the convention. And Vice President Hubert Humphrey, tied to the unpopular Lyndon B. Johnson, did not compete in a single primary yet was able to secure the Democratic nomination. This alienation was cited as one of the reasons demonstrations became violent.

That year, the Democrats, trying to live down that image, developed the primary election as its chief nominating method. The Republicans adopted the primary in 1972.

From then on, candidates received convention delegates who were bound by their votes and convened for the national party nomination and election of the candidates.

What has emerged since that time is less about product and more about image. Since then, delegates rarely dissent, trying hard to show the party is unified behind the candidate.

So it comes with little surprise that Democratic Party leaders are trying very hard to portray themselves as “united” even at the expense of stifling voices that want to be heard.

Reports from Denver point to moves by both the Obama campaign and party officials to hold roll call of the delegates at breakfast today — out of the public eye.

Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette told the Wall Street Journal that while she admires “Hillary Clinton greatly, I think it would be divisive to have a vote on the floor. We need to have a unanimous vote.”

How it would work in the theatrics of the evening, the first call would be on the delegation from Illinois, the state from which Obama serves as senator, and then New York, which Clinton represents. After the New York delegation applauds Clinton’s historic run, a motion would be made to accept the early votes cast.

Some Clinton delegates are bristling at such maneuvers. David Harper of Macon County, Tenn., told WSJ that, “I came out here by God to vote for her, and I’m going to do it.”

“I could have voted from home,” said Kelly Jacobs, another Clinton supporter. “She is our captain. We don’t want to see her disrespected.” The early delegate count is “not what we learned in civics class.”

Without question, the party wants unity and both Obama and Clinton said last week a floor vote would happen. But you cannot force unity no matter how you dress up it in the public window.

Will Rogers once said, “I belong to no organized political party. I am a Democrat.”

There is a certain charm to that image. A wide umbrella encompassing the many diverse voices, a cacophony of opinions that then blend into a common voice.

Instead, the party is showing itself to be less about inclusiveness and diversity and more about an image crafted by a few.