CHICAGO – The Democratic Party Convention began on Wednesday with an appearance by former President Bill Clinton and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz because the closing speaker, who introduced himself as Kamala Harris's vice presidential candidate. Given the shortened duration of the hectic presidential campaign, the convention is a vital opportunity for voters to get to know Harris and Walz higher.
Here are some takeaways from the third night of the DNC.
The Big Dog at dusk directs the age query to Trump
Since 1976, Clinton has spoken at 13 consecutive Democratic conventions. On Wednesday evening, he admitted: “I have no idea how many more of these conventions I can attend.”
It was a remarkable admission from a politician whose dominance earned him the nickname “Big Dog.” Clinton, who just turned 78, was not deterred by his age, but used it as a dig on the Republican candidate, declaring: “I'm still younger than Donald Trump.”
In his 27-minute speech, Clinton reflected on his experiences over the past few a long time and the burdens of history. He warned those present on the convention that the election campaign can be tough, regardless of how good they felt.
“Never underestimate your opponent,” Clinton said, referring to how his wife, Hillary Clinton, narrowly missed the presidency in 2016.
“Bring them home”
In a deeply polarized country, there was one group that was greeted with loud applause at each the Republican and Democratic conventions: the parents of young men taken hostage after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.
Last month in Milwaukee, Ronen and Orna Neutra told the assembled crowd concerning the kidnapping of their adult son, Omer, and had the group chant “Bring her home!” On Wednesday, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was kidnapped on Oct. 7, took the stage and shouted in the identical chorus.
“This is a political meeting,” said Jon Polin. “But the need to bring our only son and all our beloved hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue.”
At the RNC, several speakers – although not the Neutras – criticized Biden and Harris for failing to stop Hamas from attacking. and for the neglect of the hostagesPolin and Goldberg, for his or her part, said they’d spoken repeatedly with the president and vp and praised their efforts.
While the Republican convention portrayed Hamas as a threat to the United States, the Democratic convention remained comparatively quiet on the war, although pro-Palestinian protests took place outside the hall demanding that the federal government end its support for Israel.
January 6 rebellion back within the highlight
The rebellion of January 6 of 2021 has been a central a part of the Democratic campaigns because the attack on the U.S. Capitol that shocked the country. Democrats gave it a distinguished place on Wednesday night.
The focus was on a video wherein Trump calls on his supporters to march to the Capitol, stop the attacks on cops and the guarantees forgiveness those that were prosecuted. This last part drew cries from the Democratic delegates, who loudly demanded, “Lock him up!”
However, Democrats need to proceed with caution in order that the attack on American democracy doesn’t turn into merely a partisan issue.
To that end, the segment began with Republicans talking about their concerns about Trump. Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan recalled threats from Trump supporters when he refused to comply with the then-president's demands in 2020 to declare him, quite than Joe Biden, the winner in Georgia.
Duncan told his Republican colleagues that in the event that they voted for Harris, they’d be “not a Democrat, but a patriot.”
Democrats define freedom comprehensively
The theme of Wednesday night's convention was “freedom.” Accompanied by Beyoncé's song of the identical name, which the musician has given the Harris campaign permission to make use of, the word flashed on the video screen and in speech after speech on the United Center.
Democrats tied this closely to the fight for reproductive rights, which was in full swing after Roe v. Wade, but in addition they used the liberty argument to criticize Republicans on other social issues, from gay rights to the increasing bans on books in schools.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a gay man who’s raising two children along with his husband, linked the agenda to the conservative Project 2025. The agenda was developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation and is seen as a possible blueprint for a second Trump term, although Trump says it has no connection to his campaign.
“Project 2025 would turn the entire federal government into a giant machine and use it as a weapon to control our reproductive choices,” Polis said.
And in probably the most stirring speeches of the evening, Oprah Winfrey said of freedom: “Sometimes you have to stand up to the tyrants of life.”
Democrats, long related to Hollywood, are turning to online influencers
The Democratic Party boasts a lot of celebrity endorsers who’ve repeatedly lent the party their glamour and their wallets, and now they’re joining forces with those that have achieved fame in a way that’s distinctly twenty first century: online.
More than 200 content creators and influencers got access to the DNC's backstage events this week. And because they’ve tens of tens of millions of followers, their coverage of the events can spread politicians' messages higher than traditional media and celebrities.
On TikTok, influencers like Deja Foxx post “OOTD” (outfit of the day) videos on the DNC blue carpet. Her outfit for Wednesday included: an identical khaki set, a pair of Nike Air Force Ones and an oversized Prada jacket with huge pockets for all her gear, “because she's awesome,” she tells her 141,000 followers.
The creator has previously interviewed Harris on her social media pages and spoken on behalf of the Arizona delegation on the DNC.
Carlos Eduardo Espina, a Spanish-speaking influencer with 10.2 million followers on TikTok, delivered a speech on the convention on Wednesday night, appealing to young Latino voters who’re crucial to Harris' election.
Espina joined the ranks of a senator, a border congresswoman and a Texas sheriff who defended Biden and Harris' stance on immigration. “Being pro-immigration is being pro-America,” he said.
The playlists of the Democrats and Republicans appeal to their base
The playlist on the Republican convention in Milwaukee last month was dominated by classic rock. Now, on the Democratic convention in Chicago, the musical offering is way more diverse.
The Dueling soundtracks are a mirrored image the 2 parties' dramatically different voting bases. The Republican convention relied heavily on the radio rock that was popular within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies, when much of their older, whiter electorate was young. The Democrats' musical offerings, meanwhile, include rap, R&B, indie rock, country, Americana – and, yes, some classic rock – in line with the party's multi-racial coalition.
The first two nights of the DNC featured performances by Atlanta rapper Lil Jon and American singer-songwriter Jason Isbell. Wednesday's performances included R&B stars Stevie Wonder and John Legend, with the latter covering songs by Minnesota icon Prince. Pop star Pink is scheduled to perform on the ultimate night.
At the Republican convention, a house band played covers of Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The house band also backed country singer Lee Greenwood, who sang “God Bless the USA.” Rap-rocker Kid Rock, an avowed conservative, also performed.
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