Today was the fourth and final day of the Democrat National Convention (DNC) held in Chicago, Illinois. Rob Bluey shared ten highlights from the events of the day in his article published at The Daily Signal.
1. The Main Event: Harris’ ‘Unlikely Journey’
to Democrat Nominee
“Let’s get to business,” Harris told the crowd
in an attempt to quiet the raucous applause greeting her arrival onstage at
United Center about 10:35 p.m. EDT.
[After acknowledging her husband, Doug
Emhoff, and thanking Joe and Jill Biden] Harris talked about the “unlikely
journey” that led her to the party’s nomination, recalling stories about her
parents and the lessons she learned as a child of a single mother after they
split up….
Harris said her parents’ involvement in
the civil rights movement inspired her to pursue a career in law. She recalled
that an abusive relationship between her best friend and the friend’s
stepfather convinced her to become a prosecutor.
“I believe everyone has a right to safety,
dignity, and justice,” Harris said. “In our system of justice, a harm against
any one of us is a harm against all of us.”
2. Harris Speaks Broadly About Policy
Agenda, Skips Specifics
After sharing her personal biography,
Harris pivoted to policy issues. She touted her record as California attorney
general, U.S. senator, and vice president and argued that she would be a better
choice than returning Trump as president….
Harris took Trump to task for his
leadership style as president and his behavior in the aftermath of the disputed
2020 election, then warned about his agenda should voters elect him again [in
an attempt to tie Trump to Project 2025]. …
Harris accused Trump of trying to cut
Social Security and Medicare, seeking to repeal Obamacare, and wanting to
eliminate the Department of Education….
Citing her own upbringing in a
middle-class family, Harris made a direct appeal to this voting bloc, who could
swing the election to either candidate particularly in states such as Arizona,
Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Harris also devoted part of her speech to
abortion, an issue where she and Democrats hold a sizable advantage over Trump
and Republicans. She accused her opponent of wanting to limit access to birth
control and enact a nationwide abortion ban – although Trump holds neither
position….
On border security, a problem that Harris
failed to fix as the White House’s “border czar,” she promised to “reform our
broken immigration system” and “create an earned pathway to citizenship.”
Notably, she listed both before saying she would secure the border.
Harris devoted parts of her speech to two
foreign wars that began on her watch as vice president, boasting that she
warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Russia’s invasion in 2022
and is working “around the clock” to bring an end to the fighting in Gaza in
the Israel-Hamas war.
She surprised some by explicitly referring
to Hamas, the elected government of the Gaza Strip, as a terrorist
organization. The war began after Hamas terrorists went on a rampage of
torture, rape, and murder Oct. 7, leaving 1,200 dead and taking 250 hostages in
southern Israel.
“I will always stand up for Israel’s right
to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend
itself,” she said. “At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past
10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people
fleeing for safety, over and over again. The scale of suffering is
heartbreaking.”
3. Leaders of Teachers Unions Rally
Against Trump-Vance Ticket
Dressed in white blazers, the two teachers
union leaders took the stage to warn delegates about the dangers posed by
former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, his running mate on
the GOP ticket.
National Education Association President
Becky Pringle and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten
made partisan appeals in keeping with their unions’ one-sided political giving
to Democrats.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance are not just
wrong – they’re dangerous. It’s all right there in Project 2025. They will shut
down the Department of Education,” said Pringle, who leads the larger of the
two teachers unions. “We are coming together to say, ‘Not on our watch.’”
Launched by The Heritage Foundation two
years ago, Project 2025 grew to a coalition of 110 conservative organizations
that developed a transition plan for the next presidential administration.
Unlike some of the misstatements and lies about it, Project 2025 does call for
the Education Department’s elimination – an idea endorsed by Trump….
4. Wisconsin Senator Misrepresents Trump’s
Position on Social Security
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., began her
remarks by talking about the two grandparents who raised her as a child. It was
her attempt at appealing to senior citizens – and casting doubt on Trump’s
pledges to protect Social Security.
Dating to his first presidential run in
2016, Trump repeatedly has stated his opposition to cutting Social Security
benefits.
[She tried to connect Trump with cutting
Social Security and Medicare and give big tax breaks to billionaires and
corporations.]
There’s just one problem – that’s not
exactly what Trump said. In fact, he never mentioned Social Security or
Medicare by name.
In a March 11 interview on CNBC, Trump
said: “There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting
and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements.”
The term entitlements may reference any
number of government programs; entitlements have grown in recent years to
encompass an even greater share of the federal budget.
For his part, Trump clarified his position
by stating: “I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social
Security or Medicare.”
5. Sharpton Targets Trump, Highlights Case
of Central Park 5
Delivering a divisive speech filled with
appeals to several identity groups, the Rev. Al Sharpton began his remarks by
taking aim at Trump….
6. Sen. Bob Casey Complains About Cost of
Diapers
… Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., began his remarks
by complaining about inflation, specifically the cost of diapers [blaming
corporations for rising prices]. …
7. Senate Hopefuls Make Their Pitch
Two members of the U.S. House of
Representatives made their appeals to the party faithful for jobs in Congress’
upper chamber….
8. Warren Contrasts Harris, Trump in
Appeal to Working-Class Voters
Wiping tears from her eyes amid sustained
applause, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., portrayed Harris as a champion for
everyday Americans in contrast to Trump….
9. Stars Come Out on Kamala’s Big Night
The (Dixie) Chicks sang an interesting
acapella rendition of the national anthem, comedian D.L. Hughley cracked jokes,
and actresses Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria made appearances Thursday night
in what has become a star-studded event in Chicago.
In another musical moment, pop singer Pink
sang her 2017 hit “What About Us” with daughter Willow Sage….
10. Democrats’ Favorite Republican: Adam
Kinzinger
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who
represented Illinois as a Republican, got a prime speaking slot to make the
case for Harris….
No comments:
Post a Comment