Democratic Convention Live Blog, Day 3: Will Democrats Address the Elephant in the Room?
The Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. (Screen shot via PBS)
On Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton made history as the nation’s first female presidential nominee from a major party. Emotions ran high when “Mothers of the Movement” took the stage to discuss police violence in the African American movement. And Bill Clinton himself gave the keynote speech in which he told the story of his romance with Hillary while also continually referencing her political achievements. Check out a recap of Day 2 here.
Much of the convention thus far has been focused on uniting a party seemingly still split between supporters of Clinton and supporters of Bernie Sanders, and unlike last week’s Republican National Convention, little attention has been given to the opposing candidate. Will today be the day the Democrats finally address the elephant in the room? Truthdig’s Bill Blum chimes in:
Here’s what I’ll be watching for on Day 3: At some point in this long “infomercial” (Robert Reich’s term, not mine) masquerading as a political convention, I expect the emphasis to shift from touting the virtues of Hillary Clinton to highlighting the dangers of Donald Trump.
The shift has to take place for at least two reasons: First, there is only so much hagiography even the most ardent Clinton backers can direct toward her. Try as they might to depict her as a cross between Mother Teresa and Super Woman, Clinton’s surrogates (celebrities and pols alike) will run into the law of diminishing returns. Voters who have bought the sizzle are on board. It’s now time to move on.
Second, like it or not, this election will come down to a choice between two dramatically unpopular candidates. Yes, “lesser evilism” will determine the outcome. To win, the Clinton camp must convince a majority of voters that Trump, and the neo-fascism he represents, is the greater danger facing the nation. This should be an easy task, on the order of sinking an uncontested layup in a basketball game. But remember, we’re talking about Hillary Clinton here, and nothing about her is ever easy.
Tonight, President Obama is set to give the keynote speech, and will likely urge Americans to vote Clinton if they want to uphold Obama’s political legacy. Current Vice President Joe Biden and Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine are also going to take the stage tonight. The New York Times reports that while Biden may harbor some regrets that he did not run for president this time around, “his speech will almost certainly feature the gritty passion that is his trademark.” Kaine, meanwhile, faces high expectations after his powerful remarks at a campaign event last week.
Be sure to check back for more live updates on Day 3 of the convention, taking place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Check out Truthdig’s coverage of Day 2 in the form of photojournalism here, and take a look at video reports from inside and outside the convention center here.
—Posted by Emma Niles
Related Entries
- July 27, 2016 A Lens on the Democratic Convention, Day 2: Legitimate Anger in Philadelphia (Multimedia)
- July 27, 2016 Insiders and Outsiders Mingle at the Democratic National Convention
Source: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/democratic_convention_day_3_will_address_the_elephant_in_the_room_20160727/
