Allow Me to Introduce Myself
During a 1992 Vice Presidential debate, Ross Perot’s running mate James Stockdale famously asked, “Who am I? Why am I here? The line got a laugh because Stockdale was relatively unknown among voters. But those questions are at the core of what a politician must answer (not to mention being an existential question that confounds us all). In this shortened, unique campaign, it was our current vice president’s challenge to explain to America who she is, why she’s here, and most important, how she’s like us. As the longtime political analyst Jeff Greenfield explains in Politico, Kamala Harris understood the assignment. “What Harris did in her acceptance speech was to tell her story and make clear she’s squarely within the American mainstream. What she told the public was essentially, I am not different from you; I come from the same roots as you do; my life is like yours. In fact, her speech was cut from the same cloth as three very different past nominees who recounted the importance of family and overcoming adversity — all of whom went on to win the presidency.” Here’s the full speech.
Introducing herself and relating her life to the broader American story was the key to connecting with undecided voters. I’d argue the message of the entire DNC week to diehard Democrats was very different. In addition to advising the faithful to turn the page on Trump, the combined speeches of many top Democrats, including the Obamas, along with the very presence of so many GOP speakers, spoke to the silent majority of Democrats who are tired of cancel culture, trigger warnings, and social media hurt-feelings outrage, and who are hungry for a stronger political response to the slings and arrows of Trumpism—one that includes a full embrace of patriotism and the flag. As she concluded her speech, Harris explained: “It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done, guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth: the privilege and pride of being an American. So let’s get out there, let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there, let’s vote for it, and together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told.” It marked an unleashing of a pent up desire to love our country, one that was evident all week. It was frankly refreshing to see Democrats celebrating our veterans, honoring our flag, openly expressing patriotism, welcoming people with different views, and chanting USA, USA. It’s a stark reversal from our recent politics and a reminder of who we are and what we’re doing here. It’s a simple and powerful message: This election can only be a blue wave if it’s a red, white, and blue wave.
+ One of the most impactful elements of the DNC was the daily presence of Republican leaders who have had the guts to put country over party. This is not an ordinary election and Trump is not an ordinary opponent. No one has been more courageous in that fight than Adam Kinzinger who was rightly given a prime time slot on Thursday night. “Donald Trump is a weak man pretending to be strong. He is a small man pretending to be big. He’s a faithless man pretending to be righteous. He’s a perpetrator who can’t stop playing the victim. He puts on quite a show, but there is no real strength there.” (The saddest part of this pathetic political movement is that just about every one of Trump’s enablers agrees wholeheartedly with this assessment.)
+ Women’s reproductive rights was center stage all week, and was being openly discussed by women and men in a way I’ve never seen on a major political stage. Harris summed up the Project 2025 plans if Trump wins: “Simply put, they are out of their minds.” In one his many rambling responses to the Harris speech, Donald Trump posted, “My adminstration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” (I guess he figures if he can’t beat Kamala, maybe he can beat The Onion.)
+ During the buildup to the final speech of the week, the online buzz was all about a rumored Beyonce performance at the event. Alas, it wasn’t to Bey. (Donald, they didn’t use Beyonce last night because they’re saving her for a much, much bigger venue.)
+ Meanwhile, in today’s least surprising news, RFK Jr. endorses Trump and drops out of presidential election. There’s no vaccine for bad choices. (Kamala should have a campaign rally at his house with his relatives.)
