Bounce in their step
Why the Americans do political conventions unlike any other,
It is a predictable four-year ritual for Canadian pundits to sneer at the glitz, showmanship and substance-free style of American political conventions. Those sneerers merely reveal their ignorance of cultural differences.
First, U.S. conventions on television are the tip of a political iceberg. Each day, there are more than100 caucuses, off-site speeches and parties, parties, parties. Having sacrificed my liver in the interests of political education on more than 10 occasions as a “foreign guest” of both Republican and Democratic conventions, I can attest that they are a powerful and effective political tool.
Yes, we would not feel comfortable being used as a TV audience for four hours for four nights at our conventions. And yes, the glitz and hyperbole and the comedians and stars seem over the top to Canadian sensibilities. We are not Americans.
When U.S. visitors sag wearily at our less showbizzy conventions, and roll their eyes at our captivating two-hour constitutional debates, we should perhaps honour, not sneer, at our cultural differences. Our respect for those differences are an important glue in our friendship.
If you sat in New York when Mario Cuomo gave his “city on the hill” speech. Or saw the unknown state senator from Illinois electrify the 2004 convention in Philadelphia, watched in horror by Hillary Clinton only a few feet away. Or sat slack-jawed in 2008 as Obama in Denver captivated more than 50,000 souls, who had waited not less than three hours frying in 30 C-plus heat in a massive stadium — you’d have respect for the political power and impact of American political showmanship.
Common to both our convention cultures is bonding — activists who never get to see each other except at these occasions will drink, eat and . . . spend the night together. Sometimes in ways that form the bonds of party solidarity, sometimes generating the next generation of convention partiers. Alliances are struck, political partnerships are formed. Political wounds are healed over a final 4 a.m. toast in a garbage-strewn empty hospitality suite.
Political parties have a hard time today winning a share of their activists’ time and enthusiasm. They compete with Pokemon, Snapchat and preening sports stars for attention. It’s partly their fault, they have become too elitist, too exclusive . . . and worst of all, too boring to a new generation.
Would any Canadian political convention director have had the guts to risk potty-mouthed Sarah Silverman and Sen. Al Franken do a comedy routine on opening night? Or risk having a cerebral palsy speaker not become a lightning rod for exploitation criticism? Candidly, no. As a result, Canadian political conventions get embarrassing TV ratings. The best nights for U.S. conventions are at the level of Super Bowl audiences.
This is not about showbiz, it is about political mobilization. No one can dispute their approach is more effective than ours. Behind the scenes they do the private interpersonal work of party building. In public they do the work of introducing their voters to their choices in a compelling and high impact manner. Proof? Each party typically gets a 3-to-6-per cent boost in popularity following their nights of celebration. Ours never do.
So the next time someone sneers at the “shallow American glitz” of U.S. political conventions, you might mildly point them to YouTube highlight reels: Goldwater’s 1964 “Extremism is no Vice!” speech, Jesse Jackson’s bitter concession speech, Bill Clinton’s stage stealing speech in 2008, and a dozen others.
This year, turn to the DNC’s “Studio 2016” on your smartphone to see not only a live stream of the entire convention, but dozens of side alleys to interviews, profile and commentary provided by a huge team of digital production experts. Then be in awe of the ability of America’s political professionals to meld star power, technology and political organization in a way no other democracy can do.
If you need further proof about impact, look up Cory Booker, as the networks split the screen to show the oratorical political star of his generation, Bill Clinton, stare at first skeptically and then with smiling interest, and finally with ecstatic pleasure at Booker’s barnburner. See Michelle Obama deliver a speech so stunning it will be studied for years. Elizabeth Warren’s forensic evisceration of America’s Berlusconi. And Bernie Sanders’ demonstration of genuine political grace in rallying his heartbroken supporters to his enemy.
Imagine the young voter in rural Mississippi or a Newark slum moved by such oratory, seeing for the first time, possibility and promise and potential. Then accept that yes, U.S. conventions are very American.
But no, they are not shallow. They are a key pillar of their democracy.
No one can dispute Americans’ glitzy approach to politics is more effective than ours. Behind the scenes they do the private work of party building