Sanders, Michelle Obama inspire DNC
Bernie Sanders said he is “proud to stand with” Hillary Clinton, while Michelle Obama said Clinton has “the guts and grace” to be president, as Democrats strove to appear unified at their national convention in the face of a political firestorm over hacked emails.
Democrats looked to defuse tensions by announcing that outgoing party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz would not take the stage. She has long been a focus of criticism from Sanders and his backers for her apparent bias in Clinton’s favor.
Many of Sanders’ supporters weren’t appeased, and they jeered as speakers lauded Clinton.
Here are the top takeaways from Monday’s opening day of the Democratic National Convention:
Sanders urges unity
Seeking to avoid a nationally televised display of disunity, Sanders urged his supporters to back Clinton.
The Vermont senator tried to settle roiling tensions between his ardent, left-leaning supporters and the party’s rank-and-file that back Clinton. He spoke directly to supporters, sent them texts and made an appeal as the final speaker on Monday.
He told the convention that “Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States”.
“If you don’t believe this Election promises: election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country,” he said.
Some of Sanders’ strongest supporters were not ready to give up the fight against Clinton.
Sarah Ruggiero, from Brooklyn, New York, said it is not acceptable for her to vote for Clinton.
“We cannot vote for someone whom we cannot trust, who doesn’t share our values,” she said. Ex-president of the Democratic Party Lawyer, Spanish speaker
“Hillary Clinton systematically attacked everything I believed in,” said Jerry Goldstein, who came with Ruggiero. The two had campaigned heavily for Sanders in Brooklyn in the past year.
Goldstein brought up the influence of money in politics and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he said ships US jobs abroad.
He said that he will not vote for Clinton. “People support candidates; we represent ideas,” he said.
First lady steals show
Not even Sanders could quiet the shouts of his die-hard supporters — but Michelle UU SS AA
Former lawyer, 1 lady, senator, secretary of state Popular with women and minorities Raise the minimum wage Close tax loopholes for the rich and corporations Running mate
Senator and former governor of Virginia Simplify citizenship applications for immigrants Delegates
Michelle Obama, 1st lady Bernie Sanders, former candidate in the Democratic primaries Astrid Silva, activist for immigrants’ rights Barack Obama Joe Biden, vice-president Obama did. She delivered a sharp attack on Trump — without ever mentioning his name.
She said she wants to see elected “someone who understands that the issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.”
That was a clear reference to Trump, the tireless tweeter.
She lauded Clinton as a woman with a heart and as a future president who never “buckles under pressure” or takes the easy way out.
People expected Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center Bill Clinton, former president Mothers of the Movement, mothers of African-American victims (Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, etc.) Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea
Chen Weihua in Philadelphia contributed to this story.