Democrats launch first virtual convention
Democrats made history Monday night as they kicked off the nation’s first ever mostly virtual political convention. What had originally been intended to be a large gathering of delegates and party luminaries from across the nation to formally nominate Joe Biden to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket was re-shaped due to the coronavirus pandemic into an event that, while highly polished and full of emotionally charged speeches, at times looked more like a charity telethon than a national party convention.
The first of four nights of the 2020 Democratic National Convention was moderated by actress and activist Eva Longoria, who introduced a diverse group of speakers — including many of the former vice president’s opponents for the nomination — and their pre-recorded messages of support for Biden.
The first part of the evening was largely dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement and featured remarks from and a moment of silence led by the brothers of George Floyd, the African-american man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police earlier this year and whose murder sparked a wave of national outrage that continues to this day.
Prominent Republicans including former Ohio governor John Kasich and former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman urged members of their own party to vote for Biden over Trump for the good of the country.
But undoubtedly the two most important speeches of the night were given by Biden’s former presidential rival Bernie Sanders and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Sanders implored his supporters to show up at the polls and vote for Biden.
Warning that the future of our democracy, our economy, and even our planet is it stake, Sanders said, “We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.”
As she did at the 2016 Democratic national convention, the party’s beloved Michelle Obama delivered a stirring speech of unity and a call to action among voters, this time taking the unusual step of directly and sharply criticizing the sitting president.
“Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” The former first lady said. “He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.”
The convention will continue through Thursday night, when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president and vice president of the United States. (La Semana)