FORUM Stark differences between the two conventions

In the era of Donald Trump, the differences between the GOP and Democratic Party have actually narrowed on certain issues. Both are protectionist, opposed to entitlement reform, respectful of gay rights, antiWall Street and derelict in defense of human rights. However, the conventions themselves could not be more different, reflecting stark contrasts in the mood and tone of the two parties.

If we had a word cloud, the Republican National Convention would have in largest print words such as “humiliated,” “murder,” “illegal immigrants” and, of course, “Lock her up.” The prevailing mood was anger with a splash of resentment. The Democrats, on the other hand, stressed “together,” “united,” “proud” and “fellow Americans.” After a shaky start thanks to Russian hackers and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , D-Florida, the proceedings were at times lighthearted, at others heartfelt. It was, however, never meanspirited, vengeful or downright scary. The same cannot be said of the Cleveland convention.

Just as striking, the Democrats — to the bemusement of many conservatives — now love America unabashedly. As Michelle Obama put it, “So, look, so don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on Earth!” In Trump’s telling, however, America “never wins anymore” and is fraught with violence and the menace of illegal immigrants who will murder your children and steal your jobs. This year it is the Democrats who embody optimism, patriotism and love of country (which, as Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey pointed out, is hard to maintain unless you love the people in the country — all your fellow Americans). Trump wants to go back to some bygone era; the Democrats are at least looking forward.

In addition, Democrats did a superb job of painting (accurately, we would say) Trump — and hence his party — as the mean, predatory party. Between the disabled woman taking issue with Trump’s mockery and the war widow telling how she was scammed by Trump University, Democrats made a strong case that Trump and his ilk are the problem, not the solution to what ails us. Although her speech was not well delivered, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, certainly nailed it when she declared:

“His whole life has been about taking advantage of that rigged system. Time after time, he preyed on working people, people in debt, people who had fallen on hard times. He’s conned them, he’s defrauded them, and he’s ripped them off . . .

“Donald Trump goes on and on and on about being a successful businessman, but he filed for business bankruptcy six times, always to protect his own money and stick the investors and contractors with the bill. Donald Trump hired plumbers and painters and construction workers to do hard labor for his businesses and then he told them to take only a fraction of what he owed or fight his lawyers in court for years. So what kind of a man acts like this? What kind of a man roots for an economic crash that caused millions of people their jobs, their homes, their life savings? What kind of a man cheats students, cheats investors, cheats workers? I’ll tell you what kind of a man — a man who must never be president of the United States.”

Um, she has a point, right? In other words, the Democrats are killing it in the “cares about people like you” department.

Finally, Democrats know how to put on a really good show. Big-name comics and musicians (granted, Paul Simon is a bit long in the tooth) and their full array of political talent populated the Philadelphia lineup, making the Republican show look seedy and second-rate. Trump chased away the rising GOP stars (many of whom reflect increased diversity in the GOP) and instead populated the lineup with his own privileged children, victims of illegal immigrants and littleknown bit actors. The Democrats once again excel in the medium of popular culture. They do “look like America.” Alas, Republicans have become exactly what their critics claim — the party of white, rich, angry men from rural America. Sad!