GOP grasps at fear; Dems need to differ
Next up, we have the Democratic National Convention — unless the delegates are all home hiding under the bed, expecting the apocalyptic collapse of civilization any minute.
Which is to say, unless they watched the Republican National Convention.
Hope and change was the theme of Barack Obama’s nominating convention eight years ago. Fear and loathing was the theme of Donald Trump’s the past week. The challenge for Hillary Clinton is to address the frustration and anger that drive people to Trump but tackle those problems with strategies and ideas that are more humane, inclusive and — here’s the main thing — at least remotely doable.
That’s the hard part. Trump skipped it.
The early days of the GOP convention were a sequence of gaffes and oddities: A high-profile rally led by longtime Trump adviser and online wingnut conspiracy theorist Roger Stone; Ben Carson’s tortured logic linking Hillary Clinton to Lucifer. And of course the plagiarism: Melania Trump copying Michelle Obama; Rudy Giuliani copying that guy who screams “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
But Trump’s acceptance speech Thursday night was his most presidential to date — carefully scripted and powerfully delivered. His dark vision of this country has resonated with millions of voters, and this was a refined version of the stump speech that got him here.
The theme of the final night — what a wonderful person Trump is — was standard convention fare but was carried off particularly well. The biographical film was inspiring. Family and friends’ charming anecdotes evoked a brilliant, kind and ethical businessman and wonderful father.
What’s striking is its stark contrast with the Donald Trump we have actually witnessed — the purveyor of the Trump University scam, the debater whose strategy is to change the subject, attack the questioner and call people ugly names. No wonder “Little Marco” Rubio and the “loser” Bush family didn’t come to the convention. No wonder Ted Cruz, whose wife Trump ridiculed, didn’t endorse him.
Hillary Clinton has her own personality challenges, and she has yet to own up to the email scandal Republicans will ride through November. But she made a good, steady pick for vice president in Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.
The Democrats have now witnessed the best that Donald Trump can bring to this race. The coming week is their turn.
Clinton should not play the game by Trump’s rules. She should stay above name calling and stick to reality — not television show reality, but the facts that Trump ignores. She should show that she understands it’s not all about her; it’s about a team, getting people engaged and collaborating.
Trump raised the specter of an uninclusive, militarized America. We’re hoping for better.