The goal is to build a country where workers come first, says Walz, Harris’ running mate
▲ A look at the third day of the Democratic National Convention, held at the United Center in Chicago.Afp Photo
David Brooks and Jim Cason
Correspondents
The newspaper La Jornada
Thursday, August 22, 2024, p. 28
Chicago. It was the night of Governor Tim Walz, the newly crowned vice presidential candidate, on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, which swung between the nostalgia represented by former President Bill Clinton and visions of a multiethnic and cultural future that presidential candidate Kamala Harris is in some ways championing.
Gay rights, women’s rights, and other civil rights and liberties were some of the main themes, all accompanied by one of Harris’ campaign slogans: we will not back down. Again and again, the threat to all civil liberties posed by Donald Trump and the urgency of stopping his far-right agenda were raised.
These conventions are largely devoted to telling the stories of the presidential candidate, and last night, her runner-up, vice presidential candidate Walz, did so in a simple way to reach voters. Last night, he traced the trajectory of Walz’s life, from growing up in a rural town, joining the military, then becoming a public high school social studies teacher and football coach before being elected to the House from a conservative district to becoming the governor of Minnesota.
I fell in love with teachingWalz said in telling his story, and of when he decided to be an inexperienced politician who managed to win, he warned: Never underestimate a public education teacherShe stressed that her priorities in this campaign include protecting unions, providing access to health care, defending the right to abortion and imposing controls on assault weapons. Kamala Harris is strong. Kamala Harris has the experience. Kamala Harris is ready. Our job, for everyone here and those watching, is to get in the trenches and get to work.he emphasized.
The goal, he said, is Build a country where workers come first, where health and housing are human rights, and where the government stays out of your bedroomHis biography of ordinary people, his simple rhetoric and his defense of the decency are part of what makes him an effective politician in this situation, and that lit up the convention last night.
Shortly before Walz, former President Clinton stated: If you vote for this team, if you can get them elected, you’ll let some fresh air in, and you’ll be proud for the rest of your life, your kids will be proud, your grandkids will be proud.He added: “Hear it from someone who was once called ‘the man of Hope (hope, the name of the town where he was raised).’ We need Kamala Harris as the president of joy.”
Yesterday, a section on immigration was included, starting with Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso, who said that Donald Trump does not know life on the border. Harris appeared by video to repeat her story of how she went after drug traffickers, how she closed tunnels on the border and how she promoted bipartisan legislation for the dividing line negotiated between Democrats and Republicans, but was stopped by orders from Trump to the Republican caucus.
Among the speakers were governors of Michigan and Pennsylvania, among others considered key because they will define the final result of the national election. But Republican dissidents also attended the convention, including former Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, and other politicians who now support Harris, disenchanted with the tycoon’s policies.
The surprise star of the night was Oprah Winfrey, one of the most popular and influential African-American celebrities in this country. We have to choose common sense over nonsensehe said, referring to the decision between Harris and Trump.
Indeed, it was a notable contrast to the Republican Convention, which did not invite George W. Bush or anyone from his administration (all of whom refuse to endorse Trump in public), while here it featured the presence of two former presidents – Bill Clinton last night, Barack Obama on Tuesday – plus a message from the third, Jimmy Carter, who, at 100, says he wants to live until the election to cast his vote for Harris (and against Trump).
Party for the delegates
Over the course of three days, the Democratic Party has managed to create a party for the delegates at a meeting where everyone already knew the outcome. Legendary musician Stevie Wonder was undoubtedly one of the party’s brightest stars; he gave a lyrical speech and ended with his song Higher GroundOther musicians included John Legend and country star Maren Morris, who brought their beats to the crowd. But perhaps the most imaginative use of music was the introduction of the state delegations with songs related to each state. Michigan did so with an Eminem song, California with a Tupac Shakur song, and the most popular was rapper Lil Jon performing live to introduce his state, Georgia.
But not everyone shared the ode to joy. Delegates calling on Harris to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to suspend arms shipments to Israel forced their discontent to be registered by not voting in favor of the candidate’s nomination in symbolic protest, and every day they held sessions with the media where, for example, doctors reported on the consequences of the American bombs that Israel drops on Gaza every day.
Small groups of activists such as Código Rosa have managed to briefly interrupt the programme and other events parallel to this convention, by dropping banners or shouting slogans. Stop killing women. Stop killing children.activists chanted at a campaign rally with Walz, while others interrupted a live interview with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Stephen Colbert. At hotels where delegates and other guests are staying, several activists walked around in orange T-shirts with slogans: Israel kills children. American taxes pay for itIn a park just a few blocks from the security perimeter around the convention arena, Palestinian flags wave with hundreds of protesters, ensuring their cries of protest are heard on the outskirts of this political spectacle.
In fact, opposition from within and outside the party has forced the issue of Palestine to be addressed within the convention, and every night – though not always at peak time – at least one speaker does so. For example, yesterday it was Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s turn to affirm that Harris and Walz They are listening, they agree with uson the urgency of a ceasefire.
Minutes later, the parents of an American held hostage by Hamas in Gaza recounted their suffering to a chorus of: bring them back homeBut last night no one spoke of the suffering of the parents of the thousands of children killed by US bombs in Gaza.