Objectively, if prediction websites might be trusted in any method (maybe extra so than biased polls), the final 4 days of speeches, musical performances, and delegate celebrations have been a ‘failure’ of types for the Democratic Occasion as throughout the DNC, Kamala Harris odds of success in November dropped whereas Trump’s improved (although we notice the incumbent VP stays a favourite)…
Supply: Bloomberg
Maybe, ‘we the folks’ realized that the purpose of the entire week was for get together lawmakers, group leaders, previous presidents, and cultural figures to persuade People that Kamala Harris will not be Joe Biden… and has not been in The White Home for the final almost-four-years… is the not the lowest-approval-rated VP in historical past… and isn’t in any method accountable, or tied to any of the insurance policies that left the overwhelming majority of People questioning the path of the nation only a week or two earlier than the mainstream media anointed her ‘Mamala’
Most directed pointed assaults at former President Donald Trump, tying his candidacy and marketing campaign to the controversial Undertaking 2025, which Trump has disavowed, whereas illustrating variations between a possible second Trump time period and a Harris White Home.
Whereas gentle on particular home and international coverage discussions, the conference highlighted the Democratic Occasion’s dedication to making sure abortion entry after the 2022 Dobbs choice overthrew Roe v. Wade.
For 4 straight days, protesters rallied within the streets towards the Biden/Harris administration’s assist for Israel throughout the Israel–Hamas warfare, pushing for a Palestinian speaker on the Chicago conference.
As Jacob Burg and Nathan Worcester element under by way of The Epoch Instances, listed below are the important thing takeaways from the 2024 Democratic Nationwide Conference.
Large Evening for Harris
After securing sufficient delegate assist to turn out to be the get together’s presidential nominee earlier this month, the conference served as a coronation ceremony for Harris and her working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
#1 – Bernie Sanders calls out the DNC to its face.
“Billionaires in each events shouldn’t be capable of purchase elections, INCLUDING main elections.”
what he’s speaking about. pic.twitter.com/nnoLp2XMiA
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
With a bit greater than 70 days remaining within the election, Harris is shifting quick to outline herself, her platform, and her imaginative and prescient for America.
Talking about her household and their influence on her life, she mentioned it was those that cherished and believed in her essentially the most that “advised us we may very well be something and do something.”
In her acceptance speech, Harris described her dad and mom assembly at a civil rights gathering and attorneys like Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley, who impressed her to turn out to be a lawyer. When Harris’ finest buddy revealed sexual abuse by a mum or dad, Harris got down to be a prosecutor.
“And each day within the courtroom, I stood proudly earlier than a choose, and I mentioned 5 phrases, ‘Kamala Harris, for the folks.’”
She added, “And to be clear, my total profession. I’ve solely had one consumer, the folks.”
“On behalf of the folks, on behalf of each American, no matter get together, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks … I settle for your nomination to be president of america of America,” Harris mentioned.
In a coalition-building effort as her marketing campaign inches nearer to election day, Harris vowed to unite a divided nation.
“Our nation, with this election, has a treasured, fleeting alternative to maneuver previous the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the previous, an opportunity to chart a brand new method ahead. Not as members of anyone get together or faction, however as People.”
#12 – New Jersey had a person dressed up as a girl announce the delegates. He then forgets what he desires to say as he will get caught up in his pronouns and TDS 🤣
Credit score: @libsoftiktok pic.twitter.com/DglxdERmK8
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
3 Presidents Converse
The conference featured speeches from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and former President Invoice Clinton.
A lot of Monday night was devoted to Biden, with a number of audio system emphasizing their appreciation for the president as delegates and attendees waived indicators emblazoning the phrase, “Thanks, Joe.”
Amid chants of “We love Joe,” Biden took the stage Monday night time to ceremoniously move the torch to Harris after he withdrew from the presidential race on July 21 and endorsed her as his successor.
“The traditional Greeks taught us that character is future,” Biden mentioned, “choosing Kamala … was the very best choice I made my entire profession.”
#20 – Joe Biden battles the teleprompter and loses.
“Girls are actually with out electrical… not allowed, excuse me, not with out electoral (lengthy pause) or political energy.”
(Biden provides up) pic.twitter.com/ArijOYDxsW
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
Obama and Clinton spoke on Tuesday, with the Chicago native and first black president championing Biden, his former second-in-command.
“Trying again, I can say with out query that my first huge choice as your nominee turned out to be one in all my finest. And that was asking Joe Biden to serve by my facet as vp,” Obama mentioned.
Clinton additionally lauded Biden, saying he “did one thing that’s actually arduous for a politician to do. He voluntarily gave up political energy.”
#9 – CNN panelist brazenly questions how Invoice Clinton can “make these sort of phases” when the American folks “know plenty of different issues about” him.
“I’m wondering concerning the youthful viewers and the way they view anyone like Invoice Clinton at the moment as a result of he isn’t a blue-collar hero to… pic.twitter.com/82PTosB8D2
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
Harris, he added, is dedicated to public service, quoting the road she mentioned whereas working at McDonald’s as a teen, “How can I aid you?”
Apart from Trump, there is just one different dwelling previous Republican commander-in-chief, former President George W. Bush. Bush didn’t communicate on the Republican Nationwide Conference this yr.
Abortion Takes Middle Stage
After the Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 with the Dobbs choice, the Democratic Occasion has sought to make abortion a main focus of its campaigning efforts, with states like Florida trying to move poll initiatives this yr to ensure entry to the process.
The conference was no completely different. EMILY’s Listing, a corporation that works to elect pro-abortion Democrats to political places of work, despatched their president to talk on Wednesday night time. Deliberate Parenthood arrange a cellular clinic close to the conference, offering free vasectomies, medicine abortions, and emergency contraception by appointment.
On Monday, Hadley Duvall advised her story about getting pregnant at age 12 after her stepfather sexually abused her. She mentioned she miscarried the newborn and criticized Trump and Republicans for supporting abortion bans, saying, “What’s so stunning a few little one having to hold her mum or dad’s little one?”
A professional-life Democrat group, Democrats for Lifetime of Florida, criticized the get together for supporting abortion.
“Incest, a non-viable fetus, and a bodily risk to the mom’s well being are a part of lower than 10 % of abortions involving dire circumstances,” they wrote in a submit on X.
Democrats, together with Walz, have argued that Trump would assist a federal abortion ban if elected. Talking with Fox Information on Thursday, Trump mentioned he wouldn’t assist a federal ban however didn’t omit state-level prohibitions.
“That is now again within the states the place it belongs,” Trump mentioned.
Undertaking 2025
Democrats additionally sought to hyperlink the Heritage Basis’s Undertaking 2025 to Trump. The 900-plus-page mission was written as a proposed coverage guidebook for a future Republican president.
A number of audio system throughout the conference used a full-size hardcover version of the plan as a prop, together with Saturday Evening Dwell star Kenan Thompson on Wednesday and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) on Thursday.
Thompson used the mission for a skit the place he fielded calls from People and mentioned methods its proposals might have an effect on their lives. Crow criticized the guide instantly, together with its plans to implement widespread firings throughout a number of authorities companies to exchange current bureaucrats with ones believed to be much less dedicated to insurance policies that Republicans view as progressive.
In an interview with “Fox & Mates” on Thursday, Trump pushed again at Democrats for linking the mission to his marketing campaign.
“They know I’ve nothing to do with it. I had no thought what it was,” Trump mentioned.
Democrats have contended that his marketing campaign is extra intently aligned to the mission than he suggests. Some, together with Walz, have identified that Trump’s working mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), wrote the foreword to an upcoming primer on the mission by Heritage Basis President Kevin D. Roberts. Paul Dans, director for Undertaking 2025, is a former Trump administration official. He resigned from the Heritage Basis in July.
The guide’s publication date – initially slated for a September launch – has been postponed till Nov. 12, every week after the presidential election.
#17 – CNN obliterates the DNC’s fearmongering hoax about Donald Trump and Undertaking 2025 with a devastating reality examine.
Credit score: @TrumpWarRoompic.twitter.com/Jt5jT4OqF5
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
Professional-Palestinian Protests
Protesters outdoors the conference primarily centered on the Israel-Hamas warfare, calling for a cease-fire and a halt to U.S. support to Israel. Whereas principally peaceable, protests turned violent on Tuesday night, with clashes with police outdoors the Israeli consulate.
Monday’s march from Union Park towards the United Middle included a breach of fencing between a park and, throughout a number of parking heaps, the sector the place nationwide Democrats had gathered.
Tuesday’s protests outdoors the Israeli consulate turned chaotic as demonstrators clashed with legislation enforcement, resulting in dozens of arrests, together with of many out-of-towners and a number of journalists. Throughout some protests, demonstrators celebrated “intifada.”
#19 – Kamala preaches: “It’s outdated, incorrect, and backward to suppose extra police creates extra security.”
In the meantime, her conference appears like this:
Credit score: @EndWokeness / @ChoeShowpic.twitter.com/YGLYwbP0ZX
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
What unfolded on Wednesday and Thursday proved a lot calmer.
The protest on the ultimate night time of the DNC had some incidents, like some flag burning below the Lake Road Inexperienced Line, and a confrontational man waving a black flag together with his face obscured. No arrests have been witnessed by The Epoch Instances or different media.
As conventioneers left the United Middle after Harris’s acceptance speech, they have been greeted by a combination of protesters. Some have been a part of the pro-Palestinian combine, whereas others have been anti-abortion progressives, alienated from a celebration more and more hostile to pro-life voices.
Celebrities Stump for Harris
Selling this yr’s conference have been quite a few celebrities and cultural figures, together with actors, former athletes, musicians, and comedians who spoke or carried out onstage for Harris.
Winfrey, in her speech on Wednesday night time, known as for independents and undecided voters to assist Harris.
#16 – Oprah Winfrey says “childless cat girl,” and CNN cuts to a random girl within the crowd who had no thought it was coming.
I didn’t know CNN was that savage! pic.twitter.com/4wNQJdsBdA
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 23, 2024
Delegates and attendees heard speeches from Golden State Warriors and Group USA Basketball coach Steve Kerr, actors Eva Longoria and Mindy Kaling, comedians D.L. Hughley and Thompson, and Ana Navarro.
Billy Porter, Patti LaBelle, Widespread, P!NK, Stevie Surprise, John Legend, and the Chicks carried out on the stage on the United Middle this week.
A number of celebrities, together with director Spike Lee, rapper Lil Jon, and actors Sean Astin, Wendell Pierce, and Longoria, joined their state delegations on Tuesday for the candidate roll name.
NBA star Steph Curry made a shock look by way of video on Thursday to endorse Harris.
However No Coverage Discussions
Together with her web site nonetheless missing a coverage platform, hypothesis continues over what Harris plans to do within the White Home.
Her marketing campaign rallies within the final 4 weeks have touched on insurance policies together with reproductive rights, gun management, housing affordability, middle-class tax cuts, and worth gouging bans.
Ameshia Cross, former Obama marketing campaign advisor, advised The Epoch Instances that Harris has a “very quick period of time” to stipulate her insurance policies and persuade voters to assist her.
Whereas gun management and abortion have been key matters all through the 2024 conference, few audio system mentioned international coverage till Panetta and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) made it a spotlight throughout their speeches on Thursday.
Panetta mentioned Harris “labored with President Zelenskyy to combat again towards Russia. She is aware of that defending their democracy protects our democracy as effectively.”
When Harris took the stage, she blamed Trump for the bipartisan border invoice’s failure and pledged to lastly signal it into legislation if elected president. Republicans blocked the invoice, saying it didn’t go far sufficient to safe the border.
“I’ll make it possible for we lead the world into the long run on house and synthetic intelligence, that America, not China, wins the competitors for the twenty first century, and that we strengthen not abdicate our international management,” Harris mentioned.
“As president, I’ll stand sturdy with Ukraine and our NATO allies.”
She additionally vowed to “take no matter motion is critical to defend our forces and our pursuits towards Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”
It is price noting that she accepted the nomination with out ever going through an unscripted company media interview – even with MSM leaning closely to the left, a transparent signal that the Democratic Occasion has little confidence in her capability to convey insurance policies that resonate with People in an unscripted method.
“I’ll convey collectively labor and staff and small enterprise house owners and entrepreneurs and American corporations to create jobs, to develop our financial system, and to decrease the price of on a regular basis wants like well being care and housing and groceries,” she mentioned.
She continued, “We are going to present entry to capital for small enterprise house owners and entrepreneurs and founders and shield Social Safety and Medicare.”
Then vowed to move a middle-class tax lower “that may profit greater than 100 million People,” move border safety laws, and safeguard abortion entry.
Nevertheless, low/mid-tier voters, drowning in insurmountable bank card debt, drained private financial savings, and struggling to place meals on the desk, purchase gasoline on the pump, pay energy payments, and shelter prices, are asking the place VP Harris has been for the final 3.5 years.
Concentrate on Trump
Democrats levied vital criticisms towards Trump throughout the conference, characterizing his insurance policies and people of the GOP as hateful and anti-freedom whereas pushing associations between him and Undertaking 2025 regardless of his marketing campaign’s efforts to distance itself from the plan’s originator, the Heritage Basis.
Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump walks alongside the U.S.–Mexico border south of Sierra Vista, Ariz., on Aug. 22, 2024. Rebecca Noble/Getty Photos
Former Secretary of Protection Leon Panetta chastised Trump’s “America First” international coverage platform, evaluating it to the isolationism touted by many conservatives previous to World Conflict II.
Trump has advocated for a “peace via energy” international coverage platform that features getting robust on China and ending the Russia-Ukraine warfare.
In discussions on abortion, audio system focused Trump for appointing the conservative-majority Supreme Court docket that overthrew Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Former Trump White Home press secretary Stephanie Grisham mentioned the U.S. Capitol breach spurred her to resign.
On Wednesday, criticizing the breach, retired Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell mentioned, “I had seen violence whereas serving in Iraq, however nothing … nothing ready me for Jan. 6.” Gonell accused Trump of inciting the occasions of that day, telling the viewers he nearly misplaced his life within the course of.
The previous president urged his supporters to arrange “peacefully and patriotically” after the preliminary conflict started.
Harris took goal at Trump in her speech, criticizing him for Jan. 6, the decision in his Manhattan legal trial, his floating the thought of closing the U.S. Division of Training, and the current Supreme Court docket ruling that offers presidents presumed immunity for official acts whereas in workplace.
As Harris was concluding her remarks, Trump took to his social platform TruthSocial, posting, “Why didn’t she do one thing concerning the issues of which she complains [as vice president]?”
Democrats who paid cash for tickets to the DNC Conference identify their favourite Kamala Harris coverage pic.twitter.com/OZasXZXxWo
— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) August 22, 2024
In the meantime, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) acknowledged that VP Harris has no cause, politically, to deviate from President Biden’s insurance policies – so buckle the heck up People as a result of extra reckless authorities spending and disastrous ‘inexperienced’ vitality insurance policies are probably coming down the pipe if she is elected.