DNC Live Updates: Speeches by Tim Walz, Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi
Barack and Michelle Obama caused a sensation at the Democratic Party Convention on Tuesday when they sharply criticized Donald Trump in two consecutive speeches and called on Americans to reject the Republican candidate once and for all.
Here are some insights from the second night of the DNC:
“Children with funny names”: 20 years after Barack Obama burst onto the political stage with his speech to the 2004 Democratic Convention, he now delivered the crowning conclusion. “This convention has always been very good for kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible,” Obama said. The 44th president made many references to his own campaigns – including the “Yes we can” chants that were once ubiquitous at Obama’s rallies and now return as “Yes she can.”
“Hope returns”: Few people have as much of a hold on the hearts and minds of the Democratic base as Michelle Obama, who was greeted with one of the loudest and longest applauses when she took the stage in her hometown. “Hope is returning,” she said of Harris’ candidacy, echoing the motto of her husband’s 2008 presidential bid. “My friend Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” she said. “She is one of the most qualified people to ever seek the presidency, and she is one of the most dignified.”
Warnings about “stupidity”: Michelle Obama urged the audience not to lose sight of the goal. She urged Democrats not to commit the “foolishness” of waiting to be called upon to act and made a personal appeal to everyone to “do something” before Election Day. “Yes, Kamala and Tim are doing great right now. We love it. They’re filling stadiums across the country. People are energized. We feel good,” she said. “But remember that there are still so many people who desperately want a different outcome.”
Emhoff introduces “Momala”: The second gentleman tried to show America a personal side of his wife – he told stories about how they met and how she became “Momala” to his two children. But Emhoff’s speech was not just anecdotes. He also described Harris as tough. “That’s the thing about happy warriors: They’re still warriors. And Kamala is as tough as you can get,” he said.
GOP spokespeople speak out for Harris: Democrats didn’t just try to appeal to their own party. Throughout the night, former Republicans could be seen at the DNC urging independents and Trump critics to vote for Harris. They included Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, former Trump adviser Stephanie Grisham and Kyle Sweetser, a Nikki Haley supporter who plans to vote for Harris.
“Vice President Harris, Governor Walz”: The roll calls, a tradition of political conventions, were transformed into an hour-long prime-time mashup hosted by DJ Cassidy and featuring songs associated with each state. During this, state representatives gave speeches while casting their delegate votes. Some of the songs were chosen by musicians associated with their home states, including Eminem (Michigan), Prince (Minnesota), Bruce Springsteen (New Jersey), Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (New York) and Petey Pablo (North Carolina).
Georgia was the star of the show. Lil Jon opened the party with the rap “Turn Down for What.” Then, when the track to “Get Low” was played, Lil Jon changed the lyrics. “To the window, to the wall” became “VP Harris, Governor Walz.” At the end, the Democrats switched from the roll call to a live video of Harris and Walz taking the stage in Milwaukee, where they had held a rally earlier that evening.
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