PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — The first day of the Democratic National Convention was a tale of two parties. One party is corrupt beyond belief, and divided over ideology. The other party is united in its aspiration for a diverse, inclusive America.
The first party dominated the headlines for much of the day. Emails released by Wikileaks show that the Democratic National Committee conspired to help Hillary Clinton overcome the insurgent candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
That fueled large protests outside the Wells Fargo Arena, and constant booing from the convention floor. Any speaker who dared mention Hillary Clinton’s name — including First Lady Michelle Obama, and Sanders himself — was booed by Sanders’s supporters.
The second party dominated the evening program. Michelle Obama, in particular, drove the message home, telling her party: “When they go low, we go high.”
It was pure nonsense: Barack Obama has been one of the most divisive presidents in U.S. history, going so far as to accuse political critics of making “common cause” with America’s enemies. And while the First Lady mocked Trump (indirectly) for using Twitter, her husband proudly prances around the White House with a selfie stick.
But there is nothing so compelling to Democrats as the idea that their party exists to fight bigotry on the right. Democrats see themselves as an alliance of victims who must unite to fight the power of capital and the country’s innate prejudices.
It is more important, for Democrats, to let Muslims know they are accepted and let the “undocumented” believe they will be legalized than to deal with the problems of radical Islam and crimes by illegal aliens — at least in the crude terms Donald Trump uses.
Bernie Sanders closed the night by explaining to his supporters what Sen. Ted Cruz would not tell the Republican National Convention last week — that no matter how you might feel about the party’s nominee, defeat is too terrible a price to pay.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.