The Democrats talked about the future. But at the end of the evening, they did what they have done so many times before: They listened to former President Barack Obama.
On the second day of the Democratic National Convention, a number of notable figures took the stage, including keynote speaker Obama, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Delegates also ceremoniously nominated Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party.
The Obamas, now older figures in the party, tried to teach lessons to the fascinated audience.
Michelle Obama pointed out that Harris and vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are not perfect and make mistakes, and that listeners should make changes themselves. At the height of her speech, the audience chanted with her as she urged them to “do something.”
Barack Obama focused his speech — aside from a few jokes about Walz’s fashion sense and former President Donald Trump’s love of crowds — on getting people to treat each other with respect. Americans, he said, want to “return to an America where we work together and look out for each other.” Like Michelle Obama, he concluded his speech with a call to action: “Let’s get to work.”
Throughout the convention, Democrats have rhetorically claimed, on and off the stage, to make progress for the future, contrasting what they see as the Republicans’ regressive agenda.
“They’re trying to take us back,” Connor Curran, an alternate delegate from Maryland, told The Daily, repeating a common refrain of the evening: “We’re not going back.”
Curran, a rising senior at the University of Baltimore, emphasized the role of youth in creating a new generation of party leaders.
Throughout the night, the DNC distributed signs reflecting the party’s message.
The party repeated this message. The DNC distributed signs to the convention audience that read “For Our Future.”
“Excitement, joy, energy, unity among young people, of all generations,” said Christine Warnke, a delegate from the District of Columbia, and Catherine Hand, a film producer and conference attendee, as they discussed Harris’ candidacy. “She will move the entire youth movement forward.”
The ceremonial nomination vote for Harris had the spirit of a high school homecoming rally: back-and-forth chants, strobe lights, and a DJ in an all-blue suit. One delegation (Wisconsin) wore matching cheese hats. The nomination outcome was already decided before the convention began, when Harris and Walz were officially nominated in a virtual vote earlier this month.
As on the first day, there were no significant protests that disrupted the convention. Small groups of demonstrators stood on the east side of the United Center, where delegates could enter through the gates, hoping to attract attention.
The demonstrations addressed a variety of issues, including the war in Israel and Palestine, animal testing, Supreme Court reform and the rights of people with disabilities.
“Some listen. Many don’t listen. They just walk by,” said Kim Durkee, who was demonstrating with TruthPharm on drug use. She expressed no disappointment at the overall lack of response from delegates.
“It’s always a success when you can connect with someone. It could be just one person, but it could be many,” Durkee said.
E-mail: (email protected)
Related Posts:
— DNC Day 1: Democrats celebrate and attack Trump as protesters march outside
— Judge issues interim injunction against ban on election manipulation
— Organizers aim to increase voter turnout in November after Evanston’s primary fell below 18%
