The Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday in Philadelphia with temperatures in the mid-90s (approximately 20 degrees higher than the point Seattleites start complaining about the heat).
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It would be another move toward unity from the primary runner-up, coming amid continued protests from supporters of the Vermont senator still upset that Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. It set the stage for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, another Clinton foe who has come around to supporting her, to wield a hatchet (compared to the scalpel Michelle Obama used) to disembowel the Trump persona with ill-disguised contempt. She called him a cheat, a narcissist, a financial parasite preying on the poor who has no real ideas and who wants to turn America in a land of fear and hate.
Like many other Sanders fans, California delegate Bernadette Gomez became emotional during Sanders’ address, and she held a sign that changed Clinton’s “Stronger Together” motto to say “Stop her”. It can also be one of the party’s most prominent leaders – at the 2012 convention, former President Bill Clinton formally renominated President Obama.
Because of Hillary, my daughters and all of our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be President of US.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is urging supporters to rally behind Hillary Clinton as the Democratic convention heats up in Philadelphia, but ardent followers seem intent on keeping his upstart campaign alive.
“His role should be, going forward, the top surrogate across the Rust Belt and anywhere else where Americans who have been left behind feel like Donald Trump is the answer to their prayers”, he said. “She stole the election!” someone else shouted.
Many of Sanders’ supporters weren’t appeased, and they jeered as speakers lauded Clinton.
The first day of the convention Monday increased the possibility that Democrats might fail to take advantage of last week’s fractious Republican convention by having trouble uniting at their own get-together.
“Even Bernie stepped in to tell his supporters to calm down – after a year of telling them to revolt”.
“Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays”. That’s what the corporate media wants. “It’ll be fine”, said Marty Dunleavy, who helped coordinate the Sanders campaign in CT. Several speakers pleaded for peace between the factions.
Sanders stunned the political world when his campaign, which began as a fringe effort by a self-described democratic socialist, earned broad grassroots support and gave Clinton a run for her money.
She then declared: “I’m with Hillary”.
“We’re like a bridge over troubled water”, he said, and they went on to introduce singer Paul Simon.
“Bernie reminds us what Democrats fight for every day”.
Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she would resign from her post at the Democratic National Committee after the convention. “While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths”, he told his cheering supporters.
“That clearly was the line that differentiates us from them”, Landrieu said.
The “Love Trumps Hate” signs and the “Clinton/Kaine” signs were almost outnumbered by the “No TPP” signs being furiously waved by delegates, signs that may just as easily have been proudly displayed by delegates at the Republican convention last week.
“He persuaded no one to vote for Hillary”, said Greg Gregg, a retired 69-year-old nurse from Salem, Oregon. He said the protesters at the convention had a right to stay.
“This Democratic primary was exemplary”, Ms Silverman said.
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The cache of leaked emails disclosed that DNC officials explored ways to undercut Sanders’ insurgent presidential campaign, including raising questions about whether Sanders, who is Jewish, was an atheist.
