Political Convention Recap
The political conventions are always some of the most important events leading up to the presidential election. With the Coronavirus Pandemic; however, this year’s Democratic and Republican conventions have flown under the radar in a way, as both sides of the aisle have been forced to make their pitch to America in an entirely virtual format. The Dems were the first to make their case two weeks ago with speakers from varying ends of the political spectrum advocating for the election of former vice president Joe Biden. Perhaps the most scathing indictments of the president came from former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama. The former president did not mince words when it came to attacking the president, accusing Trump of not taking the job seriously, and for being a threat to our democracy.
The former First Lady argued that Trump’s handling of the Coronavirus ended up costing America thousands of lives. The convention concluded with a speech made by Joe Biden himself. In a nearly 25-minute-long speech, Biden advocated for the repair of the soul of the country, insisting that the president’s rhetoric while in office has caused divisions that will be difficult to repair if he is granted a second term. Many critics argued that it was the best speech of Biden’s political career, while many Republicans say that Biden still has not been forced to speak off the cuff, and that the upcoming presidential debates will be a true test of Biden’s capacity to lead.
Then, it was the Republicans’ turn to sell America on their vision for the country moving forward. One notable speaker on night one was South Carolina senator Tim Scott. Scott, the only African American representing the GOP in the senate, delivered a powerful anecdote of when he dropped out of the ninth grade, but got his life together and won an election in a predominately white district in the state. Scott argued that the Trump economy has been extremely inclusive to minority communities, and that America’s best days are still to come. As the convention progressed, member after member of the Trump family set the stage for the president’s major speech. During his address, President Trump touted his strong economy prior to the pandemic, and argued that fears of further rioting and looting under a potential Biden administration are valid. Many argued that it was a long and boring speech, while others said that the president did what he needed to do.
One takeaway I noticed after watching both of the conventions is simply how unconventional both parties treated their respective ceremonies. The Republicans, traditionally seen as the party for older Americans, devoted much of their convention towards younger voters. From student activist Charlie Kirk, to 25-year-old NC House candidate Madison Cawthorn, to activist Nick Sandmann, the GOP catered much of their convention towards cultural grievances they believe are facing young conservatives in college and in the workplace related to suppression of free speech and open debate. They even decided to forego creating a 2020 platform, instead focusing on these social and cultural issues as a central theme of the convention. The Democrats, on the other hand, typically known as the party of younger voters, made direct appeals to older Americans by having former presidents Carter, Clinton, and Obama speak in support of Biden. This, coupled with Biden’s message of a presidential return to normalcy, resonates with older Americans who may be looking for a return to the old days of, in the eyes of the Dems, presidents who value dignity and truth, and who shy away from controversy. Overall, it will be interesting to see if trends change as each party tries to win over voters they typically struggle to attract.
Riley Dulin - News Editor