By Jim Downard
Almost 100 years ago, American treasure Will Rogers said he didn’t belong to an organized political party. He was a Democrat.
Well, we’re getting to see the splendid and inspiring disorganization of the Democrats convening in Philadelphia; such a contrast to the ham-handed Donald Trumpfest, which concluded in Cleveland in gold-plated ego and pirated eloquence.
Oh there was some rancor to begin with, as grumpy cat Bernie or Busters booed every time Hillary’s name was mentioned, as grumbles of WikiLeaks email scandals sank the DNC chair as the first gavel was pounded.
But a good dose of Al Franken (Saturday Night Live alumnus turned eminently serious & inspiring Senator, and a Hillary supporter) and Sarah Silverman (sharp tongued comedienne, and Bernie supporter) coming together to act as opening act for Paul Simon (whose voice appeared to be on early retirement).
And then Michelle Obama spoke.
Whether the Trump camp were taking notes for yet more plagiarism-is unclear, but there was plenty copy-worthy to go around, as that most admirable First Lady reminded us of what really matters when we step up every four years to vote for president, and how the choices we make set the course for years to come, ideally to inspire and protect our youth, not frighten or betray them.
A tough act to follow.
But followed it was, by Senator Elizabeth Warren with as sharp a filleting of blowhard Trump as one could want, leading up to the critical speech by Bernie Sanders himself, who offered a gracious reflection on what his campaign had accomplished and why the next step was to not roll up into a ball and fail to carry the task through in November.
The stakes are rather too high.
Many people will have to think through what they believe, what they stand for, and to think most seriously about how that is to be accomplished this fall.
I think of Anastasia Somoza, a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy, who got a most deserved standing ovation after her short speech earlier in the evening. Let us hope the decisions people make in November will contribute to an American future for her and so many others that will be brighter, not dimmer.
