The second night of the Democratic National Convention was marked by stirring speeches from former First Lady Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, who energized the 20,000 delegates at Chicago’s United Center. Additionally, the evening featured former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi defending Israel’s position during a disruption by protesters at her interview with Stephen Colbert on CBS’s The Late Show.
The former First Lady criticized former President Donald Trump in a conversational, storytelling manner that was both compelling and inspiring without being offensive. The speech also highlighted a notable shift in the presidential race over the past month — Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the race appears to position her as the “change” candidate who embodies aspirations for the future, despite her administration being the current governing body in Washington.
Ms. Obama highlighted Mr. Trump’s preoccupation with revisiting disputes and grievances from his first term. However, his extensive political history undermines his ability to convincingly pledge a fresh direction for the country. A newer, less familiar candidate advocating change can be advantageous when the public is discontent. Lacking prior governance, such a candidate can embody the electorate’s aspirations, not having faced the challenge of fulfilling them yet.
“Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it?” former first lady said in her speech at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday. “A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for too long. You know what I’m talking about? It’s the contagious power of hope!” she said, adding: “America, hope is making a comeback.”
Ms. Obama highlighted that Vice President Harris has provided Democrats and the general electorate, who felt let down during Biden’s term, a renewed sense of optimism for a favorable change. While there is a risk associated with being a candidate of change due to potential inexperience, Harris’s position as the incumbent vice president lends her credibility. At present, she seems to be reaping the advantages of her experience gained from serving with Biden, without bearing the burden of his administration’s record.
Regarding former President Barack Obama, he was in full campaign mode when he took the stage following his wife’s speech, beginning with the line, “I might be the only person foolish enough to follow Michelle’s speech,” which elicited plenty of laughter. In his address, he commended Harris for her record and her economic plan focused on reducing expenses for the middle class, among other achievements during her tenure as Vice President under President Joe Biden.
“Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems,” Obama said, accusing Trump of using power for his own benefit. “She’ll be focused on yours.” The central theme of Obama’s impassioned speech was the stark contrast he drew between what a Harris presidency would entail versus a second term for Trump in the White House.
“Donald Trump wants us to think that this country is hopelessly divided between us and them, between the real Americans who of course, support him, and the outsiders who don’t,” Obama said. “It is one of the oldest tricks in politics from a guy whose Act has, let’s face it, gotten pretty stale. We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse.” “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz believe in an America where ‘we the people,’ includes everyone, because that’s the only way this American experiment works,” Obama said. “And despite what our politics might suggest, I think most Americans understand that democracy isn’t just a bunch of abstract principles and and dusty laws in some book somewhere, it’s the values we live by.”
The 44th president emphasized that for Harris to win, it would require a significant effort from Democrats, Independent voters, and some disenchanted Republicans. He repeatedly mentioned that the race would be tight, but just as he made history in 2007 by winning the election as the first black president, Harris could also make history as the first female president if there is a concerted effort to mobilize voters in the next 77 days.
Protesters in the audience interrupted Nancy Pelosi’s interview on The Late Show.
During a live interview on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in Chicago, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was interrupted twice by pro-Palestinian protesters. Known for her candor, Pelosi denounced the interruption and affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense.
Minutes into the interview, occurring on the second evening of the Democratic National Convention, a protester opposing the war in Gaza could be heard shouting following Pelosi’s remark that Democrats would elect Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert informed the audience of the protest, and the broadcast transitioned to a commercial break.
Following the commercial break, Pelosi discussed the recent development of Israel agreeing to the terms of a new U.S.-proposed cease-fire, expressing her hope that Hamas will accept it as well. “Yes, we’ve had a commitment to Israel. It’s been in our security interest to do so,” she said. “Israel was attacked by a terrorist organization. We want the hostages free, but we don’t want children killed in Gaza, and so we have to come up with a solution.”
“And right now, right now, we just got word today, earlier today, that Israel had agreed to the cease-fire agreement,” she added. “We’re hoping that Hamas will too. But it takes me to the point of saying to you, war has no role in civilized society.
When Pelosi indicated she couldn’t make out the protester’s words, Colbert explained that they were calling for the U.S. to abstain from supplying arms to Israel for use in Gaza. The former House Speaker reaffirmed her position that “Israel has the right to self-defense” and advocated for a two-state solution implemented over time as a means to cease the conflict in Gaza.
“Hostages should be returned and the hostages will return. But the other part of it that has been so major for all of us for many years, is that there must be a two-state solution,” she said. “You cannot have peace unless you have a two-state Israel, a secure Jewish democratic state in the region, and the Palestinians having their own secure country there as well. Unless you have a two-state solution, you will not have a resolution of this.”
Cobert closed the interview there and that was the end of the night in Chicago.
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