Close election in a divided country: Obama

By David Brooks and Jim Cason / La Jornada

On the second day of its national convention, the Democratic Party continued with a cast of speakers who sought to appeal to the widest possible range of voters — through the elegant rhetoric of former President Barack Obama and the anti-corporate speech of democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders.

On a night that included several speakers, from Senate leader Chuck Schumer to the first second gentleman in the country’s history, who hopes to be the first first gentleman Doug Emhoff (husband of presidential candidate Kamala Harris), one of those who won the most applause was Sanders, who has never wavered in his message, which he reiterated here: “we need an economy that works for everyone, not just for the billionaire class.”

Speaking to both the estimated 20 million watching the convention on television and the activists in the arena, Sanders praised the achievements of Joe Biden’s administration, proclaiming: “We are doing the groundwork to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.” But, showing his political talent, he left them some work to do.

He recalled that 60 percent of the country’s population continues to live “paycheck to paycheck.” He insisted on the unfinished progressive agenda of increasing taxes on the rich, expanding access to health care for seniors, raising the minimum wage and reforming the electoral system so that billionaires cannot buy elections.

He criticizes support for Israel in its war on Gaza

Sanders concluded his speech with a criticism of US support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza; he was the first speaker to do so. “We must end this horrific war in Gaza, return the hostages and demand an immediate ceasefire,” he said to applause.

But the focus last night was not on oligarchs and economic injustice, but on the spectacle designed for the Democratic aristocracy: Barack Obama and his wife – always among the most popular figures in the country – Michelle, whose best-seller sold more than 14 million copies, outselling her husband’s. The words of hope and love resounded without much content, but they enthused the audience.

Barack Obama crowned the evening, introduced by his wife, and again, with his grace and refined political talent, took the convention into his hands. “This will be a very close contest in a divided country,” he declared. “The people who will decide this election are the ones who ask: Who is fighting for me, for my future, for my children?”

The former president criticized the failures of Donald Trump’s administration and his conduct since leaving the White House, but perhaps what provoked the most applause – and laughter – was when he pointed out that the Republican has this strange obsession with the size of crowds, while with his hands he made a small-sized gesture of something else that everyone understood.

“Our task is to convince people that democracy can really deliver. To do so we cannot rely only on the ways of the past, but we have to chart a new path forward,” he said, ensuring that new policies on access to housing, health and education are required. “In this new economy, we need a president who really cares about the millions of people who do the essential work of caring for our sick, those who clean our streets … Kamala will be that person.”

He reiterated some of the central themes of his own administration, focusing on freedom both at home and abroad. “No nation, no society has ever attempted to build a democracy as large and diverse as ours, one that includes people who over decades have come from every corner of the globe. When we stand up for our values, the world is a little brighter. When we don’t, the world is a little darker. We should not be the world’s policeman… but America should be a force for good.” He made no reference to U.S. support for Israel’s war on Gaza or other war-mongering policies.

The key is to promote the vote

However, for this convention, the fundamental task is to promote the vote. If we knock on doors, make calls, if we talk to our neighbors, we will elect Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States, he stressed. “We will also build a more just and equal country. Let’s get to work,” he concluded.

The change in the trends of the race since Biden left the race to be replaced by Harris is generating greater energy among the party ranks, and here they are celebrating that polls show that Democrats are tied or even winning in some key states and at the national level. But several of the speakers – including the candidate – continue to warn about how close the race is for the White House and the two chambers of Congress.

In fact, Harris decided to go on a campaign tour in Wisconsin, one of the key states that could determine the presidential election, instead of continuing here and listening to her husband. The message is that there are only 11 weeks before the election in which one faces what everyone here considers not only an opponent, but an enemy of democracy.