Congressperson Jasmine Crockett of Dallas speaking at the Democratic National Convention
Watching the Democratic National Convention for the last couple of nights, I was struck by the amazing contrast to the recent Republican convention earlier this summer.
The Democrats are methodically laying out a vision of what can be, a future with some real advances toward a more equitable and free society. The GOP, on the other hand, was a cult meeting where everyone’s key job was to praise their “glorious leader” and feed his ego.
It would be easy to characterize these two conventions as ‘hope vs. hate,” and, never one to take the difficult path, I will do just that.
Watching the women and families who have been negatively impacted by the Trump abortion ban, I realized although their stories were heartbreaking, their message was hopeful. The Democratic response? Pass a bill legalizing abortion and make the recent Supreme Court ruling irrelevant.
Then came several former Republicans who were not only disillusioned with their party but downright disgusted by it. Most notable was Stephanie Griffin, a woman who was a loyal Trump supporter. She even spent her holidays with the president and his family at Mar A Lago back then:
She shared some insights: “I saw him when the cameras were off, behind closed doors. Trump mocks his supporters. He calls them basement dwellers. …”
She went on to say that on Jan. 6, 2021, she asked then First Lady Melania Trump whether they could tweet out that while peaceful protest is the right of every American, “there’s no place for lawlessness or violence. Melania replied with one word: ‘No.’”
Stephanie became the first senior staffer to resign that day. She went on to say this year she is voting for Kamala Harris.
Compelling stuff.
Follow that up with the former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle giving real stem-winding speeches, and you have must-see TV!
Contrast that to the Republican Convention, which was a parade of people praising and bowing to the former president/convicted felon. Each speaker emphasized Trump’s “tough guy” persona, starting with Hulk Hogan, who stormed the stage wearing his trademark head wrap and sunglasses, all the way through to Dana White, president of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
White noted, “I’m in the tough guy business, and [Trump] is the toughest, most resilient human being that I’ve ever met in my life.” He choked up as he added, “The higher the stakes, the harder he fights, and this guy never ever gives up.”
The only moment of humanity was Trump’s granddaughter, who spoke adoringly of her grandpa and how he gives her sodas and candy when her parents aren’t looking.
The contrasts between the two events gives me hope. As Michelle Obama warned, Democrats cannot afford to “get a Goldilocks complex,” adding, “We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected.”
On a more local note, Texas Congressperson Jasmine Crockett burst onto the national scene with her speech on the opening night. Her’s was peppered with “zingers” and alliterative phrases like, “The question before us is, will a vindictive, vile villain violate voters’ vision for a better America or not?” This was a swipe at Marjorie Taylor Green’s insult about Crockett’s eyelashes, and Crockett responded by saying Green had a “bleach blonde, bad built, butch body.”
Real schoolyard taunt stuff!
The contrast between hope and hate is again evident when compared to recent insider information on Trump. To an aide he once noted, “This is just the way I am. I hate my opponent. I hate my opponents. Hillary, Joe, Kamala. It doesn’t matter. I just hate them.”
That sentiment seems more appropriate for a prepubescent youngster’s rant, not the words from a former president.
After watching two nights of the Democratic convention, I am heartened and energized about the coming election. I sincerely believe Kamala has an excellent chance to put Trump away and off the national stage forever with a commanding win.
Hardy Haberman is a longtime local LGBT activist and board chair for the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. His blog is at DungeonDiary.blogspot.com.