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Political Hay
Ten Things I Learned From the Democrat Convention
Three days later, a writer extrapolates, meditates, and self-medicates.
There’s something risky about drawing conclusions from political conventions. The platforms may be approved and the delegates may vote. But the real purpose is for the party to put on a glitzy, heart-wrenching show, with speakers who praise the nominee in tones usually reserved for monarchical coronations and attendees who nod at every word like bobble-heads. When the cameras are on, everyone swims in a unified current. The most shocking part of the Democrats’ Villaraigosa fracas wasn’t that the delegates booed God’s name and land, but that the drumbeat was briefly interrupted.
Commentators always talk about convention speakers throwing out red meat. But it’s always more sizzle than anything else. Even this year’s Bill Clinton address, lauded as effective by liberals and conservatives, was more notable for its style than its substance. The Democratic National Convention is an opportunity for Democrats to pretend that 40% of the country agrees with each other about everything.
If you’re the sort of person who gets inspired by incantations of “Yes we can!” or mildly unsettling UAW signs with red-silhouetted workers punching the air, then the Democrats’ grand show probably had deep meaning for you. But for everyone else, it was the usual stage-managed affair; a mawkish romance for an America where individuals work hard to get ahead, and occasionally come together to seize an entire car company and hand it over to a labor union.
So why try to learn anything from the DNC? Well first, despite the stagecraft, many intelligent people watch political conventions. The Democrats had to serve up some thin gruel of substance. And more importantly, trying to shepherd thousands of delegates and activists into the same pen without some bumping and bleating is impossible. The jeering of Jerusalem wasn’t the only revealing moment in Charlotte.
Maybe the convention was intended mostly for suckers who, as P.T. Barnum said, and in spite of Democrats’ reproductive policies, are born every minute. But despite my strict DNC regimen of Ibuprofen and Jameson, I still managed to learn a thing or two. Here’s one writer’s takeaway.
The cult of the presidency is alive and
well.
You’d think, after forty-three straight months of unemployment
above 8%, Democrats would be downplaying the president’s role in
job creation. But then Bill Clinton barreled up to the podium for a
little political history lesson. “Since 1961, for 52 years now, the
Republicans have held the White House 28 years, the Democrats 24,”
he said. “In those 52 years, our private economy has produced 66
million private-sector jobs. So what’s the jobs score? Republicans
24 million, Democrats 42.”
According to arithmetic, of which Mr. Clinton is a huge proponent, Barack Obama has been in office for one-sixth of the Democratic presidential span and created (at best) one-eleventh of the total jobs. And more than half the Democrat total was created during Clinton’s two terms, when congressional Republicans were spearheading policy and Clinton was busy reforming welfare and implementing free-trade deals.
But set all that aside. Clinton’s line got huge applause at the convention and was waved around the next day by taunting Democrats. Too many (and not just on the left) seem to think that the president is a wizard who can point at sectors of the economy, mumble a spell, and create demand for a job. It’s a childish belief in benevolent central planning by a king-technocrat, and even Obama’s failures haven’t shaken its adherents.
Hillary Clinton is running for president in
2016.
While we’re on Bill Clinton, let’s remember that the man can’t
scratch his back without making a political calculation. Yet the
commentariat is giddy about his speech’s supposed hatchet-burying
and embrace of his new favorite politician: Barack Obama. Actually
Bill Clinton’s speech was about his old favorite politician: Bill
Clinton. He aimed to outshine the president and accomplished just
that. People are once again talking about his charm, his talent,
his wife…who just so happens to be one of the most popular
political figures in America right now. Clear the decks,
Democrats.
Mayors are the future of America.
At one point, Bill Clinton implored the delegates, “Just ask the
mayors who are here!” Judging by the speaker lineup, that was
nearly everyone. Over the course of the convention, we heard from
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Cory Booker, Mayor R.T. Rybak, Mayor
Michael Nutter, Mayor Anthony Foxx, and of course, the Democrats’
new leading man, Mayor Julian Castro.
Castro’s inclusion was a curiosity. In the wake of Marco Rubio’s stirring speech at the Republican Convention, the famously color-blind Democrats dipped into their talent pool and pulled out the Latino mayor of San Antonio to give their keynote. Castro is certainly a soaring orator (frankly I think we’ve all had enough of those), but his political ascension will likely be blocked in deep-red Texas.
To be sure, banking on mayors has its advantages. It’s a lot easier to, say, outlaw Big Gulps or discriminate against Christian fast-food chains on behalf of a city rather than the entire country. But still, Republicans should take heart. The Democrats’ mayoral lineup shows how badly they’ve been devastated at the congressional level. One more election with an energized Tea Party and the Democrats’ keynote speaker in 2016 will be the first selectman from Simsbury, Connecticut.
Check Chris Van Hollen’s copy before he speaks in
public.
Most observers are applying this lesson to former Michigan governor
Jennifer Granholm (“THE CARS GET THE ELEVATOR AND THE
WORKERS GET THE SHAFT!!”) but I think Maryland Congressman
Chris Van Hollen warrants a mention as well. After blaming the
entire national debt on Paul Ryan, Van Hollen took out something he
called the president’s plan to reduce the debt and started waving
it around. For goodness sake, Chris, that’s presumably Obama’s 2013
budget which didn’t receive a single vote in the House or Senate.
The left spent months pretending that thing doesn’t exist. Put it
away! And go talk to Debbie Wasserman Schultz. At least she keeps
her faxes straight.
Well-paid Democrat operatives make for poor sob
stories.
This year’s convention featured that staple of the Democratic
playbook: good, old-fashioned sob stories; the poor single mother
with no health insurance who was evicted from her building by Paul
Ryan. In addition to their army of mayors, the Democrats peppered
their speaking schedule with average Joes who had either fallen on
tough times because of Republican heartlessness or been given a
second chance by Democrat magnanimity.
The problem is the stories kept leaving things out. David Foster, a steelworker supposedly laid off from GST Steel when Bain Capital took it over, never worked for GST Steel and is currently executive director of the left-wing BlueGreen Alliance. Randy Johnson, another victim of Bain, makes a six-figure salary at the United Steelworkers Union and has been on the DNC’s payroll for months now. Maria and Delia Ciano were both featured as former Republicans who had emotional changes of heart. But Maria has been registered as a Democrat since at least 2006 and has “Liked” just about every liberal cause under the sun on Facebook, and Delia, having met with Michelle Obama, certainly has some tie-in with the Obama campaign.
About the Author
Matt Purple is The American Spectator’s assistant managing editor.
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Pecos Pete| 9.10.12 @ 7:19AM
Voters for Obama, and the democrats, simply believe the money pit is bottomless. If Obama is reelected they are going to find themselves, and us, in a bankrupt country. After bankruptcy the federals will then be able to build the socialist nirvana about which they have always dreamed. And, throw in one-world government for good measure.
TLP| 9.10.12 @ 4:05PM
What did I learn from the Democrat Convention.
They had a Slut, from Georgetown, and a Whore, from Florida, speak at their Convention.
They had a Rapist, Pathological Lying, Serial Misogenist, Impeached Indecent Exposer introduce an America Hating, White Hating, Jew Hating President.
They had a Disaster of a Governor - Jennifer Granholm - do her best impersonation of Howard Dean.
They Celebrated the Murders of Millions of Unborn Babies, while Booing GOD, and Jerusalem, as the Capitol of Israel.
They had a Billionaire Widow Chaser give a Speech, while hammering at Romney, for being too Rich.
They Cheered the Implosion of this Country's Economy, under this No Jobs, Trillion $ Deficit President, and Villified Paul Ryan for trying to SAVE MEDICARE for Future Americans.
I learned that they are willing to Spemd this Country in to Third Word Status, if it will enable them to keep their Power.
I learned that Learning is Fun.
RJ| 9.10.12 @ 7:04PM
Thank-you for the excellent summary.
I worry for my country and the future to think that many Americans think last week's demonstration was moving and compelling. 20 years ago it would have been widely viewed as a comedic farce. We need a change in the direction of the culture.
Dodd2| 9.10.12 @ 7:49AM
The Dims need government debt, massive government debt, to feed their constituency base, otherwise they lose votes and then power.
Joellen| 9.10.12 @ 8:03AM
Being a student of Rush Limbaugh, AS, AT, ChurchMilitant.com, etc. and just plain common sense, I didnt learn anything I didn't know. And really, those who support this regime KNOW what the democrat party is all about, they ENDORSE it as is. So, in this stage of the game, it really is a battle between good and evil. My odds are GOOD wins - but we cant be lazy about it - we must work to ensure victory.
Von Mises Jr| 9.10.12 @ 10:31AM
Spot on Joellen. It could also be summed up as the choice between reality and schizophrenia. Even the evil liberals that know it will implode proceed for irrational self-aggrandizement.
We that live in “realville” paid off most of our debt, bought gold, guns and lots of food.
The delusional will live in cardboard boxes and hide behind the lamp post waiting with box cutters to hijack the Good Humor Ice Cream truck when it passes through the hood.
Or perhaps they will be waiting for a Nietzsche "Superman" to zoom in and save them with a trunk full of groceries and an Obama bumper sticker.
ElGordo| 9.10.12 @ 8:20AM
The film 2016 is a very effective anti-Obama message that explains why Obama does not like the U.S.A.
.
It'll be played out commercially in the next 4 weeks .
.
For those who have not seen it, the film's producer should put it on YOUTUBE for the 2 or 3 weeks before the election to be viewed free.
.
Also , as AOL mailed free discs to get customers, Romney should have 2016 put on discs and mailed free to those voters in the swing states.
.
As Romney's TV ads attack Obama's failed economy, super pacs such as Rove's, should attack Obama's character, statements, associations, etc.; Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Acorn, Marxist Professors, Rezko, Frank Davis, "you didn't build that"', "electric prices will skyrocket", etc.
RCV| 9.10.12 @ 11:54AM
The only people who will go see it are the already converted. It's like Michael Moore's films.
Purp| 9.10.12 @ 8:22AM
"The most shocking part of the Democrats' Villaraigosa fracas wasn't that the delegates booed God's name and land, " - that's just stupid.
Faith, clergy and other religious terminology is all over the Democratic platform.
They were booing the way the count was determined. Anyway who saw it, knows that.
Nevertheless, God and Jerusalem were reinstated by the President by order, when he heard what was omitted. You can count on President Obama.
The Avenger| 9.10.12 @ 8:29AM
Well, well, here comes perp to the rescue. Now there is a surprise. YOU can count on President Obama, I will rely on my intelligence and ingenuity, 2 things you obviously lack. Just for my own information, how much does a shill for Obama get paid?
Nancy in NC| 9.10.12 @ 8:44AM
The mentally challenged do it for free. You see, they worship the guy. In fact, last week at Welfare Woodstock, they had a sand statue to POTUS. Generally, statutes are made of marble or metal...but, not the Dims. They make it out of sand. Isn't that appropriate for an empty suit and an empty chair?
And the left doesn't need no stinking God. They have their own messiah.
Aristocat| 9.11.12 @ 4:54AM
Well done Nancy..
Nancy in NC| 9.10.12 @ 8:40AM
You can count on President Obama to do what is politically expedient. If it were so damn important why didn't he insist on the changes BEFORE. After all, he vetted the platform BEFORE the convention. He didn't think anyone would notice.
"Faith, clergy and other religious terminology is all over the Democratic platform." Yep, right there in the Bible it says it's OK to kill 54,000,000 babies since 1973. And the Pro-Abortion folks want to add to that number just like the zooming debt. After all, how many women did they run out there to make their speeches about how the GOP would send them back to the dark ages? It was enough to make people vomit. Do any of these people use ANYTHING else except abortion for birth control?
Joellen| 9.10.12 @ 8:44AM
Purp, yes their religion of abortion, same sex marraige and man as god faith. You are really are smug in your defense of Obama, one day you will have to defend your decisions to the TRUE GOD - be afraid Purp, be very afraid.
Oldefarte| 9.10.12 @ 11:14AM
Yeah, you "can count on President Obama" to LIE, CHEAT AND STEAL [like all Democrats do] basically speaking!!!!
Louisiana Joe| 9.10.12 @ 1:12PM
I don't think they were booing God. They were booing the reference to Jerusalem since most Democrats side with the Muslims. Think back to Reverend Wright. I think that crap is preached in most black churches every week and many of those delegates were black.
Stan Redmond| 9.10.12 @ 5:44PM
Sounded like 50% bellowed out NAY to me the first time Villaragosa asked for a vote. Sounded like 50% bellowed out NAY to me the second time Villaragosa asked for a vote. Sounded like 50% bellowed out NAY to me the third time Villaragosa asked for a vote. Sounded like boos and jeers after he declared it passed.
You are good. You are capable of mind reading like the democrat media when the tell us what Obama or Biden really mean when they speak.
Bill8472| 9.10.12 @ 6:35PM
I don't know about "faith, clergy, and other religious terminology" being all over the Democratic platform; someone would have to point where they appear to dumb old me.
Yes, they were booing the way the count was determined. The Democrat leadership had determined beforehand how the vote was going to be called - the teleprompter photo proves that. Then Villaraigosa rammed the vote through falsely, and they booed that Villaraigosa insisted on falsely claiming that they supported amendments to the Democrat platform that included God's name and Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
What happened was so revealing in so many ways.
The Avenger| 9.10.12 @ 8:25AM
"A lot of breath was expended at the DNC appealing to young people, my generation, the Millennials -- the same lamentable group about to inherit more than $200 trillion in total unpaid debts. No self-respecting young person can vote for a party that stubbornly, categorically refuses to acknowledge the coming tidal wave. But, of course, many of them will." Yes indeed, the educational establishment has done their job well. The foolishness of our youth is not to be denied. They will vote themselves into bondage rather than wake up from their stupor.
LindaF | 9.10.12 @ 8:31AM
I, too, noticed the low-level of the jobs held by speakers (IF they had a political job - not union, unemployed, or media). The Rs have a strong backbench, with YOUNG politicians at the ready.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.10.12 @ 8:57AM
“Unlike many of the other up-and-comers, O'Malley is young, charismatic, visible, and holds an elected office higher than mayor.”
I recall O’Malley when he was underage and playing in bars illegally as a member of the Irish folk music group “Shannon Tide”, and later as the lead of the more egotistically named “O’Malley’s March”. He was a fair to good musician and entertainer, though obviously quite narcissistic. He has been an opportunistic left-wing jackass of questionable competence at everything except getting elected as a politician. For those interested in another take on him, he is the model for Tommy Carcetti in the HBO series “The Wire”.
MelvinNC| 9.10.12 @ 10:08AM
I am having a hard time deciding, in whether or not Bill Clinton's nose is bigger than Barrack Obama's ears. Because both these appendages turn red when either of those two men they lie.
Bill Clinton is a low down lying cheating scoundrel. And I haven't even mentioned his White House Antique Furniture thieving wife yet.
Bill Clinton is nothing more than a snake oil salesman seeking respectability.
"Bub, what shred of respectability that you had you gave it up, I did not have sex with that woman." On National TV lied his behind off to the American people. If he told the truth Clinton more in likely would have received a pass anyway.
Then Obama God knows what state of mind he is in, boldly continues the Democrat tradition.
But then on the flip side at least we didn't have to suffer from seeing Sen. John McCain to his imitation of Storm Thurmond.
Von Mises Jr| 9.10.12 @ 10:19AM
So I surmise that you do not feel like the democrat woman who said she wanted to have sex with Bubba after she voted for him?
Bill8472| 9.10.12 @ 6:45PM
It's a mighty interesting commentary on the Democrat Party when they look to Bill Clinton to be their Grand Old Man. That was weird.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.10.12 @ 10:23PM
Replace Grand with Dirty, and I think you're on to something.
Oldefarte| 9.10.12 @ 11:23AM
"The most shocking part of the Democrats' Villaraigosa fracas wasn't that the delegates booed God's name and land, but that the drumbeat was briefly interrupted" No, I disagree! The most shocking part of that particular scene was when certain TV cameras panned the entire surrounding scene of that picture, which revealed the woman seated next to the dark-skinned/bearded man who was shouting NO NO NO in response to Villaraigosa's question. She was holding a political sign which read "ARAB-AMERICAN DEMOCRATS"!!!!!! If that doesn't define the whole Democratic Party to a T, I don't know what does so. What this country has now been reduced to are Arab-American Democrats demanding to have their RIGHTS implemented and in control of this country. OMG, can 11/6/12 get here any sooner?????????????
Al Adab| 9.10.12 @ 12:15PM
The DEM party treats its voters as members of groups or classes rather than the individuals they are. They appeal to each identifiable group or class through the creation of "programs" which feed the wants of the group. That this must be done by taking from others, less favored groups, matters not to their ultimate goal which is the retention of power. People are only the means to an end.
Oldefarte| 9.10.12 @ 2:19PM
Amen to that, and also we all know who ends up getting it IN THE"END", right??????
Oldefarte| 9.10.12 @ 2:24PM
PS: Forgot to add the most important notation that SNOOP DOG'S recent sexual inuendoed etc laced endorsement of the BLACK JESUS can be viewed/read on HuffPo's website etc [may even be on YouTube]. In consideration of same, all of us should simply stampede to the polls on 11/6/12 and vote for his recommended candidate [and no doubt receive our complementary carton of cigs and a gallon of Bonne Farm for our efforts] right??????????
JP| 9.10.12 @ 11:38AM
For the first time in 36 years I didn't watch a single minute of either convention. It was obvious in 2008 that the scripted narratives of both had gone too far. From what I can tell, niether conventions did much. Mitt is still Mitt, and the Dems are still insane.
Purp| 9.10.12 @ 12:08PM
"Obama's 2013 budget which didn't receive a single vote in the House or Senate. " - no Republican or Democrat wanted to be held to it in an election year, so no votes.
It's simple politics, ya know, like the Filibuster obstructionism in the Senate.
Louisiana Joe| 9.10.12 @ 1:16PM
You mean like the filibuster obstructionism the Democrats love to use when they are out of power.
spike59| 9.10.12 @ 1:45PM
nice try, burp----BUT his budget proposal in 2011 also failed to receive a single 'yes' vote-hell, the Democrats have not passed a single budget since ObaMao was installed
William L. Gensert| 9.10.12 @ 12:23PM
What about spending, having blown out the budget and added $5 trillion to the national debt in less than 3 ½ years? It would have been hard to paint that as anything but failure.
Yet, he talked about tackling deficits...at some later date. Got off his back...can't you see he is busy transforming the world?
Read more of my article: http://www.americanthinker.com.....z265JJwbdV
Al Adab| 9.10.12 @ 1:22PM
His DEM controlled Senate has refused to consider, let alone pass, a budget for the last three years. The nation is operating without one when clearly it is the responsibility of Congress to adopt one.
Does anyone remember that President Clinton was impeached for lying to Congress? That makes him a great example does it not?
Mistral| 9.10.12 @ 2:34PM
Study the facial expressions: they tell us everything we need to know.
Stan Redmond| 9.10.12 @ 5:48PM
10 things I learned listening to the democrats.
1) America is full of helpless little children
2) Everything is someone elses fault
3) We all belong to the government
4) Obama is God
5) Women can't get rubbers
6) Obama wan't president the past 4 years
7) Abortion
8) Abortion
9) Abortion
10) Vaginas
Bill8472| 9.10.12 @ 6:38PM
One of the most interesting lessons I learned listening to the people at the Democrat Conventions was that women believe that their bodies belong to them, that they are responsible for them entirely and no one else is to presume to make decisions about such things for them, and then that they expect others, namely the taxpayers, to pay for their self-owned, personally responsible, choices about their bodies.
I'm fine with y'all babes owning your bodies; just don't demand that I pay for it when you make those autonomous choices.
JD| 9.10.12 @ 7:42PM
Most Democrats still don't understand how the issue is "taxpayers paying for it". They manage to neatly separate school subsidies, federalized student loans, social welfare, tax expenditures, ObamaCare, and other forms of taxpayer funding of health insurance from the things Democrats demand that all insurance be required to cover.
I wish I could make an analogy to a dangerous or costly thing that a conservative might do and request that Democrats subsidize, but we don't do that sort of thing.
Belianis | 9.10.12 @ 6:55PM
My mother, who was born in 1929, still cherishes the memory of FDR, the one POTUS who really left a lasting memory in our Puerto Rico.
What happened to his party, which has gone from a friendly relationship with Catholicism and Jewry to a rejection of the Christian and Jewish God in favor of atheism and anticivilization Islam?