DNC 2020: Michelle Obama gives powerful speech after Bernie Sanders calls on viewers to fight against 'bigotry' and back Biden
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Your support makes all the difference.The Democratic National Convention kicked off with some last-minute guests as the family of George Floyd led a moment of silence to mark the start of the first day, titled "We the People".
Michelle Obama headlined the evening's proceedings, ripping into the president's record saying "you simply cannot fake your way through this job" as she pleaded with Democrat voters not to stay at home or cast a protest vote in 2020. "Joe is not perfect, and he'd be the first to tell you that," Ms Obama says. "But there is no perfect candidate, no perfect president, and his ability to learn and grow, we find in that the kind of humility and maturity that so many of us yearn for now."
Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, said Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but Trump golfs while his actions fanned the coronavirus pandemic to kill more than 170,000 Americans in a nation unprepared to protect its people.
Mr Sanders made a direct appeal to his supporters to unify around Joe Biden, highlighting the candidate's progressive credentials on issues that only a few years ago would have been considered radical.
A running theme through the first night was on restoring the "Soul of America", as Democrats and Republicans alike devoted the majority of the virtual real estate to the current president.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser accused Donald Trump of 'plotting' with his bible photo at St John's Church as the daughter of a Covid-19 victim said her father's only pre-existing condition was a Trump presidency.
Republican leaders including former Ohio governor John Kasich, former New Jersey governor Christine Whitman, and former New York City congresswoman Susan Molinari lent their voices to their one-time rivals.
Democrat establishment figures like Andrew Cuomo, Jim Clyburn, and Amy Klobuchar all gave strong endorsements of their party's presidential nominee, even if some of their jokes and one-liners, aiming for inspirational resonance, seemed to linger without reaction in the virtual void of a Zoom meeting.
Mr Biden, meanwhile, appeared briefly during a round table on racism with Gwen Garner, mother of Eric Garner, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, and other social justice activists.
Sara Gideon, running for Maine in US Senate, introduces Maggie Rogers for a musical interlued
'That woman from Michigan' says that man in the White House fights those people in America
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, claiming one of Trump's nickname for her, says the president would rather fight his own people than fight the coronavirus.
"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example, it'll be science, not politics or ego that will drive their decisions," Ms Whitmer says. "They know the health of our people goes hand in hand with the strength of our economy. They know action begets action."
Republicans turn up to DNC Convention to speak against Trump
Former governor of New Jersey, Christine Whitman: "This isn't about Republican or Democrat, it's about a person, a person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track. A person who can work with everyone, Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Donald Trump isn't that person. Joe Biden is.
Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi and longtime republican: "Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business let alone an economy."
Susan Molinari, former Republican US Congresswoman for New York City. "I've known Donald Trump for most of my political career. So disappointing, and lately so disturbing."
'Soul of America' narrative continues to be pushed in speech from Ohio Governor John Kasich
For the third time during the DNC convention tonight, the soul of America has been evoked by a speaker saying Biden will restore the country's spirit. This time from former Republican Governor, John Kasich.
"Many of us have been deeply concerned about the current path we've been following for the past four years, it's a path that's led to division, dysfunction, irresponsibility and growing vitriol between our citizens," Kasich says.
"Continuing to follow that path will have terrible consequences for Americas soul because we're being taken down the wrong road by a president who has pitted one against the other."
Senator Amy Klobuchar tries starting her speech with a zinger
"The president may hate the post office but he's still going to have to send them a change of address card come January," Klobuchar says.
Que laugh track.
Klobuchar ending her presidential campaign was 'filled with joy'
"Most candidates when they end their candidacy that day is a hard one, for me it was a moment filled with great joy, because the day I ended my presidential campaign was also the day I endorsed Joe Biden," Klobuchar says.
Sanders directly address his supports, appeals for unity behind Biden
"Our campaign ended several months ago, but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day. Many of the ideas we fought for, that just a few years ago were considered, radical, are now mainstream," Sanders says.
"As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, moderates, and yes conservatives, to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat."
Sanders outlines Biden's progressive credentials
Biden supports raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, make it easier for workers to join unions, create 12 weeks of paid family leave, fund universal pre-K for three and four-year-olds and make childcare affordable, Sanders says.
"The truth is, even before Trump's negligent response to this pandemic, too many hard working families have been caught on an economic treadmill with no hope of ever getting ahead,
"Together we must build a nation that is more equitable, more compassionate and more inclusive. I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on day one."
'Nero fiddled while Rome burned; Trump golfs' -- Sanders says
"Trump has attacked doctors and scientists trying to protect us from the pandemic, while refusing to take strong action to produce the masks, gowns and gloves, our healthcare workers desperately need. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, Trump plays golf," Sanders says.
"His actions fanned this pandemic resulting in over 170,000 deaths and a nation still unprepared to protect its people."
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