Sen. Al Franken gave a bitingly humorous indictment of Donald Trump on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Photograph by Jeff McEvoy, U.S. Senate photographer.
OK, let’s address the 800-pound elephant in the room right away – the Democrats’ email scandal.
Never write anything you wouldn’t say in public. Never send an email containing sensitive information that should be exchanged in person. And make sure that when you exchange information in person, that that person you exchange it with can be trusted.
Remember: The best-kept secret is the one you share with no one.
I don’t care if the Russians hacked the Democrats’ emails, or if the dog ate their homework. It was stupid of Dems in disarray to try to micromanage the process and weight it toward frontrunner Hillary Clinton – and, if they were going to do that, they shouldn’t have put it on the oh-so-secure internet, should they?
Having said that, I was immediately struck on night one by the difference in tone between the two conventions. The tone among the Democrats was mocking, ironic, humorous and substantive. Comedian-turned-Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota – a tongue-in-cheek PhD in megalomania from Trump University – gave everyone in Philadelphia’s steamy Wells Fargo Center some good belly laughs. Comedian Sarah “Felt the Bern” Silverman and now a proud Hillary supporter said the former secretary of state is the only person overqualified to be president. (But isn’t that always the way with women?) Anastasia Somoza – an immigrant who suffers from cerebral palsy – garnered a standing ovation with a moving address about Clinton’s championing human rights.
Not only is the Democratic National Convention more diverse, it’s also more high-tech and high-powered – necessary diversions, even to this Luddite, who enjoyed watching people holding hands and swaying to Paul Simon’s ragged rendition of his seminal hit “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
But I kept coming back to the tone. Even with some Bernie Sanders supporters booing – particularly after Silverman scolded them, “You are being ridiculous” – there was none of the Republicans’ vitriol. The Dems pointed out Trump’s failings and political differences. But they didn’t demonize him.
“I believe in the candidate who believes in all of us,” said actress Eva Longoria in introducing Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. He in turn said, “You can’t love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen.”
“Love Trumps Hate” many of the signs said.
Ain’t it the truth.