Ann Romney took the podium and spoke not about politics or
the budget, but about love. “I want to talk not about what divides us, but what
holds us together as an American family.” This speech served to familiarize
delegates and voters with their party’s presidential nominee. The tradition of
nominees’ wives speaking at national party conventions began in the early
1940s, with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was, however, not speaking to
give attendants insight into her husband’s personality, nor to persuade voters
for a reelection. She was instead sent to Chicago to speak on behalf of
President Roosevelt’s running mate Henry Wallace, who had a low popularity
rating at the time. Over the next several decades, speeches made by candidates’
wives have served to describe aspects of their husbands’ personalities that may
not be recognized otherwise. Ann described Mitt in a way that humanized him.
Wednesday Aug. 29:
Former Secretary of the State Condoleezza Rice spoke of America’s strength
as a united country, and took the opportunity to convey the image of an America
rehabilitated by a global market and fair trade under the leadership of
Candidate Romney. She did not specifically call Barack Obama or the Democratic
Party to account for broken promises or the slow economic recovery. Instead she
instilled a sense of national pride. “The essence of America—what really unites
us—is not nationality or ethnicity or religion. It is an idea, and what an idea
it is,” she said. “That you can come from humble circumstances and you can do
great things. That it does not matter where you came from, it matters where you
are going.”
Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan spoke for close to 40
minutes, and formally accepted his nomination for candidacy. Some of the
comments Ryan made during his speech have caused some confusion for voters,
particularly those comments made about the closing of the General Motors (GM)
plant in Janesville, WI, Ryan’s home town. Obama gave a speech at the front of
the plant in February of 2008, and stated that he believed the plant would be
open for another hundred years under his plan. Ryan said “That’s what he said
in 2008. Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year. It is
locked up and empty to this day.”
GM announced plans to close the Janesville factory in June
of 2008, and manufacturing ended in December of that same year, one month
before Obama’s inauguration. In April of 2009 the plant was temporarily
reopened, and a small crew of workers finished an order for Isuzu trucks.
Furthermore, the plant has never actually closed but has
been in a “stand-by” status, meaning it could be reopened if the economy and GM
production recover.
On Tuesday Ryan appeared on the Today Show, and was asked by
Matt Lauer to clarify some of the confusion. In his defense, Ryan said “What
they’re trying to suggest is that I said Barack Obama is responsible for our
plant shutdown in Janesville. That is not what I was saying, read the speech.
What I was saying is the president ought to be held to account for his broken
promises.”
Thursday Aug. 30
Mystery Speaker Clint Eastwood made an impromptu speech, addressing the
convention and an empty chair to his left that was meant to represent President
Obama. When Eastwood gestured to the empty chair and announced that he was
speaking with Obama, the audience at the convention reacted with a mix of
laughter and unease. Eastwood questioned the symbolic Obama about the war in Afghanistan
and unemployment, and tried to make a few jokes, stopping mid-thought and
asking the empty chair “What do you mean shut up?” His speech was ended with a
famous line from one of his movies, started by Eastwood and finished by the
audience. “Go ahead,” he said, raising his hands. The audience shouted back
“Make my day!”
Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney formally accepted his
nomination by the Republican Party. Speaking mostly about personal subjects,
Mitt tried to relate to the American people. During his speech, he told a story
about his parents. “Mom and Dad were married 64 years. And if you wondered what
their secret was, you could have asked the local florist – because every day
Dad gave Mom a rose, which he put on her bedside table,” he said. Then,
suddenly, “That’s how she found out what happened on the day my father died –
she went looking for him because that morning, there was no rose.” The audience
was very moved by this story. Mitt promised a vision of an America that shows
more backbone and returns to its former state of prosperity.
Democratic National
Convention: The Democratic National Convention (DNC) began Tuesday in
Charlotte, N.C., and ended yesterday night. Democratic representatives all
spoke on behalf of President Obama and their party’s hope for his reelection.
Monday Sept. 3:
President Barack Obama delivered a Labor Day speech to members of the United Auto Workers and United Steelworkers in Toledo, Ohio. He pointed out that it was his decision that kept GM and Chrysler from collapsing, something Ryan and Romney opposed. “If America had thrown in the towel like that, GM and Chrysler wouldn’t exist today,” he said. When Obama would point out flaws in
his opponents’ actions the audience would boo and hiss. Each time this happened
Obama would raise his hands and say calmly “Now don’t boo, vote.”
He spent much of his speech talking about the respect members
of the middle class deserve and how they have earned it, “These jobs are worth
more than just a paycheck. They’re a source of pride. They’re a ticket to
middle-class life. These companies are worth more than just the cars that they
build, they’re a symbol of American innovation.” This particular comment
elicited loud cheers from the crowd of workers.
Later in the day, President Obama took a trip down to
Louisiana to see what he could do for those affected by hurricane Isaac. He
spent his time there about 30 miles away from New Orleans walking from house to
house, shaking hands with residents and asking them about their experiences. He
also pointed out that disaster declarations were made well in advance of the
hurricane’s landfall. He said he wanted to make sure officials “weren’t behind
the eight ball.”
Tuesday Sept. 4:
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke about her husband and his humble beginnings.
“When Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still
the guy who picked me up for dates in a car that was so rusted out I could
actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger side door,” she
said. “He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found
in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was a half size too small.”
As with Ann’s speech, Michelle aimed to humanize President
Obama and familiarize the Democratic Party with a side of him that would
otherwise not be exposed. She also appealed to women voters, talking
particularly about mothers and her own daughters. She began wrapping up her
speech with the idea that parents who are unable to fulfill their own dreams
can make the dreams of their children possible. “If our grandparents could toil
and struggle for us, if they could raise the beams of steel to the sky, send a
man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button, then surely
we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids,” she
said.
Upcoming Events:
On Wednesday Sept. 5 Bill Clinton will give a speech. Clinton and President
Obama have spoken together on many previous occasions. On Thursday Sept. 6
President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be accepting their
nominations.