Dems bury, On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, President Joe Biden’s speech took place in a time slot that might as well have been labeled “lost in time.” Scheduled for 11:28 p.m., Biden’s address was strategically pushed to a late hour traditionally reserved for reruns of old sitcoms, hinting at a broader strategy to limit viewership and perhaps minimize his impact. This was no random scheduling choice; it was a deliberate move to sideline Biden’s message amid a crowded roster of speakers who, collectively, set the tone for a night focused more on showcasing party unity than celebrating Biden’s presidency.
The convention’s lineup on that opening night spoke volumes about the state of the Democratic Party and its current strategies. The lineup included figures like New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who are known for their respective roles in party leadership and progressive advocacy. In a sense, this roster felt less like a celebration of the incumbent president and more like an elaborate warm-up act, setting the stage for Biden’s somewhat diminished role in the evening’s proceedings.
Biden’s speech was positioned as a showcase of his accomplishments, though the presentation often blurred the line between reality and idealism. He spoke of his administration’s achievements, touching upon themes like combating hate and addressing the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection. Yet, his rhetoric seemed increasingly detached from the contemporary political landscape, where criticisms of his administration’s handling of various issues—such as its response to the COVID-19 pandemic—are mounting.
A particularly contentious moment came when Biden spoke about Charlottesville and the rise of hate under Trump’s presidency. He criticized Trump for allegedly emboldening anti-Semites, yet this criticism appeared incongruent with the current environment where incidents of hate and extremism persist, even on college campuses, often in the form of pro-Hamas protests. Biden’s attempt to empathize with these protests seemed more like an awkward concession than a meaningful address of the issues at hand.
The speech was also marked by a dissonant tone in Biden’s comments about his successor, Kamala Harris. Biden’s framing of Harris as merely an aide rather than a co-equal partner in the administration was a stark reminder of the internal rifts within the Democratic Party. His repeated insistence that “we” includes both him and Harris, without offering Harris any independent recognition, underscored the lack of a coherent narrative that could unify the party’s message.
Another striking aspect of Biden’s speech was the sharp contrast between his proclamations and his actions. While he castigated Trump with a string of derogatory terms like “loser,” “liar,” “felon,” and “sucker,” it was apparent that Biden’s administration faced its share of controversies and criticisms. For instance, Biden’s claims of successfully reopening schools after COVID-19 stood in stark contrast to the protracted closures that characterized the early pandemic years—a period marked by contentious debates with teachers’ unions.
The show of unity within the Democratic ranks seemed largely superficial. Nancy Pelosi’s presence, complete with a “We Love Joe” sign, was emblematic of a broader attempt to present a united front, even as her own role in pushing Biden aside became a subject of speculation. This juxtaposition of public praise with underlying political maneuvering suggested a party grappling with its own internal conflicts while striving to maintain an image of coherence and solidarity.
In conclusion, the Democratic National Convention’s opening night was a revealing snapshot of the current state of the party and its leadership dynamics. Biden’s speech, though intended as a celebration of his presidency, was overshadowed by strategic timing, internal party tensions, and the broader challenges facing the administration. The spectacle of Biden being relegated to a late-night slot, coupled with the increasingly palpable disconnection between his rhetoric and the party’s realpolitik, underscored the difficult position in which the Democrats find themselves as they navigate the tumultuous waters of American politics.
