PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Seeking to bridge deep Democratic divides, Bernie Sanders robustly embraced his former rival Hillary Clinton Monday night as a champion for the same economic causes that enlivened his supporters, signaling it was time for them, too, to rally behind her in the campaign against Republican Donald Trump.
“Any objective observer will conclude that — based on her ideas and her leadership — Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States,” he declared in a headlining address on the opening night of the Democratic convention.
Sanders joined a high-wattage lineup of speakers, including first lady Michelle Obama who made a forceful, impassioned case for the Democratic nominee. Mrs. Obama’s address all but wiped away earlier tumult in the convention hall that had exposed lingering tensions between Clinton and Sanders supporters.
Mrs. Obama, who has spent nearly eight years in the White House avoiding political fights, took numerous swipes at Trump, all while avoiding mentioning him by name.
“This election and every election is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives,” she said. “There is only one person I trust with that responsibility, only one person I believe is truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is Hillary Clinton.”
While Sanders had endorsed Clinton previously, his remarks Monday marked his most vigorous and detailed praise of her qualifications for the presidency. It came at a crucial moment for Clinton’s campaign, on the heels of leaked emails suggesting the party had favored the former secretary of state through the primaries despite a vow of neutrality.
Sanders scored the resignation of party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a nemesis in the primaries, but that wasn’t enough to quell the anger of supporters. As the convention opened, they still erupted in chants of “Bernie” and booed Clinton the first several times her name was mentioned. Outside the convention hall, several hundred marched down Philadelphia’s sweltering streets with signs carrying messages such as “Never Hillary.”
Behind the scenes, Sanders and Clinton aides joined forces to try to ease tensions. Clinton’s campaign quickly added more Sanders’ supporters to the speakers lineup. Sanders sent urgent messages to supporters asking them not to protest.
By the time Sanders took the stage for the night’s closing address, much of the anger had been overshadowed by speeches promoting party unity. Sanders did his part, imploring his supporters to consider a country under Trump’s leadership.
“If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country,” he said.
President Bill Clinton, watching from the audience, leapt to his feet and applauded, as did most of the delegates filling the convention arena. Sanders spoke just after Massachusetts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of liberals who has emerged as one of the Democrats’ toughest critics of Trump.
“Donald Trump has no real plans for jobs, for college kids, for seniors,” she said in the keynote address. “No plans to make anything great for anyone except rich guys like Donald Trump.”
Mrs. Obama was one of the night’s standouts. While she has often avoided overt politics during her nearly eight years in the White House, her frustration with Trump’s rise was evident. She warned that the White House couldn’t be in the hands of someone with “a thin skin or a tendency to lash out” or someone who tells voters the country can be great again.
“This right now, is the greatest country on earth,” she said.
Clinton’s campaign hoped the nighttime line-up would overshadow a tumultuous start to the four-day convention. The hacked DNC emails fed the suspicion of Sanders’ supporters and sapped Clinton’s campaign of some of its energy following a well-received rollout Saturday of her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.
Campaigning in North Carolina, Trump seemed to revel in the Democrats’ commotion, telling supporters that Clinton made a mistake by not choosing a more liberal running mate to appease Sanders’ base. “Crazy Bernie’s going crazy right now,” he said.
But in Philadelphia, Delegates waved “Love Trumps Hate” signs and cheered as immigration supporters, gay rights advocates, and labor leaders took the stage.
Comedian-turned-Sen. Al Franken, a Clinton supporter, and actress Sarah Silverman, a Sanders supporter, made a joint appearance to promote party unity.
“I am proud to be part of Bernie’s movement,” Silverman said as the crowd roared. “And a vital part of that movement is making absolutely sure Hillary Clinton is our next president of the United States.”
Trump was a frequent target throughout the night, though the jabs were often more mocking than mean. The tone was a sharp contrast to the Republican convention, where the attacks against Clinton was bitingly personal, including chants of “Lock her up.”
Wasserman Schultz had planned to be among those taking the stage, despite the email hacking controversy. But she stepped aside, bowing to pressure from Democrats who feared the mere sight of her on stage would prompt strong opposition.
The outgoing chairwoman did watch the gathering from a private suite at the arena.
Story by JULIE PACE and KEN THOMAS, Associated Press. Associated Press writers Kathleen Hennessey, Catherine Lucey, Kathleen Ronayne and Julie Bykowicz in Philadelphia, Lisa Lerer in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
barf
Well I was a gonna say. …………. or maybe. …………. or. ………… and call them ………….. or maybe. ……….. or just say. …………… ………… ……….. thing !
Is that the …. talking, or are you just that ……?
Wow look everybody Real Low Life tried two hurt my feelings. LOL ! Awwwwwww he’s so cute isn’t he. ? LMAO. But I see he’s still talking out of his. …….. as usual ! don’t forget to take your meds before going to your mental hygiene appointment
Looks like I hit a nerve.
Looks like I hit nerve a long time ago
ROFLMAO. …..this is two easy. !!
depressed wages, crime, poverty.. when did mass 3rd world immigration and globalism become part of the democrat agenda. Globalism and immigration benefit Americans in no way at all.
2016, the choice of an ego-maniac sideshow or a corrupt power monger.. looks like dark times ahead
Yeah, America is being given the choice between being shot in the right temple or the left temple, and are arguing over which is the better choice! How about we each make our own choice based on logic and conscience, rather than just settling for the “choice” between two evils.
the choice based on logic and conscience… not sure what that would be. seems the choice has all but been made for us already. the choice is no choice at all. two villains, two sides of the same coin
This is like a family reunion for Real Life. …!
Hey Reall Life. how’s the family reunion going ? are you and Aunt Hilly and Uncle Bill having a good time ?
Lies, scandals, murders and yet there’s ignorants who say, “I’m with her”.
Every time I hear of I hear of a policeman shot, a Christian murdered by Isis, a military vet dying before medical treatment, several tons of food wasted daily in our county schools or another gangland shooting, Obama and this miserable administration seems to be a the root.
So why would I vote for four more years of this, unless I’m completely stupid and clueless?
“Lock her up….lock her up….lock her up….” Hahahahaha…….and throw away the key!!
Well if you gonna lock her up for violating the law. then we ain’t a gonna have nobody two vote for,cuz they’s is all nuttin but law breaking thugs so you gotta lock’em all up
Michelle has been feeding at the public trough…..it shows….literally. She needs to take up her signature “LETS MOVE” advice and work to move some of that fat she is packing….Way big posterior.
Several SG News opinion writers and commenters have written that they are going to “vote their conscience” and “refuse to compromise their principles. They indicate that neither of the major party 2016 Presidential nominees meet their standards; Bryan Hyde wrote that the 2012 and 2008 nominees didn’t meet his criteria either.
Over the past 30 years, can any of you name a Presidential nominee who exhibited the principles that you require? If you can’t name a nominee, can you at least name a declared candidate who met your standards?
The good candidates usually never get far. If they’re not loyal to ZOG they usually get taken down quickly. The rapid take down of Howard Dean comes to mind… that was an unusual one, and a good example of ZOG’s media stranglehold.
First night at the DNC vs. first night at the RNC. DNC has 3 Senators and the First Lady as speakers. All gave great speeches and Endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. RNC had Chachi, an underwear model, the UFC guy and Melania giving a plagerized speech. I guess Joanie was busy that night.
munchies…..the comforting thing about your statement, is that “Chachi, the underwear model, the UFC guy and Melania”, are NOT seasoned, corrupt, greedy, lobbyist beholden politicians. And the really best part of your comment is that “the First Lady”, and a fat one to boot, is soon, about to be a FORMER “First Lady”. And I use the term “Lady” cautiously.
And your nominee Hitlery Clinton has really been looking a little shook up recently. The DNC is in such great shape….wouldn’t you say? Its Chairwoman Debbie Was-A-Man Ed Shultz, got her butt booted for the corruption that she pushed in the DNC. Real nice….
Not true, Munchie. DNC Day 1 actually had 6 U.S. Senators as speakers (Sanders, Warren, Booker, Franken, Gillibrand, Merkley). They also had 6 labor union leaders, 3 illegal immigrant advocates, an illegal immigrant “Dream Act” amnesty recipient, an illegal immigrant & her anchor baby, a Muslim, a lesbian, a comedian, a singer, and an actress.
RNC Day 1 speakers also included a Medal of Honor awardee, 2 Marines who fought at Benghazi, the mother of one who died at Benghazi, the former Governor of a U.S. border state, a sheriff, siblings of a border agent killed, and two family members of people killed by illegal immigrants.
Trump for President!
I got my munchies for Big Brother on CBS tonight….much more exciting then the DNC
You will see Real Life there. it’s his family reunion I’m really happy for him. !