After two lackluster days of declining viewership (off 27% and 24% v. 2016), the DNC launched another day utilizing the same scripted content. The day 3 programming started by focusing on gun violence with various citizens reciting the gun violence plaguing the cities. Yet, the topic was awkward as the DNC has also embraced the Defund the Police initiative. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have been purchasing guns for self-protection, including a record number of first time gun buyers.
The next topics included climate change, systematic racism, police violence against people of color, violence against trans people, and the COVID pandemic. Several citizens spoke about how climate change is an existential crisis which demands ending fossil fuels. Gov. Lujan Grisham (D-NV) talked about rejoining the Paris Climate Change Accord and that time is running out. We’re sorry but that these are the same messages that Hillary Clinton tried in 2016. The only thing that was missing was an overt promise to end fracking and shutter coal mines.
Next up was a bizarre performance by Billie Eilish. A few minutes later it was singer Prince Royce’s turn. The Democrats are certainly the party of Hollywood. Of course, we already knew that, but why rub it in? The Heartland voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin could care less about Billie Eilish and Prince Royce.
Then host Kerry Washington said that the black community is hugely diverse. One immediately recalled Joe Biden’s recent statement; “What you all know but most people don’t know, unlike the African American community with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community, with incredibly different attitudes about different things.” Why remind viewers of Biden’s gaffes?
The video then pivoted to immigration and the plight of Dreamers and undocumented immigrants. Mostly in Spanish, the stories brought to the forefront the issue of immigration. But do Midwestern voters really want more immigration and healthcare for non-citizens?
Then came the celebration of the feminist movement and power. Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris. Keep Rising and Vote. HIllary Clinton gave a particularly flat address. She certainly has not gotten over her 2016 loss and is still clinging to the conspiracy theories about Russia. We don’t think Democrats should be featuring Hillary. Democrats need to move beyond the Clintons. Following Hillary with Nancy Pelosi just reminded viewers of how old the Democratic leadership are: Nancy Pelosi (age 80), Joe Biden (age 77), Hillary Clinton (age 72). Pelosi launched her remarks by speaking about diversity, women and LGBTQ. Then came Elizabeth Warren, another person who turns off middle class Midwestern voters.
President Obama ridiculed Trump, repeating the false narratives that Trump does not work hard and has not grown into the job. What Obama fails to understand is that Trump was elected to drain the swamp. Then Obama lectured the TV audience, as if scolding children. We are sure that the Obama faithful liked the speech, but we don’t think it appealed to our undecided voters or Independents.
Finally, Kamala Harris finished the evening off by accepting her VP nomination in an empty convention hall. The DNC tried to make her into a superwoman, but the imagery will not be appealing to Midwestern voters. Harris recounted how her parents met during the 60s protests in California and then spoke about identity politics, police brutality, systemic racism, and the pandemic. She focused on the Black Lives Matter movement and said that there is “no vaccine for racism.” As Harris finished her speech, Biden made a strange entrance and waived to Harris from a distance.
Our conclusion is that tonight was a huge cultural miss. Democrats are doubling down on the same themes and issues that cost them the mid-west in 2016. Maybe it will work in 2020 due to the coronavirus, but we think they are sounding the wrong notes if they want to win back the Midwestern voter. Then again, maybe they don’t care.
NewEnglandPolitics.com 