Harris vows to chart a new way forward, defeat Trump
26th August 2024 · 0 Comments
By Ariana Figueroa and Jacob Fischler
Contributing Writers
(States Newsroom) — Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination for president last Thursday evening, pitching her candidacy as an opportunity for the nation to move forward, rather than accept a dark future she said would follow a second election of her Republican opponent.
Harris on the last night of the Democratic National Convention took advantage of the largest television audience she’s likely to have at least until her first debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump next month.
The vice president told her life story to the millions of Americans watching, saying it informed her agenda meant to boost the country’s’ middle class.
She characterized herself as a lifelong public servant and unifier, in contrast to what she described as Trump’s divisive self-centeredness.
“My entire career, I have only had one client: the people,” she said. “And so, on behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender, or the language your grandmother speaks, on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey, … on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America.”
She professed her patriotism several times in her forward at a major party convention.”
“After staging a coup to take the nomination from Joe Biden just weeks ago, Kamala Harris will take the stage at the DNC to share her dangerously liberal agenda with the Democrats gathered to coronate her in Chicago,” he said.
Convention capstone
Harris’ acceptance marked the end of a four-day convention focused on the theme of passing the torch to the next generation that was woven through the speeches of long-established Democrats in the party, such as former President Bill Clinton, who said he loved “seeing all these young leaders.”
On the first night, Biden, who dropped out of the race last month, delivered a farewell address to Democrats, endorsing Harris. The Obamas on last Tuesday made the case for Harris, saying in her candidacy, “hope is making a comeback.”
As Harris gave her speech aimed at defining her candidacy and vision for the country as one of freedom and joy, a sit-in protest occurred outside the United Center. Dozens of Uncommitted delegates who advocated for a Palestinian American to have a speaking slot at the DNC said they had their request denied by the Harris campaign.
Inside the arena, Harris said negotiating an end to the war, with a return of Israeli hostages and a lasting cease-fire, was a top administration priority.
“President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity,” she said.
At the watch party in Philadelphia, Alina Taylor, a special education teacher who lives in Upper Dublin, said as a Democratic committee person for her area, she plans to volunteer and canvass for the Harris campaign.
“I came down here because I’m fired up and I’m ready to go,” she said.
She said prior to Harris’ speech that she wants to hear her talk about the economy and what she plans on doing about reproductive rights.
“That’s so huge, because I want my daughters to have more rights than me, and I don’t want them to have less,” she said.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star reporter John Cole contributed to this report.
This article originally published in the August 26, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
