on the 2016 Democratic National Convention D.N.C. continued from p. 8
tion in Cleveland!” Johnson said, also emailing on day three. “One thing that’s really striking here is how much depth each member of the party has brought to the national discussion. Whether it’s President Bill Clinton, disability-rights advocate Anastasia Somoza, Senator Cory Booker or any of the other incredible speakers, we have heard one convincing argument after another about why Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party are infinitely better suited to face our nation’s challenges and look out for the best interests of the American people. Unlike the other side of the aisle, we’re talking about the needs of every community in America, and engaging in a real dialogue about how we can do a better job for each of them. “Perhaps Michelle Obama put it best,” Johnson reflected, “when she said, ‘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.’ ... I think our Democratic leaders have made it clear that we, under President Hillary Clinton, are the party that will actually instill the right values in our children and create positive change for everybody across our great nation.” Much was made in the media of the Sanders supporters’ raucous chanting for their candidate and booing Clinton and her proxies on Monday night. But Schwartz, the Village district leader, said he wasn’t among those making a ruckus. “Bernie asked that we not boo, or turn our backs, or be disruptive, so I followed his wishes,” Schwartz said, also speaking on the convention’s third day. “To a certain extent, I think that those who were disruptive don’t really understand that political change is a long-term process, and don’t understand that Donald Trump is fascistic. “In the New York Sanders Delegation, we voted not to boo,” he said. “The New York Sanders Delegation has been holding meetings around the state, and today we voted to create a new grassroots Democratic organization to pursue reform politics in New York. It will be the New York chapter of the national group Bernie wants to create, but we are ahead of his schedule.” As for his feelings about the D.N.C., Schwartz said, above all, he’s extremely scared — scared about what he sees as the glaring weakness of their candidate. Bombastic G.O.P. nominee Trump had recently edged ahead of Clinton in the polls — though Clinton rebounded after the D.N.C. “The convention conveyed some powerful messages,” Schwartz said, “and the Democratic Party, on most issues, takes compelling positions on inequality, racism and social justice. But we have a very flawed candidate, who has done admirable things in her life, TheVillager.com
A relatively rare Hillar y Clinton suppor ter amid the crowd outside — at least the crowd that the photographer was following.
but is broadly distrusted. I am scared to death that Trump might win. Bernie would have killed him.” Conversely, Assemblymember Deborah Glick put a very positive spin on things. As for the speakers, they were amazing, she said. Michelle Obama was “spectacular,” while Bill Clinton “is an incredible storyteller and hits the high points,” she noted. As for the Bernie boo birds, she said, “There has certainly been a Bernie Sanders segment that has been rude and disrespectful, frankly, to people who didn’t deserve it. The first day was the worst. It really was an isolated group, near the press box, so it was amplified. “A lot of people are here for the first time,” the veteran pol observed. “The Sanders campaign, to his credit, brought a lot of people in. They’re not used to — ‘You don’t always win.’ You have to be able to say, ‘Yes, that we got most of what we wanted.’ ” Glick maintained that Sanders honestly has pushed Clinton to the left on some issues, for example, like higher education and foreign trade. As for the takeaway from the Republicans’ confab, she said, “Look, it’s not a surprise. It was a very negative, hostile message about a country I do not recognize. Doom and gloom — make everyone afraid, and the strongman will come in.” Schwartz had hoped to challenge Glick for Assembly in the September primary. But he recently called it off due to concern about his heart, having experienced high
A Sanders “super”-delegate perhaps?
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Geraldo Rivera was out repor ting on the hot streets. August 4, 2016
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