Obama night at the Democratic convention: Barack, Michelle Obama rouse crowd for Kamala Harris

CHICAGO — Former US President Barack Obama returned to the national stage on Aug 20 night to boost his long-time Democratic ally Kamala Harris in her 11th-hour presidential bid against Republican Donald Trump.

Obama, America’s first Black president, has thrown his considerable political capital behind Harris as she seeks to make history herself on Nov 5 as the first woman and first Black and South Asian person to be elected US president.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up! I am feeling ready to go,” Obama told delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, echoing his first presidential campaign slogan. “We have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her.”

“America, hope is making a comeback,” Michelle Obama said to roars from the crowd.

Pulling no punches, she cautioned that Trump would try to distort Harris’ truth, much as he did “everything in his power to try to make people fear us”, referring to her and her husband who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017.

“His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” she said to deafening applause.

“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?“ she asked, drawing laughter from the crowd. DNC festivities kicked off for a second day on Aug 20 at Chicago’s United Centre but were marred by long delays to get into the security perimeter, leaving seats empty when it was time for a roll call of states’ delegates.

Harris joined virtually from a campaign rally in Milwaukee. Delegates in Chicago raised signs saying “Freedom”, mirroring those raised by supporters at her Wisconsin rally.

Harris and her vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, took to the Milwaukee stage in the same venue that hosted July’s Republican National Convention, where Trump formally received his party’s nod.

In her speech, Harris criticised Trump for saying he had no regrets about the US Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe versus Wade decision that had recognised women’s constitutional right to abortion. Three Trump-appointed justices joined a 6-3 majority on the high court.

“I do believe, you know, bad behaviour should result in a consequence. Well, we will make sure he does face a consequence and that will be at the ballot box in November,” Harris said. Democrats see abortion rights as a winning issue in this campaign and Harris had led the charge as vice-president.

The roll call at the DNC turned out to be a surprise star-studded event: Rapper Lil Jon performed his hit Turn Down For What alongside the Georgia delegation, film director Spike Lee appeared with New York’s delegation, and actor Sean Astin of The Lord Of The Rings fame spoke for Indiana.

Crossing the aisle

Republicans who have left the fold since Trump’s takeover of their party crossed the aisle on Aug 20 night to address the convention, including Trump’s former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham and former Trump voter Kyle Sweetser.

Grisham described her journey from a Trump “true believer” to the first senior White House staffer to resign after the Jan 6, 2021, assault by Trump supporters on the US Capitol.

“He has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth,” she said. “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people. And she has my vote.”