The Democratic Party’s convention in Chicago kicked off with a tone of division, rather than the promised “joy,” as former nominee Hillary Clinton took the stage to mock former President Donald Trump.
Clinton’s remarks were laced with irony, as she highlighted Trump’s conviction in May on charges related to his failure to report payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels as campaign expenditures. However, Clinton herself has faced criticism for her own handling of campaign finances, including her use of Fusion GPS, the firm behind the debunked “Russia collusion” hoax.
Clinton’s reference to Trump’s personal life was also notable, given her own husband’s history of infidelity. The crowd’s chants of “Lock him up!” in response to her comments only added to the sense of division and partisanship.
The convention’s messaging was clear, with a video immediately following Clinton’s speech that highlighted Trump’s legal troubles and selectively edited his past statements to portray him in a negative light. The video’s claims, including the assertion that Trump warned of a “bloodbath” if he lost, were disputed by fact-checkers.
The evening’s speakers also included Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who has been a vocal critic of Trump and played a key role in the January 6 Committee’s investigation. However, Raskin’s own history of voting against certifying Trump’s Electoral College victory in 2017 and leading the effort to impeach him for challenging the 2020 election results raises questions about his credibility on the issue.
As the night wore on, it became clear that the convention’s focus on division and partisanship may ultimately backfire for the Democratic Party. Clinton’s speech, in particular, may be seen as a misstep in the party’s efforts to promote a message of unity and “joy.”
