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Democratic convention live: Bernie Sanders appeals to delegates for calm Democratic convention live: Bernie Sanders appeals to delegates for calm
(35 minutes later)
12.05am BST
00:05
Here’s Clinton campaign chair John Podesta.
He thanks volunteers and donors. “You have voted to make Hillary Clinton the nominee of the Democratic party, this is your victory. And to everyone who supported senator Sanders, this is your victory too!”
There were cheers at first but the Sanders supporters did not seem convinced. In any case the booing has definitely died down.
Many in the crowd seem simply to be ignoring Podesta, as the last speakers were largely ignored. There’s a lot of background noise in the crowd – loud talking – and kind of perfunctory cheering, less-than-thrilled cheering. The crowd has gone from sharply and passionately divided against itself to just kind of flat.
Podesta isn’t saying much memorable. But he sounds busy:
“If we work overtime for the next 105 days we will succeed in making history, and elect the first woman president of the United States!” he says.
That gets some chering.
11.59pm BST
23:59
Trump on Warren: 'she's got a fresh mouth'
Quote via CBS News’ Sopan Deb:
Trump on Elizabeth Warren: "She’s got a fresh mouth. Other than that, she’s got nothing going."
Warren, one of Trump’s most lacerating and – judging by his inability not to respond to her – effective critics, will get the chance to try out her “fresh mouth” on the Democrats later this evening.
Updated
at 12.00am BST
11.53pm BST
23:53
David Smith
The liberal progressive group Democracy for America, which endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, is urging voters to back Hillary Clinton despite today’s backlash from Sanders supporters, writes Guardian Washington correspondent David Smith:
Charles Chamberlain, its executive director, asked reporters: “Is Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders? Absolutely not.” But he insisted that she is “phenomenally better” than Republican rival Donald Trump.
People should vote with their conscience, Chamberlain added, and he was confident that the vast majority of Sanders supporters would realise that means backing Clinton. “I’d rather fight with the Clinton administration from time to time than with the Donald Trump administration all the time,” he said.
He also suggested that the vocal pro-Sanders protesters in Philadelphia are not a representative sample of the 13 million people who voted for him. They are the most passionate and committed, standing in 100 degree heat, and therefore the ones who find it “hardest to let go”, he said.
But polls show that Sanders supporters are more likely to support Clinton now than Clinton supporters were to back Barack Obama at the same stage in 2008.
11.52pm BST
23:52
11.29pm BST11.29pm BST
23:2923:29
Here’s Tina Kotek of the Democratic legislative campaign committee, and also from Oregon.Here’s Tina Kotek of the Democratic legislative campaign committee, and also from Oregon.
She prompts the prompter. “Can we move the prompter a second?”She prompts the prompter. “Can we move the prompter a second?”
Then she continues:Then she continues:
“As the first lesbian speaker in any statehouse of our nation” – and she’s interrupted by cheers.“As the first lesbian speaker in any statehouse of our nation” – and she’s interrupted by cheers.
“We have come so far, and we cannot, we cannot go back. I’m known for being someone who tells it like it is. And the fact is, I’m with Hillary because she is with me:“We have come so far, and we cannot, we cannot go back. I’m known for being someone who tells it like it is. And the fact is, I’m with Hillary because she is with me:
Hillary Clinton understands that the work to improve the lives of everyday Americans doesn’t just need to happen in Washington DC. It needs to happen in state capitols all across our country.Hillary Clinton understands that the work to improve the lives of everyday Americans doesn’t just need to happen in Washington DC. It needs to happen in state capitols all across our country.
[...][...]
We need to elect Hillary Clinton to make sure the progress we are making isn’t compromised by .. reckless leadership in the Oval Office.We need to elect Hillary Clinton to make sure the progress we are making isn’t compromised by .. reckless leadership in the Oval Office.
11.25pm BST11.25pm BST
23:2523:25
Additional Sanders surrogates spreading the word that whatever you want to say about the Democratic nominating process, Clinton... won.Additional Sanders surrogates spreading the word that whatever you want to say about the Democratic nominating process, Clinton... won.
Here’s Sanders’ former press secretary:Here’s Sanders’ former press secretary:
But let me be clear - NO ONE STOLE THIS ELECTION! Team Sanders we did AMAZING WORK. But we lost. It's a hard reality for some.But let me be clear - NO ONE STOLE THIS ELECTION! Team Sanders we did AMAZING WORK. But we lost. It's a hard reality for some.
11.24pm BST11.24pm BST
23:2423:24
Lowey went for a Trump-stinks cheer there, but the crowd didn’t seem that into it. Relatively little fire-breathing about Trump from the stage so far. More clumsy Clinton boosting, alternating with giddy Sanders-talk.Lowey went for a Trump-stinks cheer there, but the crowd didn’t seem that into it. Relatively little fire-breathing about Trump from the stage so far. More clumsy Clinton boosting, alternating with giddy Sanders-talk.
New York representative Adriano Espaillat has just deployed the first Spanish of the event, culminating in “Si se puede!”New York representative Adriano Espaillat has just deployed the first Spanish of the event, culminating in “Si se puede!”
And the crowd takes him up on it:And the crowd takes him up on it:
Si se puede!Si se puede!
Si se puede!Si se puede!
Si se puede!Si se puede!
11.15pm BST11.15pm BST
23:1523:15
Next up, Representative Nita Lowey from New York. “It is my pleasure to join you in this city of Brotherly Love to nominate our first sister president!” she says.Next up, Representative Nita Lowey from New York. “It is my pleasure to join you in this city of Brotherly Love to nominate our first sister president!” she says.
That’s mostly cheered, though there are some lingering moans, or chants, groans maybe, in the crowd.That’s mostly cheered, though there are some lingering moans, or chants, groans maybe, in the crowd.
Lowey tries out a line about the “next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton!” The line receives less booing than most.Lowey tries out a line about the “next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton!” The line receives less booing than most.
Did Sanders’ text message work? The booing at mentions of Clinton’s name seems to have receded, a bit. But there are still some unenthused folks. Looking at you, Texas. (The Texas and California delegations are notably pro-Sanders.)Did Sanders’ text message work? The booing at mentions of Clinton’s name seems to have receded, a bit. But there are still some unenthused folks. Looking at you, Texas. (The Texas and California delegations are notably pro-Sanders.)
11.03pm BST11.03pm BST
23:0323:03
While our wifi was out (fascinating story – ask us later) – the Democrats approved the party platform by overwhelming acclaim, which was followed by merely whelming disclaim, meaning the ayes had it. Platform adopted.While our wifi was out (fascinating story – ask us later) – the Democrats approved the party platform by overwhelming acclaim, which was followed by merely whelming disclaim, meaning the ayes had it. Platform adopted.
10.52pm BST10.52pm BST
22:5222:52
Ben Jealous, former NAACP head and Sanders delegate, is next on stage. He also coaxes a mixed response for Clinton that is more applause than boos. Which is saying something:Ben Jealous, former NAACP head and Sanders delegate, is next on stage. He also coaxes a mixed response for Clinton that is more applause than boos. Which is saying something:
“Bernie will be here tonight. And as he said to us today, today is our day to begin to unify so that we can defeat Donald Trump.”“Bernie will be here tonight. And as he said to us today, today is our day to begin to unify so that we can defeat Donald Trump.”
That’s respectably applauded.That’s respectably applauded.
“Defeat Trump, and make Hillary Clinton president of these United States!”“Defeat Trump, and make Hillary Clinton president of these United States!”
That gets an applause / boo. An apploo.That gets an applause / boo. An apploo.
10.49pm BST10.49pm BST
22:4922:49
Sanders appeals to delegates to cool itSanders appeals to delegates to cool it
Bernie Sanders has texted his delegate whips to get their delegations to stop floor protests.Bernie Sanders has texted his delegate whips to get their delegations to stop floor protests.
“I ask you as a personal courtesy to me to not engage in any kind of protest on the floor,” said a text from Sanders. “It is of utmost importance you explain this to your delegations.”“I ask you as a personal courtesy to me to not engage in any kind of protest on the floor,” said a text from Sanders. “It is of utmost importance you explain this to your delegations.”
The text was signed, “–Bernie”.The text was signed, “–Bernie”.
A spokesperson for Sanders, meanwhile, is arguing on Twitter that the rifts at the convention do not represent a departure from or abandonment of Clinton by Sanders supporters.A spokesperson for Sanders, meanwhile, is arguing on Twitter that the rifts at the convention do not represent a departure from or abandonment of Clinton by Sanders supporters.
This is a tough argument to make, to someone sitting inside the convention.This is a tough argument to make, to someone sitting inside the convention.
But Mike Casca has graphics:But Mike Casca has graphics:
one more time with feeling, folks: the 👏🏼 convention 👏🏼 is 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 the 👏🏼 election. pic.twitter.com/XedlVcB0hZone more time with feeling, folks: the 👏🏼 convention 👏🏼 is 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 the 👏🏼 election. pic.twitter.com/XedlVcB0hZ
10.41pm BST
22:41
Trump on Democratic chairwoman: ‘Hillary threw her under a bus’
10.38pm BST
22:38
Trump renews invitation to Sanders supporters
Trump has just re-upped his invite to Sanders supporters to take the Trump train for a test-run:
Clinton betrayed Bernie voters. Kaine supports TPP, is in pocket of Wall Street, and backed Iraq War.
While Bernie has totally given up on his fight for the people, we welcome all voters who want a better future for our workers.
P.S. Sanders is a chump
Hard to believe that Bernie Sanders has done such a complete fold. He got NOTHING for all of the time, energy and money. The V.P. a joke!
Updated
at 10.49pm BST
10.37pm BST
22:37
Biggest unified cheer of the afternoon now, when Cummings brings up Black Lives Matter.
“But we also realize that our communities work best when they work together,” he says. “Our party knows that diversity is not a problem but is a problem [sic].” [Solution he must have meant.”
Now the crowd is attempting to chant Cummings down. The words are not discernible. He goes louder and drowns the chants with an applause line about racial unity.
The chant is “No TPP! No TPP!”
It’s distracting but Cummings soldiers on, conscious, perhaps, of how it would look on TV if he stopped to tell them to cool it.
He gets to a line about “a woman’s right to choose,” and drowns them out again, but the chant is still there when the applause dies down.
Cummings is talking about seeing his deceased father in the stars at night sometimes. The crowd chant continues: No TPP! No TPP!
“That great man with a fourth-grade education with a mind full of wisdom and common sense.. would say this election is bigger than Hillary Clinton,”
... No TPP!..
“it’s bigger than Bernie Sanders, it’s bigger than all of us.”
No TPP!
May god bless America, Cummings says.
Then there’s a video. But the crowd keeps chanting.
10.29pm BST
22:29
Hoyer says “we are running together... to renew faith in government and help all our people make it in America.”
Hoyer riffs on this theme. Then he gets back to the concluding line of his prepared remarks: “All of us must band together for our country and elect Hillary Clinton president of the United States of America.”
Once again, Clinton is booed as much as she is cheered.
And here’s Hoyer’s Maryland colleague, Elijah Cummings. What kind of reception will he meet? He begins with the story of his childhood as the son of a sharecropper who grew up without running water but with a strong dose of social gospel.
10.22pm BST
22:22
Maryland congressman Steny Hoyer, the biggest Democratic wig yet to appear onstage, hits the lectern. How will the Sanders crowd treat him?
He’s almost immediately interrupted:
We’re here to nominate Hillary Clinton, because of her.... [boos, cheers]
...because of her ability, experience and vision for this country. We’re also here to show America why Democrats up and down the ticket are ready to lead.
10.20pm BST
22:20
Russell, the Maine representative and Sanders backer, gets closest to coaxing a full cheer from the crowd for Clinton yet.
“In the end, love does Trump hate. And in the end, I stand with my Democratic family in making sure we win this fall,” Russell says:
I do not want to see anyone like him become the president of this United State. Whether you support Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, we are all in this together, and we will all have a voice in the Clinton administration.
We all know in our heart of hearts, a Donald Trump presidency will not just hurt our party. It will hurt our people. And I am not OK with that.
I will also do everything I can this fall to elect Hillary so that we have a Democrat in the white House.
It is time to get to work!
Then the whole crowd applauds, with some barely audible boos.
10.14pm BST
22:14
And now Webb’s hard work at getting the crowd to behave has gone out the window.
Diane Russell, a state representative from Maine and a self-described “proud delegate for Bernie Sanders,” takes the lectern and gets the Sanders supporters going again.
Russell introduces herself as “the one who introduced the first amendment to reform the superdelegates system!”
She is quite cheered on that count. It is much safer to make pro-Sanders statements from that stage than pro-Clinton statements.
In opening hour, it sure feels like this is the Bernie Sanders convention
Then Russell she assures the crowd that an effort is under way to reform the nominating process. She’s on the unity commission.
Then, in a powerful window into Democratic leaking, Russell makes a Harry Potter allusion:
“Dumbledor from Harry Potter once said, ‘it takes great courage to stand up to your enemies. It takes even greater courage to stand up to your friends.’
She continues:
On behalf of senator Sanders and the political revolution, in strong, unequivocal support for the unity compromise, this plan gives us the opportunity to present a number of election reforms, including reducing the number of superdelegates by a full two-thirds. That is written right into the commission’s charter.
She reads this rather defensive line from the Teleprompter:
I want to be clear. We did not win this by selling out. We won this by standing up! We won this by standing together.
Updated
at 10.15pm BST
10.06pm BST
22:06
Wellington Webb, former mayor of Denver, a rules committee member, introduces himself as “a longtime supporter of Hillary Clinton.”
He’s describing the work of a “unity commission” formed to review the Democratic nominating process.
When he mentions a particular focus on “superdelegates,” someone in the crowd lets out what can only be descibed as a maniacal cackle. It echoes in the arena, which usually hosts basketball and hockey.
“Let me share with you that the primary season brought to light some issues we need to address as a Democratic family,” says Webb. But, “it is vital that we always move forward together.”
He continues with a basketball metaphor:
Just as we watched LeBron James and Steph Curry shake hands after a well-fought fight, we know that the country is eager to watch these two giants fight together.
Webb is ad-libbing now:
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are our champions. They both deserve our cheers.
They both deserve our cheers.
They both deserve our cheers.
I ask you if you would do this for me. Do this for our party. Do this for you. And let’s show Donald Trump we can be united.
Let’s all cheer for Bernie tonight when he takes the stage. And let’s also cheer for Hillary when she takes the stage on Thursday.
There’s a reasonable amount of cheering and a reasonable lack of booing.
10.00pm BST
22:00
Democrats apologize to Sanders for emails
The Democratic national committee has released a statement apologizing to Bernie Sanders and his supporters for “the inexcusable remarks made over email.”
A leak of nearly 20,000 emails among party officials revealed them testing ways to challenge Sanders and disparaging him and his candidacy.
“On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party for the inexcusable remarks made over email,” the DNC statement says.
These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process. The DNC does not -- and will not -- tolerate disrespectful language exhibited toward our candidates. Individual staffers have also rightfully apologized for their comments, and the DNC is taking appropriate action to ensure it never happens again.
We are embarking on a convention today that — thanks to the great efforts of Secretary Clinton, her team, Senator Sanders, his team, and the entire Democratic Party — will show a forward-thinking and optimistic vision for America, as compared to the dark and pessimistic vision that the GOP presented last week in Cleveland. Our focus is on electing Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine and Democrats across the country, thanks to Democratic Party that is strong, unified, and poised for victory in November.
The signatories are:
Donna Brazile, Incoming Interim Chair
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Secretary Andrew Tobias
Treasurer Raymond Buckley, Vice Chair
ASDC President Maria Elena Durazo
Vice Chair Mayor R.T. Rybak
Vice Chair Henry R. Muñoz III
National Finance Committee Chair
9.54pm BST
21:54
Fudge: 'we are all Democrats and we need to act like it'
Fudge says, “Let the convention begin.”
Then she lectures the unruly crowd.
“May I just make a point. There are many of you who do not know me in this room. I intend to be fair. ... I will be respectful of you. And I want you to be respectful of me.”
This brings huge cheers.
“We are all Democrats and we need to act like it!” she says. Bigger cheers.
Like Trump’s family’s Republicanism, however, Sanders’s Democratic bona fides don’t run particularly deep, and his non-delegate supporters here may be cut from a similar partisan cloth.