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Jill Biden delivers keynote address at Democratic convention – live DNC 2020: Jill Biden delivers keynote address – live
(32 minutes later)
Democrats formally nominate Joe Biden for president while Ocasio-Cortez praises Sanders’ campaign in speech Joe Biden formally nominated for president at Democratic national convention while Ocasio-Cortez praises Sanders’ campaign
At the beginning of tonight’s roll call vote to formally nominate the Democratic candidate for president, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referenced the “wounds of racial injustice, colonization, misogyny, and homohpboia” that the US must work to heal.
As delegates from across the country cast their votes, the country’s legacy of colonialism was spotlighted as representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands appeared on the screen.
The five territories combined have allocated 151 delegates altogether. The US citizens in these territories will not be eligible to cast their votes for president in November.
American Samoans, who are considered “nationals” rather than full citizens nonetheless pay into federal benefit programs. In the other territories, residents are considered citizens but don’t have the right to vote and are not represented in Congress. In the 1900s, the Supreme Court justified American occupation without representation by holding that the islands are “inhabited by alien races, differing from us in religion, customs, laws, methods of taxation, and modes of thought”.
– Maanvi Singh
Even Republicans are taking a moment to commend Jill Biden after the former second lady’s convention speech tonight.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally to the president, said in a tweet: “Tonight, Jill Biden did a very good job representing herself and Joe in the causes they believe in. She’s an outstanding person who has led a consequential life.”
Conservative commentator Erick Erickson also applauded Biden for the work she has done to help military families.
Former President Barack Obama congratulated Joe Biden of formally receiving the Democratic presidential nominee.
“Congrats, Joe. I’m proud of you,” Obama said in a tweet.
Biden’s accomplishment comes 12 years after Obama first accepted the Democratic nomination and named Biden as his running mate.
The second night of the virtual Democratic convention has now concluded, but the blog will have more reactions and analysis coming, so stay tuned.The second night of the virtual Democratic convention has now concluded, but the blog will have more reactions and analysis coming, so stay tuned.
“After our son, Beau, died of cancer, I wondered if I would ever smile or feel joy again,” Jill Biden said. “It was summer but there was no warmth left for me.” “After our son Beau died of cancer, I wondered if I would ever smile or feel joy again,” Jill Biden said. “It was summer but there was no warmth left for me.”
She praised her husband’s resolve to continue working after the loss. “Four days after Beau’s funeral, I watched Joe shave and put on his suit. I saw him steel himself in the mirror—take a breath—put his shoulders back—and walk out into a world empty of our son. He went back to work. That’s just who he is.” She praised her husband’s resolve to continue working after the loss. “Four days after Beau’s funeral, I watched Joe shave and put on his suit. I saw him steel himself in the mirror, take a breath, put his shoulders back and walk out into a world empty of our son. He went back to work. That’s just who he is.”
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Jill Biden said her husband, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, would provide “leadership worthy of this nation.” Jill Biden said her husband, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, would provide “leadership worthy of this nation”.
“Worthy of you,” Biden told the Americans watching the virtual convention. “Worthy of you,” she told the Americans watching the virtual convention.
Biden promised that her husband’s election would ensure that classrooms would “ring out with laughter and possibility once again.” She promised that her husband’s election would ensure that classrooms would “ring out with laughter and possibility once again”.
“The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders,” Biden said. “The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders,” she said.
The former second lady promised a President Biden would “bring us together and make us whole, carry us forward in our time of need, keep the promise of America for all of us.” The former second lady promised a President Biden would “bring us together and make us whole, carry us forward in our time of need, keep the promise of America for all of us”.
Former second lady Jill Biden is now delivering her convention speech in support of her husband, Democratic nominee Joe Biden.Former second lady Jill Biden is now delivering her convention speech in support of her husband, Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Biden delivered her speech from a Delaware school where she used to teach English, and she used the setting to underscore the uncertainty surrounding schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.Biden delivered her speech from a Delaware school where she used to teach English, and she used the setting to underscore the uncertainty surrounding schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“This quiet is heavy,” Biden said as she moved through the school. “You can hear the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways.”“This quiet is heavy,” Biden said as she moved through the school. “You can hear the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways.”
As the wife of a career politician — this is Joe Biden’s third run for president — Jill Biden has often found herself in a tricky position, asked to defend her husband’s record. As the wife of a career politician – this is Joe Biden’s third run for president – Jill Biden has often found herself in a tricky position, asked to defend her husband’s record.
This campaign cycle, she was asked to answer for her husband’s behavior during the Anita Hill hearings in 1991. “I watched the hearings like most other Americans, and so I mean, Joe said, as I did, we believed Anita Hill. He voted against Clarence Thomas. I mean, he’s called Anita Hill, they’ve spoken. He apologized for the way the hearings were run. And so now it’s—it’s time to move on,” she said in an NPR interview last year. This campaign cycle, she was asked to answer for her husband’s behavior during the Anita Hill hearings in 1991. “I watched the hearings like most other Americans, and so I mean, Joe said, as I did, we believed Anita Hill. He voted against Clarence Thomas. I mean, he’s called Anita Hill, they’ve spoken. He apologized for the way the hearings were run. And so now it’s – it’s time to move on,” she said in an NPR interview last year.
She’s been asked about how her husband has made women uncomfortable by touching them. For that as well, she has an answer.She’s been asked about how her husband has made women uncomfortable by touching them. For that as well, she has an answer.
“You know, I’ve been married to Joe for 42 years, and I’ve seen how he interacts with people—but times have changed,” she told Vogue magazine. “And he’s said, you know, ‘I’m going to take responsibility for this, I hear this,’ and he’s much more aware of how he interacts with people now.” “You know, I’ve been married to Joe for 42 years, and I’ve seen how he interacts with people – but times have changed,” she told Vogue magazine. “And he’s said, you know, ‘I’m going to take responsibility for this, I hear this,’ and he’s much more aware of how he interacts with people now.”
Journalists and political commentators have noted that she has been her husband’s fiercest defender on the campaign trail. Sometimes that’s meant literally.Journalists and political commentators have noted that she has been her husband’s fiercest defender on the campaign trail. Sometimes that’s meant literally.
When a protester rushed Joe Biden while he was delivering a campaign speech in early March, Jill Biden intercepted to protect her husband, while Biden’s senior advisor Symone Sanders carried the woman off stage. When a protester rushed Joe Biden while he was delivering a campaign speech in early March, Jill Biden intercepted to protect her husband, while Biden’s senior adviser Symone Sanders carried the woman off stage.
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain, was featured in a video describing the friendship between her late husband and Joe Biden.Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain, was featured in a video describing the friendship between her late husband and Joe Biden.
“It was a friendship that shouldn’t have worked,” the video began, before going on to describe the camaraderie between the two longtime senators.“It was a friendship that shouldn’t have worked,” the video began, before going on to describe the camaraderie between the two longtime senators.
After the video played, Biden tweeted, “John McCain was a good man, and a good friend. He made this country better. I miss him dearly.” After the video played, Biden tweeted: “John McCain was a good man, and a good friend. He made this country better. I miss him dearly.”
Dr. Jill Biden is expected to speak in moments. Dr Jill Biden is expected to speak in moments.
Jill, who is Joe’s wife of 43 years, is one of her husband’s closest advisors and his primary campaign surrogate, though she has said she never aspired to be in politics, let alone become a First Lady. “I say that I’m apolitical — if that’s at all possible being married to Joe for 30 years,” she told NPR in 2008, the last time her husband ran for president. Jill Biden, who is Joe Biden’s wife of 43 years, is one of her husband’s closest advisers and his primary campaign surrogate, though she has said she never aspired to be in politics, let alone become a first lady. “I say that I’m apolitical – if that’s at all possible being married to Joe for 30 years,” she told NPR in 2008, the last time her husband ran for president.
An educator who has taught writing in high school and community colleges, Jill Biden has a doctorate in education — and maintained a teaching job though Biden’s term as Vice President. She’s an advocate for military families, and for public education — championing community colleges in particular as “one of America’s best-kept secrets.” An educator who has taught writing in high school and community colleges, Jill Biden has a doctorate in education – and maintained a teaching job though Joe Biden’s term as vice-president. She’s an advocate for military families, and for public education – championing community colleges in particular as “one of America’s best-kept secrets”.
When she met Joe, in 1975, the two were introduced by his brother. Joe was a Delaware senator at the time, and Jill was finishing her college degree at the University of Delaware. When she met Joe Biden, in 1975, the two were introduced by his brother. Joe Biden was a Delaware senator at the time, and Jill was finishing her college degree at the University of Delaware.
Biden was mourning the loss of his first wife, Neilia, and their 1-year-old daughter, Naomi, who died in a car accident three years back. He was raising his two sons, Hunter and Beau, as a single father. Joe Biden was mourning the loss of his first wife, Neilia, and their one-year-old daughter, Naomi, who died in a car accident three years back. He was raising his two sons, Hunter and Beau, as a single father.
After they met, “[Jill] gave me back my life,” Biden wrote in his memoir Promises to Keep. “She made me start to think my family might be whole again.” After they met, “[Jill] gave me back my life”, Joe Biden wrote in his memoir Promises to Keep. “She made me start to think my family might be whole again.”
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Former secretary of state Colin Powell endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid, becoming one of the most prominent Republicans to do so.Former secretary of state Colin Powell endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid, becoming one of the most prominent Republicans to do so.
“Today, we are a country divided, and we have a president doing everything in his power to make it that way and keep us that way,” Powell said in his video for the Democratic convention.“Today, we are a country divided, and we have a president doing everything in his power to make it that way and keep us that way,” Powell said in his video for the Democratic convention.
“What a difference it will make to have a president who unites us, who restores our strength and our soul.”“What a difference it will make to have a president who unites us, who restores our strength and our soul.”
Powell’s endorsement is the latest attempt by the Biden campaign to reach out to centrist voters who supported Barack Obama before flipping to Trump in 2016.Powell’s endorsement is the latest attempt by the Biden campaign to reach out to centrist voters who supported Barack Obama before flipping to Trump in 2016.
The delegates casting votes for Wyoming were Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student whose murder prompted the passage of a landmark law that expanded the definition of violent hate crimes.
The Shepards have been deeply critical of the Trump administration for failing to protect LGBTQ rights. They thanked Biden today for “his passion for social justice & his bottomless compassion for others”.
– Maanvi Singh
One of the defining features of the DNC so far has been its outreach to anti-Trump Republicans. Last night we had John Kasich and Meg Whitman, and tonight we have Colin Powell.
This hasn’t gone down too well with some Democrats, especially those who are more on the progressive and anti-war sides of the party (Colin Powell was George Bush’s secretary of state and helped build the case for the invasion of Iraq).
Here’s how some critics have been responding:
Meanwhile, the Onion has done it again, with this biting commentary on Colin Powell’s appearance.
Former secretary of state John Kerry criticized Trump as an embarrassment on the global stage in his convention speech.
“When this president goes overseas, it isn’t a goodwill mission,” Kerry said. “It’s a blooper reel. He breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators. America deserves a president who is looked up to, not laughed at.”
Kerry, who endorsed Joe Biden early in the primary cycle, contrasted Trump’s foreign policy agenda with that of a Biden administration.
“Our troops can’t get out of harm’s way by hiding in the White House bunker,” Kerry said. “They need a president who will stand up for them. And President Biden will.”
Progressive activist Ady Barkan, who is dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, addressed the Democratic convention and demanded access to quality healthcare for all Americans.
“We live in the richest country in history and yet we do not guarantee this most basic human right,” said Barkan. “Everyone living in America should get the healthcare they need regardless of their employment status or ability to pay.”
Barkan, who has lost his voice because of ALS and has testified before Congress using eye movements, urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden in order to avoid the “existential threat of another four years of this president”.
“Even during this terrible crisis, Donald Trump and Republican politicians are trying to take away millions of people’s health insurance,” Barkan said.
“We must elect Joe Biden. Each of us must be a hero for our communities, for our country, and then, with a compassionate and intelligent president, we must act together and put on his desk a bill that guarantees us all the healthcare we deserve.”
In what must be a first in the history of the DNC, a plate of calamari has made a star turn, making an appearance in the Rhode Island part of the roll call. They even called themselves “the calamari comeback state of Rhode Island”.
The delegate casting the votes for Virginia is Khizr Khan, whose son, army captain Humayun Khan, died serving in the Iraq war.
Speaking at the Democratic national convention in 2016 with his wife Ghazala, Kahn delivered one of the most memorable moments of that election cycle: He held up a copy of the constitution that he kept in his jacket pocket, held it up and addressed Donald Trump: “Let me ask you, have you even read the United States constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words ‘liberty’ and ‘equal protection of law’.”
The comments from Kahn, who is Muslim and Pakistani-American, came after Trump made xenophobic comments linking American Muslims to terrorists and calling for a ban on Muslim immigration.
Kahn spoke from Charlottesville, the site of a neo-Nazi, white supremacist rally in 2017 where a counter-protestor was killed. Donald Trump said that there were “very fine people on both sides”.
Biden said he decided to run for president after that rally. “When those folks came out of the fields carrying those torches, chanting the anti-Semitic bile and their veins bulging, accompanied by the Ku Klux Klan, with such ugliness … I never thought I’d see something like that again in my life. That’s when I decided,” Biden told supporters last year.
– Maanvi Singh
Joe Biden, a three-time presidential candidate, is officially the Democratic presidential nominee -- more than three decades after his first White House bid.
“It is the honor of my life to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States of America,” Biden said in a tweet.
The formal nomination of Biden underscored what an unprecedented convention this is. Every state delegation cast their votes remotely, and Biden briefly thanked his supporters via livestream.
Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who would otherwise be celebrating Biden’s nomination in Milwaukee right now, watched the roll call vote from her couch.
After the roll call concluded, the convention briefly turned to Joe Biden, who thanked his supporters for nominating him.
“It means the world to me and my family, and I’ll see you on Thursday,” Biden said.
The Democratic nominee and his family celebrated his achievement with streamers and a dozen or so balloons.
It was far from the massive balloon drop that Biden would have enjoyed if the Democrats were able to hold their convention in person, but it added a bit of pageantry to the virtual event.
The Delaware delegation initially passed on casting its votes, but the roll call later returned to Delaware Senator Tom Carper and Delaware Governor John Carney to close out the formal nomination of Joe Biden.
Speaking from the Joseph R Biden train station in Wilmington, Delaware, Carney praised Biden for spending decades “delivering for families like his own.”
Carper, who served alongside Biden in the Senate, described him as “a leader made for this moment and the finest public servant I have ever known.”
The two lawmakers then cast their votes for “our friend, Delaware’s Joe Biden.”
The roll call votes from delegates across the US are giving a lot of us who are isolating due to the pandemic some serious wanderlust.
This reporter is all about the “calamari comeback state of Rhode Island” - looks lovely!
– Maanvi Singh