Photo Credit: Daryel Dunston
Sanders supporters began the day in protest, and the political climate inside the convention hall was one of anger and hostility. Sanders and Clinton supporters were witnessed engaging in tense shouting matches, and the atmosphere inside the hall was one of disharmony and exclusion.
After being booed at a delegate meeting while mentioning Secretary Clinton’s name, Sanders was forced to take more aggressive action. He quickly drafted and distributed a memo to his staff, delegates, and supporters vehemently opposing their actions, and implored them to cease all hostilities while encouraging them to embrace Secretary Clinton’s nomination.
The memo successfully doused all impending flames, but under the surface, tempers still smoldered.
Then Senator Sanders took stage.
One must fully understand the political capital Sanders’ possessed in the convention hall to appreciate the magnitude and depth of his speech. Sanders selflessly leaned in, and embraced a candidate and system, that essentially colluded to keep him on the sideline. A point of contention Sanders raised on multiple occasions during the primary season, and more importantly, a claim many Hillary supporters dismissed.
Couple that with the sheer number of Sanders supporters inside the convention hall. The television audience was unaware that Sanders had the support, resources, and impetus inside the convention hall to pull off a successful political coup, but instead, opted to exemplify class, dignity, and respect for a party that all but rejected him. He wielded his political sword for the greater good, embracing Hillary and her supporters, in a way most thought would never be possible.
Such an embrace may have saved the Democratic Party, and ironically, many will forget that its savior was a progressive socialist Jew.
To view the speech in its entirety click here, or read the full transcript here.
The Dunston Report 