Kamala Harris to get Democrats' nod, Obama to say Trump has failed

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Kamala Harris to get Democrats' nod, Obama to say Trump has failed

By James Oliphant

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event, on her first joint appearance with presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden after being named by Biden as his running mate, at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., August 12, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Kamala Harris will unleash her prosecutorial skills against President Donald Trump on Wednesday when she addresses the Democratic National Convention as presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate.

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama will also speak, telling the convention that Trump's failures as his successor had led to 170,000 people dead from the coronavirus, millions of lost jobs and America's reputation badly diminished in the world, according to excerpts of his speech released by organizers.

 

A former California prosecutor, Harris will make history as the first Black woman and Asian-American on a major U.S. presidential ticket. Speaking on the third day of a four-day convention, she will accept the party's nomination for vice president in the Nov. 3 election against Trump.

 

Harris was expected to aggressively press the case against Trump's re-election, likely speaking directly to millions of women, young Americans and voters of color, constituencies Democrats need if Biden is to defeat the Republican Trump.

She gained prominence in the Senate for her exacting interrogations of Trump nominees, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General Bill Barr.

 

The proceedings, largely virtual due to the coronavirus, begin at 9 p.m. ET (0100 GMT on Thursday).

 

In excerpts made available ahead of time, Obama, whose vice president was Biden from 2009-2017, says he had hoped that Trump would take the job seriously, come to feel the weight of the office, and discover a reverence for American democracy.

 

"Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before," Obama was expected to say.

 

The coronavirus has complicated life with many Americans expecting to cast votes by mail to avoid crowds at the polls. Trump has repeatedly and without evidence attacked mail voting as susceptible to fraud, though voting by mail is nothing new in American political life.

 

Speaking at a virtual fundraiser on Wednesday with elected officials from Pennsylvania, Biden repeated his calls for

unifying the country.

 

"This moment requires us to sort of rise together and get everyone we know involved, remember who we are as a nation, to build back a better future. That’s what America always does in a crisis," Biden said.

 

CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS

 

In her speech Harris will have an opportunity to outline her background as a child of immigrants from India and Jamaica who as a district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. senator and now vice-presidential candidate shattered gender and racial barriers.

 

Biden, 77, named Harris, 55, as his running mate last week against Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence, 61. She will deliver her speech from an austere hotel ballroom in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

 

Obama will speak to the convention live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. He will speak about how he worked closely with Biden, his vice president, to lead the country out of the last recession, according to the excerpts.

 

The first two nights of the four-day Democratic convention showcased elder statesmen and rising stars in the party who said Biden's election would repair a pandemic-battered United States and put an end to the chaos of Trump's four years in office.

 

But the party comprises a range of ideological positions.

 

Some on the left complained that Republicans like former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who is backing Biden, a moderate Democrat, over Trump, were given more air time than the party's own progressive wing.

 

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading progressive voice from New York, had one minute for her remarks on Tuesday night.

 

Some progressive members of Congress voted against the party's policy platform for omitting a pledge to pursue a "Medicare for All" national healthcare system.

 

The left's standard bearer and Biden's former rival for the nomination, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, spoke on Monday night, urging unity and emphasizing Biden's pledges to raise the minimum wage to $15, expand paid family leave, and fund preschool for all Americans.

 

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading progressive who is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, said on "The Late

Show with Stephen Colbert" on Tuesday that some Democrats had "different priorities" but were united in working to defeat Trump.

 

The Republican National Convention, also largely virtual, takes place next week.

 

(Reporting by James Oliphant, additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Simon Lewis; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-20

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

13 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Former U.S. President Barack Obama will also speak, telling the convention that Trump's failures as his successor had led to 170,000 people dead from the coronavirus, millions of lost jobs and America's reputation badly diminished in the world, according to excerpts of his speech released by organizers.

What a surprise, NOT!

[thaibeachlovers]

17 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Some progressive members of Congress voted against the party's policy platform for omitting a pledge to pursue a "Medicare for All" national healthcare system.

The one thing they could do, IMO, to make themselves popular with most sectors of America, and not surprisingly at all, not going to do. Would be interesting to see how much the medical insurance companies give to the Dems.

Edited August 19, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[simple1]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What a surprise, NOT!

At least Obama's speech should be factual, rather than the false and misleading statements every time trump opens his mouth in the public domain.

Edited August 19, 2020 by simple1

[Somtamnication]

The excerpts are absolutely scathing. Getting my popcorn!

[Tug]

Poor Donald he’s going to have a rough night he’s going to get called out and exposed for the abject failure that he is and they won’t lie I perdict a major tweet storm tantrum brewing 

[Tug]

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What a surprise, NOT!

Well it is what it is

[bendejo]

Just now, Tug said:

Poor Donald he’s going to have a rough night he’s going to get called out and exposed for the abject failure that he is and they won’t lie I perdict a major tweet storm tantrum brewing 

Maybe he'll pardon Benedict Arnold as a way to get attention.

 

 

[rcummings]

19 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The one thing they could do, IMO, to make themselves popular with most sectors of America, and not surprisingly at all, not going to do. Would be interesting to see how much the medical insurance companies give to the Dems.

In fact, the Democrats do srongly support a Medicare option which is bitterly opposed by the insurance companies.

[Tug]

Oh and it’s ladys night lol kamala Nancy Hillary and Elisabeth lol trumps going have a tweet tempest lol and I’m sure he will further alienate the lady’s lol

[pegman]

Obama goes for the easy call.

33 minutes ago, bendejo said:

Maybe he'll pardon Benedict Arnold as a way to get attention.

 

 

His betrayal of the domestic terrorists is more than worthy of a pardon. Award him the same medal he gave Rush too.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The one thing they could do, IMO, to make themselves popular with most sectors of America, and not surprisingly at all, not going to do. Would be interesting to see how much the medical insurance companies give to the Dems.

Misplaced smear.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed, and reply.   Please get back on topic. 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What a surprise, NOT!

Well you are correct, not a surprise given all those criticisms of Trump are well founded in reality (remember reality?).

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

"Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before,"

Yes, China is winning WWIII hands down while Trump worries how his hair looks!

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  

[Eric Loh]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The Republican National Convention, also largely virtual, takes place next week

Looking forward to President George Bush at the RNC giving support and speaking niceties of Trump. ????  

[Sujo]

8 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Looking forward to President George Bush at the RNC giving support and speaking niceties of Trump. ????  

Kamalas sisters also speaking. Hope donalds sister gets a few words on the family unity. Maybe ivanka can reciprocate his lustful feelings to her.

[pegman]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Oh and it’s ladys night lol kamala Nancy Hillary and Elisabeth lol trumps going have a tweet tempest lol and I’m sure he will further alienate the lady’s lol

I wonder whether his Tweeter app has a "nasty" button? If so it will get a workout tonite. 

[NotYourBusiness]

It ain't easy being president.

[mr mr]

6 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Millions of jobs gone.

ok let's drink a big glass of special fairy juice filled with sprinkles and pretend that anything trump did could of stopped the job losses from wuwu. 

 

no fan of trump but come on. 

[Baerboxer]

24 minutes ago, mr mr said:

ok let's drink a big glass of special fairy juice filled with sprinkles and pretend that anything trump did could of stopped the job losses from wuwu. 

 

no fan of trump but come on. 

 

Don't you think the Democrats would've looked better had they tried to facilitate and work with the Trump administration on responding to a world wide virus pandemic? Rather than disrupting and trying to exploit everything to pretend their policies would've worked wonderful?

 

Is anyone still dumb enough to believe in the fairy stories of socialist utopias? The one normally spouted by "special" rather wealthy politicians and entertainers?

[Phoenix Rising]

9 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Don't you think the Democrats would've looked better had they tried to facilitate and work with the Trump administration on responding to a world wide virus pandemic? Rather than disrupting and trying to exploit everything to pretend their policies would've worked wonderful?

 

Is anyone still dumb enough to believe in the fairy stories of socialist utopias? The one normally spouted by "special" rather wealthy politicians and entertainers?

Socialist utopia?? How do you come up with this drivel and still expect to be taken seriously? What are these "fairy stories of socialist utopias" you talk about? Is e.g universal healthcare a socialist utopia? In that case then utopia has been achieved in a surprising number of countries, even in countries much poorer than the US.

[tomazbodner]

You can't hurt Donald by attacking his leadership. His skin is far too thick.

 

But attack his look or personality and he'll go berserk on Twitter.

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

You can't hurt Donald by attacking his leadership. His skin is far too thick.

 

But attack his look or personality and he'll go berserk on Twitter.

I don't think it's the matter of him having a thick skin. On the contrary, he is in fact infamous for having the thinnest skin in "the business". What I think is the case is that trump has no sense of honor and duty so when someone attacks his complete lack of those traits his little brain goes "huh??"

 

 

Edited August 20, 2020 by Phoenix Rising

[Morch]

On 8/20/2020 at 12:40 PM, NotYourBusiness said:

It ain't easy being president.

 

Who knew....

[Morch]

On 8/20/2020 at 1:23 PM, Baerboxer said:

 

Don't you think the Democrats would've looked better had they tried to facilitate and work with the Trump administration on responding to a world wide virus pandemic? Rather than disrupting and trying to exploit everything to pretend their policies would've worked wonderful?

 

Is anyone still dumb enough to believe in the fairy stories of socialist utopias? The one normally spouted by "special" rather wealthy politicians and entertainers?

 

Like Trump doesn't exploit the situation for political gains? All them live updates, which he treats as being campaign events, or maybe the constant harping about Democrat governors? Pretending to have "wonderful" policies like opening everything despite expert advice, pushing untested "cures", and politicizing even the basic act of wearing a mask. Yeah....definitely only the Dems at it, if one's an ardent Trump fan, that is.

 

No idea what you want with "fairy stories of socialist utopias", or how that even relates to the topic at hand.

[rumak]

On 8/20/2020 at 6:30 AM, Tug said:

Poor Donald he’s going to have a rough night he’s going to get called out and exposed for the abject failure that he is and they won’t lie I perdict a major tweet storm tantrum brewing 

ah,  nothin like a good per diction....   hazel,  where dem grits at ?

[Rimmer]

Off topic conspiracy posts and replies removed

[rcummings]

On 8/20/2020 at 1:23 PM, Baerboxer said:

 

Don't you think the Democrats would've looked better had they tried to facilitate and work with the Trump administration on responding to a world wide virus pandemic? Rather than disrupting and trying to exploit everything to pretend their policies would've worked wonderful?

 

Is anyone still dumb enough to believe in the fairy stories of socialist utopias? The one normally spouted by "special" rather wealthy politicians and entertainers?

Work with someone who's deeply in denial? Nice try at making Trump's incompetence and incoherence someone else's responsibility.