March 29, 2024
Obama's baton of optimism handed to Hillary
PHILADELPHIA - President Obama delivered a stirring valedictory address at the Democratic convention Wednesday night, hailing Hillary Clinton as his rightful political heir and the party’s best hope to protect democracy from “homegrown demagogues” like the Republican Donald J. Trump.

Taking the stage to rapturous roars of “We love you” and “Yes we can,” Mr. Obama acknowledged that Democrats were still divided after a bruising nomination fight and that Mrs. Clinton had made “mistakes.”

But he vouched passionately for Mrs. Clinton as a trusted and reliable ally not just for him but for all Americans who need a fighter to improve their lives and keep them safe.

Mrs. Clinton she strolled on stage after his speech and embraced the president as the delegates roared. It was a tableau of continuity and a vivid illustration of how dependent the two former rivals are on each other now.

Earlier, vice-presidential nominee Tom Kaine proved his attack-dog mettle with a blistering, exaggerated impression of Trump. “Believe me!” he said on a loop, mocking what he called Mr. Trump’s signature empty promise, according to the New York Times.

Mr. Kaine slipped easily into Spanish, rousing an occasionally restless crowd with a series of bilingual flourishes.

Trump was also out and about Wednesday, telling reporters in Doral, Fla., that Obama is "the most ignorant president in our history," adding that Hillary Clinton "would be even worse."

He said she would approve bad trade deals and allow possibly dangerous immigrants from the Middle East to flood the country.

He also denied claims by Clinton's failed challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders, that Trump wanted to cut the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

"The minimum wage has to go up," Trump said. "To at least $10, but it has to go up."

But he said states should have control over minimum wage, saying the cost of living varies too much by state to make a universal minimum wage feasible. After his Florida event, Trump made stops in Pennsylvania and was headed for Ohio, energized by a Los Angeles Times poll out Wednesday that showed him leading Clinton, 47%-40%.

Obama said no one should take the election for granted.

"I've seen all kinds of crazy stuff happen," Obama said. "I think anybody who goes into campaigns not running scared can end up losing."

Donna Brazile, the interim Democratic party chair, told USA TODAY she was not concerned by current polling numbers.

"Come Labor Day you'll see Hillary Clinton pulling away again," Brazile said. "There is a path to the White House for the Democratic Party."

Protests have been largely peaceful here, although generally larger than protests at the GOP convention last week in Cleveland. Protests briefly intensified Tuesday night when protesters sought to block an intersection near the convention headquarters at Wells Fargo Center.

That followed Tuesday's dramatic moment, when Sanders moved for Clinton's nomination by acclamation following what had been a long and at times bitter primary campaign. Sanders' graciousness appeared to help tamp down the anger and frustration voiced by his most ardent supporters, some of whom even walked out of the convention rather than be seen supporting his opponent.

Inside, it was all about the Clintons. The former secretary of State appeared via video from New York to thank delegates for their support and urge them to fight for her and their party in the grueling, three-month election season that lies ahead.

"What an incredible honor you have given me," Hillary Clinton said. "We just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet."

She was lauded throughout the evening by passionate supporters whose lives she has influenced. The highlight was Bill Clinton's 10th consecutive Democratic National Convention speech, a folksy and personal chat that entranced the crowd.

"The first time I saw her we were, appropriately enough, in a class on political and civil rights," he said. "She had thick blond hair, big glasses, wore no makeup, and she had a sense of strength and self- possession that I found magnetic."

He contrasted the Hillary Clinton who was blasted in speech after speech at the Republican convention with Hillary he knows and loves — a kind, caring woman he called “the real one."

“She’s a natural leader, she’s a good organizer, and she’s the best darn change-maker I’ve ever met in my entire life,” he added. “She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is."

Trump says he hopes Russia can find 'missing' Clinton emails

SCRANTON, Pa.--Seeking to counter the impact of the Democratic convention, Donald Trump on Wednesday all but invited Russia to hack Hillary Clinton and said he would "love to see" private emails from the former secretary of State, his election opponent.

"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," Trump told reporters at a news conference in Miami. "I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."

In response to the Trump email suggestions, Clinton campaign senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said this is probably the first time a major presidential candidate has encouraged "a foreign power to conduct espionage against his political opponent."

"That's not hyperbole, those are just the facts," Sullivan said in a statement. "This has gone from being a matter of curiosity, and a matter of politics, to being a national security issue." (Source: USA Today)
Story Date: July 28, 2016
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