Democrats reinvent their party convention as Trump gets ready to go on the attack
The old aphorism is wrong. Nostalgia is exactly what it has always been: a delusion based on the brain’s ability to selectively recall the most interesting details from a moment in time.
We should have realised this over the past few days as we’ve witnessed a new kind of political convention in the US. News that both Republicans and Democrats wouldn’t go ahead with their traditional gatherings had been seen as a big change from the norm; perhaps even a change that would prove too big. How could America have an election without the conventions, people asked? The Democrats responded by announcing that they’d do it virtually.
Much ridicule followed, especially from the President who mocked Joe Biden, saying: “Now he wants a ‘Virtual’ Convention, one where he doesn’t have to show up. Gee, I wonder why?”
Yet, as we’ve seen in many instances during this pandemic, not all forced changes have been for the worse. Sure, convention time is exciting but that’s only the conventional thinking (pun intended). History has dozens of examples of memorable moments that changed the course of history but also moments that never delivered. Obama stunned the political world with his speech in 2004, displaying the pragmatic broad politics which usually enables Democrat success. “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America”, he said, “there is the United States of America.”
Mario Cuomo’s 1984 speech was another that heralded the emergence of their next great hope. The New York State governor revised Reagan’s “shining city on a hill” to speak “the hard truth […] that not everyone is sharing in this city’s splendor and glory”. It was a speech that lingered far longer in memory than his candidacy.
Yet, what we tend to forget is how unremittingly boring most conventions usually are; bloated by self-importance, as well as the need to give people in every corner of the party their moment on the Big Stage. You can usually count on one hand the stars everybody is waiting to hear from, and perhaps on two hands the players you’re willing to listen to.
Given all that came before, COVID-19 has presented both Republicans and Democrats with a rare opportunity to do politics differently. Dare one even say: better?
That’s the main takeaway from this week when Democrats set a high bar by keeping it simple. On Tuesday night they officially nominated former Vice-President Joe Biden with a roll call conducted through pre-recorded segments from each of the states. It was done speedily but quite beautifully; think of the Eurovision song contest without the naff green screen and annoyingly upbeat “TV personalities” projecting their banality to a worldwide audience. One (perhaps two) representatives of each state were allowed to say as much as they could say in a couple of lungfuls before we moved on. Nobody overstayed their welcome and, as far as these things usually go, it was genuinely enjoyable to watch.
Yet the same has been true of the convention as a whole. As far as TV audiences are concerned, each night was a couple of tightly-focussed hours with decent production quality. The big stars of the convention have been strategically deployed so there’s always a keynote speech to drive the subsequent day’s news agenda. On Monday it was Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama with her “Vote” necklace; Tuesday was Bill Clinton and Dr Jill Biden. Wednesday had Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and then Kamala Harris. The week will conclude with Joe Biden on Thursday. Segments have long enough to convey a message but not so long as to bore the audience. They also pointedly appeal to a broad audience.
A trivial detail, but well worth noting was Monday night’s musical interlude by Billy Porter and Stephen Stills. Porter routinely makes headlines with his wardrobe, famously wearing a huge expansive black gown to the Oscars last year. In these culturally fraught days, when Republicans will leap on any point of cultural sensitivity to suggest the Democrats are radical and out of touch, the fact Porter was (by his standards) dressed relatively sombrely in a white shirt, long waistcoat, and black trousers seemed to acknowledge their need to play safe.
Next week will see the Republicans try their hand at the virtual format, though from here, it looks like they’re already more committed to the old style. The Office of Special Counsel has concluded that Trump can “attend” the convention from the White House. Details are sparse, but it’s rumoured that Trump intends to speak every night.
That makes sense, given he is already holding daily press briefings. Since he’s usually addressing audiences either at the White House or his Bedminster golf course, it’s also questionable if he’ll allow himself to be drawn into anaemic one-on-ones to camera. That worked for President Obama on Wednesday night, delivering the best speech of the week while framed by an exhibition about the Constitution. But Trump is no orator – he needs crowds and people to charm.
Trump will also ensure that the Convention is about Trump, which is why using the backdrop of the White House will suit him. It will also suit his party. The President wants his fanfare. He is a man who loves spectacle. Yet the same can’t be said of many of the candidates running further down the Republican ticket.
Another rumour, which his entirely believable, is that many Republicans have turned down requests to speak. Even more of them will welcome whatever space they can put between themselves and the President. A few might even follow Senator Susan Collins who has not endorsed the president, instead claiming to be focussing all her attention on her own “difficult race”.
That might turn out to be the interesting contrast between the two conventions. Democrats have gone out of their way to emphasis the scope and plurality of their party. With the Republicans, a smaller convention will make it easier to see who is missing, rather than who takes part.