Jacob Ogles
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost told the Democratic National Convention that Central Florida can feel the heat from climate change. He also brought plenty of his own fire and directed it at Donald Trump.
The Orlando Democrat took the stage in Chicago following a video encouraging young voters to become engaged in the process. America’s youngest Congressman made mention early of his age and the responsibility that brings.
“I’m proud to be the first member of my generation in Congress. I’m also proud to represent Central Florida,” Frost said.
He focused much of his speech on a critical issue for young voters, climate change. He said residents of the Sunshine State know the impacts well.
“As a Florida man, I’m here to tell you that the climate crisis isn’t some far-off threat. It is here,” he said. “Donald Trump and JD Vance think they can divide us by saying this crisis is some type of hoax, but I’ve walked the streets of communities that have been forced to rebuild after Hurricane flooding destroyed their homes.”
He also alluded to the conditions the heat creates for farm workers in Florida’s critical agricultural sector.
“I’ve heard the stories of immigrant farm workers, made to work in horrid conditions exacerbated by this crisis, and I felt the scorching record heat, and know that climate change can sometimes feel like an unstoppable force,” he said. “But with our movement and with organizing — and an administration that cares — we are making progress.”
He also threw heated words at Trump’s agenda and brand.
“Fighting the climate crisis is patriotic, and unlike Donald Trump, our patriotism is more than some damn slogan on a hat,” Frost said. “It’s about actually giving a damn about the people who live in this country. Because when you love somebody, you want them to have clean air. When you love somebody, you want them to have safe drinking water. And when you love somebody, you want them to have a dignified job.”
Frost previously served as one of President Joe Biden’s most strident defenders when critics questioned the Democratic incumbent’s age. But when Biden ultimately announced he would not seek another term, Frost quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as Democratic nominee in his stead.
Frost’s speaking slot came on the same event Harris was set to accept the nomination, a sign of how valuable a surrogate the campaign expects him to be.
It also could signal Democrats see Florida as in play. He was one of two members of the Florida congressional delegation to speak at the convention. The freshman Congressman spoke a day after U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the longest serving Democrat representing Florida in Congress.
Frost attributed high stakes to the presidential election.
“America, it’s simple,” he said. “Let’s get to work and elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for our planet, for our future, for our present and for our people.”
14 comments
A Day without MAGA
August 22, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Remember Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Ian,and remember the ocean are warm dark and deep, people in Florida,you have many night, before you sleep, sleep
Michael K
August 22, 2024 at 11:49 pm
Excellent speech. Maxwell Frost is the voice of a new generation – a very smart and talented young man.
Minwell First
August 23, 2024 at 5:02 am
My hometown once was covered by ice–glaciers, 10, 20, 80 feet deep. About 10,000 years or so ago, it started to melt. It is still melting. It may be melting a little faster now than it did at one time. I don’t know, and I don’t care. Me buying a stupid electric car is not going to slow that down. Me voting for Kamala Harris or Maxwell Frost is not going to make that better. The only reason for me to think about doing it is so I can bend the knee to the present gods and convince someone that I have the right attitude. But I don’t. So, shut up Max, and start voting to build more dykes, if that is your worry. And quit lecturing me.
PeterH
August 23, 2024 at 6:01 am
Stop being the victim. You’re embarrassing yourself!
Day 32
August 23, 2024 at 6:16 am
How did Maxwell get to Chicago? I hope he didn’t fly there 🤣
Tom
August 23, 2024 at 7:49 am
I’m sure he flew in a passenger jet with a hundred or so other people unlike your boy trump who’s flying around the country in a 757 (Trump Force 1 🤡) by himself (unless he’s in Jeffery Epstein’s Gulfstream G-550 again ’cause his 757, like him, is falling to pieces).
Day 32
August 23, 2024 at 10:49 am
Funny Tom. When you speak of business jets I think of John Kerry. Joe Biden’s climate czar jetting around in his Gulfstream telling us little people to lower our carbon footprint. Another laugher was Al Gore with the same BS. Then that overhead picture of his huge estate home with tons of AC cooling power. Hypocrisy at its finest.
Tom
August 23, 2024 at 3:16 pm
You’re not wrong. They’re all as bad as each other. Curiosity got the better of me and I looked at the planes parked at Jackson Hole this week – we’re all suckers. We all sit here quibbling over trivial stuff while they sit around figuring out how to extract more money from what’s left the bottom 95%. Oh well – it’s Friday at least.
JD
August 23, 2024 at 8:19 am
I’m sure he didn’t drink and drive you claim to “do all the time”.
Day 32
August 23, 2024 at 10:50 am
You have either had too much zombie juice or you have a wild imagination.
JD
August 23, 2024 at 10:53 am
You mean like the time you responded you “drink and drive all the time” to the MADD article and said “when we bring back the concentration camps, you’ll be the first in there”. OK Day 32, AKA, Impeach Biden, sure.
JD
August 23, 2024 at 10:53 am
You mean like the time you responded you “drink and drive all the time” to the MADD article and said “when we bring back the camps, you’ll be the first in there”. OK Day 32, AKA, ImpeachBiden, sure.
Rick Whitaker
August 26, 2024 at 5:51 pm
DAY 32 AKA HOWLER MONKEY, for an adult, you use the word zombie way too much. i guess reality is just too hard for you. come on, let me hear some more of your childish whataboutisms. i don’t ever drink, but i bet you are a hardcore alcoholic. losers turn to drinking quite often.
Jojo
August 24, 2024 at 8:26 am
Maxwell Frost is the embodiment of the future of American politics. This is exactly why republicans are, to quote Kamala, losing their minds
Comments are closed.