Associated Press
Before dropping his bid for reelection, President Joe Biden framed voters’ choice in November in dark and ominous terms, painting Republican nominee Donald Trump as a menace to American democracy and questioning whether the country could survive if he won.
The Democratic Party’s new nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, isn’t exactly shrinking from that message, warning in her Thursday night acceptance speech of “extremely serious” consequences of Trump returning to the White House.
But Harris is putting her own spin on what has been a central messaging strategy for Democrats. Rather than focusing on the existential threat a second Trump term could pose to the country’s foundational institutions and traditions, she is expanding Democrats’ definition of what’s at stake in this election: It’s about preserving personal freedoms.
The fresh frame was on full display this week at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where attendees wrote their own definitions of freedom on handmade posters and Beyoncé’s anthem “Freedom” boomed through the loudspeakers. The convention dedicated a day’s theme to “fighting for our freedoms,” with special guest Oprah Winfrey suggesting those working to preserve reproductive rights are “the new freedom fighters.”
Harris drove the point home over and over as she summarized her promises to American voters.
“The freedom to live safe from gun violence in our schools, communities and places of worship,” Harris said Thursday. “The freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air, and drink clean water and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. And the freedom that unlocks all the others: the freedom to vote.”
Even as newly energized Democrats lean into personal freedom as a pillar of their campaign, the Trump camp isn’t willing to cede the messaging ground on that word, liberty or any other patriotic themes.
“It’s always good to see Americans express a love of our nation,” Trump senior adviser Brian Hughes said. “But a party that has opened our borders to drugs and crime, diminished our standing as a force for global peace and made it difficult for fellow Americans to afford the basics of life seems the exact opposite of patriotic.”
To be sure, the Democrats’ national gathering did not represent a full pivot from their warning that American democracy is on the line in November. Several speakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, pointed to the need to guard American and distinctly democratic institutions. They also issued stark reminders of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, attacked police officers and sought to halt the certification of the 2020 election.
The bustling convention hall shared a rare quiet moment as video showing footage of the attack played onscreen.
Still, mentions of freedom outstripped those of threats to democracy, and “Freedom” signs often filled the area where the thousand of delegates were gathered. Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, never used the word “democracy” in his speech to the delegates on Wednesday while using “freedom” eight times.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
9 comments
Yrral
August 24, 2024 at 11:36 am
Liberty ,Equality and Justice for All,is the foundation that everyone in America, should value,too live free as American,the equality all people regardless of race, color or creed or sexual orientation and justice for being transgress upon by others,if you do value these three basic tenet of being an American,maybe you should leave America
Day 34
August 24, 2024 at 11:39 am
So you are saying you should leave then?🤣
Rick Whitaker
August 26, 2024 at 8:12 pm
DAY 34 HOWLER MONKEY, howler, yarrl said that you should leave the country, not him. boy are you stupid. you are the racist, sexist, and the anti-dei person, not him. do you not read your own posts? what are you going to post when harris wins the election? suicide is an option for someone as full of hate as you are.
rbruce
August 24, 2024 at 11:37 am
The DNC loves democracy so much they denied the people the chance to vote on their candidate. Democracy is important to be left to the people. Let Freedom ring.
Day 34
August 24, 2024 at 11:53 am
Yup the candidate that the media and many Democrat insiders needed to be replaced by Biden. The candidate that was so unpopular she dropped out of the 2020 race without a single vote. Yup the candidate that is now being portrayed as “Superwoman” by the liberal press. The same candidate that is in hiding and the Demos and the press are okay with that. Simply amazing watch8ng another Democrat coverup.
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
August 25, 2024 at 9:23 am
Good Morn ‘Ting America,
STAND BY FOR NEWS:
As we all know there is ZERO % chance of the left winning any elections after they screwed up Everything under Biden/Harris.
My concern is for the rabid and insane posters here who think otherwise. Most likely when they are smacked in the face by the truth most of them may see doing harm to themselves as the only way to regain any shread of respect from their familys and friends who watched them slip deeper and deeper into “CRONIC DOOK 4 BRAINS LEFTISM” over the years.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU:
America as the truth of the upcoming Trump Administration comes crashing down upon them …. you will wish that you had followed me, Super Elvis into some major investment in the funeral home business.
Think about it, America, soon after the election results are announced these dweebs are going to start dropping like flies.
AGAIN:
My concern is for their familes in their time of grief in getting proper and dignified funeral services.
It’s NOT about making Tons & Tons of Money thru the ELVIS Funeral Homes being built Nation-Wide as we speak.
America, its going to happen and if I, Elvis, make Gazillions of Dollars, serving the bereived loved ones left behind there is nothing wrong with that.
AND THAT, AMERICA, IS THE REST OF THE STORY:
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
Rick Whitaker
August 26, 2024 at 6:22 pm
EARL SHITTS, still stale, ain’t you got nuttin else.
Delusions
August 25, 2024 at 11:50 am
Harris doesn’t know what’s over her head now
Delusions
August 25, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Harris against mother nature speech the winds still say no
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