Election Watch Week 4: Split Screen

I woke up haunted by the past. I went to sleep daring to feel uplifted.

1. The Haunting.

For a week, I’d been reading about planned protests at the DNC. It wasn’t clear exactly what the goal was—“making voices heard,” “persuasion,” “disrupting the convention” or threatening to withhold votes if demands weren’t met?—but I’d heard and seen enough to give me political PTSD. Demonstrations are a part of our democratic heritage. But holding votes hostage when it enhances the chances of Donald Trump—and who would be, perversely and self-destructively, far worse for your cause—is another thing altogether.

Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network in Chicago and a leader of the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention—an amalgamation of more than 200 advocacy groups and community organizations—had declared his dedication to making sure the convention didn’t go off smoothly. Co-organizer Hamza AbdulQuader added, “Unless [Harris] clearly takes a stance and says this is not okay … that door is shut.”

What door, exactly? And what would it take to open it? That hasn’t been clear. But what was made clear was that “when it comes to the genocide in Gaza there is no difference between Biden, Harris, or any of the likely candidates for the nomination.”

“We’re not changing a thing. Everything is still full steam ahead,” said Abudayyeh. “It’s still about ending the genocide,” he said. “Our target is the Democratic Party and the leadership of the party and ‘Killer Kamala’ is one of them.”

Some of his fellow demonstrators: “ It almost doesn’t matter who the president is, or the candidate. When you’re looking at the enormity of the suffering and what’s happening, it almost feels like what she’s doing is a rhetorical exercise until or unless there’s an actual change in policy.”

“I’m glad that Joe Biden has decided to step down. And Vice President Harris has generated enthusiasm. Her election would be historic. But she needs to show us her issues align with us.”

Some expressed the desire that the protests would become “the equivalent of the 1968 DNC in Chicago,” when mass mayhem erupted over opposition to the Vietnam War. Did they also remember how, under Mayor Daley’s instructions, the police violently attacked the protestors? Or how voters, who surprised anti-war leaders with sympathy for the police, wound up electing Richard Nixon, while anti-War Democrats stayed home:

The convention probably cost the Democrats the presidency in two ways. One was the disaffection of anti-war Democrats. Norman Mailer ends Miami and the Siege of Chicago, his narrative of the conventions of 1968, by announcing that he planned to stay home on Election Day, or else cast his vote for Eldridge Cleaver, the Black Panther leader and candidate of the Peace and Freedom Party. “The antiwar Democrats might have made the difference” in electing Nixon, Todd Gitlin writes in his authoritative history, The Sixties.

The unrestrained police violence of 1968 is unlikely to happen in 2024¹

I worried, instead, about the possibility that, like 2016, a “protest” vote (or non-vote) could have a significant impact on the Democrats’ chances of victory over Donald Trump. Many protestors have been threatening to vote for Jill Stein or no-one unless Harris demonstrated her “difference” from Biden. The name “uncommitted” implies as much, and so does the language of organizers that say they are “open to supporting Harris — but only if she lays out policies toward Israel that differ significantly from Biden’s.”

Unlike George Packer and other journalists comparing and contrasting 2024 with 1968, I’m haunted by 2016, when supporters of Bernie Sanders came to see Hillary Clinton as “the lesser of two evils” in the Trump/Clinton election.

An interview between Bernie Sanders and George Stephanopoulos on May 23, 2016, contained this exchange:

Sanders: “We need a campaign — an election — coming up which does not have two candidates who are really very, very strongly disliked. I don’t wanna see the American people voting for the lesser of two evils. I want the American people to be voting for a vision of economic justice, of environmental justice, of racial justice. That is the campaign we are running, and that’s why we are getting the support we are.”
Stephanapolous: “Is that how you would describe Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump — as the lesser of two evils”?
Sanders: “Well if you look — No, I wouldn’t describe it, but that’s what the American people are saying.”

Even though Sanders claimed he “wasn’t saying it” himself,” the message came through loud and clear. A month earlier, in April, Hillary had held between 71 and 82 percent of Sanders’s supporters; by the beginning of June that number was between 55 and 72 percent.

Sanders had every right to run against Hillary. But he didn’t just run against her; he stoked the fire of those who saw her and Donald Trump as equivalent. He made no attempt to correct “Bernie or Busters” when they said things like: “If we don’t get Bernie, we’re not just going to automatically vote for the demon.” Nor did he dispute Susan Sarandon when she described Hillary Clinton as “more dangerous” than Donald Trump. Throughout the primary, he had made sure that “1994 Crime Bill” (which Hillary, who wasn’t a member of government at the time, didn’t even have a vote on) defined Clinton on racial issues, causing many young Black voters to consider her personally responsible for the spike in mass incarceration that was a consequence of her husband’s bill. “She was part of the whole problem that started sending Blacks to jail,” a young Black man from Ohio observed. He wasn’t alone. Another — a young Black woman, also from Ohio, likened the choice between Clinton and Trump to the choice “between being stabbed and being shot.” Millennial icon Colin Kaepernick, famous for kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest, described both Trump and Clinton as “evil”: “Both are proven liars and it almost seems like they’re trying to debate who’s less racist.”

As the Democratic National Convention approached, “Bernie or Busters” began to organize protests. The first night of the convention was disrupted by anti-Hillary hecklers in Bernie shirts handing out posters that said “War Hawk” and “Goldman Girl” and “Monsanto Mama” on them. “You can’t expose the corruption of the political system and then expect us to get behind the same political system,” said one of the organizers, in a CNN piece in early June. “If Bernie Sanders does not walk out of that thing as the nominee, we can guarantee you from that point on we’ll start the de-registration of the Democratic Party.”

Hillary, of course, was going to be the nominee. And even in the hall, Sanders supporters made their opposition clear. When Rev. Cynthia Hale mentioned Hillary Clinton for the first time during her invocation, the floor erupted into boos, and every time Clinton’s name was mentioned after that, Sanders supporters chanted his name or “Boos” in an effort to drawn out the mention. Rep. Elijah Cummings was interrupted by those chants, and they tried (they were shushed) while Michelle Obama was speaking. They even chanted “Bernie! Bernie!” During Barack Obama’s endorsement of Hillary. All the while, Sanders sat with his supporters looking grumpy and rumors swirled about a possible walk-out.

When it was his turn to speak, the applause was rapturous. The speech was an endorsement of Hillary, but—as in his other speeches—his “approval” was essentially his own stump speech, with a nod to Hillary tacked on. His most enthusiastic encouragement to vote for her was based on a contrast with Trump. And he couldn’t resist invoking his own accomplishments:

“Together my friends, we have begun a political revolution to transform America, and that revolution — our revolution —continues,” he bellowed, evoking cheers and tears.

As I argue in my book, the defeat of Hillary Clinton requires a multi-faceted analysis. But there’s no doubt that third-party and “stay-at-home” statement voters made a difference that was crucial. As Stuart Rothenberg wrote in 2019:

An astounding 7.8 million voters cast their presidential ballots for someone other than Trump or Hillary Clinton. The two biggest third-party vote-getters were Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson (almost 4.5 million votes) and the Green Party’s Jill Stein (1.5 million voters). But others received almost another 1.9 million votes as well…

…Many conservative and pragmatic Republicans found Trump vulgar, narcissistic, intellectually lazy and unqualified to be president, but they couldn’t force themselves to vote for Clinton.On the other hand, some Democrats saw Clinton as insufficiently progressive and untrustworthy, and there was no way they could vote for her.

More significant than popular vote numbers (which Hillary overwhelmingly won) third parties were key to Trump’s victory in three Blue Wall states in 2016. Third parties captured less than 5% of the vote but gave Trump wins in Michigan and Wisconsin with 48% of the vote and in Pennsylvania with 49%.

You can see why, more than the potential for violence, the possibility of disruptive “statements” inside the convention center and the threats of withholding votes if “demands” weren’t met had dampened the feelings of “hope and joy” that commentators were gushing over as the convention approached. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz had revved up a powerful new generation of voters, and brought many Black voters back to the party. It would be tragic to see that enthusiasm dissipate if she got pushed by protesters to “take a stand” on the Middle East. It’s an impossible position for her to be put in, not just because she is still Biden’s VEEP, but because any thinking person—which she is—should realize that the situation is so much more complicated than the simple “positions” they seem to want her to take.

We want to defeat Trump, yes? And he seems to be helping us with his increasingly deranged behavior and his running-mate’s retrograde notions about “family values.”

They are virtually handing us a win. But other agendas, whether mindlessly or deliberately, could bump the horror of a Trump/Vance administration out of top priority place.

I worry. I’ve seen it happen before. We should know better now. But do we?

2. That question isn’t definitively answered. But last night sure provided an antidote to my anxiety about it.

What a night!!

The protests yesterday were not without attempts to disrupt the action inside the convention. During Biden’s speech, dozens of demonstrators tried to break through a security fence near the convention site and several were handcuffed and detained by police. Would they have been satisfied, had they gotten in and heard Biden say “Those protesters out in the street, they have a point – a lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides”? Probably not. Many carried signs and made speeches indicating their intention to vote for Jill Stein or Cornell West. Matt Stevens, a first time voter from Nebraska said of Harris: “She can say all these things and talk a big talk, but until she shows actual action, I’m not going to vote for it. She has to earn my vote.” And some talked of “getting a little more hands-on” in some “direct action.” (Click here for a Guardian article detailing and giving updates.)

Who knows, at this point, what will transpire over the next few days. But inside the hall last night there was magic. Alex Wagner described the atmosphere as that of “emotional confetti,” Joy Reid was giddy with delight, and speaker after speaker was thrilling, as the diversity and history of the party was both represented and saluted. The organizers had done a brilliant job of assembling an array of both those whose “shoulders we stand on” and those who are clearly the future of the party. A film on the legacy of civil rights activism, followed by a moving appearance of Jesse Jackson, made even more vibrant the party’s reclamation of “freedom” and “country” that the GOP had stolen and put to their own purposes. Maxine Waters was dazzling and ageless as she asked and answered: “Is this America: You’re damed right it is!”

It was gloves off Trump when the brilliant, gorgeous, fiery AOC stood the stage. (Listening to her, I thought “Who needs Bernie? AOC is smarter, a better public speaker, and much prettier.”) And Hillary!! Tears from many, including Gwen Walz, and a two minute ovation that didn’t make up for anything from the past but felt wonderful nonetheless. During her speech, I tried keep up with her on my iPad, but there were too many great moments. You can undoubtedly find the whole speech online by today, but here’s what I wrote:

“66 million Americans voted for an America where there are no ceilings on our dreams.” “Keep Going” becomes a chant. She reminds us of feminist history: Shirley Chisholm, Geraldine Ferraro…and herself. Gwen Walz tearing up. Women beaming and clapping and crying. Hillary actually says the word ‘abortion’; she’s the first to do that tonight. “Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial and when he woke up he made his own kind of history as the first person to run for president with 34 convictions.” “Kamala Harris won’t be sending love letters to dictators.” “He’s mocking her name and her laugh (sounds familiar)” “But we have him on the run now.” We’re not just electing a president we’re uplifting our nation.” And the cracked glass ceiling—the ceiling she almost shattered completely—reveals our future: Kamala Harris taking the oath of office.”

Jamie Raskin was on fire about the insurrection. My governor, the wonderful Andy Beshear, showed his immense humanity after three women, spotlit on stage, told their post-Dobbs stories of pain, grief, and anger. And Raphael Warnock (D-GA) brought the crowd to its feet as only a righteous preacher can: “I need my neighbor's children to be okay so that my children will be okay. I need all of my neighbor’s children to be okay, poor inner city children in Atlanta and poor children of Appalachia, I need the poor children of Israel and the poor children of Gaza, I need Israelis and Palestinians, I need those in the Congo, those in Haiti, those in Ukraine, I need American children on both sides of the track to be okay. Because we are all God’s children. And so let’s stand together. Let’s work together. Let’s organize together. Let’s pray together. Let’s stand together. Let’s heal the land.”

Some other highlights, for me:

Shawn Fein: “Kamala Harris is one of us. Donald Trump is a scab.”

Steve Kerr: Back from Paris after coaching the U.S. men’s basketball team to a gold medal, he borrowed a taunt from Steph Curry: “After the [election] results are tallied that night,” Kerr said at the end of his remarks, “we can — in the words of the great Steph Curry — we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’” (Edward had to explain the sports reference to me, but I got the idea anyway)

Two surprise Kamala appearances: One in person at the convention, which neither her husband or running-mate expected, and which set off twitter delight at her choice of a tan suit; the other, film footage of Kamala as a tender and fierce little girl. (Take a look, Donald, if you’re still confused about when she “became Black”.)

Joe Biden: If you don’t mind, I’m going to save that one for a separate stack, because I have a lot to say and don’t want to simply tack on a quickie paragraph, so I can eat something and get some exercise before the second night begins.

Instead, I’ll end with something not on the program: an interview by Joy Reid and PA governor Josh Shapiro. Joy, as many of you know (and understating it), hasn’t been the biggest fan of Josh—or anyone else that she considers “Pro-Israel.” When she sat down to talk to him, I shuddered a little, anticipating that moment when the polite chit-chat about Pennsylvania working-class voters would end and she’d bring up the issue that at that point, had not yet been spoken about inside the convention. I felt the tension coming across the television screen from her whole body.

What happened surprised me.

Watch her bring “those” topics up, carefully containing her usual anger and suspicion. And then see how his answers up-end her expectations and disarm her.

The handshake at the end spoke, if not volumes, then at least….something.

It’s with that “something” that my hope rests.

Portions of this piece first appeared in The Destruction of Hillary Clinton: Untangling the Pollitical Forces, Media Culture, and Assault on Fact that Decided the 2016 Election.

1.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, who rode a wave of progressive activism to the fifth floor of City Hall, is not Boss Daley, and Chicago Police Department superintendent Larry Snelling has vowed to allow demonstrators to have their voices heard. “But more broadly, the social turmoil of this current cycle, while intense, is nothing like what was experienced 56 years ago, when the convention played out against the backdrop of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. [And] Unlike the Vietnam War, the war in Gaza is being fought by Israel with US support—but not American troops.”