5 Things to Watch for at the Democratic National Convention | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

5 Things to Watch for at the Democratic National Convention

5
5 Things to Watch for at the Democratic National Convention
www.louisdallaraphotography.com

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is being held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning on Monday, July 25, to Thursday, July 28. Here are five storylines to watch unfold at the convention.

1. How will Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick, Tim Kaine, affect the convention and the campaign as a whole? Many were anticipating an all-female ticket with the selection of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has not only been vigorously opposing Donald Trump but also simultaneously advocating Hillary Clinton, even joining her on the campaign trail. However, Hillary Clinton’s selection of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine demonstrates her desire to appeal to the undecided and moderate Republican and independent voters. Kaine is a modest but proven politician who has amassed a prolific political career in the purple state of Virginia, where he has served as a member of the Richmond City Council, mayor, lieutenant governor, and governor beginning in 1994. He is also notable for never having lost an election, his Catholic faith, and anti-abortion stance, and will likely serve as a pick to help push Hillary Clinton closer to the center following the conclusion of the Democratic primaries against the liberal Bernie Sanders.

2. How much will Bernie Sanders unite the party behind Hillary Clinton? One of Hillary Clinton’s most important endorsements was probably that of her formal rival, Bernie Sanders. Sanders’s campaign energized millennials and inspired millions of voters across the country to come out and vote for the first time. His far-left positions were fairly stark contrasts to Clinton’s more moderate left positions, and some are criticizing her for being pushed too far to the left by her former opponent. Sanders’s speech at the convention will be intriguing as he attempts to coalesce his support with that of Clinton.

3. Has Hillary Clinton moved to the left? As alluded to earlier, the Democratic primaries have pushed some of Clinton’s positions further to the left. Some examples include raising the wage to $15 per hour (Clinton previously advocated for $12 per hour), making public colleges and universities tuition-free (Clinton previously promised to make college tuition more affordable), and guaranteeing universal health care for all Americans immediately (Clinton has discussed expanding ObamaCare to eventually cover all Americans). As she tries to appeal to undecided, moderate, and independent voters, Clinton must assure the voters that her positions are not too liberal and that she can be a “progressive” by being able to pass laws through Congress.

4. How can Hillary Clinton become a more trustworthy candidate? Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are polarizing figures that are at the top of their respective party’s ticket. While Trump is unappealing for his brash personality and endless string of controversial comments against multiple groups of people, many including Democrats, would rather vote third-party than vote for Clinton due to her inability to gain trust stemming from a history of lying to the public about things from the situation in Benghazi in which four Americans were killed to Bosnia in which she claimed she was under fire as she arrived when video evidence shows otherwise, as well as her e-mail scandal and potential mishandling of classified information while serving as Secretary of State. Many do not believe her promises based on her votes to enter the war in Iraq and secure the border while serving as a senator during the Bush administration. The DNC presents with the opportunity and the spotlight to discuss these topics, address these issues, and attempt to earn back the trust of the voters.

5. How will President Barack Obama have an impact on the convention and how much will he help Clinton’s campaign? Perhaps Clinton’s largest endorsement of all is that of President Barack Obama, which came just as the primaries were ending in early June. His is certainly a powerful voice when it comes to advocating for the next president of the United States, and in his endorsement said of Clinton, “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office.” His speech will be one of the most anticipated at the DNC. Other notable speakers include Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

10 Signs You Work In A Restaurant

There's always chaos in the restaurant business.

45
10 Signs You Work In A Restaurant
Brisanis

Working in the restaurant industry is possibly the most fundamentally challenging occupation I have ever experienced when it comes to hospitality and customer service. When you go to a five-star restaurant you expect the time of your life, a two hour getaway, a walk through another time period (rustic Italy, France, Spain, etc), or simply a honeymoon undergo. What you don't see are the behind the scenes scut work: carrying trays, polishing glassware and silverware, kitchen chaos, the list is endless. Now, I'm not saying being a host, server, or bartender is the worst thing in the whole wide world, there are definitely worse things. But the fact of the matter is that it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. In the two years that I have spent in restaurant and customer service, I have spoken my share of expletives, yelled at kitchen staff, and dealt with not-so-happy guests. It isn't easy to keep a bright and shiny smile on your face when all you want to do is choke every person who walks near you. Anyone who has spent even two weeks working in a restaurant understands the rigor and stress that comes with it. Restaurant culture is a tiny world in and of itself that operates on its own principles and creates its own society. It even has its own language. The sayings "runner", "corner", and "on a bus" wouldn't make sense to anyone otherwise. My mother and I both work in a restaurant and the best advice I can give someone going out to eat is to treat us like people. Yes...believe it or not we are people, people. Say "please" and "thank you", or stack your cleared plates before a busser gets to the table. Trust me, the gesture goes a lot farther than you may think.

So, if you work in a restaurant, you can relate with the following points. If not, check out how the brain of a restaurant service (or any customer service) worker actually works. See if you can identify any crazy weird habits your friends have a tendency to partake in.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

11 Things I Learned My Freshman Year of College

Not everything you learn in college can be found in a textbook.

72
Breanna Vogel
Breanna Vogel

One of the scariest things we will ever face in our life is going to college. Many of us move away to a new town, join new organizations, and make new friends. We are expected to study, have a social life, relationships, maybe work, and be healthy. It seems pretty easy to do, and in high school all we wanted to do was graduate and move on to this next chapter of our lives. If you are in high school, here are some things that you can learn from before you get to college. If you have already been through your freshman year of college, hopefully you can relate to the things I have learned in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
how to get away with murder
Tumblr

It's about that time where we are too tired to do anything productive, too cold to leave bed, and too lazy to find a new show to watch so we result to re-runs.

For all of you home-bodies, for all of you cold weather haters, here are my suggestions for this holiday break. Let the binging begin!

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

12 Long-Term Relationship Milestones

You've got a keeper if you've made it to any of these milestones.

520
couple on the beach
Pexels

You've been together for so long. It's great. And as the time spent in your relationship grows, you hit certain milestones where you know it's real. These can be make-or-break moments, or just little things where you finally realize that you're both doing it. Everybody hits these milestones, no matter how long it takes; they're inevitable.

You know you've made it when you hit these long-term relationship milestones.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 Of The Best Shows To Binge Watch Over Winter Break

As the semester is coming to an end, most of us are going to have more free time on our hands. This calls for binge watching a new show on Netflix and really using this break to relax from the stress of school. Here are some of the best shows on Netflix that you should be watching.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments