Walz Wows at the DNC

On August 21, 2024, the third night of the DNC capped off with Tim Walz’s acceptance speech for the vice presidential nomination. Other high-profile speakers such as former President Bill Clinton and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also delivered remarks. Here were the highlights and takeaways from that night, themed “A Fight for Our Freedoms”:

Celebrity Firepower

Oprah Winfrey delivers remarks.

Source: AP

The Democrats brought out big names to energize the crowd during last night’s proceedings. The legendary Stevie Wonder was brought out to perform his classic “Higher Ground.” He addressed the crowd beforehand, calling for peace to come to the world and for attendees to “choose joy over anger”. 

Amanda Gorman, America’s first-ever youth poet laureate, took the stage and performed a new poem titled “The Sacred Scene”. Gorman had previously drawn widespread recognition with her poem “The Hill We Climb” performed at Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021. In last night’s poem, Gorman mixed themes of democracy and unity. “Divided, we cannot endure, but united, we can endeavor,” she said in one line. “Perhaps the American Dream is not a dream at all — but a dare to dream together.”

Later on, John Legend and Sheila E. performed “Let’s Go Crazy”, a tribute to the songwriter Prince. The performance was held in honor of fellow Minnesotan Tim Walz, who is also a fan of the late singer

Perhaps the most famous name of the night was Oprah Winfrey, who delivered remarks in support of Harris. Oprah typically stays out of active participation in politics and her appearance had been kept secret by DNC organizers until the day of. Oprah’s remarks were directed toward independents, a group to which she said she belonged and focused on preserving democracy and civil rights. “Let us choose truth, let us choose honor, let us choose joy!” Oprah shouts in one line.

Her appearance last night was a remarkable feat courtesy of the Harris campaign and Democratic organizers. Oprah’s firepower is well-known in politics, as she has only endorsed a few candidates. Her endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 generated headlines worldwide and helped catapult him to the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton’s campaign had courted her for a full endorsement but Oprah had refrained from doing so. Democrats at one point were calling on her to seek the White House herself. Oprah is well beloved by many Americans, and her appearance last night gives a boost to the Harris campaign.

A Plea for Peace

Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents take the stage. 

Source: Reuters

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of eight American citizens still being held hostage in connection with the October 7th attacks on Israel, took the stage in an emotional moment. Fighting back tears, they recounted the 320 days that had passed since their 23-year-old son had been taken hostage and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The DNC audience greeted their speech with huge cheers and chants of “Bring them home!”

Behind the scenes, members of the uncommitted movement who had been protesting against the war in Gaza said they welcomed the remarks but advocated for a Palestinian speaker to address the crowd. Their call was backed by several progressive Democrats, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who had spoken the other night. So far, the uncommitted movement’s call for a Palestinian speaker has been denied. 

Defending Democracy

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) delivers remarks.

Source: Getty Images

One continuation of the Biden campaign strategy that Harris’s campaign took on was the talking point of defending democracy. 

“Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson poked fun at Project 2025 (What is Project 2025? Click here) in one segment and talked to Americans who could be affected by the initiative. He walked on stage carrying a large copy of the book and quipped, “You ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time?” 

Other speeches focused on the January 6th insurrection three years ago. Congressman Bennie Thompson, who chaired the January 6th Select Committee that recommended criminal charges for Trump, delivered remarks. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also spoke of the attack’s threat to democracy without mentioning Trump by name and called on voters to “reject autocracy” and “choose democracy”. Former Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who was present at the January 6th attack and had taken on injuries that put an end to his police career, said that Trump “betrayed us”. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed former President Trump, comparing him to an “ex-boyfriend who still spins around the block”. “Bro, we broke up with you for a reason,” Jeffries says. 

Two high-profile Republican speakers also stressed the need to Trump-skeptic Republicans to vote for Harris, framing it as the patriotic thing to do. Olivia Troye, a former aide to former Vice President Mike Pence, said when a Republican votes for Harris, they weren’t “voting for a Democrat” but rather are “voting for democracy” Geoff Duncan, the former lieutenant governor of Georgia, remarked “If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, you’re not a Democrat you’re a patriot.” The appearance of these Republicans marks yet another example of the effort that Democrats were putting in to reach non-MAGA Republicans.

The Stacked Bench and the Recurring Theme of Joy

One of my key takeaways from this night was the number of talented and promising Democrats who spoke. These were people, who in my opinion, have a bright future ahead in the national arena and would make great presidential candidates. 

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, whose oratorical style in my opinion most resembles former President Obama, delivered his classic freedom speech to the convention. Shapiro branded Democrats as the “real party of freedom”. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg remarked about his frequent appearances on Fox News and went after Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance, saying that Trump’s selection of Vance was “doubling down on negativity” and that it was a committal to the “concept of campaigning best summed up in one word: darkness.” Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey mocked Project 2025, dubbing it as “Project 1825” and “Project 1925”. He led the convention audience in chants of “I believe in America!” Governor Wes Moore of Maryland highlighted his joining the Army at age 17, adding “I had to ask my mom sign the paperwork for me because I don’t have bone spurs”, jabbing at the fact that Donald Trump’s medical deferment from the Vietnam War had been reportedly about bone spurs. These speakers and many more featured the vast amount of potential and talent the Democratic Party’s future had.

A recurring theme of the night was the concept of joy. Oprah and Stevie Wonder had called on Americans to choose joy. Former President Bill Clinton and Governor Tim Walz would use that word in their speeches later on. Overall, the word was used 35 times at the last night’s proceedings. The usage of the word underscores Democrats’ continuing attempts to paint Trump negatively, associating him with themes of darkness in contrast to the Harris campaign’s themes of hope and joy. Positivity is the message that Democrats are trying to spread about Harris.

Bill Clinton: “Don’t count the lies. Count the I’s.”

Bill Clinton delivers remarks. 

Source: Washington Post

The 42nd president of the United States took the stage and delivered his speech from the podium – he had reportedly torn up his speech last-minute and was not able to deliver it on time to be set up on the teleprompter. Known for his powerful oratory, Bill Clinton was noticeably slower last night and spoke with a raspy voice. His diminished appearance was reflective of his diminishing clout within the Democratic Party, which had been eroded by controversies over his personal conduct.

The former president, who turned 78 two days earlier, poked fun at his age and pointed out that he was still younger than former President Trump. Clinton attacked Trump, saying that he “creates chaos”. He highlighted Trump’s lying and spoke in favor of Harris, saying when she becomes president, “every day will begin with you, you, you.” Clinton spoke of the fact that America had produced 50 million more jobs since 1989, and that most of them were added under Democratic presidents – a fact to which I was surprised was true.

Clinton continued to attack Trump while adding praise for Harris’s plans to lower housing and healthcare costs, increase financing for small businesses, and strengthen America’s international relations. He mocked Trump’s tributes to the “late, great Hannibal Lecter” and condemned the respect the leaders of Russia and North Korea had seemingly given Trump.

Tim Walz: “It’s the fourth quarter. We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offense.”

Governor Walz with his family onstage.

Source: AFP

The governor of Minnesota delivered the biggest speech he had ever given up to that point. Walz’s appearance had been preceded by tributes from old students and the old football team he coached that had won a state championship. As Walz entered the stage, attendees waved signs that read “Coach Walz” and chanted “Coach, coach, coach!”

Walz’s speech was heavy on his personal story, aiming to reach voters in Republican-leaning areas. He spoke of his military service – 24 years of service in the Minnesota National Guard. He spoke of his coaching and his family’s fertility problems. Walz spoke of teaching and his service as congressman for a rural, Republican district and as governor. At various points throughout the speech, Walz’s children were seen in tears. Walz’s 17-year-old son Gus stood up at one point and mouthed, “That’s my dad!”

Tim Walz drew a lot of themes from old speeches he had made in the campaign speech, telling voters about the Minnesotan concept of “minding your own damn business” when it comes to making personal choices. He emphasized freedom a lot. “When we talk about freedom, we mean your freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people you love,” he declares. Walz went on: “The freedom to make your own health care decisions. And, yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying they’ll be shot dead in the halls.” Walz touted the policies he had enacted as governor – free school lunches, paid family and medical leave, middle-class tax cuts, and lower prescription drug prices. “While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours!”

The governor closed out his speech with an outpouring of football metaphors, stating that he would give a pep talk. “It’s the fourth quarter,” he said. “We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offense. We’re driving down the field. And, boy, do we have the right team to win this.”