Last night, the pre-convention dinner felt like a cheerleading camp, with Democratic activists being told what to say to convince their friends and constituents to vote for Joe Biden in 2024. The official position – despite the fact that 51% of Democrats have expressed a desire to hear from other candidates – is that President Biden is the nominee and that’s it.
Everyone is supposed to toe the party line this year, regardless whether it speaks to the pain of the 39% of Americans who now say they skip meals in order to pay their rent; regardless whether it speaks to America’s young who are infuriated at the administration ramping up fossil fuel extraction at a time when we should be ramping it down; regardless that so many are registering deep dissatisfaction with the party denying other candidates the right to debate the President.
There is an anemic and delusional spirit in the air here, I’m afraid – an almost trancelike way in which Democrats are instructed by an official narrative to be so concerned about fascism (and believe me, we should be!) that we’re willing to limit our political imaginations, suppress debate among ourselves, and diminish our own commitment to the democratic process.
That is not the energy that will win the White House in 2024.
We will win with a message of fundamental economic reform, not an incremental approach to the amelioration of people’s pain. We will not win by celebrating what we’ve done over the last two years; we will win by celebrating what we’re going to do now.
We will win by offering the American people a new beginning.
Being here this weekend is disheartening on a certain level, but I know in every cell of my being that we’re supposed to be here. It’s clear that many people agree with the message of our campaign: they realize that universal healthcare, free college and tech school tuition, free childcare, paid family leave, guaranteed sick pay and a guaranteed livable wage are the key to revitalizing our people, our economy, and our democracy.
I see encouragement in the eyes and hear it in the voices of all the many people who’ve come up to me here saying, “Don’t stop!” “I agree with you!” and “Please keep going.” I know there are tens of millions more of them throughout the country.
With your help, I absolutely will not stop and I absolutely will keep going.
Thank you for your help so far. If you can give $5, $15, or $25 today, please do whatever you can to help us pierce the veil of institutional resistance to our voices being heard.
