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09/07/2012
Day Three—we are the Democrats #DNC2012
Folks, we are looking at a new Democratic party that is finally, at long last, refusing to allow the opposition define the party, its values, and its top elected officials. That was my largest takeaway from night three. It was the night to sell the brand, marrying the more heartfelt night one with the more Clintonian wonk of night two to form a clear, crystallized picture of what it means to be a Democrat in 2012.
You might disagree with the brand or its methodology, but I personally think the picture is even clearer than it was in 2008. This is a party that is as bold in its deep support for military families as it is its compassion for those born elsewhere but bred on American ingenuity. This is a party that is strong on the cold reality of war while remaining insistent on the obtainable dream of peace. This is a party that is fighting for American jobs without apologizing for their plan for fueling that engine. This is a party standing strong for education and healthcare without allowing the miseducation and unhealthy rhetoric of the far-right to halt the work.
And yes, this is a party that is now firm in its stand on LGBT equality. Even the cynical among us would have a tough time dinging the
three night Convention for its lack of LGBT content. We got mentions of every shape and size from speakers of any number of walks of life. In video, on convicted voice, in textual overlay, in the spirit of the inclusive speaker list—there is no longer any denying this party's stand.
Are there stronger policy stands we want them to take? Absolutely. I would have loved some explicit mentions of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act, for one. On marriage, I would have liked to hear one of the speakers (or even videos) remind us that Mitt Romney has signed onto the National Organization For Marriage's truly vicious marriage pledge. More notes about transgender inclusion, absolutely. But the conviction is clearly there. The brand clearly knows its product, its market, and the way to sell a fairer and freer America.
Night three was all about selling this brand—Democrats 2.012. Voters will decide whether or not the upgrade is worth it.
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