Now it’s time for the Democratic Party to have its national convention, starting Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. The goal is clearly to present President Barack Obama, and the party, as public stewards who have worked hard to ease Americans out of tough economic times and who will improve the economy over the next four years.
The economy will be the main issue this fall. The responsibility on President Barack Obama, when he speaks on Thursday, will be to close the deal and make the case to Americans that he can improve their lives and make them more economically secure. The candidate who makes that case successfully over the next two-plus months will win on Nov. 6.
Because it’s a convention and receives heavy media coverage, there will be many issues and personalities on display. The Democrats will argue that they are the party that cares about the middle class and poor. Conversely, speakers will argue that the Republicans, and candidate Mitt Romney, are dedicated to promoting the interests of big business and the rich over the interests of lower-income Americans. The Democrats will also brag, with credit deserved, about the killing of Sept. 11 terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
At the Charlotte convention, Democrats will also argue that they have protected the health of Americans through passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Republicans, they will remind Americans, want to repeal the health care law. Also, Democrats will present their party as protectors of women’s rights and issues. They will tout their support of abortion rights and contraception access — via health care plans — as proof of their commitment to women. They will paint Republicans as misogynists who wish to deny contraception from women and force women who have been raped to have abortions.
Like the Republican convention, it will be the renewal of an iconic part of Americana. We salute those Utahns, from all parties, who made the effort to become state delegates and cheer on their parties at the conventions.
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