In praise of virtual conventions

I really enjoyed this week's virtual DNC precisely because there was no audience. Four years ago, the Sanders supporters were jackasses, and on national TV. In 2016, they booed every speaker of color who came to the podium* because they were "puppets of the establishment" for supporting the "pre-ordained coronation of Hillary Clinton." Never mind that they should have been applauding the diversity of the Democratic Party, and respected the outcome of the primary process (Hillary won 34 states to Bernie's 23; it really wasn't even close). Instead of wondering why Bernie didn't resonate with with Black voters, they booed and bitched and whined about conspiracies and oligarchs. And guess what: the Democratic Party was fractured and we got Trump. Happy now, Progressives?

At this year's convention, we celebrated not only only Black lives but Black votes. It's true that Joe Biden did not do well in Iowa or New Hampshire. It's also true that both Iowa and New Hampshire are overwhelmingly white. Once Joe got to South Carolina, and began connecting with his natural constituency, the votes rolled in. Instead of wondering why Bernie still doesn't resonate with with Black voters, I'm hearing petulance. Again.

Thankfully, most voters who watched or streamed the convention don't hear the Twitterverse bellyaching. What they saw was a Party coming together around a venerable standard bearer, a public servant who knows how government works and actually wants it to work, a decent man to whom empathy comes easily.

And most Americans saw Kamala Harris for the first time. Only the fourth woman to ever be on the national ticket. The first woman of color. Progress is what you're supposed to applaud, Progressives! I'm so excited to see a former prosector who is tough and knows corruption when she sees it. I love when she invokes her old courtroom introduction: Kamala Harris for the people.

This fall, I'm proud to vote for grace and grit. I'm choosing sense and stability. I'm glad I'm Ridin' with Biden.

*Except, as I recall, the Obamas.