US presidential 2020: Michelle Obama opens the Democratic convention with a passionate indictment against Donald Trump

Steph Deschamps / August 18, 2020

Michelle Obama denounced Monday the "total lack of empathy" of Donald Trump on the first night of an unprecedented virtual Democratic convention overshadowed by a confluence of historic crises, saying he was "not the right president" for the States United and calling for Joe Biden to be elected on November 3.

Whenever we look to the White House for direction, comfort, or a semblance of stability, what we receive instead is chaos, division and a complete lack of empathy, a- she said in a passionate speech. Unprecedented criticism from a former First Lady of the United States against a current president.

Michelle Obama closed the first evening of this unprecedented convention, made entirely virtual because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but installed until August 20 in Wisconsin, a key state that Donald Trump had won with surprise in 2016 with a very short lead.

Referring to the deep health crisis, which has claimed more than 170,000 lives in the United States, the economic recession and the historic wave of anger against racism, Mrs. Obama argued that the Republican president had "had more time than necessary to demonstrate that 'he couldn't do this job. It is obviously outdated. " Wearing a necklace that made up the word "Vote," Michelle Obama called in an emotional speech for Americans to table their ballot on November 3, even if it means waiting "all night" if necessary.

Recalling that she hates politics, the former Chicago lawyer admitted that she expected her message not to be heard by everyone. We live in a deeply divided country and I am a black woman speaking at the Democratic convention.

In a nearly 20-minute speech, Michelle Obama called for the election of her husband's former vice president. “I know Joe is not perfect. And he would be the first to tell you, ”she said. But "he knows what it takes to save an economy, defeat a pandemic and show the way for our country," she added. And to launch, in a spade to the tenant of the White House: "He will speak the truth and will trust science ».

Democracy “at stake” - Moderate and Progressive Democrats showed up united Monday night. Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, the deep economic recession, and the historic wave of anger against racism and police brutality, actress Eva Longoria, who opened the evening, accused Donald Trump of having "divided" Americans.

Big rival Joe Biden in the primary, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders also called for election with his running mate, Kamala Harris. "My friends, I tell you, and to all those who supported other candidates in the primary, and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the previous election: the future of our democracy is stake. « 

Several speakers raised the controversy surrounding the American post. Democrats accuse Donald Trump of wanting to destroy it in order to obstruct the postal vote.

In a tight assembly, mixing anonymous, celebrities, and politicians, the virtual convention had, on its first evening, some moving moments. As when the brother of George Floyd led a moment of silence in homage to the black forty-something, suffocated by a white police officer in Minneapolis at the end of May. Or that a young girl, Kristin Urquiza, recounted that her father, who died at 65 from Covid-19, had only a pre-existing condition. Trust Donald Trump. He paid for it with his life.

Credit : Sudinfo