Staff Reports
Hillary Clinton once again graced the Democrats with her presence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, strutting onto the stage to the sounds of Sara Bareilles’ motivational anthem, “Brave.” This was hailed as one of the more lively moments of what was otherwise a dull first night for the DNC, second only to the appearance of AOC. The crowd, seemingly energized by nostalgia rather than new ideas, erupted in applause as Clinton laid out her vision for a brighter, kaleidoscope future—if only they could forget her own party’s past.
Clinton kicked off her soliloquy with a gleeful nod to President Biden, who she claimed had restored “dignity, decency, and competence” to the Oval Office. This effusive praise from a candidate who failed to ascend to those lofty heights might have struck some as ironic. Yet the crowd, caught up in the moment, joined in with chants of gratitude for the man who somehow managed to give the Democrats a semblance of unity and purpose—at least until Clinton left the stage and they could debate their latest identity crisis.
Convention night 1: Hillary Clinton delivers a stirring speech!#DNC2024 #chicago2024 #HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/MjeCvguFQq
— DemList (@TheDemList) August 20, 2024
The evening turned toward a sentimental celebration of women’s rights, as Clinton reminisced about the history of female empowerment in America. However, given her own checking-out at the 2016 election, one can’t help but wonder if Clinton was really a harbinger of success or merely the poster child for what could have been. Instead of standing on her own laurels, she drew attention to the trailblazing women before her, desperately trying to link her past failures to a more favorable narrative of her party’s hopeful future.
The nostalgia factor hit a crescendo as Clinton turned her focus to Vice President Kamala Harris and the magical image of her potentially occupying the highest office in the land. If electing a woman was merely about putting a seat warmer in position, perhaps those “glass ceilings” could be cracked, even if not truly shattered. With an impressive flourish, Clinton touted Harris’ qualifications, drawing an uneasy parallel between Harris’ “achievements” and her own legacy of loss, which has left many Democrats yearning for more than just a symbolic victory.
The night’s highlights inevitably circled back around to the Democrats’ favorite talking point—abortion rights. Clinton rallied the faithful with a promise that if given the chance, a Harris presidency would restore abortion rights nationwide. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause, confirming that for Democrats, this is the true litmus test of progress—completely overlooking the glaring moral debates accompanying the issue. When the subject of former President Donald Trump came up, the call to action was simple: “Lock him up!” The Democrats were assembled, and it became clear that this was less about a bright future and more about satisfying irrational vendettas.
An air of uncertainty loomed as Clinton wrapped up her reflective yet rambling speech with clichés about “freedom” and “togetherness,” leaving the audience to wonder exactly what that meant for America at large. Clinton projected an optimistic vision, despite her past failures and the knowledge that she was not the one to break down the supposed “glass ceiling” she so persistently referenced.
In the end, Clinton’s speech served as a reminder of the relentless cycle of Democratic disappointments, masked in the language of empowerment and hope. The Democrats may be aiming to heal, but they seem stuck in a repetitive loop of nostalgia rather than actual progress, relying on platitudes and high aspirations that echo hollow against the reality of their continued missteps. If only history could be rewritten to deliver a new narrative; until then, they remain the party of “what could have been,” with Hillary as their unlikely torchbearer of dreams not yet fulfilled.
