Last week, Democrats gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate Hillary Clinton as their
candidate for President of the United States. Among the Democratic heavy hitters making their case
most passionately for Hillary was First Lady Michelle Obama.
Emphasizing the historic nature of her husband’s presidency, and of Mrs. Clinton’s nomination, Mrs.
Obama noted that, “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my
daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House
lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted
that a woman can be president of the United States.”
Two nights later, President Obama himself took to the stage to note the progress made during his
presidency and pass the torch to Mrs. Clinton. In his remarks he stated that, “I can say with confidence
there has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the
United States of America.”
Other major speakers included Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, selected as Secretary Clinton’s running mate
days before the convention, as well as outgoing Vice President Joe Biden. The most notable appearance
of the convention however, was that of Khzir and Ghazala Khan, Gold Star parents whose son was killed
in the line of duty while serving our country in Iraq.
After praising Secretary Clinton for referring to her son as “the best of America,” Mr. Khan tore into
Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying that he, “consistently smears the character of
Muslims. He disrespects other minorities – women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to
build walls and ban us from this country.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr. Khan challenged Mr. Trump to read the US Constitution, even
offering to lend him his copy. It was a stirring scene that has been seared into the public consciousness
not only due to the power of his words, but by the fact that Trump has attacked the Khan family in the
days since.
Backlash and condemnation to Trump’s attacks against a family who sacrificed their son for our country
has been swift and fierce. Republicans have denounced Trump’s attacks, as have nonpartisan Veterans
organizations such as the VFW. Perhaps the most damning reaction came from our President Obama,
who in the wake of Trump’s attacks against a Gold Star family deemed Trump “unfit” to serve as
Commander-in- Chief.
President Obama went on to challenge Republicans to withdraw their support for Mr. Trump after his
repeated insults against communities of color, women, and even the disabled. While it is unlikely that
Republicans will abandon Trump en masse, the harsh, justified condemnation from President Obama
underscores the stakes in this fall’s presidential election.
Closer to home, last week also saw a federal judge rule Governor Scott Walker’s unfair Voter ID law
discriminatory and overturned portions of the law. Although state Republicans will undoubtedly appeal
the decision, it now looks likely that there will be additional opportunities to early vote, including on
Sunday’s, prior to Election Day. Easing the blatantly discriminatory restrictions Walker and his allies
sought to place on communities of color means it will be even easier to participate in the fall election.
With so much at stake, that’s a good thing.