From Europe we tend to see the conventions of the American parties as a kind of Hollywood show brought to politics. But you will agree with me that this time they have succeeded perfectly. In four days they have managed to turn around what threatened to be a funeral if Joe Biden had been present. And to put out messages with unparalleled effectiveness. What can I say? We would have a lot to learn from this whole mess in European politics. A whole arsenal of ideas and attitudes has been offered on how to communicate politics in our days. I will start here, and please excuse the schematic.
1. It was a resounding display of party unity without silencing the plurality of its voices, which were also associated with people, each with their own accent and political bias. The speeches of people like Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were able to coexist, not only with those of former presidents, but also with those of religious figures or military veterans, as is appropriate for such a diverse society. There was no trace of the predictability and discursive monolithism of the party apparatuses to which we are so accustomed.
2. The leader was celebrated, of course, that is the meaning of the convention. But it was done as a representative or spokesperson of a project, without the usual flattery towards the leader so common in Europe or in the Republican Party itself with Donald Trump.
3. Best of all, the driving idea: there is still hope! Or that phrase that a great Michelle Obama launched to a euphoric and devoted audience and which is the title of this column. “Hope is back,” and if it returns, so too does the future, we can continue to progress. We must not look back, like Trump, but forward. The best defense against an uncertain future is that it does not paralyze us or alienate us. We must overcome the demons of fear, division and hatred. As long as these remain, illusions will vanish.
4. A constant reminder of some of the virtues of democracy, such as tolerance and respect for those who disagree, for those who “don’t look like us, sound like us, or think like us” (Obama, the husband). And the remembrance of those who fought for a better world, the generational connection, like Michelle O. mentioning the example of her grandmother or Kamala that of her mother. If a woman of color can reach the White House it is because of the sacrifice and struggle of so many like them; now it is up to us to take over. Almost all the speakers, including the candidate, spoke of their own life experience. The person is their biography. This is another feature of the personalization of politics.
5. Being a citizen is not just about going to vote, it also requires mobilizing to get others involved in the collective project. A call to civic responsibility. “Are you ready to protect your rights?”
Provisional conclusion: We have witnessed a remake of the original Obamaism, with all its charge of optimism and positive emotionality. With one important difference: it has re-emerged despite the sinister distortions, darkness and polarization that Trump introduced into American politics. But pointing out the danger of the adversary, very present in the speech of Harris and others, did not make them fall exclusively into what is almost the only, lesser evil, discourse of the European systemic parties: “Vote for me because, if not, the extreme right is coming.” Here it was different: vote for me because we are better, because we must tear down the walls that divide us. As Kamala said: “I want to be the president of all Americans”; “I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations.” Among them, guaranteeing “the right of all to security, dignity and justice.” A president “who is realistic, practical and has common sense and always fights for the American people.”
As can be seen, pragmatism linked to civic patriotism and modest utopianism, also combined with a warning against what may come, the “friend of tyrants.” The attack is personalised on Trump – “an unserious guy” who constitutes a “very serious threat” – not so much on the Republicans. Harris paid a very emotional tribute to Biden, was very clear about where she was in international politics, with the Democrats, NATO and Ukraine, and in favour of a quick agreement to end the suffering in the Middle East. And she touched on some of the sensitive issues of domestic policy, such as security on the southern border and immigration, housing and the right to abortion. But she was very sparing on the issue that worries her the most, the economy, and that is where the greatest criticism will come from. However, the point of this convention was not to outline a well-defined programme; it was to instill morale and mobilise her followers. After this convention, the water level in the pool into which Harris has just jumped has risen, but the dispute could still get very dirty. This is only the beginning, but what a start!
