Bernie Sanders delivered the final speech at the DNC last night capping off a difficult day for the Democrats which was plagued by multiple disturbances from Bernie supporters who felt disenfranchised by their own party. Many speakers were interrupted throughout the day with chants of “Lock Her Up” while Elizabeth Warren was loudly heckled by chants of “we trusted you.”
Still, no one took as much heat from Bernie supporters as DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who resigned on Sunday after emails revealed numerous attempts by the DNC to undermine Sanders’ campaign during the primary process.
The sustained applause and sea of “Bernie” signs in the crowd as he took the stage called into question whether Hillary had any support at all among the convention goers. Sanders spent nearly the first half of his speech thanking his supporters and touting progressive policies with the first mention of Clinton not coming until about 800 words later. Bernie noted that his campaign had sparked a “political revolution to transform America” and closed the opening portion of his speech by thanking the 13mm Americans who voted for him and welcoming the support of the 1,846 delegates at a roll call vote for the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.
Sanders pledged to continue his “political revolution” while offering a full-throated endorsement of Hillary Clinton, and warning the election’s stakes were too high for voters to sit out.
“I understand that many people here at this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process. I think it’s fair to say that no one is more disappointed than I am.”
“Together my friends, we have begun a political revolution to transform American, and that revolution, our revolution, continues.”
“And let me thank the 13 million Americans who voted for the political revolution, giving us the 1,846 pledged delegates here tonight.”
“The struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1 percent – a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice – that struggle continues. And I look forward to being part of that
struggle with you”
When Bernie finally called for his supporters to back Hillary he was met with boos from the crowd and chants of “Bernie”. He continued on to say, “If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”
Despite his calls for unification, it’s unclear whether Bernie supporters are “with Her”. As The Hill points out:
The Bernie Delegates Network—which as of Monday included nearly two-thirds of Sanders delegates—was actively looking at a challenge to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine’s vice presidential nomination.
Jessa Lewis, a national delegate for Sanders, said that while the Vermont senator has been fighting for the progressive wing for months when it comes to unifying around Clinton “he can’t bring the delegates along with him, because that’s not where they are.
After Sanders finished his speech, his campaign sent an e-mail to supporters asking them to submit their names and contribute to a new group he’s calling “Our Revolution.” The email said the goal of the organization would be to “transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families.”
Bernie’s entire speech is below:
via http://ift.tt/2aaIvG8 Tyler Durden