A look at the 2020 Democratic and Republican National Conventions
In this combination photo, President Donald Trump, left, speaks at a news conference on Aug. 11, 2020, in Washington and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks in Wilmington, Del. on Aug. 13, 2020. The conventions, which were largely virtual because of the coronavirus, were on Aug. 17-20 for the Democrats and Aug. 24-27 for the Republicans. (AP Photo)
During the weeks of Aug. 17 and 24, the Democratic and Republican parties held their respective national conventions to nominate their presidential candidates.
The 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held on Aug. 17 through Aug. 20 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Democratic Party voted to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris as their 2020 candidates.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
On the third night, Senator Kamala Harris took to the stage to accept the vice presidential nomination. In her opening remarks, she spoke of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, and the inspiration she had been throughout her life and political career.
While accepting the nomination, Harris said, “She probably could have never imagined that I would be standing before you now speaking these words: I accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States of America.”
On the fourth night of the convention, former Vice President Joe Biden accepted the nomination for the presidential candidacy during his keynote address.
“I am a proud Democrat, and I will be proud to carry the banner of our party into the general election. So, it is with great honor and humility that I accept this nomination for President of the United States of America,” said Biden.
The following week, the Republican Party held its Republican National Convention (RNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Convention Center. The Republican Party voted to nominate President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as their 2020 candidates.
On Aug. 26, Pence accepted the vice presidential nomination.
“So, with gratitude for the confidence President Donald Trump has placed in me, the support of our Republican Party, and the grace of God, I humbly accept your nomination to run and serve as Vice President of the United States,” said Pence.
The following night, Trump accepted the presidential nomination during his keynote address.
President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States,” stated Trump.
As the November election approaches, two narratives continue to be written by the Democratic and Republican parties.
The Democratic Party spoke of darkness at their convention. “The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear. Too much division,” Biden said in his keynote address.
During the previous night, Harris commented on Trump’s leadership, saying, “The constant chaos leaves us adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone.”
In contrast, the RNC spoke of light. Trump challenged Biden by saying, “Because we understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness. America is the torch that enlightens the entire world.”
The other Republican speakers maintained the metaphor that America is a shining city.
“The vision of a shining city upon a hill came from Jesus’ sermon on the mountain. America is that shiny city. We are the beacon of hope for the world. At this moment in time, President Donald Trump is the man with the courage, the vision and the ability to keep it shining brightly,” said Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.
Ultimately, both parties presented the same goal — to make America a place for all citizens to live their lives free of fear and turmoil.
The Democratic Party plans to achieve this goal by reforming healthcare and the criminal justice system. The Republican Party plans to pursue this goal by strengthening borders and boosting the economy.
According to the 2020 Democratic Party Platform, Biden plans to continue the work that the Obama-Biden administration began in 2008. He plans to expand the Affordable Care Act to ensure that healthcare is a right for all, rather than a privilege for some. The act ensures no one will pay more than 8.5% of their income in healthcare premiums and subsidy caps will be eliminated. This creates opportunities and options for people who were previously unable to afford healthcare.
Biden plans to pursue rehabilitative alternatives for juvenile delinquents rather than perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline by incarcerating them. The Democratic platform also plans to fund schools to hire psychologists and counselors, rather than involving police in disciplinary issues.
Democrats plan to set strict national standards concerning choke holds, carotid holds and use of deadly force. Police officers will be trained in nonviolent tactics, appropriate use of force, implicit bias and peer intervention in an attempt to curb unnecessary casualties during arrests.
Democrats also plan to decriminalize marijuana and legalize medical marijuana. The use of recreational marijuana will be left up to individual states. All past cannabis convictions will be expunged under the Biden administration.
Instead of updating the Republican Party Platform for 2020, the Republican Party elected to adopt the same platform they used in 2016. Trump’s top priority is getting the economy back to where it was pre-pandemic. He plans to lower the rate of taxation for low and middle-class Americans at rates previously unseen. He has promised to create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months by bringing previously outsourced industries back to America.
Trump plans to move forward with projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Keystone Pipeline so America can become oil independent. This would create more jobs in the energy industry as well as lower the cost of energy.
Trump also promised to expand opportunity zones, so low-income Americans can get back into the workforce and recover from their financial poverty.
Republicans will continue reinforcing the border by continuing the border wall project. They will strictly enforce immigration laws to ensure that those entering the country are doing so lawfully. They also plan to remove federal funding from sanctuary cities. Refugees who cannot be carefully vetted will not be allowed access to the country.
Many things have to be considered as election day approaches.
“There has never been such a difference between two parties or two individuals in ideology, philosophy or vision than there is right now,” Trump said in his keynote speech.
Junior political science major Megan Patterson believes it is important to be aware of the Republican and Democratic platforms because American politics is dominated by a two-party system.
“One of these two parties is going to occupy the White House in January,” said Patterson. “These ideals and commitments articulated in the party platforms are going to affect us, others and the future. Even if the promises of the platform are not kept, the party platforms show what our politicians value as important, or at least what they believe their constituents value.”
Both Biden and Trump have shared a sentiment despite their parties: when they are elected, they will be the president for the American people, not just their party.
After accepting his presidential nomination, Biden stated, “But while I will be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president. I will work as hard for those who didn’t support me as I will for those who did. That’s the job of a president. To represent all of us, not just our base or our party. This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment.”
Patterson believes voting in this next election is necessary.
“I would suggest getting away from idealistic expectations for now and going into the November election with a damage-control mindset, not as an end-all solution to the problems that we are currently facing,” said Patterson. “If you can vote, do it, but don’t stop there: continue your efforts to make change with local grassroots and other social movements rather than expecting a new executive to make our nation’s problems disappear.”
Visit vote.org to register to vote or request an absentee ballot.
