DNC V RNC: Who’s Better Equipped?

Contrary to Neo in "The Matrix," I don't believe swallowing the red pill this time around will yield us the best results.

Sergey Podlesnykh/Staff Writer

Today I feel like Neo from the 1999 science fiction film “The Matrix.” These past two weeks have presented me with the symbolic blue pill of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and a red pill for the Republican National Convention (RNC). If I was leaning blue before, the last two weeks only added validity to that choice. A side by side comparison of both conventions proves that Democrats have a better idea of getting the country on the right track.

At the beginning of these two eventful weeks I pledged to remain objective and to hear both parties out. In fact, I had high expectations for the RNC, as they had a slight advantage to counter all messages of the DNC. This past Thursday, I officially put those expectations away on the same shelf with my expectations for 2020, the final season of “Game of Thrones” and my high school prom. The RNC failed to use their advantages, exposing how chaotic and unproductive Republicans really are today.

What struck me the most was the difference in tone of the conventions. In the midst of the worst global pandemic in a hundred years, the highest levels of racial tensions since the sixties and the worst economic decline since 2008, Americans are seeking hope like never before. The DNC stepped up with assuring messages of empathy, unity and perseverance while the RNC was filled with permeating messages of fear and insecurity.

The relatively soft rhetoric of the DNC’s first night shocked me. Instead of blaming the incumbent or praising the contender, the core message was necessary change. Meanwhile, the first night of RNC responded with loud screaming, scathing blame and name-calling.

During the DNC, Biden was endorsed by all other Democratic presidential candidates, the last Democratic presidential nominee, and former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Even some prominent Republicans, former presidential candidate John Kasich and former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed the rival party candidate. All endorsers shared the similar vision that something is amiss in the current state of American affairs. On the other hand, key speakers of the RNC with the longest speeches and most anticipated endorsements shared the president’s last name.

The effective response I was longing for would have been an address from former president Bush or former nominee Romney, but they looked the opposite way. Curiously, former presidential nominee John McCain made it clear before passing away that Trump would not be welcome at his funeral, while Obama was invited to deliver a keynote eulogy. And as more of Trump’s supporters get incriminated or fired by Trump himself, I can imagine it was difficult to find presentable speakers for the convention.

The DNC provided a more convincing image of their candidate. I got an  impression that Biden is the face of the upcoming team of professionals, ready to collaborate and look for the best solutions. In line with Trump’s notorious “Me, Myself and I” rhetoric, the RNC turned to the incumbent as the messiah who has all the answers and will single handedly solve all the issues his own administration created. Sneak a peek at protests in Russia and Belarus and see what happens when you start treating one person as the “Chosen One”.

Democratic VP nominee Kamala Harris hit all the right notes, mentioning important issues facing America today. Acting VP Mike Pence mockingly discussed the importance of police lives and lawless hostilities of protesters all while US citizens continue to die at the hands of police officers. And Pence’s closing message that “We will make America great again, again” sounded more comical than a SNL sketch and showed the lack of comprehensive platform expected for the next four years.

In his closing speech, Biden was straight and concise, delivering a powerful and energetic message in under twenty-five minutes. For over an hour, Trump sounded like he was reading a goodnight story highlighting prominent individuals in American history, and alluding to the messiah-like qualities of his own persona. With a vague future and grim present, reminiscing on the glorious stories of the past seems like a safe choice.

The DNC practiced social distancing, and most people had their masks on. On Thursday, Trump addressed over two thousand supporters scattered on the White House lawns, many of whom did not wear masks nor practiced social distancing. Meanwhile, the country continues to add a thousand COVID-19 deaths daily and recently passed six million cases nationwide. Cheerful chanting from the south lawn was a feast in time of plague.

The DNC surprisingly exceeded my expectations, presenting a solid production, highlighted by skillful speakers, great video sequences and convincing messages. Even though my expectations for the RNC were high, their obscure and futile production managed to go really low. Trump’s TV experience with putting on a good show didn’t help much, and his campaign failed to adequately capitalize on four nights of prime time.  

As the dust of both national conventions settles down, I’m still staring at the glossy pills of red and blue. Are we ready to wake up or will we fall into an abyss of sweet ignorance for another four years?

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

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