Two Conventions, two themes, two completely different views of America
Publisher's note: This is a bit of a long read, however we simply feel that it is too well done and too important not to publish in its entirety right now.
The party conventions are over and we now have less than two months until Election Day. Democrats and Republicans are (seemingly) solid in their respective camps, and Independent voters will be the huge focus until November 6th. While I didn't have the pleasure of attending the Democratic National Convention, I did go to the Republican National Convention and was able to experience firsthand the speeches, excitement, and overall energy of the week. Talk has now turned to comparing the two conventions and deciding which was more "beneficial" for its party. After watching both conventions, I noticed that each had its own recurring theme: The Republican convention focused on the failed record of President Obama and how we can do better, while the Democrat convention focused on women's "rights" and how President Obama "killed" Osama bin Laden (with no shortage of attacks on Governor Romney, either).
It's easy to compare some of the "big" speakers at each convention and reveal the underlying theme in each one. The first comparison that comes to mind is Governor Nikki Haley vs. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. Haley is the first Indian-American governor in U.S. history and has a background that includes hard work and achieving her own American Dream. Warren is a Senate candidate in Massachusetts who is 1/32nd Cherokee Indian and has tried to use her "minority" status in the past on job applications to gain an upper hand. Here are some quotes from each woman's speech that clearly show the different themes and goals of their speeches.
Almost forty-five years after my parents first became Americans, I stand before you and them tonight as the proud governor of the state of South Carolina.
I noticed today the Obama campaign is running a new ad about the 537 votes that changed the course of history. While voter apathy is not a new dilemma for either party, this year up and down the ticket voter turnout is key. While I lived through the hanging chads and hourly updates on strategic legal decisions in Florida that did change the course of history, the lessons learned about 'every vote counts' were something we all should reflect upon, and make very sure we do everything possible to encourage people to vote.
Where are we going? After our loss on Tuesday, is the GOP going to water down its message and cave in to the pressure of transforming into a more "inclusive" party? I personally hope that's not the case.
Why be thankful? I could find a million reasons to be angry or ungrateful, that's easy most days when life and stress get the best of us, but tonight I am looking for the million reasons to consider why I should be thankful.