Hi, this is Drew Russo. I’m here for The Daily Item contributing some daily thoughts and a diary of my experiences as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
As you can see, we’re in the early stages of our evening deliberations. Just passed the Unity Reform Commission, which will totally revolutionize how the Democratic party uses superdelegates in the future. More importantly, it passed the Democratic platform after a long process that involved meetings throughout the country, and some real unifying conversations between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
I’m a Hillary Clinton delegate, proud to be here tonight. And I’m doing so loudly, along with Bernie Sanders delegates. I can say in the Massachusetts delegation that we’re still coming together. There’s some work that needs to be done to bring us to unity. But we’re really approaching this task with a spirit of cordiality and collegiality with each other.
Earlier today at our Massachusetts delegation breakfast, we heard from Congressman Michael Capuano, Attorney General Maura Healey, a rising star in the Democratic party. Senate President Stan Rosenberg and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who really gave a powerful witness about the immigration debate in this country. He really took it back to a lot of the struggles that Irish Americans faced, not only in Philadelphia, but in cities like Lynn and around the country, and to add some context to think about the immigration debate. The rest of tonight, in Massachusetts we’re very excited. There’s an all-star lineup of Mass. speakers: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Congressman Joe Kennedy, and we’re really looking forward to hearing the keynote from Senator Elizabeth Warren later tonight. Also props to our state senator and party chair, Tom McGee. Running a convention is not an easy business, and Chairman McGee and his team with the Massachusetts Democratic party are doing a great job with the Mass. delegation. So please read my diary on itemlive tomorrow morning. I look forward to reporting to you again on the convention floor tomorrow night.
BY DREW RUSSO
PHILADELPHIA — While much of the national conversation on the first day of the Democratic National Convention surrounded the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Massachusetts delegates met Monday morning to hear a call for unity from prominent local and national Democratic leaders.
Perhaps the most affecting was Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who made an appeal for compassion in the ongoing discussion over immigration. His pointed reminder of the discrimination newly settled Irish Americans faced in the 19th and early 20th centuries gave us an important context for viewing the similar difficulties our rapidly diversifying population currently encounters.
Delegates were cheered by our home state speakers, including U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Somerville), Newton Mayor Setti Warren, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, and Lynn’s own Senator and Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Tom McGee. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, widely considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, and for good reason, gave a rousing address encouraging Clinton and Sanders delegates to work through their differences and emerge as a united front working for the common goal of victory in November.
To be sure, Clinton and Sanders delegates are still in the process of coming together and getting to know each other so that we can do the important work that needs to be done. The energy in the convention hall was full of passion and emotion.
In Massachusetts, we acknowledged our differences in a spirit of cordiality, and cheered loudly as Senator Elizabeth Warren gave a rousing keynote that embraced the Hillary Clinton-Tim Kaine ticket, passionately advocated for working families, and sharply prosecuted the case against a Donald Trump presidency.
We can all agree that Bernie Sanders has brought tremendous new energy to our party, embodied by the service of many delegates who are attending a national convention for the first time. As a first-timer myself, and a proud Hillary Clinton delegate, I look forward to working with them as we continue the important, but sometimes messy task of working out our differences and emerging unified.
As Attorney General Healey said this morning, “That is what makes us a Democratic party.”
For live updates from the convention, follow @DrewRusso781 and @itemlive.
