MORNING MESSAGE
There
were no particularly memorable lines, but a compelling story ... The speech went
too long, the story was airbrushed ... but anyone who loves politics had to
enjoy an artist still at the top of his craft ... The speech focused on the
personal and largely omitted the political ... It wasn’t substance but
temperament that he touted: “This woman always wants to move the ball forward.
That is just who she is.” The country and the party have been transformed since
Clinton was president ... Not surprisingly, Hillary Clinton did not lead these
transformations ... [But] Bill Clinton masterfully painted a human portrait of
Hillary.
Bill SellS Hill
Bill
Clinton tells the story of Hillary the “changemaker.” W. Post’s E. J.
Dionne: “It was a phrase he used over and over, sending a message to Bernie
Sanders’s supporters that she was, at heart, one of them; and to voters tempted
by Donald Trump, that the woman with decades of political experience was the
candidate more likely to produces the changes they would welcome.”
Bill
Clinton aims to erase the caricature of Hillary. TNR’s Brian Beutler:
“Clinton painted over all the blemishes—on their relationship, on her judgment
over the years, of the cynicism she’s developed. But the portrait that emerged,
however belatedly, was much closer to the mark than the caricature that
Republicans drew last week.”
How Big Was THe Bernie WalkOUt?
Some
Sanders delegates leave hall after Clinton nominated. Mother Jones: “But the
protesting delegates comprised a small fraction of the Sanders supporters in the
arena, and they diverged both on the reasons for the walkout and how long it
might last …”
More
“Sarah Silverman Democrats” stay. Politico: “They aren’t providing dramatic
TV footage … but they’re heeding their first-choice candidate’s advice to back
the Democrat who agrees with them on most policy issues and isn’t Donald Trump …
even if most Sanders voters pull the lever for Clinton, it will matter a lot
whether ‘most’ means 80 percent or 90 percent…”
Bernie
launches Our Revolution. W. Post: “He has officially launched Our
Revolution, a 501(c)(4) ‘social welfare’ group to build support for liberal
policies. It’s the first of a possible trio of Sanders projects. Another will
seek to elect like-minded candidates up and down the ballot across the country,
and a third possible group might engage in other political activity.”
MCAULIFFE MUDDIES TPP MESSAGE
VA
Gov. Terry McAuliffe says Clinton will “fix” TPP, campaign disavows.
Politico: “Pressed on whether Clinton would turn around and support the
trade deal she opposed … McAuliffe said: ‘Yes. Listen, she was in support of it.
There were specific things in it she wants fixed.’ Later, McAuliffe’s spokesman
sought to clarify the governor’s remarks … saying he was simply expressing what
he wants Clinton to do … [Campaign Chairman John] Podesta tweeted. ‘Hillary
opposes TPP BEFORE and AFTER the election. Period. Full stop.'”
Clinton
would renegotiate NAFTA. The Hill: “The leader of the United Auto Workers
says he has heard directly from Hillary Clinton that she wants to renegotiate
the North American Free Trade Agreement … [That] would put Clinton in line with
her general election opponent…”
CONVENTION DECLARES "BLACK LIVES MATTER"
Mothers
of the Movement assure Clinton believes “Black Lives Matter.” LAT quotes Lucia
McBath: “Hillary Clinton isn’t afraid to say black lives matter. She isn’t
afraid to sit at a table with grieving mothers and bear the full force of our
anguish. She doesn’t build walls around her heart. Not only did she listen to
our problems, she invited us to become part of the solution.”
OurFuture.org’s
Terrance Heath contrasts with GOP convention: “There was little sympathy for
black victims of police violence at the Republican convention last week. The
overwhelmingly white audience heard a line-up of speakers that repeatedly mocked
or ignored African-Americans’ frustration with police violence. There were few
references to the growing list of black victims of police brutality.”
BREAKFAST SIDES
Voters
in Democratic coalition still struggling economically. Bloomberg: “The young
people and minorities who propelled President Barack Obama into office have
lagged behind the economic recovery he’s shepherded, with blacks and Hispanics
continuing to lose wealth even as whites gained after the recession.”
FL
Senate candidate Alan Grayson loses progressive backing after domestic abuse
allegations. The Hill: “…Revolution Messaging, which played a significant
role in Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ successful online
fundraising, reached out to Grayson’s campaign Tuesday to say it would be
terminating its relationship … The accusations have prompted other significant
progressive groups, Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign
Committee, to withdraw endorsements of Grayson.”
Enviro
groups turn on biofuels. Bloomberg: “More than a decade after
conservationists helped persuade Congress to require adding corn-based ethanol
and other biofuels to gasoline, some groups regret the resulting agricultural
runoff in waterways and conversion of prairies to cropland — improving the odds
that lawmakers might seek changes to the program next year.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America's
Future. more
»