usatoday--2020-08-24--Joe Biden bets big on 'character, compassion, decency' at DNC convention. Is that enough to activate

Democrats had a clear message in their four-day virtual convention this week : newly minted presidential nominee Joe Biden is a unifier who has persevered through family tragedies and can lead the country through a pandemic , economic turmoil and a national reckoning on race .
At a convention that featured speeches from two former presidents , lawmakers and Americans struggling with day-to-day problems , Joe Biden ’ s wife Jill Tuesday made the most direct parallel between her husband ’ s life experiences and how he would govern .
`` How do you make a broken family whole ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way you make a nation whole .
With love and understanding – and with small acts of kindness .
With bravery .
With unwavering faith .
You show up for each other , in big ways and small ones , again and again . ''
In his 24 minutes and 30 seconds acceptance speech Thursday , Biden took that message a step further by drawing a contrast between himself and President Donald Trump .
He excoriated Trump for what he said were failures of leadership on the most pressing issues facing the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations .
“ The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long , '' Biden said .
`` Too much anger , too much fear , too much division . ''
Obama rebukes Trump : 'Donald Trump hasn ’ t grown into the job because he can ’ t' Democrats said the unorthodox convention – even though constrained by a pandemic -- accomplished what was needed by giving the liberal and moderate wings of the party a singular purpose : defeating Trump to save American ideals .
Yet by making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gamble that undecided voters and the party ’ s liberal base will rally around character and leadership instead of clear policy goals .
“ They needed to establish Joe Biden as a vigorous , competent person who is a qualified alternative to Donald Trump , ” said Todd Belt , professor and political management program director at George Washington University .
“ And I think they did that really well .
To juxtapose Biden and Trump , they overwhelmingly hit on the message of empathy.
” Belt said Democrats , who turned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translated the convention into something “ more digestible ” for a mass audience .
And while some party activists craved more details , Belt said leaving them out reflected a play-it-safe strategy by Biden , who is operating from a “ position of strength ” because of his lead in the polls against the president .
“ Getting into those details is actually the risky thing , ” he said , arguing it would have only given ammunition to Republicans .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , national co-chairman of the Biden campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear contrast clear between Trump ’ s leadership approach and that of Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris .
`` These are two people with the hearts and the experience that we need versus a guy who has neither , '' Garcetti told USA TODAY .
`` When you 're voting for president , you 're voting for a parent .
You want a father to be decent and you want a father to protect .
I think you look at the current president , he 's anything but . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13-year-old Brayden Harrington , who has a stutter and thanked Biden , who also stuttered as a child , for helping him overcome his fear of public speaking .
Another testimonial came Jacquelyn Brittany , a security guard who met Biden when she escorted the former vice president at The New York Times for a meeting with its editorial board in December .
As they were on an elevator , Brittany blurted out `` I love you , '' telling him that she hoped he won the primary race .
Republicans weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former press secretary for President George W. Bush , called the convention “ at worst adequate and at best fine.
” He said Biden didn ’ t do anything to widen his lead and left himself exposed on public safety – an area Trump has already tried to seize on with his “ law and order ” push – and policy in general .
“ It was entirely a personality-driven convention where their calculation is they need to make this a personality race – between Biden , the good/great guy and Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Their whole strategy rests on that calculation , which leaves a gigantic flank exposed on policy.
” “ It shows a vulnerability that they have , that they were hoping to skip over .
It provides a huge opening if Republicans are smart enough to take it , ” he said .
Biden ’ s remarks were about half as long as Hillary Clinton ’ s 56-minute acceptance speech in 2016 .
Former President Barack Obama spoke for 42 minutes and 30 seconds when he accepted the nomination in 2008 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would have elongated the convention speeches with applauses , standing ovations and chants , Democrats opted for a tight format that moved quickly from one segment to the next .
Celebrities such as Eva Longoria , Tracee Ellis Ross , Kerry Washington and Julia Louis-Dreyfus moderated the virtual event , which also featured musical performances from Billie Eilish , John legend and others .
Louis-Dreyfus , the Emmy-award winning star of “ Veep , ” stirred a debate on social media with jokes Thursday night about the pronunciation of Mike Pence ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo op in front of a church .
Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute , said the jokes were at odds with the narrative the campaign was trying to shape about the Biden-Harris ticket on empathy and sobriety in a time of national emergency .
Murray tweeted that the humor ran the risk of “ reinforcing Dems ' condescending elite image .
Matt Grossman , director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University , said Democrats leaned into a traditional advantage they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeming to be more compassionate and empathetic . ''
By making a case for “ morality and decency , ” Grossman said Biden crossed into areas in which Republicans historically hold an advantage .
“ He did go through all the policy positions and social groups that make up the party , so those weren ’ t absent , but there was definitely a more personal focus to the speech and a striking contrast with President Trump , ” Grossman said .
In a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll last month , 50 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest and trustworthy , compared with just 30 % for Trump – a reversal from four years ago when voters saw Trump as more trustworthy than Clinton in the weeks before the election .
Video testimonials emphasized to Americans the threat of climate change and mass shootings , while underscoring the importance of the country 's growing diversity and showcasing Biden 's appeal to Republicans , such as former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich , who spoke at the convention .
`` I 'm a lifelong Republican , but that attachment holds second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Kasich said during an address on Monday .
`` That 's why I 've chosen to appear at this convention .
In normal times , something like this would probably never happen , but these are not normal times . ''
But even though Biden has maintained a polling lead over Trump throughout the race , he has never been the first choice of many young progressive voters who gravitated strongly toward Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
Sanders tried to boost Biden 's credibility with progressive by emphasizing how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. infrastructure , fight to raise the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour and take criminal justice reform seriously by ending private prisons and cash bail .
`` And all of us – whether you 're progressives , whether you 're moderates or you 're conservatives – have got to come together to defeat this president , '' he said .
The party platform , which passed Tuesday , emphasizes a broad set of changes Democrats want on health care , the environment and the economy .
Steering clear of Medicare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , left out plenty that the progressive base has wanted for decades , such as support for “ Medicare for All , ” the universal and single-payer health care proposal championed by Sanders during the 2020 primary .
Rep. Ro Khanna , D-Calif. , voted against the platform in protest because it didn ’ t include a call for Medicare for All , saying the absence of it was particularly troubling during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` This , to me , is the time for a party to have a clearer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to fight to have that in our platform which has been part of the Democratic dream since Harry Truman . ''
The convention also steered clear of endorsing calls to `` defund the police '' by shifting public resources from law enforcement agencies to social programs and public safety alternatives .
Even though Biden and Harris have said they don ’ t support defunding the police , the Trump campaign has tried to tie Biden to that mantra .
Biden has said he supports funding for community policing programs that improve relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draining funds from police departments .
Biden made his position clear on the convention 's opening night when he said `` most cops are good '' but that bad ones needed to be prosecuted .
Garcetti said he believes the Biden campaign did enough to address question from the left .
`` Most importantly , they 're addressed in the platform , '' he said .
`` They 're addressed in the program .
They 're addressed in the people .
You heard it from Bernie himself . ''
Sarah Audelo , executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her group conducts monthly tracking surveys about what matters to younger voters in battleground states who are persuadable to Biden .
She said defunding police departments is at a top issue for them and the convention missed an opportunity to engage more fully on it .
`` The number one issue this demographic cares about is defunding the police , and while it 's clear that is not a stance that the party is going to champion , what they could have done is talked about alternatives to policing , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump is awful and that our democracy is broken , '' Audelo added .
`` What progressives are frequently looking for is the alternative and what is the future we 're going to be building if we 're not going to be in this place of Donald Trump not running out country . ''
Khanna , who served as national co-chair of Sanders ’ s 2020 presidential campaign , said he will enthusiastically support Biden this fall .
But the California Democrat said the former vice president should meet with the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive voices such as Rep. Alexandria Oscasio-Cortez and New York congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman .
`` They 'd get him a lot more votes than Kasich is going to get him , '' Khanna said .

Phillip M. Bailey and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Joe Biden bets big on 'character, compassion, decency' at DNC convention. Is that enough to activate the base?
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden accepts Democratic Party nomination, outlines challenges Former vice president Joe Biden accepts the Democratic Party nomination for the 2020 presidential election, Biden outlined four crises facing America USA TODAY
Democrats had a clear message in their four-day virtual convention this week: newly minted presidential nominee Joe Biden is a unifier who has persevered through family tragedies and can lead the country through a pandemic, economic turmoil and a national reckoning on race.
At a convention that featured speeches from two former presidents, lawmakers and Americans struggling with day-to-day problems, Joe Biden’s wife Jill Tuesday made the most direct parallel between her husband’s life experiences and how he would govern.
"How do you make a broken family whole?" she said. "The same way you make a nation whole. With love and understanding – and with small acts of kindness. With bravery. With unwavering faith. You show up for each other, in big ways and small ones, again and again."
In his 24 minutes and 30 seconds acceptance speech Thursday, Biden took that message a step further by drawing a contrast between himself and President Donald Trump. He excoriated Trump for what he said were failures of leadership on the most pressing issues facing the country, including the coronavirus pandemic and race relations.
“The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long," Biden said. "Too much anger, too much fear, too much division."
Obama rebukes Trump: 'Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t'
Democrats said the unorthodox convention – even though constrained by a pandemic -- accomplished what was needed by giving the liberal and moderate wings of the party a singular purpose: defeating Trump to save American ideals.
Yet by making policy proposals secondary, Biden took a gamble that undecided voters and the party’s liberal base will rally around character and leadership instead of clear policy goals.
Hitting on the empathy message
“They needed to establish Joe Biden as a vigorous, competent person who is a qualified alternative to Donald Trump,” said Todd Belt, professor and political management program director at George Washington University. “And I think they did that really well. To juxtapose Biden and Trump, they overwhelmingly hit on the message of empathy.”
Belt said Democrats, who turned to condensed speeches and short video segments, translated the convention into something “more digestible” for a mass audience. And while some party activists craved more details, Belt said leaving them out reflected a play-it-safe strategy by Biden, who is operating from a “position of strength” because of his lead in the polls against the president.
“Getting into those details is actually the risky thing,” he said, arguing it would have only given ammunition to Republicans.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, national co-chairman of the Biden campaign, said the convention set up a clear contrast clear between Trump’s leadership approach and that of Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris.
"These are two people with the hearts and the experience that we need versus a guy who has neither," Garcetti told USA TODAY. "When you're voting for president, you're voting for a parent. You want a father to be decent and you want a father to protect. I think you look at the current president, he's anything but."
Among the speakers at the convention was 13-year-old Brayden Harrington, who has a stutter and thanked Biden, who also stuttered as a child, for helping him overcome his fear of public speaking.
Another testimonial came Jacquelyn Brittany, a security guard who met Biden when she escorted the former vice president at The New York Times for a meeting with its editorial board in December. As they were on an elevator, Brittany blurted out "I love you," telling him that she hoped he won the primary race.
Michelle Obama's VOTE necklace: Necklace goes viral after DNC speech
Republicans weren’t as impressed. Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for President George W. Bush, called the convention “at worst adequate and at best fine.” He said Biden didn’t do anything to widen his lead and left himself exposed on public safety – an area Trump has already tried to seize on with his “law and order” push – and policy in general.
“It was entirely a personality-driven convention where their calculation is they need to make this a personality race – between Biden, the good/great guy and Trump, the offensive boar,” Fleischer said. “Their whole strategy rests on that calculation, which leaves a gigantic flank exposed on policy.”
“It shows a vulnerability that they have, that they were hoping to skip over. It provides a huge opening if Republicans are smart enough to take it,” he said.
Biden’s remarks were about half as long as Hillary Clinton’s 56-minute acceptance speech in 2016. Former President Barack Obama spoke for 42 minutes and 30 seconds when he accepted the nomination in 2008.
Jokes fell flat for some
In the absence of a live audience that would have elongated the convention speeches with applauses, standing ovations and chants, Democrats opted for a tight format that moved quickly from one segment to the next. Celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Julia Louis-Dreyfus moderated the virtual event, which also featured musical performances from Billie Eilish, John legend and others.
Louis-Dreyfus, the Emmy-award winning star of “Veep,” stirred a debate on social media with jokes Thursday night about the pronunciation of Mike Pence’s name and Trump’s controversial photo op in front of a church.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus takes jabs at Trump during DNC Julia Louis-Dreyfus hosted the final night of the Democratic National Convention. USA TODAY
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said the jokes were at odds with the narrative the campaign was trying to shape about the Biden-Harris ticket on empathy and sobriety in a time of national emergency. Murray tweeted that the humor ran the risk of “reinforcing Dems' condescending elite image.
Matt Grossman, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, said Democrats leaned into a traditional advantage they have in their candidates, which is "seeming to be more compassionate and empathetic."
By making a case for “morality and decency,” Grossman said Biden crossed into areas in which Republicans historically hold an advantage.
“He did go through all the policy positions and social groups that make up the party, so those weren’t absent, but there was definitely a more personal focus to the speech and a striking contrast with President Trump,” Grossman said.
In a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll last month, 50% of registered voters said they find Biden honest and trustworthy, compared with just 30% for Trump – a reversal from four years ago when voters saw Trump as more trustworthy than Clinton in the weeks before the election.
Video testimonials emphasized to Americans the threat of climate change and mass shootings, while underscoring the importance of the country's growing diversity and showcasing Biden's appeal to Republicans, such as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who spoke at the convention.
"I'm a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country," Kasich said during an address on Monday. "That's why I've chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times."
But even though Biden has maintained a polling lead over Trump throughout the race, he has never been the first choice of many young progressive voters who gravitated strongly toward Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Sanders tried to boost Biden's credibility with progressive by emphasizing how the new administration would be committed to rebuilding U.S. infrastructure, fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and take criminal justice reform seriously by ending private prisons and cash bail.
"And all of us – whether you're progressives, whether you're moderates or you're conservatives – have got to come together to defeat this president," he said.
The party platform, which passed Tuesday, emphasizes a broad set of changes Democrats want on health care, the environment and the economy.
Steering clear of Medicare for All and defunding police
Those goals, however, left out plenty that the progressive base has wanted for decades, such as support for “Medicare for All,” the universal and single-payer health care proposal championed by Sanders during the 2020 primary.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., voted against the platform in protest because it didn’t include a call for Medicare for All, saying the absence of it was particularly troubling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This, to me, is the time for a party to have a clearer moral vision, so I think we have to fight to have that in our platform which has been part of the Democratic dream since Harry Truman."
The convention also steered clear of endorsing calls to "defund the police" by shifting public resources from law enforcement agencies to social programs and public safety alternatives.
Even though Biden and Harris have said they don’t support defunding the police, the Trump campaign has tried to tie Biden to that mantra. Biden has said he supports funding for community policing programs that improve relationships between officers and residents, but not draining funds from police departments. Biden made his position clear on the convention's opening night when he said "most cops are good" but that bad ones needed to be prosecuted.
Garcetti said he believes the Biden campaign did enough to address question from the left.
"Most importantly, they're addressed in the platform," he said. "They're addressed in the program. They're addressed in the people. You heard it from Bernie himself."
Sarah Audelo, executive director for Alliance for Youth Action, said her group conducts monthly tracking surveys about what matters to younger voters in battleground states who are persuadable to Biden. She said defunding police departments is at a top issue for them and the convention missed an opportunity to engage more fully on it.
"The number one issue this demographic cares about is defunding the police, and while it's clear that is not a stance that the party is going to champion, what they could have done is talked about alternatives to policing," she said.
"Progressives already know that Donald Trump is awful and that our democracy is broken," Audelo added. "What progressives are frequently looking for is the alternative and what is the future we're going to be building if we're not going to be in this place of Donald Trump not running out country."
Khanna, who served as national co-chair of Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign, said he will enthusiastically support Biden this fall.
But the California Democrat said the former vice president should meet with the party’s rising, younger and more progressive voices such as Rep. Alexandria Oscasio-Cortez and New York congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman.
"They'd get him a lot more votes than Kasich is going to get him," Khanna said.


usatoday--2020-08-24--'Most important election': Trump formally nominated for second term at Republican National Conventio

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump was formally nominated for a second term at the Republican National Convention on Monday , marking an official start to this year 's presidential race and the first major – if symbolic – moment of the party 's meeting this week .
Trump made a surprise visit to the convention shortly after crossing the threshold of delegates needed for the nod .
He started off his remarks with an attack on Democrats , opponent Joe Biden and criticism of mail-in ballots – an indication his message at the party 's convention will largely mirror what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the run-up to it .
`` This is the most important election in the history of our country , '' Trump said during nearly an hour of remarks at the Charlotte Convention Center .
`` This is the biggest . ''
In contrast to Democrats , who nominated Biden in a virtual roll call from 57 states and territories , Trump chose a more traditional approach : an in-person event in Charlotte , North Carolina , where delegates are conducting the convention 's official business .
In another potential sign of what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Vice President Mike Pence made unexpected remarks during the vote .
Trump will formally accept the nomination in an address at the White House on Thursday – the marquee event of the convention – but his campaign signaled he 'll be visible on a daily basis .
The outcome of the roll call was never in question – presidential nominating conventions haven ’ t been contested for decades , and Trump ran virtually unopposed – but the formal roll call is nevertheless a symbolic milestone , an expression of the party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state offered brief speeches supporting the president before formally adding their delegates to the tally .
Pence , formally nominated earlier Monday , spoke before Trump got the delegates needed for the nomination .
`` Today is about four more years , '' Pence told the delegates .
`` This week , we will take our case to the American people . ''
Trump 's turn : Republicans hunt for an election reset at national convention Day 1 : Here 's what to expect on first day the Republican National Convention Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and a weak economy , so the convention hands the president a chance to reset his campaign , define how he would use a second term and land a consistent line of attack against Biden as many of the nation 's voters start to tune in to the race .
Trump and his aides signaled a desire for an upbeat – and mostly live – four-day performance .
Trump is holding a series of campaign events in North Carolina before flying back to Washington on Monday .
The convention opened Monday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have knelt in protest during the national anthem and for removing the word `` God '' from their party platform – a long-standing criticism .
Republicans announced Sunday that they would forgo a party platform this year , simply adopting Trump 's campaign pledges as their own .
A pre-meeting prayer at the RNC included criticism of Catholics who support abortion rights .
The crowd in Charlotte greeted Trump with cries of `` Oklahoma loves you , Mr .
President ! ''
and `` Four More Years . ''
`` If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say 12 more years , '' Trump said .
Trump started off by warning supporters to be wary of election chicanery , saying `` bad things happened last time '' and could happen again this year .
Extolling the stock market and improving jobs numbers , Trump said a Biden election would lead to economic disaster .
Trump is to travel to Asheville , North Carolina , to appear with daughter Ivanka at an event to highlight an administration food delivery program .
During his flight , Trump complained on Twitter that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call ( the networks also did not air pre-evening events during the Democratic convention ) .
The major addresses of the virtual convention – first set for Charlotte , then Jacksonville , Florida , but pulled from both cities because of the coronavirus – starts Monday night with speeches by lawmakers , activists and members of Trump 's family .

John Fritze and David Jackson, USA TODAY

'Most important election': Trump formally nominated for second term at Republican National Convention
Show Caption Hide Caption RNC: St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters to speak A St. Louis couple who pointed their guns at protesters marching through their community will speak at the Republican National Convention. USA TODAY, Storyful
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump was formally nominated for a second term at the Republican National Convention on Monday, marking an official start to this year's presidential race and the first major – if symbolic – moment of the party's meeting this week.
Trump made a surprise visit to the convention shortly after crossing the threshold of delegates needed for the nod. He started off his remarks with an attack on Democrats, opponent Joe Biden and criticism of mail-in ballots – an indication his message at the party's convention will largely mirror what he has been eager to convey in the run-up to it.
"This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said during nearly an hour of remarks at the Charlotte Convention Center. "This is the biggest."
In contrast to Democrats, who nominated Biden in a virtual roll call from 57 states and territories, Trump chose a more traditional approach: an in-person event in Charlotte, North Carolina, where delegates are conducting the convention's official business. In another potential sign of what's to come this week, both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made unexpected remarks during the vote.
Trump will formally accept the nomination in an address at the White House on Thursday – the marquee event of the convention – but his campaign signaled he'll be visible on a daily basis.
The outcome of the roll call was never in question – presidential nominating conventions haven’t been contested for decades, and Trump ran virtually unopposed – but the formal roll call is nevertheless a symbolic milestone, an expression of the party’s support. Delegations from state after state offered brief speeches supporting the president before formally adding their delegates to the tally.
Pence, formally nominated earlier Monday, spoke before Trump got the delegates needed for the nomination.
"Today is about four more years," Pence told the delegates. "This week, we will take our case to the American people."
Kirk: Republicans turn to Charlie Kirk, Trump family confidant, to close youth voter gap
Trump's turn: Republicans hunt for an election reset at national convention
Day 1: Here's what to expect on first day the Republican National Convention
Trump is down in battleground polls amid a devastating pandemic and a weak economy, so the convention hands the president a chance to reset his campaign, define how he would use a second term and land a consistent line of attack against Biden as many of the nation's voters start to tune in to the race.
Trump and his aides signaled a desire for an upbeat – and mostly live – four-day performance. Trump is holding a series of campaign events in North Carolina before flying back to Washington on Monday.
The convention opened Monday morning with Republicans slamming Democrats for supporting those who have knelt in protest during the national anthem and for removing the word "God" from their party platform – a long-standing criticism.
Republicans announced Sunday that they would forgo a party platform this year, simply adopting Trump's campaign pledges as their own.
A pre-meeting prayer at the RNC included criticism of Catholics who support abortion rights.
The crowd in Charlotte greeted Trump with cries of "Oklahoma loves you, Mr. President!" and "Four More Years."
"If you really want to drive them crazy, say 12 more years," Trump said.
Trump started off by warning supporters to be wary of election chicanery, saying "bad things happened last time" and could happen again this year. Extolling the stock market and improving jobs numbers, Trump said a Biden election would lead to economic disaster.
Trump is to travel to Asheville, North Carolina, to appear with daughter Ivanka at an event to highlight an administration food delivery program. During his flight, Trump complained on Twitter that the cable networks did not carry the roll call (the networks also did not air pre-evening events during the Democratic convention).
The major addresses of the virtual convention – first set for Charlotte, then Jacksonville, Florida, but pulled from both cities because of the coronavirus – starts Monday night with speeches by lawmakers, activists and members of Trump's family.


usatoday--2020-08-25--Donald Trump Jr. blasts 'rioting, looting and vandalism,' Tim Scott offers optimistic speech on race

WASHINGTON – The opening night of the Republican National Convention served as an official rebuttal to a week of Democrats blasting President Donald Trump in their convention .
Speakers at the RNC praised Trump 's character , his first-term accomplishments and his performance during the coronavirus pandemic .
The event Monday evening highlighted the culture wars in the U.S. and Republicans sought to paint Democrats as socialists who would take away America 's greatness , destroy the suburbs and cause chaos and lawlessness .
The event featured remarks from a Cuban-born American who warned of what socialism could do to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were Sen. Tim Scott , Donald Trump Jr. , Trump Jr. 's girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle , and several Americans who were held overseas and freed under Trump 's watch .
Analysis : Three things President Donald Trump and the GOP need to do at their convention Sen. Tim Scott , the GOP 's sole Black senator , delivered a rousing speech about race and the American dream .
He shared the story of his family , saying they went `` from Cotton to Congress in one lifetime .
And that ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be better than the last.
” Scott , R-S.C. , shared what he 's been able to accomplish with the president , declining to weigh in on the culture wars that wove through most of the night 's speeches .
He said the world wants voters to believe only in racially , economically and culturally polarizing news , but he saw progress rather than stagnation .
Scott focused on hope and striving to make America better , sharing that his single mother worked 16 hour days to keep food on the table .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small home with his siblings and grandparents , how he picked himself up after failing several subjects in high school and how his path eventually led to Congress , winning in a crowded field of candidates .
“ The voters judged me not on the color of my skin , but on the content of my character , ” Scott said from Mellon Auditorium in Washington .
“ The truth is , our nation ’ s arc always bends back towards fairness .
We are not fully where we want to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not where we used to be.
” Trump Jr. calls Joe Biden the 'Loch Ness monster of the swamp' Donald Trump Jr. unloaded a combative speech at the Republican National Convention by praising his father ’ s economic record in the White House while calling Democratic nominee Joe Biden , “ Beijing Biden ” and “ the Loch Ness monster of the swamp.
” Trump Jr. said his father ’ s cuts in taxes and regulations provided “ rocket fuel ” to the economy , boosting growth and bringing about the lowest unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Jr. said the economic collapse came “ courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party.
” He said Biden ’ s party discouraged free speech through rioting and bullying , while making it difficult to attend church because of coronavirus restrictions .
“ Beijing Biden is so weak on China that the Intelligence Community recently assessed that the Chinese Communist Party favors Biden , ” Trump Jr. said .
After Biden ’ s nearly half-century in public office , Trump Jr. called Biden “ basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp.
” Speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other family members target different voters with different messages Trump family : Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle gin up GOP base like 'rock stars' “ It ’ s almost like this election is shaping up to be church , work and school versus rioting , looting and vandalism – or , in the words of Biden and the Democrats , ‘ peaceful protesting , ’ ” Trump Jr. said .
After Democrats promoted diversity throughout their convention , the first night of the Republican featured several Republicans who took on the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose parents immigrated from India , said calling America a racist country “ is a lie.
” “ My parents never gave in to grievance and hate , ” said Haley , a Republican former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
“ America is a story that is a work in progress.
” More : Trump speeches , attacks on Biden : What to expect this week at the Republican National Convention Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones , a lifelong Democrat who is Black , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign after he endorsed Trump .
But rather than linger on the `` mental plantation , '' Jones said he supported Trump for opportunity zones in tax legislation , financial support for historically Black colleges and universities and an overhaul of the criminal justice system that reduced mass incarceration that decimated Black communities .
“ That ’ s right – Donald Trump did that , ” Jones said .
Kim Klacik , the first Black Republican candidate for Congress ever from Maryland , said Democrats controlled Baltimore for more than 50 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground ” with abandoned buildings , drug addicts and guns on the street .
“ And yet , the Democrats still assume that Black people will vote for them , no matter how much they let us down and take us for granted , ” Klacik said .
“ Nope !
We ’ re sick of it and not going to take it anymore .
The days of blindly supporting the Democrats are coming to an end.
” Herschel Walker , a former professional football player , defended Trump against accusations that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my soul to hear the terrible names that people call Donald .
The worst one is 'racist , ' '' said Walker , who is Black and who described his relationship with Trump as a `` deep '' friendship .
`` People who think that do n't know what they 're talking about , '' he said .
St. Louis couple who pointed guns say they were victims of a 'mob' The couple who in late June pointed guns at people protesting racial injustice in St. Louis played a central role in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with several speakers highlighting the Second Amendment and Trump 's actions over his term to both protect these rights and curb violence after mass shootings .
The names of Mark and Patricia McCloskey went viral after photos captured the couple pointing a semi-automatic rifle and handgun at a crowd of protesters walking past their home during a protest over the death of George Floyd , a Black man who died after a Minneapolis office knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
The incident later led to the couple being charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a great country that you not only have the right to own a gun and use it to defend yourself , but thousands of Americans will offer you free advice on how to use it .
At least that ’ s what we experienced , '' Patricia McCloskey said .
`` What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country . ''
Her husband , Mark , noted that protester outside their home had not been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the backlash the couple has received .
`` At this moment in history , if you stand up for yourself and for the values our country was founded on , the mob – spurred on by their allies in the media – will try to destroy you , '' he said .
`` President Trump will defend the God-given right of every American to protect their homes and their families . ''
The evening had a heavy emphasis on gun rights and included remarks from Rep. Steve Scalise , who survived a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose teenage daughter , Meadow , was killed in a mass shooting in Parkland , Fla. in 2018 .
More : Prosecutor investigating couple who pointed guns at protesters says Trump , governor 'came after ' her Opinion : My daughter died at Parkland .
While we argue about guns , let 's fix school security .
Throughout the evening , several speakers sought to target a key demographic that has been reluctant to support Trump : suburban women .
Republicans argued that a Biden presidency would jeopardize the safety of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke about why they supported Trump .
Ronna McDaniel , the chair of the Republican National Committee , noted that Democrats in their convention last week started off with host Eva Longoria , who starred in ABC 's `` Desperate Housewives . ''
`` Well , I ’ m actually a real housewife and a mom from Michigan with two wonderful kids in public school who happens to be only the second woman in 164 years to run the Republican Party , '' McDaniel said .
`` And unlike Joe Biden , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m a woman – he chose me because I was the best person for the job . ''
Kimberly Guilfoyle , a top fundraising aide for Trump 's campaign and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. , gave an impassioned speech on behalf of the president after introducing herself as a single mother and Latina .
She accused Democrats of trying to impose socialist policies .
`` My mother , Mercedes , was a special education teacher from Aguadilla , Puerto Rico .
My father also an immigrant came to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , I consider it my duty to fight to protect that dream , '' she said .
`` Don ’ t let the Democrats and their socialist comrades take you for granted .
Don ’ t let them step on you .
Don ’ t let them destroy your families , your lives , and your future .
Don ’ t let them suppress future generations , because they told you and brainwashed you and fed you lies that you weren ’ t good enough , '' Guilfoyle said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soul of America , '' she said , asking voters to decide whether they wanted `` cosmopolitan elites '' and whether they supported `` cancel culture , '' before stating , `` Your choice is clear . ''
Trump narrowly won suburban voters in 2016 but his polling with those voters , especially suburban women , has been falling .
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll in June showed 66 % of suburban women disapproved of Trump 's performance , including 58 % who said they `` strongly '' disapproved .
More : Police shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kenosha after protests erupt , Wisconsin DOJ to investigate

Christal Hayes and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY

Donald Trump Jr. blasts 'rioting, looting and vandalism,' Tim Scott offers optimistic speech on race: Takeaways from the RNC
Show Caption Hide Caption Kimberly Guilfoyle at the RNC: 'The best is yet to come' Kimberly Guilfoyle, the national chair of Trump Victory Finance Committee, offers a rousing speech at the Republican National Convention. USA TODAY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON – The opening night of the Republican National Convention served as an official rebuttal to a week of Democrats blasting President Donald Trump in their convention. Speakers at the RNC praised Trump's character, his first-term accomplishments and his performance during the coronavirus pandemic.
The event Monday evening highlighted the culture wars in the U.S. and Republicans sought to paint Democrats as socialists who would take away America's greatness, destroy the suburbs and cause chaos and lawlessness.
The event featured remarks from a Cuban-born American who warned of what socialism could do to the country. Also among the speakers were Sen. Tim Scott, Donald Trump Jr., Trump Jr.'s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, and several Americans who were held overseas and freed under Trump's watch.
Analysis: Three things President Donald Trump and the GOP need to do at their convention
Sen. Tim Scott shares personal story on race
Sen. Tim Scott, the GOP's sole Black senator, delivered a rousing speech about race and the American dream. He shared the story of his family, saying they went "from Cotton to Congress in one lifetime. And that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”
Scott, R-S.C., shared what he's been able to accomplish with the president, declining to weigh in on the culture wars that wove through most of the night's speeches. He said the world wants voters to believe only in racially, economically and culturally polarizing news, but he saw progress rather than stagnation.
Sen. Tim Scott headlines first night of the 2020 RNC Sen. Tim Scott shared the story of his family, saying they went "from Cotton to Congress in one lifetime.” USA TODAY, Associated Press
Scott focused on hope and striving to make America better, sharing that his single mother worked 16 hour days to keep food on the table. He spoke of growing up living in a small home with his siblings and grandparents, how he picked himself up after failing several subjects in high school and how his path eventually led to Congress, winning in a crowded field of candidates.
“The voters judged me not on the color of my skin, but on the content of my character,” Scott said from Mellon Auditorium in Washington. “The truth is, our nation’s arc always bends back towards fairness. We are not fully where we want to be, but thank God almighty we are not where we used to be.”
Trump Jr. calls Joe Biden the 'Loch Ness monster of the swamp'
Donald Trump Jr. unloaded a combative speech at the Republican National Convention by praising his father’s economic record in the White House while calling Democratic nominee Joe Biden, “Beijing Biden” and “the Loch Ness monster of the swamp.”
Trump Jr. said his father’s cuts in taxes and regulations provided “rocket fuel” to the economy, boosting growth and bringing about the lowest unemployment rate in nearly 50 years. But Trump Jr. said the economic collapse came “courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party.” He said Biden’s party discouraged free speech through rioting and bullying, while making it difficult to attend church because of coronavirus restrictions.
“Beijing Biden is so weak on China that the Intelligence Community recently assessed that the Chinese Communist Party favors Biden,” Trump Jr. said. After Biden’s nearly half-century in public office, Trump Jr. called Biden “basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp.”
RNC: Trump Jr. critiques policies of 'Beijing' Biden During the Republican National Convention's first night, Donald Trump Jr. is critical of Joe Biden's political reputation. USA TODAY, Associated Press
Speaking for Trump: How Don Jr. and other family members target different voters with different messages
Trump family: Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle gin up GOP base like 'rock stars'
“It’s almost like this election is shaping up to be church, work and school versus rioting, looting and vandalism – or, in the words of Biden and the Democrats, ‘peaceful protesting,’” Trump Jr. said.
Nikki Haley: Calling America a racist country 'is a lie'
After Democrats promoted diversity throughout their convention, the first night of the Republican featured several Republicans who took on the issue of race and politics.
Nikki Haley, whose parents immigrated from India, said calling America a racist country “is a lie.”
“My parents never gave in to grievance and hate,” said Haley, a Republican former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. “America is a story that is a work in progress.”
RNC: Nikki Haley calls out Democrats' 'cancel culture' Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the UN, praises the efforts of President Trump while being critical of former Vice President Joe Biden. USA TODAY, Associated Press
More: Trump speeches, attacks on Biden: What to expect this week at the Republican National Convention
Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, a lifelong Democrat who is Black, said officials in his party urged him to resign after he endorsed Trump. But rather than linger on the "mental plantation," Jones said he supported Trump for opportunity zones in tax legislation, financial support for historically Black colleges and universities and an overhaul of the criminal justice system that reduced mass incarceration that decimated Black communities.
“That’s right – Donald Trump did that,” Jones said.
Kim Klacik, the first Black Republican candidate for Congress ever from Maryland, said Democrats controlled Baltimore for more than 50 years and “have run this beautiful place into the ground” with abandoned buildings, drug addicts and guns on the street.
“And yet, the Democrats still assume that Black people will vote for them, no matter how much they let us down and take us for granted,” Klacik said. “Nope! We’re sick of it and not going to take it anymore. The days of blindly supporting the Democrats are coming to an end.”
Herschel Walker, a former professional football player, defended Trump against accusations that he is racist.
"It hurts my soul to hear the terrible names that people call Donald. The worst one is 'racist,'" said Walker, who is Black and who described his relationship with Trump as a "deep" friendship. "People who think that don't know what they're talking about," he said.
St. Louis couple who pointed guns say they were victims of a 'mob'
The couple who in late June pointed guns at people protesting racial injustice in St. Louis played a central role in a segment centered on gun rights and violence, with several speakers highlighting the Second Amendment and Trump's actions over his term to both protect these rights and curb violence after mass shootings.
The names of Mark and Patricia McCloskey went viral after photos captured the couple pointing a semi-automatic rifle and handgun at a crowd of protesters walking past their home during a protest over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis office knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident later led to the couple being charged with a felony.
"America is such a great country that you not only have the right to own a gun and use it to defend yourself, but thousands of Americans will offer you free advice on how to use it. At least that’s what we experienced," Patricia McCloskey said. "What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country."
Her husband, Mark, noted that protester outside their home had not been charged with a crime. He also talked of the backlash the couple has received.
"At this moment in history, if you stand up for yourself and for the values our country was founded on, the mob – spurred on by their allies in the media – will try to destroy you," he said. "President Trump will defend the God-given right of every American to protect their homes and their families."
The evening had a heavy emphasis on gun rights and included remarks from Rep. Steve Scalise, who survived a shooting in 2017, and Andrew Pollack, whose teenage daughter, Meadow, was killed in a mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018.
More: Prosecutor investigating couple who pointed guns at protesters says Trump, governor 'came after' her
Opinion: My daughter died at Parkland. While we argue about guns, let's fix school security.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Ronna McDaniel court suburban women
Throughout the evening, several speakers sought to target a key demographic that has been reluctant to support Trump: suburban women.
Republicans argued that a Biden presidency would jeopardize the safety of their families and their healthcare while female speakers spoke about why they supported Trump.
Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee, noted that Democrats in their convention last week started off with host Eva Longoria, who starred in ABC's "Desperate Housewives."
"Well, I’m actually a real housewife and a mom from Michigan with two wonderful kids in public school who happens to be only the second woman in 164 years to run the Republican Party," McDaniel said. "And unlike Joe Biden, President Trump didn’t choose me because I’m a woman – he chose me because I was the best person for the job."
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top fundraising aide for Trump's campaign and the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., gave an impassioned speech on behalf of the president after introducing herself as a single mother and Latina. She accused Democrats of trying to impose socialist policies.
"My mother, Mercedes, was a special education teacher from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. My father also an immigrant came to this nation in pursuit of the American Dream. Now, I consider it my duty to fight to protect that dream," she said.
"Don’t let the Democrats and their socialist comrades take you for granted. Don’t let them step on you. Don’t let them destroy your families, your lives, and your future. Don’t let them suppress future generations, because they told you and brainwashed you and fed you lies that you weren’t good enough," Guilfoyle said.
"This election is a battle for the soul of America," she said, asking voters to decide whether they wanted "cosmopolitan elites" and whether they supported "cancel culture," before stating, "Your choice is clear."
Trump narrowly won suburban voters in 2016 but his polling with those voters, especially suburban women, has been falling. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll in June showed 66% of suburban women disapproved of Trump's performance, including 58% who said they "strongly" disapproved.
More: Police shooting of Jacob Blake: National Guard heads to Kenosha after protests erupt, Wisconsin DOJ to investigate


usatoday--2020-08-25--As Trump hammers 'law and order' message at RNC, Barr's DOJ takes 'like it or not' approach

Four years ago , President Donald Trump 's law-and-order campaign became a part of his inaugural address when he vowed `` this American carnage stops right here and right now . ''
A similar , apocalyptic refrain echoed through the first night of the Republican National Convention and promises to be a recurring theme throughout the week .
`` People of faith are under attack , '' Donald Trump Jr. said .
`` You ’ re not allowed to go to church , but mass chaos in the streets gets a pass ... Anarchists have been flooding our streets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand down . ''
`` When you are in trouble and need police , don ’ t count on the Democrats , '' Kimberly Guilfoyle , a lawyer and Trump Jr. 's girlfriend said in her RNC speech .
Rep. Jim Jordan said “ crime , violence , mob rule ” are happening in Democrat-controlled cities .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who made national news when they emerged from their home in St. Louis , Missouri , brandishing firearms to confront protesters , were also among the first night 's speakers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police ... or encouraging anarchy on our streets , it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government 's job as protecting honest citizens from criminals but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens , '' Mark McCloskey said .
The Trump administration began hammering at the law-and-order message weeks before the convention , abruptly launching Operation Legend , a national violent crime crackdown that has since spread to nine U.S. cities .
The first time Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas heard that nearly 200 federal agents were headed to his city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House announced it on live television .
There was no consultation , no planning for a collaboration that would normally take weeks of preparation .
Lucas was suspicious of a possible political power play .
More than a month later , law enforcement authorities are crediting the federal deployment with assisting in the arrests of 17 local murder suspects , including a Kansas City man accused in the slaying of 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro , for whom the federal strategy is named .
Nationwide , nearly 1,500 suspects have been swept up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which now has a presence in Albuquerque , Chicago , Cleveland , Detroit , Milwaukee , Indianapolis , Memphis and St. Louis .
`` Operation Legend is working , ” said Tim Garrison , the chief federal prosecutor in Kansas City .
Despite the encouraging numbers , uneasy local officials have refused to fully embrace the Trump administration strategy , fearing that their cities have been co-opted by a sagging presidential campaign in search of a popular law-and-order theme .
`` The reason this has been rolled out on a national scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , '' Lucas said .
`` The coronavirus response does n't seem to be polling well for them , so they have moved to something else ( violent crime ) that they can try to do something about .
They are trying to make crime a partisan issue . ''
Similar concerns have been voiced in Albuquerque , New Mexico , and Memphis , Tennessee , where officials were initially unnerved by the Trump administration 's deployment of federal officers to battle protesters in Portland , Oregon , and Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities .
`` The skepticism continues today , '' said Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos , adding that the city still has not been briefed on the full scope of the federal law enforcement effort in New Mexico .
`` The political overtones are a big part of this . ''
Trump is not the first Republican to adopt the theme .
Presidents Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan and George H.W .
Bush all campaigned on various iterations of law and order , though the issue lost potency as crime rates fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General William Barr has been unapologetic in the government 's push into cities largely led by Democrats .
Leading the Trump administration 's effort , the attorney general has cast it both as a strategy to fight violent crime and a move to boost local police who have been the targets of social justice demonstrations across the country after George Floyd 's death at the hands of Minneapolis officers .
`` Operation Legend is the heart of the federal government ’ s response to this uptick in violent crime , '' Barr said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he unveiled the latest arrest numbers .
`` Its mission is to save lives , solve crimes , and take violent offenders off our streets before they can claim more victims .
Rather than demonizing or de-funding police , we are supporting and strengthening our law enforcement partners . ''
From its start , the Justice Department 's law enforcement operation has been framed in starkly political terms by none other than the president .
`` For decades , politicians running many of our nation ’ s major cities have put the interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens , '' Trump said last month at a White House ceremony marking Operation Legend 's launch .
`` These same politicians have now embraced the far-left movement to break up our police departments , causing violent crime in their cities to spiral – and I mean spiral seriously out of control . ''
Trump specifically called out the leadership of Albuquerque , Chicago and other cities as `` too proud '' to request federal government assistance .
`` My administration will be working to remove dangerous offenders sprung loose by these deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these deadly politicians , '' Trump said at the event , where he was joined by Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray .
`` My vision for America ’ s cities could not be more different from the lawlessness being pushed by the extreme radical left . ''
The president 's remarks were met with immediate pushback from Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller , police Chief Michael Geier , Kansas City Mayor Lucas and officials from other cities .
`` We always welcome partnerships in constitutional crime fighting that are in step with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell out our city for a bait-and-switch excuse to send secret police to Albuquerque , '' Keller said then , referring to the federal officers deployed to Portland and Washington whose uniforms did not always identify their agency affiliations .
`` Operation Legend is not real crime fighting ; it ’ s politics standing in the way of police work and makes us less safe.
” Since then , Keller – who has described crime as the `` most pressing issue '' facing the city – said New Mexico U.S. Attorney John Anderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agents deployed to the city would not expand beyond the crackdown on violent crime .
Nevertheless , the mayor said the city `` remained concerned '' because of the president 's remarks and vowed to `` hold the appropriate people accountable if this is not true . ''
Gallegos , the Albuquerque police spokesman , said the rushed nature of the operation , offering assistance that the city did not request , continues to fuel skepticism about the federal government 's intentions in New Mexico .
More than a month after about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the collaborative law enforcement effort in Albuquerque , Gallegos said the police department is not aware of how many federal officers will be deployed to the area .
`` We do n't know , '' he said .
The local tension generated by the federal government 's rapidly expanding violent-crime strategy was on full display last week in Memphis , where a group of City Council members offered a resolution publicly opposing the federal deployment of 40 agents and officers to the city .
Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas , sponsor of the proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of local control over the program , even though violent crime has surged in the city .
Murder and aggravated assault numbers are all running ahead of 2019 , according to a midyear review by the Major Cities Chiefs Association .
The resolution prompted an unusually sharp rebuke from U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant , who added that resistance to law enforcement was `` not legitimate public policy . ''
`` With all due respect to the council , no one 's permission is necessary for us to surge these federal resources into Memphis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Federal law still applies here on the streets of Memphis .
As long as I 'm the United States attorney , we will , in fact , aggressively , consistently , and unapologetically enforce that federal law against the worst of the worst criminals for harming our citizens and terrorizing our community . ''
Easter-Thomas ' resolution was ultimately defeated , but an uneasy undercurrent remains .
`` We all should be wary of this , if only because of who is in charge in the White House , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @

As Trump hammers 'law and order' message at RNC, Barr's DOJ takes 'like it or not' approach
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump Jr.: it's church, work, school vs. rioting Donald Trump Jr. ridiculed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with name-calling in a fiery speech to the Republican National Convention and painted Biden as part of a movement aimed at stripping the nation of its most basic freedoms. (Aug. 24) AP
Four years ago, President Donald Trump's law-and-order campaign became a part of his inaugural address when he vowed "this American carnage stops right here and right now."
A similar, apocalyptic refrain echoed through the first night of the Republican National Convention and promises to be a recurring theme throughout the week.
"People of faith are under attack," Donald Trump Jr. said. "You’re not allowed to go to church, but mass chaos in the streets gets a pass ... Anarchists have been flooding our streets and Democrat mayors are ordering the police to stand down."
"When you are in trouble and need police, don’t count on the Democrats," Kimberly Guilfoyle, a lawyer and Trump Jr.'s girlfriend said in her RNC speech.
Rep. Jim Jordan said “crime, violence, mob rule” are happening in Democrat-controlled cities.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who made national news when they emerged from their home in St. Louis, Missouri, brandishing firearms to confront protesters, were also among the first night's speakers.
"Whether it is the defunding of police ... or encouraging anarchy on our streets, it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government's job as protecting honest citizens from criminals but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens," Mark McCloskey said.
The Trump administration began hammering at the law-and-order message weeks before the convention, abruptly launching Operation Legend, a national violent crime crackdown that has since spread to nine U.S. cities.
The first time Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas heard that nearly 200 federal agents were headed to his city to combat violent crime was when the White House announced it on live television. There was no consultation, no planning for a collaboration that would normally take weeks of preparation. Lucas was suspicious of a possible political power play.
More than a month later, law enforcement authorities are crediting the federal deployment with assisting in the arrests of 17 local murder suspects, including a Kansas City man accused in the slaying of 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, for whom the federal strategy is named. Nationwide, nearly 1,500 suspects have been swept up in recent weeks as part of Operation Legend, which now has a presence in Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Memphis and St. Louis.
OPERATION LEGEND: AG Barr announces 1,000 arrests, including suspects in 90 murders
"Operation Legend is working,” said Tim Garrison, the chief federal prosecutor in Kansas City.
Despite the encouraging numbers, uneasy local officials have refused to fully embrace the Trump administration strategy, fearing that their cities have been co-opted by a sagging presidential campaign in search of a popular law-and-order theme.
"The reason this has been rolled out on a national scale is because we are in an election year," Lucas said. "The coronavirus response doesn't seem to be polling well for them, so they have moved to something else (violent crime) that they can try to do something about. They are trying to make crime a partisan issue."
Similar concerns have been voiced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Memphis, Tennessee, where officials were initially unnerved by the Trump administration's deployment of federal officers to battle protesters in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., though they are not Operation Legend cities.
"The skepticism continues today," said Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos, adding that the city still has not been briefed on the full scope of the federal law enforcement effort in New Mexico. "The political overtones are a big part of this."
Trump is not the first Republican to adopt the theme. Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush all campaigned on various iterations of law and order, though the issue lost potency as crime rates fell during the 1990s and 2000s.
Attorney General William Barr has been unapologetic in the government's push into cities largely led by Democrats. Leading the Trump administration's effort, the attorney general has cast it both as a strategy to fight violent crime and a move to boost local police who have been the targets of social justice demonstrations across the country after George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis officers.
"Operation Legend is the heart of the federal government’s response to this uptick in violent crime," Barr said last week in Kansas City, where he unveiled the latest arrest numbers. "Its mission is to save lives, solve crimes, and take violent offenders off our streets before they can claim more victims. Rather than demonizing or de-funding police, we are supporting and strengthening our law enforcement partners."
Barr: Federal task force made almost 1,500 arrests Attorney General William Barr says federal officers working alongside local police in the initiative known as "Operation Legend" have helped make nearly 1,500 arrests, including dozens for homicides and other violent crimes. (Aug. 19) AP
'Deadly politicians'
From its start, the Justice Department's law enforcement operation has been framed in starkly political terms by none other than the president.
"For decades, politicians running many of our nation’s major cities have put the interests of criminals above the rights of law-abiding citizens," Trump said last month at a White House ceremony marking Operation Legend's launch. "These same politicians have now embraced the far-left movement to break up our police departments, causing violent crime in their cities to spiral – and I mean spiral seriously out of control."
Trump specifically called out the leadership of Albuquerque, Chicago and other cities as "too proud" to request federal government assistance.
"My administration will be working to remove dangerous offenders sprung loose by these deadly policies – and, frankly, by these deadly politicians," Trump said at the event, where he was joined by Barr and FBI Director Chris Wray. "My vision for America’s cities could not be more different from the lawlessness being pushed by the extreme radical left."
These riots are an antigovernment movement from the Left that are all in Democrat run cities. The mayors have got to let their police do what they know how to do. Would be very easy to suppress or, call in the Federal Government. We will solve problem fast! @foxandfriends — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2020
The president's remarks were met with immediate pushback from Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, police Chief Michael Geier, Kansas City Mayor Lucas and officials from other cities.
"We always welcome partnerships in constitutional crime fighting that are in step with our community, but we won’t sell out our city for a bait-and-switch excuse to send secret police to Albuquerque," Keller said then, referring to the federal officers deployed to Portland and Washington whose uniforms did not always identify their agency affiliations. "Operation Legend is not real crime fighting; it’s politics standing in the way of police work and makes us less safe.”
Since then, Keller – who has described crime as the "most pressing issue" facing the city – said New Mexico U.S. Attorney John Anderson has provided assurances that the mission of federal agents deployed to the city would not expand beyond the crackdown on violent crime.
Nevertheless, the mayor said the city "remained concerned" because of the president's remarks and vowed to "hold the appropriate people accountable if this is not true."
Gallegos, the Albuquerque police spokesman, said the rushed nature of the operation, offering assistance that the city did not request, continues to fuel skepticism about the federal government's intentions in New Mexico.
More than a month after about 35 federal agents and officers were announced for the collaborative law enforcement effort in Albuquerque, Gallegos said the police department is not aware of how many federal officers will be deployed to the area.
"We don't know," he said.
'No permission necessary'
The local tension generated by the federal government's rapidly expanding violent-crime strategy was on full display last week in Memphis, where a group of City Council members offered a resolution publicly opposing the federal deployment of 40 agents and officers to the city.
Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas, sponsor of the proposal, said she worried about a lack of local control over the program, even though violent crime has surged in the city.
Murder and aggravated assault numbers are all running ahead of 2019, according to a midyear review by the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
The resolution prompted an unusually sharp rebuke from U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant, who added that resistance to law enforcement was "not legitimate public policy."
"With all due respect to the council, no one's permission is necessary for us to surge these federal resources into Memphis," the prosecutor told city leaders. "Federal law still applies here on the streets of Memphis. As long as I'm the United States attorney, we will, in fact, aggressively, consistently, and unapologetically enforce that federal law against the worst of the worst criminals for harming our citizens and terrorizing our community."
Easter-Thomas' resolution was ultimately defeated, but an uneasy undercurrent remains.
"We all should be wary of this, if only because of who is in charge in the White House," the councilwoman said in an interview.
Trump counters Biden with law and order message President Donald Trump zeroed in on Midwest battleground states on Monday with a tough, law and order message to counterprogram former Vice President Joe Biden's show at the Democrats' national convention. (Aug. 17) AP
Contributing: John Fritze


usatoday--2020-08-25--Gloria Estefan: 'Be in each and every moment, that's the only thing you really have that's guarantee

Gloria Estefan: 'Be in each and every moment, that's the only thing you really have that's guaranteed'

Gloria Estefan is one of USA TODAY 's Women of the Century .
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment , we 've assembled a list of 100 women who 've made a substantial impact on our country or our lives over the past 100 years .
Read about them all at .
Gloria Estefan was born in Havana on Sept. 1 , 1957 .
Months later , her parents knew they had to leave .
Her mother had started a kindergarten with two friends .
Soon after the , a group of soldiers came into her class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their eyes and ask God for ice cream .
`` Of course they did that and nothing came , '' Estefan said .
`` And then they asked the children to close their eyes and ask Fidel Castro for ice cream , and in came the trays of ice cream .
So my mom closed her kindergarten the next day .
She said she refused to be a part of the indoctrination of kids , especially that young . ''
Estefan 's father had a been a motorcycle escort for Cuba 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband , dictator Fulgencio Batista , was ousted .
Batista gave up power in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 , 1959 .
`` Needless to say , since my father had been a police officer , he was jailed immediately on Dec. 31st , the night of the coup , '' Estefan said .
`` He was stationed at the presidential palace where the first lady and the president were .
He came home and told my mom , 'We 're in a lot of trouble .
The president just left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to go back .
He says , ' I ca n't .
I 'm a police officer .
My service is to the citizens of the city . '
So he went back , he was jailed . ''
He was released three months later .
It was time to go .
`` He came to Florida on the ferry from Cuba to Key West , '' Estefan said .
`` I still have his ticket .
I also still have our roundtrip Pan-Am ticket , thinking that we would be coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back .
Of course , she did n't .
But she would build an empire on the music and dance of Cuba , selling more than 100 million records .
Her career includes six Grammy and Latin Grammy wins , MusiCares Person of the Year , 38 Billboard No .
1 hits , a Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom .
She has two grown children , Nayib and Emily , and a grandson Sasha , who calls her `` Tutu . ''
This month , she released her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Question : Tell me about growing up .
Gloria Estefan : I was raised very Cuban because the whole plan was to go back .
I was raised with Cuban traditions , Cuban food , Cuban music playing , and a lot of other music too , because my mother really was an amazing singer .
My grandmother would smuggle her record collection to us in Miami , in boxes of baby food , sending me mango baby food .
That was the only thing I would eat .
( Estefan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuban refugees sent to help the U.S. overthrow Castro in 1961 's He was caught in southern Cuba and jailed . )
He was a political prisoner there two years .
So my mom and I were pretty much on our own .
And my mom found two strips of apartments facing each other , brand new , near the Orange Bowl and convinced the guy to let all these women move in .
It was kind of like a commune .
All the women there , their husbands were in Cuba .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them from the Bay of Pigs .
( The women ) bought one car for 50 bucks .
There was one of them that drove .
We went everywhere in groups and they protected each other .
She and my grandmother were my absolute heroes and idols .
There was nothing that they did n't do .
So I never grew up thinking that there was something that a woman could n't do because quite honestly , the women in my family were doing it all .
( Her dad would join the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he was exposed to Agent Orange .
He returned weakened and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis . )
When I came home from school , I would take care of my dad because we could only afford to get a nurse during the time that I was in school and my mom was at work .
She went to night school , revalidated her teaching credentials so that she could get a better job , because she was a clerk at a school .
I would take care of my dad and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at night .
Music was my escape .
I studied at the University of Miami .
I studied communication , psychology majors and a French minor , fully planning on becoming a psychologist .
And at that point I had met Emilio ( her future husband ) and had joined the band for fun .
We met at a mutual friend 's house .
We were putting together a one-night band for an encounter group that our parents were a part of .
So Emilio came , he showed up and in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which kind of made it look like he was naked .
But he had great legs and his hands really drew my attention .
I was sitting on the floor watching .
And then he played his accordion for us and I was mesmerized .
I was able to graduate college a year early in 1979 .
I had decided to apply to the Sorbonne in France and got accepted .
Then I joined ( Emilio 's ) band .
He was my boss for a year .
He had an older girlfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the professional thing , but it was just a natural progression and we started dating a year later .
We fell in love and got married .
The band ( Miami Sound Machine ) started growing .
You 're an entrepreneur as well as an artist as well as a mom .
What would you say is your proudest moment ?
Other than the birth of my kids , which everybody obviously is going to say that , two things really stick out in my head .
The first night I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami of 1991 , after an accident that paralyzed me literally , it would 've been 20 days shy of a year of that accident .
The accident was March 20th of 1990 .
I really did n't care honestly after that accident about the career side .
I had been raised in a family where my dad was in a wheelchair .
I knew very clearly what my family was in for .
And had I ended up in a chair , I would 've found a way to also continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight my darndest to try to spare them that .
And then , six months after the accident , when I saw my body coming back , I said , `` You know what ?
Maybe this is the reason that I became famous .
I have an opportunity to show people that regardless of things that get thrown at you , it depends on how you deal with what happens .
That makes all the difference . ''
So then it became a real challenge for me to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was when Emilio and I received the Presidential Medal of Freedom together .
My mom was watching from home and Emilio 's parents were gone already , but I knew that my father would have been so incredibly proud , because he brought me to the United States to raise me in freedom .
That was his sole purpose .
So do you have a lowest moment ?
Can you talk about that ?
I was on my way to a concert in Syracuse , ( New York ) .
There was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a nap in the front ( of the tour bus ) .
My son ( then 9 ) was in the back with his tutor .
My assistant was in her bunk .
Emilio was in the front with the giant cellphone talking to his brother .
I felt the bus stop , so I thought we were there .
I opened my eyes and there was an explosion right at that moment .
It felt like a bomb had gone off .
I do n't remember the moment of my injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on the floor of the bus .
The front of the bus was torn away .
It was snowing inside the bus .
My husband was looking at me like crazed , covered in blood .
There was a deathly silence after that explosion , and all I could think of was our son , who was in the back of the bus .
So I say to Emilio , `` The baby .
The baby .
Find Nayib . ''
He starts going towards the back of the bus and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm like holding my breath .
In the meantime , I 'm trying to get up and I ca n't .
So I go , `` OK .
I 've broken my back . ''
So finally , I hear my son say , `` Dad . ''
My son fortunately right before the crash had gone to get some candy out of his bunk , where he would have been crushed in the back .
His tutor ended up with her face against the door and everything else behind her .
Everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was pitch dark in there .
So Emilio got my son out .
He brought him to me .
I asked him , `` Baby , sit down . ''
He goes , `` Mommy , get up .
Please get up . ''
I go , `` Do n't worry .
Just hold my hand . ''
I go , `` Is there anything hurting you ? ''
But he was just like wild-eyed .
I go , `` OK , let 's just breathe .
Hold my hand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind miraculously appeared in the door of the bus .
She made her way into the bus and she sat behind me on the floor and literally held my head like a brace .
It took an hour and a half for the paramedics to get to us because there was a seven-mile backup ahead of us , which is why we had stopped .
We got rear ended by a fully loaded 18 wheeler , which pushed us into a flat-bed truck that had steel coil , which came loose and sliced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the first thing they do when you injure your spine is put you on ice .
So the fact that it was snowing inside the bus was the biggest blessing and coincidence because I was freezing .
How have you and Emilio remained so authentic to who you are as a Cuban family , even though the rise to superstardom could have easily taken you into a more mainstream place .
I have to give credit to my mom who made it important above all else that we maintain our cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that way for me and for Emilio as well , because by the way , Emilio 's father 's Lebanese .
We 've kept both cultures very alive in our kids .
We feel that it only strengthens us .
We feel that is what made us stand out in the '80s .
At the beginning , the record company tried to get us to get rid of the horns , get rid of the percussion , de-Latinize us , when in essence , that fusion is what made us successful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Look , this is who we are . ''
The reason that we can do a song like `` Conga '' or `` Rhythm Is Gon na Get You , '' with strong Afro-Cuban rhythms and a funk baseline and dance beat is because we have that vocabulary .
And if we 're going to succeed , we want to succeed with who we are .
We 're not going to give up who we are or our last name because that 's what this country has been built on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cultures , religions , and that 's the strength to me of what the United States is and what it stands for , freedom above all else .
How important is your faith to who you 've become ?
I grew up Catholic .
I went to an all-girl Catholic high school .
I now know more about the power of prayer because I was the recipient of that prayer .
But I do n't like dogma .
I 'm very spiritual .
I believe that every religion teaches the golden rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would have them do .
So to me , we 're all the same and treat everyone that way .
I see everyone equal .
What advice you would give your younger self , the Gloria who was in her room , playing the guitar , learning the Beatles chords ?
I would tell her , relax and be in the moment , because a lot of the things that I had to do , I had to get through because I found it tough to be the center of attention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed a lot of things that I really now ca n't even remember because it was such a roller coaster of emotions .
Every moment that you 're up there communicating with those people , look into their eyes , make that connection .
Just be in the moment .
Be in each and every moment because that 's the only thing you really have that 's guaranteed .
Nicole Carroll is the editor in chief of USA TODAY .
This interview has been edited for length and clarity .
• None Rita @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the importance of listening • None Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha : Lead was poisoning water in Flint , Michigan .
She put her reputation on the line to prove it • None Ruby Bridges : She was 6 when she walked into a segregated school .
Now she teaches children to get past racial differences .
• None Billie Jean King : On her journey for equal rights in tennis , life : ‘ No one ever has it easy ’ • None Jessie ‘ Little Doe ’ Baird : The language had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it back , saving far more than just words • None Tarana Burke : On the power of empathy , the building block of the Me Too movement • None Cristina Jiménez Moreta : She helped get DACA , now she helps young immigrants find their voice • None Helen Zia : She 's seen hostility against Asian Americans before .
‘ We didn ’ t learn enough or some people have forgotten.
’ • None Dolores Huerta : At 90 , the labor leader still works to make a difference

Gloria Estefan is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Century. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we've assembled a list of 100 women who've made a substantial impact on our country or our lives over the past 100 years. Read about them all at usatoday.com/womenofthecentury.
Gloria Estefan was born in Havana on Sept. 1, 1957. Months later, her parents knew they had to leave.
Her mother had started a kindergarten with two friends. Soon after the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, a group of soldiers came into her class. They asked the children to close their eyes and ask God for ice cream.
"Of course they did that and nothing came," Estefan said. "And then they asked the children to close their eyes and ask Fidel Castro for ice cream, and in came the trays of ice cream. So my mom closed her kindergarten the next day. She said she refused to be a part of the indoctrination of kids, especially that young."
Estefan's father had a been a motorcycle escort for Cuba's first lady Marta Fernández de Batista before her husband, dictator Fulgencio Batista, was ousted. Batista gave up power in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 1959.
"Needless to say, since my father had been a police officer, he was jailed immediately on Dec. 31st, the night of the coup," Estefan said.
"He was stationed at the presidential palace where the first lady and the president were. He came home and told my mom, 'We're in a lot of trouble. The president just left the country.' She asked him not to go back. He says, 'I can't. I'm a police officer. My service is to the citizens of the city.' So he went back, he was jailed."
He was released three months later. It was time to go.
"He came to Florida on the ferry from Cuba to Key West," Estefan said. "I still have his ticket. I also still have our roundtrip Pan-Am ticket, thinking that we would be coming back."
The plan was to go back. Of course, she didn't. But she would build an empire on the music and dance of Cuba, selling more than 100 million records. Her career includes six Grammy and Latin Grammy wins, MusiCares Person of the Year, 38 Billboard No. 1 hits, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She has two grown children, Nayib and Emily, and a grandson Sasha, who calls her "Tutu." This month, she released her first album in seven years, Brazil305.
Gloria Estefan has stayed true to her Cuban roots. She says, "At the beginning, the record company tried to get us to get rid of the horns, get rid of the percussion, de-Latinize us, when in essence, that fusion is what made us successful." Formento & Formento
Question: Tell me about growing up.
Gloria Estefan: I was raised very Cuban because the whole plan was to go back. I was raised with Cuban traditions, Cuban food, Cuban music playing, and a lot of other music too, because my mother really was an amazing singer. My grandmother would smuggle her record collection to us in Miami, in boxes of baby food, sending me mango baby food. That was the only thing I would eat.
(Estefan's father was part of a group of Cuban refugees sent to help the U.S. overthrow Castro in 1961's Bay of Pigs invasion. He was caught in southern Cuba and jailed.) He was a political prisoner there two years. So my mom and I were pretty much on our own. And my mom found two strips of apartments facing each other, brand new, near the Orange Bowl and convinced the guy to let all these women move in. It was kind of like a commune. All the women there, their husbands were in Cuba. They were political prisoners, all of them from the Bay of Pigs. (The women) bought one car for 50 bucks. There was one of them that drove. We went everywhere in groups and they protected each other.
A young Gloria Estefan plays her guitar. Estefan Enterprises, Inc.
She and my grandmother were my absolute heroes and idols. There was nothing that they didn't do. So I never grew up thinking that there was something that a woman couldn't do because quite honestly, the women in my family were doing it all.
(Her dad would join the U.S. Army and deploy to Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. He returned weakened and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.) When I came home from school, I would take care of my dad because we could only afford to get a nurse during the time that I was in school and my mom was at work. She went to night school, revalidated her teaching credentials so that she could get a better job, because she was a clerk at a school. I would take care of my dad and my sister until she came home late at night. Music was my escape.
I studied at the University of Miami. I studied communication, psychology majors and a French minor, fully planning on becoming a psychologist. And at that point I had met Emilio (her future husband) and had joined the band for fun. We met at a mutual friend's house. We were putting together a one-night band for an encounter group that our parents were a part of.
So Emilio came, he showed up and in his very short shorts and his accordion, which kind of made it look like he was naked. But he had great legs and his hands really drew my attention. I was sitting on the floor watching. And then he played his accordion for us and I was mesmerized.
I was able to graduate college a year early in 1979. I had decided to apply to the Sorbonne in France and got accepted. Then I joined (Emilio's) band. He was my boss for a year. He had an older girlfriend. We didn't want to mess up the professional thing, but it was just a natural progression and we started dating a year later. We fell in love and got married. The band (Miami Sound Machine) started growing.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan on their wedding day in 1978. Estefan Enterprises, Inc.
Singer Gloria Estefan entertains the crowd during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVI in Minneapolis on Jan. 26, 1992. Bill Sikes, AP
You're an entrepreneur as well as an artist as well as a mom. What would you say is your proudest moment?
Other than the birth of my kids, which everybody obviously is going to say that, two things really stick out in my head.
The first night I was back on stage on March 1st in Miami of 1991, after an accident that paralyzed me literally, it would've been 20 days shy of a year of that accident. The accident was March 20th of 1990.
Women of the Century: Gloria Estefan helped mainstream Latin music and culture in the USA USA TODAY
I really didn't care honestly after that accident about the career side. I had been raised in a family where my dad was in a wheelchair. I knew very clearly what my family was in for. And had I ended up in a chair, I would've found a way to also continue to be me, but I was going to fight my darndest to try to spare them that.
And then, six months after the accident, when I saw my body coming back, I said, "You know what? Maybe this is the reason that I became famous. I have an opportunity to show people that regardless of things that get thrown at you, it depends on how you deal with what happens. That makes all the difference." So then it became a real challenge for me to be able to get back on stage.
The second was when Emilio and I received the Presidential Medal of Freedom together. My mom was watching from home and Emilio's parents were gone already, but I knew that my father would have been so incredibly proud, because he brought me to the United States to raise me in freedom. That was his sole purpose.
Gloria Estefan says one of her proudest moments was when she and husband Emilio were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama. Alex Wong, Getty Images
So do you have a lowest moment?
Well, hello, March 20th.
Can you talk about that?
I was on my way to a concert in Syracuse, (New York). There was a freak snowstorm in the Poconos. I took a nap in the front (of the tour bus). My son (then 9) was in the back with his tutor. My assistant was in her bunk. Emilio was in the front with the giant cellphone talking to his brother.
I felt the bus stop, so I thought we were there. I opened my eyes and there was an explosion right at that moment. It felt like a bomb had gone off. I don't remember the moment of my injury. I opened my eyes and I was on the floor of the bus.
The front of the bus was torn away. It was snowing inside the bus. My husband was looking at me like crazed, covered in blood. There was a deathly silence after that explosion, and all I could think of was our son, who was in the back of the bus. So I say to Emilio, "The baby. The baby. Find Nayib." He starts going towards the back of the bus and I hear him screaming his name and I'm like holding my breath. In the meantime, I'm trying to get up and I can't. So I go, "OK. I've broken my back."
Emilio and Gloria Estefan with their children, Emily and Nayib. Estefan Enterprises, Inc.
So finally, I hear my son say, "Dad." My son fortunately right before the crash had gone to get some candy out of his bunk, where he would have been crushed in the back. His tutor ended up with her face against the door and everything else behind her. Everything had fallen on him from the bunks. It was pitch dark in there. So Emilio got my son out. He brought him to me.
I asked him, "Baby, sit down." He goes, "Mommy, get up. Please get up." I go, "Don't worry. Just hold my hand." I go, "Is there anything hurting you?" But he was just like wild-eyed. I go, "OK, let's just breathe. Hold my hand."
A nurse that was two cars behind miraculously appeared in the door of the bus. She made her way into the bus and she sat behind me on the floor and literally held my head like a brace. It took an hour and a half for the paramedics to get to us because there was a seven-mile backup ahead of us, which is why we had stopped.
We got rear ended by a fully loaded 18 wheeler, which pushed us into a flat-bed truck that had steel coil, which came loose and sliced the front of the bus. Right now, the first thing they do when you injure your spine is put you on ice. So the fact that it was snowing inside the bus was the biggest blessing and coincidence because I was freezing.
Musicians Gloria and Emilio participate in a 2010 march on behalf of peaceful Cuban dissidents Las Damas de Blanco, or the Ladies in White, in Miami. Joe Raedle, Getty Images
How have you and Emilio remained so authentic to who you are as a Cuban family, even though the rise to superstardom could have easily taken you into a more mainstream place.
I have to give credit to my mom who made it important above all else that we maintain our cultural roots. And in turn, it was that way for me and for Emilio as well, because by the way, Emilio's father's Lebanese.
We've kept both cultures very alive in our kids. We feel that it only strengthens us. We feel that is what made us stand out in the '80s. At the beginning, the record company tried to get us to get rid of the horns, get rid of the percussion, de-Latinize us, when in essence, that fusion is what made us successful.
Tweet Facebook Email Email this story Share Share this story Gloria Estefan We’re not going to give up who we are or our last name because that’s what this country has been built on. It’s a tapestry of different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and that’s the strength to me of what the United States is and what it stands for, freedom above all else. Quote icon
We stuck to our guns and said, "Look, this is who we are." The reason that we can do a song like "Conga" or "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," with strong Afro-Cuban rhythms and a funk baseline and dance beat is because we have that vocabulary. And if we're going to succeed, we want to succeed with who we are.
We're not going to give up who we are or our last name because that's what this country has been built on. It's a tapestry of different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and that's the strength to me of what the United States is and what it stands for, freedom above all else.
Are you registered to vote? Find out
How important is your faith to who you've become?
I grew up Catholic. I went to an all-girl Catholic high school. I now know more about the power of prayer because I was the recipient of that prayer. But I don't like dogma. I'm very spiritual. I believe that every religion teaches the golden rule, which is do unto others as you would have them do. So to me, we're all the same and treat everyone that way. I see everyone equal.
12 of America’s most remarkable women Photo gallery
Tweet Facebook Email Email this story Share Share this story Gloria Estefan Just be in the moment. Be in each and every moment because that’s the only thing you really have that’s guaranteed. Quote icon
What advice you would give your younger self, the Gloria who was in her room, playing the guitar, learning the Beatles chords?
I would tell her, relax and be in the moment, because a lot of the things that I had to do, I had to get through because I found it tough to be the center of attention. It was painful and I think I missed a lot of things that I really now can't even remember because it was such a roller coaster of emotions.
Every moment that you're up there communicating with those people, look into their eyes, make that connection. Just be in the moment. Be in each and every moment because that's the only thing you really have that's guaranteed.
Nicole Carroll is the editor in chief of USA TODAY. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Help support journalism about women’s rights. $1 for 6 months. Subscribe Get news and insights sent to your inbox. Sign up for email newsletters. Sign up