democracynow--2020-08-21--Cornel West & Ben Jealous on the DNC and Whether Progressives Can Push Joe Biden Leftward

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org .
We ’ re breaking with convention .
As Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night , the last night of the Democratic National Convention , he pledged to fight against systemic racism .
AMY GOODMAN : That was Joe Biden speaking last night from Wilmington , Delaware .
After the acceptance speech , he and Dr. Jill Biden , as well as Kamala Harris and her husband , walked outside to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distanced to cheer them on , and there was a fireworks display .
For more on Biden ’ s speech and this week ’ s historic virtual Democratic convention , we ’ re joined by two guests .
In Newton , Massachusetts , Dr. Cornel West is with us , professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University , author of numerous books , including Race Matters and Black Prophetic Fire , his new podcast called The Tight Rope .
In 2017 , Cornel West was in Charlottesville when neo-Nazis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clergy members were protected by anti-fascists from the mob of white supremacists .
And in Baltimore , Maryland , we ’ re joined by Ben Jealous , president of People for the American Way , former president of the NAACP .
He ran for governor of Maryland in 2018 .
We welcome you both of you to Democracy Now !
Ben Jealous , congratulations on your new position as head of People for the American Way .
AMY GOODMAN : Why don ’ t you start off by responding to this week ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the two now nominees — the presidential nominee Joe Biden and the historic selection of Kamala Harris to be his running mate — their positions , and how they represent what you do or not ?
BEN JEALOUS : You know , look , I think that the theme of this convention was really one of unity .
This was a time when we have to come together to defeat a president who is the most evil , the most corrupt that any of us have seen .
And that says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we saw two nominees who we , as progressives , know we can work with .
Kamala Harris ’ s sister , who introduced her , Maya , is the former head of the ACLU of Northern California .
Kamala ran for DA in a much more conservative time , and yet did so as an outspoken opponent of the death penalty , who then held her ground early in her term when she was tested , when an officer was killed , and the entire liberal establishment in Northern California came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ The death penalty is wrong , period.
” Tremendous courage .
And Joe Biden , who Bernie himself said is poised to be the most progressive president since FDR .
And so , while it ’ s not Bernie , and while maybe it ’ s not somebody else someone hoped for , what we do know is that these are people that we can work with .
These are people who , at their best , represent our best values — literally , the daughter of civil rights activists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who herself told me 15 years ago she became a prosecutor because it wasn ’ t enough to just fight the power , we also had to hold the power .
And I ’ ve seen her act courageously .
So I ’ m very hopeful .
And I have no doubt that we can work with Joe .
Like Ady , who spoke so beautifully — and that was a true highlight for me — I believe that we must move towards Medicare for All .
I also believe that Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction certainly than Donald Trump , and , frankly , further than most presidents , that we have an opportunity here to move things in the right direction again .
And as organizers , that ’ s the most important thing to get out of any presidential election , is a president that you can move in the right direction .
AMY GOODMAN : And , Professor Cornel West , your reaction to this week and the positions of the Democratic candidates for president and vice president ?
CORNEL WEST : You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference really are the freedom dreams that we just heard from “ Zoom ” of the Commodores and the genius Lionel Richie ; of Ella Baker , who was invoked by Brother Biden in the first sentence of his speech , the Ella Baker who was a revolutionary , the Ella Baker who was working on the Mass Party Organizing Committee with Arthur Kinoy and the great William Kunstler , actually working for a third party because she thought that the two-party system was so decrepit ; and then also to Curtis Mayfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and over again , to “ Move On Up.
” But you ’ ve got to move on up from poverty .
And in order to do it , you ’ ve got to talk about poverty .
If you ’ re going to move on up from Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes , you ’ ve got to talk about Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes .
If you ’ re going to move on up from the Pentagon militarism around the world , you ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the taboo issues that we don ’ t get serious wrestling with .
So when you really talk about the soul of America and the battle for the soul of America , much of that soul has been evacuated by the Pentagon greed and the Wall Street greed and the inability of the police and other institutions to treat Black people and Brown people , Indigenous people as human beings .
So , I agree with Brother Ben in terms of being part of an anti-fascist coalition , that I think we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we ’ re not going to lie about Biden , we ’ re not going to lie about Harris .
We ’ re going to tell the truth about their captivity and their refusal to hit Pentagon money spending and militarism around the world , to hit Wall Street greed and to also speak substantively to issues of poverty .
You can ’ t have massive protests all around the country , the largest in the history of the country , you can ’ t have Brother Barber and Sister Theoharis out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when you get to the convention , you get this spectacle that has nothing to do with wrestling with poverty .
I think Brother Cory was the only one to even talk about it , for the most part .
None of the major figures did .
Thank God , did Bernie .
Thank God AOC got her little 90 minutes [ sic ] , as opposed to the Republicans — CORNEL WEST : — getting major — I ’ m sorry , 90 seconds .
Exactly , 90 seconds .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m with Ben in terms of we ’ ve got to vote for Biden , but never , ever lying about him , and not coming to terms with the fact that at this moment , with the decline and fall of the American Empire , it looks as if the system is unable to generate enough energy to seriously reform itself .
It remains sanitized , superficial .
We ’ re getting Lawrence Welk ’ s bubbles rather than Prince ’ s Revolution .
I want to go to Prince ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to turn to Joe Biden ’ s comments last night about Social Security .
AMY GOODMAN : During the primary campaign , Bernie Sanders released an ad highlighting Biden ’ s past support for cutting Social Security and Medicare .
The ad highlighted an interview Biden did on Meet the Press in 2007 .
AMY GOODMAN : “ You ’ ve got to put all of it on the table.
” Ben Jealous , both you and professor Cornel West have been surrogates for Bernie Sanders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Joe Biden today and his positions ?
BEN JEALOUS : Joe Biden today needs Bernie , needs everyone who voted for Bernie , to become president .
Joe Biden today has moved with the party to the left .
And Joe Biden today gets , in his core , that we have to protect Medicare , that we have to protect Social Security .
I won ’ t deny he ’ s a politician who has been at different places at different points .
But I know where he is now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cue from Bernie and be very clear that everybody needs to vote against Trump and for Biden in this moment , so we have a president that we can move .
There ’ s no moving Trump , but it is definitely possible to move Joe .
And every organizer ultimately needs a president that they can move .
AMY GOODMAN : So , Cornel West , I said , you know , this obviously — that was a clip from 2007 .
That ’ s what ?
Thirteen years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidate Joe Biden said even if a Medicare for All — now , that ’ s different than Medicare that he was talking about in 2007 , that would have been Medicare for everyone in this country — even if Medicare for All were passed , which would mean bipartisan support , he would veto it , if he were president .
CORNEL WEST : I mean , one — I mean , Brother Biden told my dear Brother Bernie , in front of the nation , “ I never , ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security.
” And you ’ ve got the evidence that he did .
So he lied , you know .
But , I mean — AMY GOODMAN : Actually , let me go to Joe Biden .
CORNEL WEST : — as Brother Ben is right .
I mean , politicians — AMY GOODMAN : Let me go — CORNEL WEST : Politicians lie all the time .
But — AMY GOODMAN : Let me go to Joe Biden .
AMY GOODMAN : He was speaking on MSNBC with Lawrence O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he were elected president and he got a Medicare for All bill .
AMY GOODMAN : So , Professor West , that was Joe Biden in March , just as we ’ re moving into the pandemic .
And do you think this pandemic has highlighted so many inequities , that it would make it actually easier , because of the horror of the number of deaths disproportionately affecting people of color and poorer people in this country , to actually move that agenda forward ?
And do you think Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CORNEL WEST : Well , I hope so .
I mean , that ’ s why we ’ ve got to push him over the line , but we have to be very honest with ourselves .
I mean , we ’ ve got over 68 % of fellow citizens who support Medicare for All — 46 % of Republicans , 85 % of Democrats do .
And yet , big pharmaceutical companies , big private insurance companies , the donors , still dictate the destiny of policy .
Now , people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean , the distinctive features of a decline of an empire , military overreach — 53 cents of every dollar is going to the military , 53 cents of every dollar in the city of Chicago goes to the police — militarism domestically , militarism abroad .
But at the same time , you say to yourself , “ Well , the people themselves are moving in a progressive direction ” — Brother Ben is right — “ but there ’ s no translation.
” That ’ s why we didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectacle , because you ’ ve got this big money still rendering captive so many of those in the Democratic Party , and they want to speak and give a lip service to justice , but there ’ s no real substance there in terms of sustaining an attack on poverty , sustaining an attack on the mass incarceration system and the new Jim Crow , sustaining a redistribution of wealth downward .
You can ’ t talk about racism if you don ’ t talk about Black people having access to wealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be redistribution .
We have to have access to wealth and income .
And this is true for Black , for Brown .
This is true for Indigenous peoples .
This is true for Asians , across the board .
And so , what has happened , though , Sister Amy , is that we ’ re getting a sad spectacle that remains on the surface , and yet the massive suffering and misery that ’ s taking place is intensifying .
And we ’ re getting the unraveling of public life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host of other public institutions , education , and we ’ re getting the inability to envision a substantive alternative to the present , so we end up tied to this nightmarish reality .
So , yes , a vote for Biden as an anti-fascist vote , that ’ s different than in any way falling prey to illusions .
We have to be able to keep our hopes while we kill the illusions .
And if we can ’ t walk that tightrope , we ’ re not going to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare for All issue , when it came to the presidential debates , Kamala Harris raised her hand when asked if she supported Medicare for All , but , the next day , said she hadn ’ t heard the question properly , she misunderstood .
Ben Jealous , you ’ ve known Kamala Harris for a long time .
AMY GOODMAN : Now , the vice president doesn ’ t determine the agenda , of course ; the president does .
But your thoughts on this ?
And as a supporter for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think is the best strategy ?
People are saying you wait until November 4th , and then you apply massive pressure .
Or do you start now ?
And if people don ’ t start now , if they are suppressed , because , as Cornel West said , it ’ s a vote against fascism , will a pattern be set where it ’ s too late after the election ?
BEN JEALOUS : Yeah , my heart broke when I saw my friend , Mr. Barkan , speak via computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , we were just four blocks from the Capitol , together encouraging , helping train dozens of activists who were about to get arrested in protests demanding Medicare for All .
As an organizer , I can ’ t pretend that it ’ s all about where we are at this moment .
It is always about our vision .
It is about the will of the people .
And it is about the trend of the movement in our country .
And all of those point towards the day when Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And , sure , you have — it was in my own primary — you know , establishment progressives , progressives who see themselves as experts on the budget , who have been completely bamboozled by corporations into believing that we can ’ t afford it .
And yet , year after year , we see more and more studies by academics , by think tanks , saying , “ You know , actually , Medicare for All is the most affordable option.
” So , I believe that because of the movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people , as laid out by Dr. West , because of the resolve of organizers , not just Ady , but all the legions inspired by him and by my good friend , Dr. Barber , that we will get Medicare for All .
And I don ’ t depend on the platform position of some politician .
No , I look to the will of the people .
I look to the movement and the trend .
So that ’ s where my hope is .
And as an organizer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , we have to have a vice president that we can work with .
Can we move Biden ?
Absolutely .
Can we move Harris ?
Absolutely .
And that ’ s where my confidence is .
AMY GOODMAN : Of course , Ady Barkan did give a major — he gave a few minutes of an address , but I ’ ve never heard him speak without saying the words “ Medicare for All , ” and here he didn ’ t say it — not clear if it was because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , right afterwards , he tweeted , We will be fighting for Medicare for All , starting on November 4th .
And he described it .
He just didn ’ t use the words .
But speaking about who spoke , let me ask Cornel West if you ’ re concerned about — you know , we were showing , at the beginning of the broadcast , all the presidential rivals — almost all of them — in discussion yesterday .
And a number of them got key positions , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Klobuchar .
You had Cory Booker and so many others .
But you didn ’ t have Julián Castro , who we spoke to at the beginning of the week .
How is it possible that the only Latinx presidential candidate was not invited , when almost all of the rest of them were ?
CORNEL WEST : I mean , I think it ’ s ridiculous , I mean , when you ’ ve got the neofascist gangster in the White House .
He started his whole campaign attacking our precious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve got a Chicano from Texas , who is brilliant and sharp , and doesn ’ t get a chance to speak .
But Brother Bloomberg does .
You say , “ Wait , Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire ?
” I mean , here ’ s — and then Sister Linda Sarsour gets demonized and pushed out because she stands for Palestinians , she ’ s against the vicious Israeli occupation .
Biden is talking about human rights .
Harris is talking about a coalition of conscience .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and talk about human rights if you don ’ t come to terms with precious Palestinians under Israeli occupation .
Ain ’ t nothing anti-Jewish about that .
In fact , it affirms Jewish values coming out of Hebrew scripture : “ Justice , justice you shall pursue.
” They ’ re talking about justice .
So , the role of the lobbies — you ’ ve got AIPAC , you ’ ve got Big Pharm , you ’ ve got big private insurance companies , you ’ ve got K Street , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral and spiritual issues .
These are not tribal .
These are not just about identity and group politics .
If we can ’ t reach a point of integrity , honesty and decency — and by “ spirituality , ” all I mean is the use of empathy and imagination to envision another future , a better future — if we ’ re unable to do that , we ’ re locked in , and , lo and behold , we just slide down a slippery slope to chaos and fascism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who Ben was just talking about , a fighter for Medicare for All and who did get a few minutes to speak at the Democratic National Convention , when he saw the attack on Linda Sarsour , who had spoken at a side event , the Palestinian American human rights activist , who also has traveled this country during the pandemic , from Louisville to Minneapolis to New York , fighting and demonstrating against police brutality — Ady Barkan , who is an Israeli American activist fighting for Medicare for All , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Jew and an Israeli citizen … the Biden campaign issued a vile and dishonest statement against my beloved sister @ lsarsour … a fierce advocate for justice and freedom , and a leading antiracist and organizer against antisemitism .
The Biden campaign must retract and apologize , ” Ady Barkan said .
I want to go for a minute to some of those who did get to speak .
A number of Republicans did , to reach out to a broader base for this election , including former Ohio Republican Governor John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention .
BEN JEALOUS : You know , one of the great moments for me , as president of People For , was that 13 of our young people spoke — Mayor Robert Garcia from Long Beach , a product of our Young People For program ; Raumesh Akbari , state senator from Tennessee ; Stacey Abrams , who , with Julián Castro , was in the first class .
And so , yes , absolutely , I would — you know , the first class of our Young Elected Officials program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julián spoke , and he should have spoke .
And yet , you ’ ve got to look at the future and the trendline .
The young people who spoke — Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes — BEN JEALOUS : — Mr. Kenyatta , who ’ s the first openly Black — the first openly gay Black member of the Pennsylvania state Legislature — they represent the future .
And we can ’ t take this away from them .
Sure , there is always a struggle in a party between older politicians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not pretend like we don ’ t see the future in the young public servants who spoke during this convention , because it ’ s there .
And it shows a party that is much more distinct , and a party that ’ s much more in touch , and a party that is being moved in the right direction by the people of this country , which , of course , the Republican Party is not .
And so , this is a moment when I think we have to be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country that what they see in AOC , what they see in Raumesh in Tennessee , is a reflection of their power to move this country in the right direction .
And what I saw all through the program was evidence of that .
And , you know , sure , parties always bring out somebody from the other party to suggest that we can rebuild the middle .
We are , I think , all hungry to get beyond the moment of division in this country .
I embrace that .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values .
But are there some who represent my hope that we can get to a place where it ’ s not just criminal justice reform that we can agree on , but maybe there ’ s two issues that we can agree on ?
Certainly .
And I welcome that day , because , as a criminal justice reformer , the way that we ’ ve been able to shrink prisons in places like Texas is by finding the Republicans that we can work with in that moment .
AMY GOODMAN : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondering your response to the 13-year-old boy who spoke from New Hampshire , named Brayden Harrington , who had a stutter .
BEN JEALOUS : It made me cry .
It made me cry .
I mean , I grew up with a stutter .
I ’ ve been involved in every presidential since Jesse Jackson ’ s ’ 88 .
I was 14 years old .
I was the president of Youth for Jackson in Monterey County .
It was another candidate , Joe Biden , who inspired me .
First time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Democrats , I stuttered so badly that an old woman , an old hippie , like so many people who I grew up with , came up to me with a meditation tape and slipped it in my pocket and said , “ Boy , please listen to this.
” Being a young person with so much to say , and not being able to get the words out , is deeply painful .
I know what my candidacy in Maryland meant to young people who stutter here , to older people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden has meant to all of us who stutter .
Even when I was fighting for Jesse Jackson ’ s campaign , he was in a very different place in that race .
The fact that he had grown up with a stutter and found his voice was as transformative for me , as a young person with a voice , as the candidate that I was pushing in that primary so many years ago .
AMY GOODMAN : And finally , Cornel West , I began by saying you were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Charlottesville , where the — basically , the Klan without hoods , they felt safe enough in this country today not to wear sheets and cover their identities .
Where you were , talk about who you were saved by , since this is going to be the theme next week of President Trump in the Republican National Convention , going after antifa and the anti-fascists , when who has been arrested in this country at this point , been charged ?
Those charged with murder or attacks have been overwhelmingly Proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well , I mean , we were standing as part of an anti-fascist coalition , just the same logic that we talk about in terms of pushing Biden and Harris across the line but also telling the truth about them , there in Charlottesville .
That coalition was a broad one .
We saw at the convention , we ’ ve got Colin Powell , militaristic , still part of that coalition .
He ’ s not my political friend .
He ’ s a brother .
I ’ m a Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know .
We ’ ve got my dear Brother Bob Avakian , Revolutionary Communist Party , and Carl Dix , all now talking about voting for Biden , against the fascist , but not fetishizing the vote , not thinking that somehow Biden is going to be this salvific figure or even Biden has principles and integrity that relate to poor and working people .
Brother Ben knows that the mass incarceration regime , you had a whole lot of precious folk who went to jail who stuttered , because of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of folk who stuttered in Iraq , who were killed , because of Biden ’ s support .
We have to be honest about those issues that relate to the soul of America .
You can ’ t have a soul with massive militarism .
You can ’ t have a soul with massive Wall Street greed .
These are fundamental issues .
Ben and I have talked about this on the campaign with Brother Bernie .
AMY GOODMAN : And I ’ m going to hold you for one second .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben : We ’ ve got to come together now — AMY GOODMAN : We need a 30-second break , and I ’ m going to come back for your final comments .
CORNEL WEST : — just like we did in Charlottesville .
AMY GOODMAN : Cornel West and Ben Jealous , please stay with us for a few more minutes .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org .
We ’ re breaking with convention .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
We ’ re going to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jealous , but we wanted to go to Axios , the interview that Jonathan Swan did with President Trump , talking about Congressmember John Lewis , who had just died .
AMY GOODMAN : “ There were many others , ” and “ He didn ’ t come to my inauguration or my State of the Union.
” Ben Jealous , your final comments , President Trump saying he ’ s done more for Black people than anyone ?
BEN JEALOUS : Look , that is the most cowardly and corrupt president — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever seen .
I think that ’ s just the final word there .
And what I would say to my good friend Dr. West , who ’ s inspired me literally my entire adult life , and who has been a real friend , the prophetic voice in politics must do two things .
One is to be honest about where we are , and the other is to be honest about where we can be .
And in our church , in the Black church , in our tradition , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then we make it real .
And what I know is that there is a day coming when we will have Medicare for All , when we will transform public safety , and that getting to that day begins with getting the man you just saw , Donald Trump , out of office .
BEN JEALOUS : And that we have to be absolutely clear with the young people of this country that they will determine whether Trump stays in office or not , by whether or not they show up to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
No , I agree with Brother Ben .
I agree with Brother Ben .
I would just add one thing , though , Brother Ben .
It ’ s not just a matter that Medicare will come .
We have to point out who the major obstacles are .
And those obstacles are big pharmaceutical companies and big private insurance , who too often provide the moneys for the politicians who remain stuck in the middle ground — CORNEL WEST : — rather than pushing all the way .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m with you , though , Brother .
Indeed , indeed .
AMY GOODMAN : We are going to end the discussion here , but we continue the conversation always , as we continue breaking with convention next week covering the Republican National Convention .
That does it for our broadcast .
Dr. Cornel West , I want to thank you for being with us , professor of practice of public policy at Harvard University , and Ben Jealous , now president of People for the American Way .
That does it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Mike Burke , Renée Feltz , Deena Guzder , Libby Rainey , Nermeen Shaikh .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
Wear a mask .
Stay safe .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. We’re breaking with convention. As Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night, the last night of the Democratic National Convention, he pledged to fight against systemic racism.
JOE BIDEN: History has thrust one more urgent task on us: Will we be the generation that finally wipes out the stain of racism from our national character?
I believe we’re up to it. I believe we’re ready.
Just a week ago yesterday was the third anniversary of the events in Charlottesville. Close your eyes. Remember what you saw on television. Remember seeing those neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists coming out of the fields with lighted torches, veins bulging, spewing the same anti-Semitic bile heard across Europe in the ’30s. Remember the violent clash that ensued between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it. And remember what the president said, when asked. He said there were, quote, “very fine people on both sides.”
It was a wake-up call for us as a country — and, for me, a call to action. At that moment, I knew I’d have to run, because my father taught us that silence was complicity, and I can never remain silent or complicit. At the time, I said we were in the battle for the soul of this nation. And we are.
You know, one of the most important conversations I’ve had this entire campaign, it was with someone who is much too young to vote. I met with 6-year-old Gianna Floyd, the day before her daddy, George Floyd, was laid to rest. She’s an incredibly brave little girl. And I’ll never forget it. When I leaned down to speak to her, she looked into my eyes, and she said — and I quote — “Daddy changed the world. Daddy changed the world.” Her words burrowed deep into my heart.
Maybe George Floyd’s murder was a breaking point; maybe John Lewis’s passing, the inspiration. But however it’s come to be, however it’s happened, America is ready, in John’s words, to lay down, quote, “the heavy burden of hate” at last and to end the hard work of rooting out our systemic racism.
AMY GOODMAN: That was Joe Biden speaking last night from Wilmington, Delaware. After the acceptance speech, he and Dr. Jill Biden, as well as Kamala Harris and her husband, walked outside to a parking lot filled with cars. People socially distanced to cheer them on, and there was a fireworks display.
For more on Biden’s speech and this week’s historic virtual Democratic convention, we’re joined by two guests. In Newton, Massachusetts, Dr. Cornel West is with us, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University, author of numerous books, including Race Matters and Black Prophetic Fire, his new podcast called The Tight Rope. In 2017, Cornel West was in Charlottesville when neo-Nazis stormed the campus. He and other clergy members were protected by anti-fascists from the mob of white supremacists. And in Baltimore, Maryland, we’re joined by Ben Jealous, president of People for the American Way, former president of the NAACP. He ran for governor of Maryland in 2018.
We welcome you both of you to Democracy Now! Ben Jealous, congratulations on your new position as head of People for the American Way.
BEN JEALOUS: Thank you.
AMY GOODMAN: Why don’t you start off by responding to this week’s Democratic convention, your thoughts on where the two now nominees — the presidential nominee Joe Biden and the historic selection of Kamala Harris to be his running mate — their positions, and how they represent what you do or not?
BEN JEALOUS: You know, look, I think that the theme of this convention was really one of unity. This was a time when we have to come together to defeat a president who is the most evil, the most corrupt that any of us have seen. And that says a lot.
It also was a time when we saw two nominees who we, as progressives, know we can work with. Kamala Harris’s sister, who introduced her, Maya, is the former head of the ACLU of Northern California. Kamala ran for DA in a much more conservative time, and yet did so as an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, who then held her ground early in her term when she was tested, when an officer was killed, and the entire liberal establishment in Northern California came down on her, and she said, “The death penalty is wrong, period.” Tremendous courage. And Joe Biden, who Bernie himself said is poised to be the most progressive president since FDR.
And so, while it’s not Bernie, and while maybe it’s not somebody else someone hoped for, what we do know is that these are people that we can work with. These are people who, at their best, represent our best values — literally, the daughter of civil rights activists, the sister of a civil rights lawyer, who herself told me 15 years ago she became a prosecutor because it wasn’t enough to just fight the power, we also had to hold the power. And I’ve seen her act courageously. So I’m very hopeful.
And I have no doubt that we can work with Joe. Like Ady, who spoke so beautifully — and that was a true highlight for me — I believe that we must move towards Medicare for All. I also believe that Joe Biden will take us further in that direction certainly than Donald Trump, and, frankly, further than most presidents, that we have an opportunity here to move things in the right direction again. And as organizers, that’s the most important thing to get out of any presidential election, is a president that you can move in the right direction.
AMY GOODMAN: And, Professor Cornel West, your reaction to this week and the positions of the Democratic candidates for president and vice president?
CORNEL WEST: You know, Sister Amy, my points of reference really are the freedom dreams that we just heard from “Zoom” of the Commodores and the genius Lionel Richie; of Ella Baker, who was invoked by Brother Biden in the first sentence of his speech, the Ella Baker who was a revolutionary, the Ella Baker who was working on the Mass Party Organizing Committee with Arthur Kinoy and the great William Kunstler, actually working for a third party because she thought that the two-party system was so decrepit; and then also to Curtis Mayfield, that they’ve been playing over and over again, to “Move On Up.”
But you’ve got to move on up from poverty. And in order to do it, you’ve got to talk about poverty. If you’re going to move on up from Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes, you’ve got to talk about Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes. If you’re going to move on up from the Pentagon militarism around the world, you’ve got to talk about it. Those are the taboo issues that we don’t get serious wrestling with. So when you really talk about the soul of America and the battle for the soul of America, much of that soul has been evacuated by the Pentagon greed and the Wall Street greed and the inability of the police and other institutions to treat Black people and Brown people, Indigenous people as human beings.
So, I agree with Brother Ben in terms of being part of an anti-fascist coalition, that I think we’re forced to vote for Biden. But we’re not going to lie about Biden, we’re not going to lie about Harris. We’re going to tell the truth about their captivity and their refusal to hit Pentagon money spending and militarism around the world, to hit Wall Street greed and to also speak substantively to issues of poverty.
You can’t have massive protests all around the country, the largest in the history of the country, you can’t have Brother Barber and Sister Theoharis out there talking about poverty, and then, when you get to the convention, you get this spectacle that has nothing to do with wrestling with poverty. I think Brother Cory was the only one to even talk about it, for the most part. None of the major figures did. Thank God, did Bernie. Thank God AOC got her little 90 minutes [sic], as opposed to the Republicans —
AMY GOODMAN: Ninety seconds.
CORNEL WEST: — getting major — I’m sorry, 90 seconds. Exactly, 90 seconds. So that, you know, I’m with Ben in terms of we’ve got to vote for Biden, but never, ever lying about him, and not coming to terms with the fact that at this moment, with the decline and fall of the American Empire, it looks as if the system is unable to generate enough energy to seriously reform itself. It remains sanitized, superficial. We’re getting Lawrence Welk’s bubbles rather than Prince’s Revolution. I want to go to Prince’s Revolution concert. I want fundamental change.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to turn to Joe Biden’s comments last night about Social Security.
JOE BIDEN: For our seniors, Social Security is a sacred obligation, a sacred promise made, they paid for. The current president is threatening to break that promise. He’s proposing to eliminate a tax that pays for almost half the Social Security, without any way of making up for that lost revenue, resulting in cuts. I will not let that happen. If I’m your president, we’re going to protect Social Security and Medicare. You have my word.
AMY GOODMAN: During the primary campaign, Bernie Sanders released an ad highlighting Biden’s past support for cutting Social Security and Medicare. The ad highlighted an interview Biden did on Meet the Press in 2007.
TIM RUSSERT: Senator, we have a deficit. We have Social Security and Medicare looming. Would you consider looking at those programs — age of eligibility —
SEN. JOE BIDEN: Absolutely.
TIM RUSSERT: — cost of living — put it all on the table?
SEN. JOE BIDEN: The answer is absolutely. You have to. I mean, you know, one of the things that my — you know, the political advisers say to me is, “Whoa! Don’t touch that third” — look, the American people aren’t stupid. It’s a real simple proposition. Social Security is not the hard one to solve. Medicare, that is the gorilla in the room. And you’ve got to put all of it on the table.
TIM RUSSERT: Everything?
SEN. JOE BIDEN: Everything. You’ve got to.
AMY GOODMAN: “You’ve got to put all of it on the table.” Ben Jealous, both you and professor Cornel West have been surrogates for Bernie Sanders. Can you talk about how that relates to Joe Biden today and his positions?
BEN JEALOUS: Joe Biden today needs Bernie, needs everyone who voted for Bernie, to become president. Joe Biden today has moved with the party to the left. And Joe Biden today gets, in his core, that we have to protect Medicare, that we have to protect Social Security. I won’t deny he’s a politician who has been at different places at different points. But I know where he is now. And I think we have to take a cue from Bernie and be very clear that everybody needs to vote against Trump and for Biden in this moment, so we have a president that we can move. There’s no moving Trump, but it is definitely possible to move Joe. And every organizer ultimately needs a president that they can move.
AMY GOODMAN: So, Cornel West, I said, you know, this obviously — that was a clip from 2007. That’s what? Thirteen years ago.
CORNEL WEST: That’s right. That’s right.
AMY GOODMAN: But only recently, presidential candidate Joe Biden said even if a Medicare for All — now, that’s different than Medicare that he was talking about in 2007, that would have been Medicare for everyone in this country — even if Medicare for All were passed, which would mean bipartisan support, he would veto it, if he were president.
CORNEL WEST: I mean, one — I mean, Brother Biden told my dear Brother Bernie, in front of the nation, “I never, ever entertained the possibility of cutting Medicare and Social Security.” And you’ve got the evidence that he did. So he lied, you know. But, I mean —
AMY GOODMAN: Actually, let me go to Joe Biden.
CORNEL WEST: — as Brother Ben is right. I mean, politicians —
AMY GOODMAN: Let me go —
CORNEL WEST: Politicians lie all the time. But —
AMY GOODMAN: Let me go to Joe Biden.
CORNEL WEST: Yeah, go right ahead.
AMY GOODMAN: He was speaking on MSNBC with Lawrence O’Donnell, saying what he would do if he were elected president and he got a Medicare for All bill.
JOE BIDEN: I would veto anything that delays providing the security and the certainty of healthcare being available now. If they got that through, and by some miracle, and there was an epiphany that occurred, and some miracle occurred that said, “OK, it’s passed,” then you’ve got to look at the cost. I want to know: How did they find the $35 trillion? What is that doing? Is it going to significantly raise taxes on the middle class? Which it will. What’s going to happen? Look, my opposition isn’t to the principle that there should be — you should have Medicare. I mean, if everybody — healthcare should be a right in America. My opposition relates to whether or not, A, it’s doable, two, what the cost is, and what the consequences for the rest of the budget are.
AMY GOODMAN: So, Professor West, that was Joe Biden in March, just as we’re moving into the pandemic. And do you think this pandemic has highlighted so many inequities, that it would make it actually easier, because of the horror of the number of deaths disproportionately affecting people of color and poorer people in this country, to actually move that agenda forward? And do you think Joe Biden could be that person as president?
CORNEL WEST: Well, I hope so. I mean, that’s why we’ve got to push him over the line, but we have to be very honest with ourselves. I mean, we’ve got over 68% of fellow citizens who support Medicare for All — 46% of Republicans, 85% of Democrats do. And yet, big pharmaceutical companies, big private insurance companies, the donors, still dictate the destiny of policy.
Now, people are not stupid in this regard. I mean, the distinctive features of a decline of an empire, military overreach — 53 cents of every dollar is going to the military, 53 cents of every dollar in the city of Chicago goes to the police — militarism domestically, militarism abroad. But at the same time, you say to yourself, “Well, the people themselves are moving in a progressive direction” — Brother Ben is right — “but there’s no translation.”
That’s why we didn’t hear enough serious progressive voices during the spectacle, because you’ve got this big money still rendering captive so many of those in the Democratic Party, and they want to speak and give a lip service to justice, but there’s no real substance there in terms of sustaining an attack on poverty, sustaining an attack on the mass incarceration system and the new Jim Crow, sustaining a redistribution of wealth downward. You can’t talk about racism if you don’t talk about Black people having access to wealth. It could be reparations. It could be redistribution. We have to have access to wealth and income. And this is true for Black, for Brown. This is true for Indigenous peoples. This is true for Asians, across the board.
And so, what has happened, though, Sister Amy, is that we’re getting a sad spectacle that remains on the surface, and yet the massive suffering and misery that’s taking place is intensifying. And we’re getting the unraveling of public life with the post office and a whole host of other public institutions, education, and we’re getting the inability to envision a substantive alternative to the present, so we end up tied to this nightmarish reality.
So, yes, a vote for Biden as an anti-fascist vote, that’s different than in any way falling prey to illusions. We have to be able to keep our hopes while we kill the illusions. And if we can’t walk that tightrope, we’re not going to make it as a country.
AMY GOODMAN: Medicare for All issue, when it came to the presidential debates, Kamala Harris raised her hand when asked if she supported Medicare for All, but, the next day, said she hadn’t heard the question properly, she misunderstood. Ben Jealous, you’ve known Kamala Harris for a long time.
BEN JEALOUS: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: Now, the vice president doesn’t determine the agenda, of course; the president does. But your thoughts on this? And as a supporter for this, Ben Jealous, what do you think is the best strategy? People are saying you wait until November 4th, and then you apply massive pressure. Or do you start now? And if people don’t start now, if they are suppressed, because, as Cornel West said, it’s a vote against fascism, will a pattern be set where it’s too late after the election?
BEN JEALOUS: Yeah, my heart broke when I saw my friend, Mr. Barkan, speak via computer. The last time I was with him, we were just four blocks from the Capitol, together encouraging, helping train dozens of activists who were about to get arrested in protests demanding Medicare for All.
As an organizer, I can’t pretend that it’s all about where we are at this moment. It is always about our vision. It is about the will of the people. And it is about the trend of the movement in our country. And all of those point towards the day when Medicare for All will be a reality.
And, sure, you have — it was in my own primary — you know, establishment progressives, progressives who see themselves as experts on the budget, who have been completely bamboozled by corporations into believing that we can’t afford it. And yet, year after year, we see more and more studies by academics, by think tanks, saying, “You know, actually, Medicare for All is the most affordable option.”
So, I believe that because of the movement in this country, the opinion of the people, as laid out by Dr. West, because of the resolve of organizers, not just Ady, but all the legions inspired by him and by my good friend, Dr. Barber, that we will get Medicare for All. And I don’t depend on the platform position of some politician. No, I look to the will of the people. I look to the movement and the trend. So that’s where my hope is. And as an organizer, I know we have to have a president, we have to have a vice president that we can work with. Can we move Biden? Absolutely. Can we move Harris? Absolutely. And that’s where my confidence is.
AMY GOODMAN: Of course, Ady Barkan did give a major — he gave a few minutes of an address, but I’ve never heard him speak without saying the words “Medicare for All,” and here he didn’t say it — not clear if it was because of the contenders’ positions. Of course, right afterwards, he tweeted, We will be fighting for Medicare for All, starting on November 4th. And he described it. He just didn’t use the words.
But speaking about who spoke, let me ask Cornel West if you’re concerned about — you know, we were showing, at the beginning of the broadcast, all the presidential rivals — almost all of them — in discussion yesterday. And a number of them got key positions, including the former Republican, Bloomberg. You had Amy Klobuchar. You had Cory Booker and so many others. But you didn’t have Julián Castro, who we spoke to at the beginning of the week. How is it possible that the only Latinx presidential candidate was not invited, when almost all of the rest of them were?
CORNEL WEST: I mean, I think it’s ridiculous, I mean, when you’ve got the neofascist gangster in the White House. He started his whole campaign attacking our precious Mexican brothers and sisters. And here you’ve got a Chicano from Texas, who is brilliant and sharp, and doesn’t get a chance to speak. But Brother Bloomberg does. You say, “Wait, Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire?”
I mean, here’s — and then Sister Linda Sarsour gets demonized and pushed out because she stands for Palestinians, she’s against the vicious Israeli occupation. Biden is talking about human rights. Harris is talking about a coalition of conscience. You can’t have a coalition of conscience and talk about human rights if you don’t come to terms with precious Palestinians under Israeli occupation. Ain’t nothing anti-Jewish about that. In fact, it affirms Jewish values coming out of Hebrew scripture: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” They’re talking about justice.
So, the role of the lobbies — you’ve got AIPAC, you’ve got Big Pharm, you’ve got big private insurance companies, you’ve got K Street, across the board. And these are moral and spiritual issues. These are not tribal. These are not just about identity and group politics. If we can’t reach a point of integrity, honesty and decency — and by “spirituality,” all I mean is the use of empathy and imagination to envision another future, a better future — if we’re unable to do that, we’re locked in, and, lo and behold, we just slide down a slippery slope to chaos and fascism.
AMY GOODMAN: Interestingly, Ady Barkan, who Ben was just talking about, a fighter for Medicare for All and who did get a few minutes to speak at the Democratic National Convention, when he saw the attack on Linda Sarsour, who had spoken at a side event, the Palestinian American human rights activist, who also has traveled this country during the pandemic, from Louisville to Minneapolis to New York, fighting and demonstrating against police brutality — Ady Barkan, who is an Israeli American activist fighting for Medicare for All, said, “I say this as a Jew and an Israeli citizen … the Biden campaign issued a vile and dishonest statement against my beloved sister @lsarsour … a fierce advocate for justice and freedom, and a leading antiracist and organizer against antisemitism. The Biden campaign must retract and apologize,” Ady Barkan said. I want to go for a minute to some of those who did get to speak. A number of Republicans did, to reach out to a broader base for this election, including former Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich, who addressed the Democratic National Convention.
JOHN KASICH: I’m sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn’t imagine crossing over to support a Democrat. They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don’t believe that, because I know the measure of the man, is reasonable, faithful, respectful.
AMY GOODMAN: Ben Jealous?
BEN JEALOUS: You know, one of the great moments for me, as president of People For, was that 13 of our young people spoke — Mayor Robert Garcia from Long Beach, a product of our Young People For program; Raumesh Akbari, state senator from Tennessee; Stacey Abrams, who, with Julián Castro, was in the first class. And so, yes, absolutely, I would — you know, the first class of our Young Elected Officials program. And I would love to have seen Julián spoke, and he should have spoke. And yet, you’ve got to look at the future and the trendline. The young people who spoke — Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes —
AMY GOODMAN: Of Wisconsin.
BEN JEALOUS: — Mr. Kenyatta, who’s the first openly Black — the first openly gay Black member of the Pennsylvania state Legislature — they represent the future. And we can’t take this away from them.
Sure, there is always a struggle in a party between older politicians and younger politicians. But let’s not pretend like we don’t see the future in the young public servants who spoke during this convention, because it’s there. And it shows a party that is much more distinct, and a party that’s much more in touch, and a party that is being moved in the right direction by the people of this country, which, of course, the Republican Party is not.
And so, this is a moment when I think we have to be very clear with the young people of this country that what they see in AOC, what they see in Raumesh in Tennessee, is a reflection of their power to move this country in the right direction. And what I saw all through the program was evidence of that.
And, you know, sure, parties always bring out somebody from the other party to suggest that we can rebuild the middle. We are, I think, all hungry to get beyond the moment of division in this country. I embrace that. There’s no Republican who represent my values. But are there some who represent my hope that we can get to a place where it’s not just criminal justice reform that we can agree on, but maybe there’s two issues that we can agree on? Certainly. And I welcome that day, because, as a criminal justice reformer, the way that we’ve been able to shrink prisons in places like Texas is by finding the Republicans that we can work with in that moment.
AMY GOODMAN: Ben, very quickly, I was wondering your response to the 13-year-old boy who spoke from New Hampshire, named Brayden Harrington, who had a stutter.
BEN JEALOUS: It made me cry. It made me cry. I mean, I grew up with a stutter. I’ve been involved in every presidential since Jesse Jackson’s ’88. I was 14 years old. I was the president of Youth for Jackson in Monterey County. It was another candidate, Joe Biden, who inspired me.
First time I gave a speech to a group of Democrats, I stuttered so badly that an old woman, an old hippie, like so many people who I grew up with, came up to me with a meditation tape and slipped it in my pocket and said, “Boy, please listen to this.”
Being a young person with so much to say, and not being able to get the words out, is deeply painful. I know what my candidacy in Maryland meant to young people who stutter here, to older people who stutter. And I know what Joe Biden has meant to all of us who stutter. Even when I was fighting for Jesse Jackson’s campaign, he was in a very different place in that race. The fact that he had grown up with a stutter and found his voice was as transformative for me, as a young person with a voice, as the candidate that I was pushing in that primary so many years ago.
AMY GOODMAN: And finally, Cornel West, I began by saying you were in Charlottesville, and this is the anniversary of Charlottesville, where the — basically, the Klan without hoods, they felt safe enough in this country today not to wear sheets and cover their identities. Where you were, talk about who you were saved by, since this is going to be the theme next week of President Trump in the Republican National Convention, going after antifa and the anti-fascists, when who has been arrested in this country at this point, been charged? Those charged with murder or attacks have been overwhelmingly Proud Boys and “boogaloo.”
CORNEL WEST: Well, I mean, we were standing as part of an anti-fascist coalition, just the same logic that we talk about in terms of pushing Biden and Harris across the line but also telling the truth about them, there in Charlottesville. That coalition was a broad one.
We saw at the convention, we’ve got Colin Powell, militaristic, still part of that coalition. He’s not my political friend. He’s a brother. I’m a Christian. I try to love everybody, you know. We’ve got my dear Brother Bob Avakian, Revolutionary Communist Party, and Carl Dix, all now talking about voting for Biden, against the fascist, but not fetishizing the vote, not thinking that somehow Biden is going to be this salvific figure or even Biden has principles and integrity that relate to poor and working people.
Brother Ben knows that the mass incarceration regime, you had a whole lot of precious folk who went to jail who stuttered, because of Biden. You’ve got a whole lot of folk who stuttered in Iraq, who were killed, because of Biden’s support. We have to be honest about those issues that relate to the soul of America. You can’t have a soul with massive militarism. You can’t have a soul with massive Wall Street greed. These are fundamental issues. Ben and I have talked about this on the campaign with Brother Bernie.
AMY GOODMAN: And I’m going to hold you for one second.
CORNEL WEST: But I agree with Ben: We’ve got to come together now —
AMY GOODMAN: We need a 30-second break, and I’m going to come back for your final comments.
CORNEL WEST: — just like we did in Charlottesville.
AMY GOODMAN: Cornel West and Ben Jealous, please stay with us for a few more minutes.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. We’re breaking with convention. I’m Amy Goodman. We’re going to get final comments from Cornel West and Ben Jealous, but we wanted to go to Axios, the interview that Jonathan Swan did with President Trump, talking about Congressmember John Lewis, who had just died.
JONATHAN SWAN: John Lewis is lying in state in the U.S. Capitol. How do you think history will remember John Lewis?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I don’t know. I really don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know John Lewis. He chose not to come to my inauguration. He chose — I don’t — I never met John Lewis, actually, I don’t believe.
JONATHAN SWAN: Do you find him impressive?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Uh, I can’t say one way or the other. I find a lot of people impressive. I find many people not impressive. But no. But I didn’t go —
JONATHAN SWAN: Do you find his story impressive?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He didn’t come — he didn’t come to my inauguration. He didn’t come to my State of the Union speeches. And that’s OK. That’s his right. And again, nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have.
JONATHAN SWAN: All right, but back to — I understand.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He should have come.
JONATHAN SWAN: But back —
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think he made a big mistake. I think he should have come.
JONATHAN SWAN: But taking your relationship with him out of it, do you find his story impressive, what he’s done for this country?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He was a person that devoted a lot of energy and a lot of heart to civil rights, but there were many others also.
AMY GOODMAN: “There were many others,” and “He didn’t come to my inauguration or my State of the Union.” Ben Jealous, your final comments, President Trump saying he’s done more for Black people than anyone?
BEN JEALOUS: Look, that is the most cowardly and corrupt president — and vain — that we’ve ever seen. I think that’s just the final word there.
And what I would say to my good friend Dr. West, who’s inspired me literally my entire adult life, and who has been a real friend, the prophetic voice in politics must do two things. One is to be honest about where we are, and the other is to be honest about where we can be. And in our church, in the Black church, in our tradition, we claim the victory in advance, and then we make it real.
And what I know is that there is a day coming when we will have Medicare for All, when we will transform public safety, and that getting to that day begins with getting the man you just saw, Donald Trump, out of office.
AMY GOODMAN: Cornel West, 30 seconds.
BEN JEALOUS: And that we have to be absolutely clear with the young people of this country that they will determine whether Trump stays in office or not, by whether or not they show up to vote.
AMY GOODMAN: Cornel West?
CORNEL WEST: That’s true. No, I agree with Brother Ben. I agree with Brother Ben. I would just add one thing, though, Brother Ben. It’s not just a matter that Medicare will come. We have to point out who the major obstacles are. And those obstacles are big pharmaceutical companies and big private insurance, who too often provide the moneys for the politicians who remain stuck in the middle ground —
BEN JEALOUS: Amen.
CORNEL WEST: — rather than pushing all the way. But I’m with you. I’m with you, though, Brother. Indeed, indeed.
AMY GOODMAN: We are going to end the discussion here, but we continue the conversation always, as we continue breaking with convention next week covering the Republican National Convention. That does it for our broadcast. Dr. Cornel West, I want to thank you for being with us, professor of practice of public policy at Harvard University, and Ben Jealous, now president of People for the American Way.
That does it for our broadcast. Democracy Now! produced with Mike Burke, Renée Feltz, Deena Guzder, Libby Rainey, Nermeen Shaikh. I’m Amy Goodman. Wear a mask. Stay safe.


democracynow--2020-08-21--"Light Is More Powerful Than Dark": Biden Vows to Fight COVID, Climate, Racism & Economic Meltdown

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : The Democratic National Convention ended with former Vice President Joe Biden speaking in Wilmington , Delaware .
Ella Baker , a giant of the civil rights movement , left us with this wisdom : “ Give people light and they will find a way.
” Give people light .
Those are words for our time .
The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long — too much anger , too much fear , too much division .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word : If you entrust me with the presidency , I will draw on the best of us , not the worst .
I ’ ll be an ally of the light , not the darkness .
But while I ’ ll be a Democratic candidate , I will be an American president .
I ’ ll work hard for those who didn ’ t support me , as hard for them as I did for those who did vote for me .
That ’ s the job of a president , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our base or our party .
This is not a partisan moment .
This must be an American moment .
It ’ s a moment that calls for hope and light and love — hope for our future , light to see our way forward , and love for one another .
Now nearly a century ago , Franklin Roosevelt pledged a New Deal in a time of massive unemployment , uncertainty and fear .
Stricken by disease , stricken by a virus , FDR insisted that he would recover and prevail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
And he did .
And we can , as well .
This campaign isn ’ t just about winning votes .
It ’ s about winning the heart and , yes , the soul of America — winning it for the generous among us , not the selfish ; winning it for the workers who keep this country going , not just the privileged few at the top ; winning it for those communities who have known the injustice of a knee on the neck , for all the young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in rising inequity and shrinking opportunity .
They deserve to experience America ’ s promise .
They deserve to experience it in full .
You know , no generation ever knows what history will ask of it .
All we can ever know is whether we ’ re ready when that moment arrives .
And now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced — four – four historic crises , all at the same time , a perfect storm : the worst pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis since the Great Depression , the most compelling call for racial justice since the ’ 60s , and the undeniable realities and just the accelerating threats of climate change .
You know , all elections are important .
But we know in our bones this one is more consequential .
As many have said , America is at an inflection point , a time of real peril , but also of extraordinary possibilities .
We can choose a path in becoming angrier , less hopeful , more divided , a path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or we can choose a different path and , together , take this chance to heal , to reform , to unite , a path of hope and light .
This is a life-changing election .
This will determine what America ’ s going to look like for a long , long time .
AMY GOODMAN : Joe Biden ended his acceptance address describing this election as a “ battle for the soul of the nation.
” This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme .
With passion and purpose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , one nation , under God , united in our love for America , united in our love for each other , for love is more powerful than hate , hope is more powerful than fear , and light is more powerful than dark .
This is our moment .
This is our mission .
May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight , as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ ll do it together , I promise you .
AMY GOODMAN : Joe Biden , accepting the nomination for president of the United States on the final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention .
When we come back , we ’ ll get response from Harvard professor Cornel West and Ben Jealous , now president of People for the American Way .
Stay with us .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: The Democratic National Convention ended with former Vice President Joe Biden speaking in Wilmington, Delaware.
JOE BIDEN: Good evening.
Ella Baker, a giant of the civil rights movement, left us with this wisdom: “Give people light and they will find a way.” Give people light. Those are words for our time. The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long — too much anger, too much fear, too much division. Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I’ll be an ally of the light, not the darkness.
It’s time for us, for We the People, to come together. And make no mistake: United, we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America. We’ll choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fairness over privilege.
I’m a proud Democrat. And I’ll be proud to carry the banner of our party into the general election. So, it’s with great honor and humility I accept this nomination for president of the United States of America.
But while I’ll be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president. I’ll work hard for those who didn’t support me, as hard for them as I did for those who did vote for me. That’s the job of a president, to represent all of us, not just our base or our party. This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment. It’s a moment that calls for hope and light and love — hope for our future, light to see our way forward, and love for one another.
America isn’t just a collection of clashing interests of red states or blue states. We’re so much bigger than that. We’re so much better than that.
Now nearly a century ago, Franklin Roosevelt pledged a New Deal in a time of massive unemployment, uncertainty and fear. Stricken by disease, stricken by a virus, FDR insisted that he would recover and prevail, and he believed America could, as well. And he did. And we can, as well.
This campaign isn’t just about winning votes. It’s about winning the heart and, yes, the soul of America — winning it for the generous among us, not the selfish; winning it for the workers who keep this country going, not just the privileged few at the top; winning it for those communities who have known the injustice of a knee on the neck, for all the young people who have known only America being of — in rising inequity and shrinking opportunity. They deserve to experience America’s promise. They deserve to experience it in full.
You know, no generation ever knows what history will ask of it. All we can ever know is whether we’re ready when that moment arrives. And now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced — four – four historic crises, all at the same time, a perfect storm: the worst pandemic in over a hundred years, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the most compelling call for racial justice since the ’60s, and the undeniable realities and just the accelerating threats of climate change.
So, the question for us is simple: Are we ready?
I believe we are. We must be.
You know, all elections are important. But we know in our bones this one is more consequential. As many have said, America is at an inflection point, a time of real peril, but also of extraordinary possibilities. We can choose a path in becoming angrier, less hopeful, more divided, a path of shadow and suspicion, or — or we can choose a different path and, together, take this chance to heal, to reform, to unite, a path of hope and light. This is a life-changing election. This will determine what America’s going to look like for a long, long time.
AMY GOODMAN: Joe Biden ended his acceptance address describing this election as a “battle for the soul of the nation.”
JOE BIDEN: The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote:
History says, Don’t hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.
This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme. With passion and purpose, let us begin, you and I together, one nation, under God, united in our love for America, united in our love for each other, for love is more powerful than hate, hope is more powerful than fear, and light is more powerful than dark.
This is our moment. This is our mission. May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight, as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation. And this is a battle we will win, and we’ll do it together, I promise you.
Thank you. And may God bless you, and may God protect our troops.
AMY GOODMAN: Joe Biden, accepting the nomination for president of the United States on the final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. When we come back, we’ll get response from Harvard professor Cornel West and Ben Jealous, now president of People for the American Way. Stay with us.


democracynow--2020-08-21--Virtual 2020 DNC Wraps with Calls for Empathy, Unity & a Broad Coalition to Rally Around Joe Biden

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : We ’ re breaking with convention this and next week , as we cover this week ’ s Democratic National Convention .
Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night .
Speaking in his home state of Delaware , the former vice president urged the country to , quote , “ overcome this season of darkness ” as the country faces four simultaneous crises : the COVID pandemic , the worst economic crisis since the Depression , climate change and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention .
California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about the deadly wildfires ravaging his state .
GOV .
GAVIN NEWSOM : I ’ m about a mile or so away from one of over 370 wildfires wildfires that we ’ re battling here in the state of California .
We are just coming off a record week , a heat wave that led to 130-degree temperatures , highest temperature ever recorded in California , arguably the world ’ s history , here in our state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The dries are getting drier .
Climate change is real .
If you are in denial about climate change , come to California .
AMY GOODMAN : Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico became the first Native American congresswoman to address a political convention .
REP. DEB HAALAND : Voting is sacred .
My people know that .
We weren ’ t universally granted the right to vote until 1962 .
And that fundamental right is more important than ever .
Whether your ancestors have been here for hundreds of years or you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this : Whether we vote and how we vote will determine if our nation ’ s promise of social , racial and environmental justice will outlast us .
AMY GOODMAN : Former presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey accused President Trump of failing to help working people .
SEN. CORY BOOKER : Working people are under attack .
The wealth gap grows , our middle class shrinks , and poverty persists .
Last week , Donald Trump said — and I quote — “ Our economy is doing good , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of losing their homes , 30 million aren ’ t getting enough to eat , and 5.4 million people have lost their healthcare because of this crisis .
He has failed us .
AMY GOODMAN : Senator Cory Booker also took part in a taped conversation with six of his former presidential rivals : Amy Klobuchar , Pete Buttigieg , Bernie Sanders , Andrew Yang , Elizabeth Warren and Beto O ’ Rourke .
Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro , the only Latinx presidential candidate in the 2020 race , was not invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invited to speak at the convention , even though she won two pledged delegates .
The former Republican Mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg , who spent more then a billion dollars on his failed bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination , was given one of the most prominent speaking spots on the final night .
In one of the most moving moments of the night , a 13-year-old boy from New Hampshire named Brayden Harrington talked about how Joe Biden had personally helped him .
BRAYDEN HARRINGTON : Without Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you today .
About a few months ago , I met him in New Hampshire .
He told me that we were members of the same club : We stutter .
It was really amazing to hear that someone like me became vice president .
He told me about a book of poems by Yeats he would read out loud to practice .
He showed me how he marks his addresses to make them easier to say out loud .
So I did the same thing today .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We’re breaking with convention this and next week, as we cover this week’s Democratic National Convention. Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night. Speaking in his home state of Delaware, the former vice president urged the country to, quote, “overcome this season of darkness” as the country faces four simultaneous crises: the COVID pandemic, the worst economic crisis since the Depression, climate change and systemic racism. Each issue was addressed during the final night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about the deadly wildfires ravaging his state.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM: I’m about a mile or so away from one of over 370 wildfires wildfires that we’re battling here in the state of California. We are just coming off a record week, a heat wave that led to 130-degree temperatures, highest temperature ever recorded in California, arguably the world’s history, here in our state. The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting drier. Climate change is real. If you are in denial about climate change, come to California.
AMY GOODMAN: Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico became the first Native American congresswoman to address a political convention.
REP. DEB HAALAND: Voting is sacred. My people know that. We weren’t universally granted the right to vote until 1962. And that fundamental right is more important than ever. Whether your ancestors have been here for hundreds of years or you’re a new citizen, know this: Whether we vote and how we vote will determine if our nation’s promise of social, racial and environmental justice will outlast us.
AMY GOODMAN: Former presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey accused President Trump of failing to help working people.
SEN. CORY BOOKER: Working people are under attack. The wealth gap grows, our middle class shrinks, and poverty persists. Last week, Donald Trump said — and I quote — “Our economy is doing good,” while 40 million Americans are at risk of losing their homes, 30 million aren’t getting enough to eat, and 5.4 million people have lost their healthcare because of this crisis. He has failed us.
AMY GOODMAN: Senator Cory Booker also took part in a taped conversation with six of his former presidential rivals: Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, Andrew Yang, Elizabeth Warren and Beto O’Rourke. Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro, the only Latinx presidential candidate in the 2020 race, was not invited. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was also not invited to speak at the convention, even though she won two pledged delegates. The former Republican Mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg, who spent more then a billion dollars on his failed bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination, was given one of the most prominent speaking spots on the final night.
In one of the most moving moments of the night, a 13-year-old boy from New Hampshire named Brayden Harrington talked about how Joe Biden had personally helped him.
BRAYDEN HARRINGTON: Without Joe Biden, I wouldn’t be talking to you today. About a few months ago, I met him in New Hampshire. He told me that we were members of the same club: We stutter. It was really amazing to hear that someone like me became vice president. He told me about a book of poems by Yeats he would read out loud to practice. He showed me how he marks his addresses to make them easier to say out loud. So I did the same thing today.


democracynow--2020-08-21--Headlines for August 21, 2020

Headlines for August 21, 2020

Joe Biden has accepted the Democratic Party ’ s presidential nomination .
Speaking in his home state of Delaware on @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented virtual Democratic National Convention , the former vice president urged the United States to @ @ @ @ @ darkness ” as the country faces four simultaneous crises : the COVID pandemic , the @ @ @ @ @ Depression , climate change and systemic racism .
Joe Biden : “ May history be @ @ @ @ @ end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight , as love and hope @ @ @ @ @ battle for the soul of the nation .
And this is a battle we will @ @ @ @ @ ll do it together , I promise you .
Thank you .
And may God @ @ @ @ @ God protect our troops.
” Meanwhile , 70 Republican national security officials have endorsed Joe @ @ @ @ @ of National Intelligence John Negroponte , who served as U.S. ambassador to Honduras , which @ @ @ @ @ the U.S.-backed Contras in Nicaragua .

Joe Biden has accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Speaking in his home state of Delaware on the last night of an unprecedented virtual Democratic National Convention, the former vice president urged the United States to “overcome this season of darkness” as the country faces four simultaneous crises: the COVID pandemic, the worst economic crisis since the Depression, climate change and systemic racism.
Joe Biden: “May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight, as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation. And this is a battle we will win, and we’ll do it together, I promise you. Thank you. And may God bless you, and may God protect our troops.”
Meanwhile, 70 Republican national security officials have endorsed Joe Biden — including former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, who served as U.S. ambassador to Honduras, which was the staging ground for the U.S.-backed Contras in Nicaragua.


democracynow--2020-08-24--QAnon: Trump Embraces Far-Right "Deep State" Conspiracy Theory Deemed a Threat by FBI

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
We ’ re breaking with convention .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
As the Republican National Convention begins tonight in Charlotte , North Carolina , questions are mounting over President Trump ’ s decision to openly embrace the far-right conspiracy theory known as QAnon .
The theory claims , among other things , that Trump is secretly at war with a deep state cabal of Satan-worshiping elites who run a child sex trafficking operation .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messages from supporters of the conspiracy theory , but last week Trump talked publicly about the movement for the first time , when asked .
AMY GOODMAN : That ’ s President Trump being questioned by an NBC reporter at the White House .
Trump ’ s remarks came just a week after a supporter of QAnon , Marjorie Taylor Greene , won the Republican primary in Georgia ’ s heavily Republican 14th Congressional District .
Last year , the FBI warned QAnon and other conspiracy theories pose a domestic terror threat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carusone , president of Media Matters , the media watch group monitoring right-wing misinformation in the U.S. media .
Wow !
Angelo , lay this out for us .
I mean , it goes beyond what I said , this idea — bring in the pizzeria , Hillary Clinton , etc .
ANGELO CARUSONE : Yeah , sure .
So , QAnon is sort of like phase two of a conspiracy theory that I think a lot of people would be familiar with , which started during the 2016 presidential campaign , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Hillary Clinton , among others , were running a child sex trafficking ring out of a basement of a pizza parlor in Washington , D.C. And one of the individuals who believed in this conspiracy theory actually went to investigate it himself and , you know , brought a gun , fired some shots .
The pizza parlor doesn ’ t even have a basement .
Thankfully , nobody was hurt .
But that person was arrested .
And what happened from then , though , was that people still believed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was actually a child sex trafficking ring being run by Hillary Clinton ; it ’ s just that they had the wrong pizza place .
And so , when Trump took office , shortly after , one of the things that happened is , this entity , this individual , named Q , identified as Q , started dropping these secret clues onto 4chan and 8chan , these message boards , that members , you know , readers , would consume and try to decipher and decode .
And that basically has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you referenced earlier , which is that now you have a fairly widespread belief , amongst largely conservatives , that Democrats , the media and parts of the government are operating together , in cahoots , to take down Donald Trump , and that the reason they want to take down Donald Trump is because he is the only person that is trying to stop their child sex trafficking ring .
And the reason why they run this child sex trafficking ring , according to these believers , is that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demons .
There ’ s a lot of disagreement within the movement as to what is actually driving this need for child sex trafficking , but a big piece of it believes that they ’ re either interdimensional demons or psychic vampires .
And at the center is this belief in this entity called Q , which is supposedly somebody in the government that is working with Donald Trump , secretly leaking all of these documents .
AMY GOODMAN : I even hesitated to do this today — AMY GOODMAN : — because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , you become a superspreader .
It keeps getting — a superspreader of misinformation , because it keeps getting repeated .
But you now have the recent Georgia primary , where the Russian — sorry , where the Republican winner of the primary actually openly embraces the QAnon theory .
Explain what happened there .
ANGELO CARUSONE : Sure .
And so , Marjorie Taylor Greene won her primary and then a runoff .
It ’ s in a very conservative district .
She ’ s almost certain to win in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is somebody who fully believes , one in Q , in that entity — she believes it ’ s a real entity .
The second thing , though , is that she ’ s actively evangelized for it .
She has repeatedly told people , if they don ’ t subscribe to this or they ’ re uncertain about it , not to feel bad , but to reach out to her privately , and she will help walk them through the importance of Q .
She has repeatedly called Q a patriot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s important to realize that when Trump said the thing that he said , it ’ s not just that he didn ’ t condemn it , but that when he reinforced the fact that the people in QAnon love their country , that they ’ re patriots , that is a central tenet of what QAnon believers sort of tell themselves , and also what they use to help bring others into the movement , is that they ’ re actually the true patriots that are out there really trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this sort of interdimensional psychic fight .
And I would just point out that Marjorie Taylor Greene is not the only QAnon believer that ’ s on the ballot in November .
There are 20 QAnon — full QAnon adherents on the ballot in November .
Seventy-five were running in the primaries for Congress and Senate , but 20 made their way to the ballot in November .
So , that ’ s another thing .
I think at this point it ’ s reached full spread , that we really can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOODMAN : And you have the new slogan adopted by the Texas Republican Party , “ We are the storm , ” which is a nod to QAnon , is that right ?
ANGELO CARUSONE : It is .
Before , one of the — that sort of transition period in the early days of Q , when they were sort of going from Pizzagate to full Qanon , there was a period where they kept believing that the storm was coming , which is a reference to a massive crackdown from Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expose the deep state and expose this ring of psychic vampires or demons .
And they kept referring to this as this sort of prophecy that was about to unfold .
And in fact , there was an incident in 2018 , where a man , an armed man , took over the Hoover Dam , and there was a standoff with law enforcement .
And one of the things that he was screaming was “ Release the OIG ” — Office of Inspector General — “ report !
” He was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hurt in that .
But the reason he took it over was actually to help speed along the timeline , because a lot of QAnon believers were under the impression that the Office of Inspector General report would have exposed the deep state at the time , that it was part of this storm .
And so , “ release the storm ” is one of the big things you hear .
The other one is “ Where we go one , we go all , ” which is a codeword that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of identify each other and also help evangelize .
We saw that a lot this summer .
ANGELO CARUSONE : That ’ s exactly it .
When he took the oath , which is , I think , part of the reason why QAnon is so different than — you know , a lot of people believe conspiracy theories .
And a lot of them are harmful , and most of them are just harmless and ridiculous .
But what ’ s different about QAnon is that it ’ s so inherently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe , in order to become a believer , that you have to stand and fight , that this is sort of the existential threat of our time , and that , basically , the ends justify the means .
So , when Michael Flynn took that oath , which is was what he was doing — him and his family and all these other believers were taking the oath — they were taking the oath to defend the Constitution , to put their lives on the line , if need be , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off with that slogan as sort of a way to get others to do the same thing .
And it took hold , right around the Fourth of July .
AMY GOODMAN : Angelo , we have 10 seconds .
What are you looking for at the Republican National Convention this week ?
ANGELO CARUSONE : I think a lot of it is going to be a wink and a nod to what we ’ re seeing in the fever swamps of the right wing .
I would just note that power right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we would have once sort of considered the fringes .
And I think being able to draw those dots is something that I ’ m going to be paying much , much close attention to .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , I want to thank you for being with us , Angelo Carusone , president of Media Matters , which monitors right-wing misinformation in the U.S. media .
That does it for our show .
We ’ ll be with you all week covering the Republican National Convention , from Charlotte to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Breaking with Convention ” series .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
Wear a mask .
Stay safe .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! We’re breaking with convention. I’m Amy Goodman.
As the Republican National Convention begins tonight in Charlotte, North Carolina, questions are mounting over President Trump’s decision to openly embrace the far-right conspiracy theory known as QAnon. The theory claims, among other things, that Trump is secretly at war with a deep state cabal of Satan-worshiping elites who run a child sex trafficking operation. Over the years, Trump has repeatedly retweeted messages from supporters of the conspiracy theory, but last week Trump talked publicly about the movement for the first time, when asked.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I don’t know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate. … These are people that don’t like seeing what’s going on in places like Portland and places like Chicago and New York and other cities and states. And I’ve heard these are people that love our country, and they just don’t like seeing it. So, I don’t know really anything about it, other than they do, supposedly, like me.
REPORTER: At the crux of the theory is this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Does that sound like something you are behind?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I haven’t — I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it.
AMY GOODMAN: That’s President Trump being questioned by an NBC reporter at the White House. Trump’s remarks came just a week after a supporter of QAnon, Marjorie Taylor Greene, won the Republican primary in Georgia’s heavily Republican 14th Congressional District. Last year, the FBI warned QAnon and other conspiracy theories pose a domestic terror threat.
We’re joined now by Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, the media watch group monitoring right-wing misinformation in the U.S. media.
Wow! Angelo, lay this out for us. I mean, it goes beyond what I said, this idea — bring in the pizzeria, Hillary Clinton, etc.
ANGELO CARUSONE: Yeah, sure. So, QAnon is sort of like phase two of a conspiracy theory that I think a lot of people would be familiar with, which started during the 2016 presidential campaign, called “Pizzagate.” And that theory was that Hillary Clinton, among others, were running a child sex trafficking ring out of a basement of a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C. And one of the individuals who believed in this conspiracy theory actually went to investigate it himself and, you know, brought a gun, fired some shots. The pizza parlor doesn’t even have a basement. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. But that person was arrested. And what happened from then, though, was that people still believed in that theory. They still believed that there was actually a child sex trafficking ring being run by Hillary Clinton; it’s just that they had the wrong pizza place.
And so, when Trump took office, shortly after, one of the things that happened is, this entity, this individual, named Q, identified as Q, started dropping these secret clues onto 4chan and 8chan, these message boards, that members, you know, readers, would consume and try to decipher and decode. And that basically has metastasized into the domestic terror threat that you referenced earlier, which is that now you have a fairly widespread belief, amongst largely conservatives, that Democrats, the media and parts of the government are operating together, in cahoots, to take down Donald Trump, and that the reason they want to take down Donald Trump is because he is the only person that is trying to stop their child sex trafficking ring.
And the reason why they run this child sex trafficking ring, according to these believers, is that they’re either sadists, psychic vampires or interdimensional demons. There’s a lot of disagreement within the movement as to what is actually driving this need for child sex trafficking, but a big piece of it believes that they’re either interdimensional demons or psychic vampires.
And at the center is this belief in this entity called Q, which is supposedly somebody in the government that is working with Donald Trump, secretly leaking all of these documents.
AMY GOODMAN: I even hesitated to do this today —
ANGELO CARUSONE: I know.
AMY GOODMAN: — because whether or not you’re critiquing it, you become a superspreader. It keeps getting — a superspreader of misinformation, because it keeps getting repeated. But you now have the recent Georgia primary, where the Russian — sorry, where the Republican winner of the primary actually openly embraces the QAnon theory. Explain what happened there.
ANGELO CARUSONE: Sure. And so, Marjorie Taylor Greene won her primary and then a runoff. It’s in a very conservative district. She’s almost certain to win in the general election. And essentially, she is somebody who fully believes, one in Q, in that entity — she believes it’s a real entity. The second thing, though, is that she’s actively evangelized for it. She has repeatedly told people, if they don’t subscribe to this or they’re uncertain about it, not to feel bad, but to reach out to her privately, and she will help walk them through the importance of Q. She has repeatedly called Q a patriot.
That’s why I think it’s important to realize that when Trump said the thing that he said, it’s not just that he didn’t condemn it, but that when he reinforced the fact that the people in QAnon love their country, that they’re patriots, that is a central tenet of what QAnon believers sort of tell themselves, and also what they use to help bring others into the movement, is that they’re actually the true patriots that are out there really trying to save the country and the world from this sort of interdimensional psychic fight.
And I would just point out that Marjorie Taylor Greene is not the only QAnon believer that’s on the ballot in November. There are 20 QAnon — full QAnon adherents on the ballot in November. Seventy-five were running in the primaries for Congress and Senate, but 20 made their way to the ballot in November. So, that’s another thing. I think at this point it’s reached full spread, that we really can’t ignore it anymore.
AMY GOODMAN: And you have the new slogan adopted by the Texas Republican Party, “We are the storm,” which is a nod to QAnon, is that right?
ANGELO CARUSONE: It is. Before, one of the — that sort of transition period in the early days of Q, when they were sort of going from Pizzagate to full Qanon, there was a period where they kept believing that the storm was coming, which is a reference to a massive crackdown from Donald Trump, where he was going to expose the deep state and expose this ring of psychic vampires or demons. And they kept referring to this as this sort of prophecy that was about to unfold.
And in fact, there was an incident in 2018, where a man, an armed man, took over the Hoover Dam, and there was a standoff with law enforcement. And one of the things that he was screaming was “Release the OIG” — Office of Inspector General — “report!” He was a full QAnon believer. Thankfully, nobody was hurt in that. But the reason he took it over was actually to help speed along the timeline, because a lot of QAnon believers were under the impression that the Office of Inspector General report would have exposed the deep state at the time, that it was part of this storm.
And so, “release the storm” is one of the big things you hear. The other one is “Where we go one, we go all,” which is a codeword that a lot of QAnon users use to sort of identify each other and also help evangelize. We saw that a lot this summer.
AMY GOODMAN: In fact —
ANGELO CARUSONE: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: — Michael Flynn, right?
ANGELO CARUSONE: That’s right.
AMY GOODMAN: July 4th, with his entire family.
ANGELO CARUSONE: That’s exactly it. When he took the oath, which is, I think, part of the reason why QAnon is so different than — you know, a lot of people believe conspiracy theories. And a lot of them are harmful, and most of them are just harmless and ridiculous. But what’s different about QAnon is that it’s so inherently linked to violence, that you really believe, in order to become a believer, that you have to stand and fight, that this is sort of the existential threat of our time, and that, basically, the ends justify the means.
So, when Michael Flynn took that oath, which is was what he was doing — him and his family and all these other believers were taking the oath — they were taking the oath to defend the Constitution, to put their lives on the line, if need be, and at the end they signed it off with that slogan as sort of a way to get others to do the same thing. And it took hold, right around the Fourth of July.
AMY GOODMAN: Angelo, we have 10 seconds. What are you looking for at the Republican National Convention this week?
ANGELO CARUSONE: I think a lot of it is going to be a wink and a nod to what we’re seeing in the fever swamps of the right wing. I would just note that power right now is really being organized on what we would have once sort of considered the fringes. And I think being able to draw those dots is something that I’m going to be paying much, much close attention to.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you for being with us, Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, which monitors right-wing misinformation in the U.S. media.
That does it for our show. We’ll be with you all week covering the Republican National Convention, from Charlotte to the White House. Tune in to our “Breaking with Convention” series. I’m Amy Goodman. Wear a mask. Stay safe.