2016 Democratic National Convention

From Usgs

Current revision as of 18:10, 7 January 2008

The 2016 Democratic National Convention, a presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party, took place from July 26 to July 29, 2016 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was one of a series of historic quadrennial meetings of the Democratic Party with a primary focus on officially nominating a candidate for President and adopting a party platform. Senator Andrew Brockmeier served as chairman, while Elizabeth Rosenbaum served as vice chairman. Senator Calum Daniels served as the host of the third day.

Defining moments of the 2016 Democratic National Convention included a featured keynote address by Republican Senator Samuel Clay and the confirmation of the nomination of Whitney Mason as the candidate for President and Andrew Brockmeier as the candidate for Vice President. The two faced the Republican Party's ticket of David Gamble and John Dunn in the 2016 presidential election.

The convention marked the formal end of the active primary election season, although all meaningful primary elections had finished months earlier, with withdrawal of all the other candidates. The primaries were essentially uncontested after Super Duper Tuesday following Justin Casanova-Davis' withdrawal from the race, leaving no major challenger to eventual nominee Whitney Mason. Mason faced Bryant Carter, Justin Casanova-Davis, Emmett Honeycutt and Liliam Vanleer in the primaries.

Convention themes

The 2016 Democratic National Convention featured many themes for each day of the convention. One by one, different Democratic politicians gave short speeches on these themes. On the first and second day, education , security policies, economy, crime, foreign policies, energy, the Republican legacy & health care were the main issues.

Senators Kathryn Spencer & Samuel Clay gave two keynote adresses to the delegates.

On the third day, hosted by Senator Daniels, Democrats talked about the environment, farming, economy again, social security, workers, and gas prices.

Senator James Dailey and Congressman Bryan Jennings gave the final keynote adresses.

Party platform

TBC

Speakers

Samuel Clay

Main Article: Samuel Clay's 2016 Democratic National Convention keynote address

The appearance of Republican Senator Samuel Clay came as a surprise to many. Clay used the speech to announce his endorsement of Mason in the presidential race and revealed that he had been offered the position of Republican nominee for Vice President but had turned the offer down. He gave as his motivation for appearing at the Democratic Convention that, "Abraham Lincoln's and Teddy Roosevelt's Party has become Richard Nixon's with a corrupt bargain defining the face of this new Republican Party". His speech also included a direct attack on the presumptive Republican nominee Andrew Merrilin, "the future of America with Andrew Merrilin leading it pales both in potential and promise to an America led by Whitney Mason".

This had not been the first time a senior politician from one party had made a high profile address at the convention of the opposing party. Democrats Robert Hudson and Zell Miller spoke at the 2012 Republican convention and the 2004 Republican convention respectively. What was different in this case was the aftermath effect. It sparked anger within the Republican Party, opening up old divisions between its two factions, eventually leading Merrilin to announce his resignation at the Republican convention out of frustration. Republicans soon rallied around David Gamble as their preferred candidate, but the process had done further damage to a Republican presidential campaign that had been cursed with setback after setback.

Clay himself announced his resignation from the Republican Party after the 2016 elections and was subsequently nominated by Mason to be his Secretary of State. To what extent his decision to leave the party was influenced by the Republican response to his speech and/or a potential deal with Mason is unknown.

Andrew Brockmeier

Not yet formally nominated for the Vice Presidency, Andrew Brockmeier took the stage at the Convention to give his own national speech. The delegates were very excited by his presence, even more when Bryan Jennings raised his hand onto the air.

Brockmeier then accepted his nomination in a speech that many pundits called "spectacular". ^{[citation needed]}

Whitney Mason

Bradley Abbot gave the introduction talking about a President who would work for the nation and not just "sit around and watched the cities [Republicans] govern crumble". He cited Mason's work on the Good Friday terrorist attacks and then called Mason on to the stage.

Mason again cited his work during terrorist attacks, his work for the children and education, and the current economy. he ended by saying "If we go forward, united by a common bond to secure a greater future for ourselves and our children, then no enemy can stop us, no threat can deter us, and none but God can bring us to our knees".

The crowd then erupted into applause and cheering as Mason kissed his wife and hugged his son Sacha and daughters Faith, Hope, and Charity. Senator Brockmeier walked to Mason's side as the two smiled and waved at the crowd and the cameras.

Full Speakers List

Tuesday, July 26

Keynote Speakers

• Kathryn Spencer, Senator from Pennsylvania
• Samuel Clay, Senator from Pennsylvania

Featured Speakers

• Nicole Bowman, Congresswoman from ????
• Thomas Byerly, Senator from California
• Dave Campbell, Congressman from ????
• David Cromartie, Governor of the West Coast
• Claire Harris, Congresswoman from ????
• Emmett Honeycutt, Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Ross Kesler, Senator from the Pacific Coast
• Zach Litchfield, Senator from New York
• Elizabeth Rosenbaum, Senator from California
• James Stewart, Governor of the Northeast

Wednesday, July 27

Keynote Speakers

• None

Featured Speakers

• Calum Daniels, Senator from Appalachia
• Jamie Elzar-Toledo, Senator from Florida
• Johnny Green, Governor of the Mississippi Valley
• Jax Jaxal, Senator from the Ohio Valley
• Jack Johnson, Congressman from Oregon
• Howell Kent, Senator from New England
• Mathias Kimmer, Congressman from ????
• Alexander Magnus, Congressman from Florida
• Grace Straka, Governor of the Mid-Atlantic
• Elizabeth Wellbourne, Governor of the Heartlands

Thursday, July 28

Keynote Speakers

• Andrew Brockmeier, Senator from the Great Lakes
• Bryan Jennings, Congressman from Michigan
• Whitney Mason, Governor of Appalachia

Featured Speakers

• Bradley Abbott, House Majority Leader
• Damien Austin, Congressman from Oklahoma
• Red Blanchard, Senate Majority Whip
• James Chesire, Congressman from Texas
• William Clarke, Senator from the Pacific Coast
• James Dailey, Senator from the Midwest
• Zach Esser, Congressman from ????
• Daniel Pizzuto, Lieutenant Governor of Appalachia
• Norv Ronnen, Congressman from ????
• Teddy Williams, Senator from Illinois
• Gregory Wolff, Senator from Illinois

Results of delegate voting

In the days before the convention started, all the other candidates had already withdrawn, "freeding" their delegates and officially endorsed Mason. All the delegates voted to ratify this decision and vote for Mason. The final tally went thus:

President

• Whitney Irving Mason 4,407 votes (100%)

TOTAL VOTES 4,407 votes

Vice President

• Andrew Brockmeier 4,407 votes (100%)

TOTAL VOTES 4,407 votes

External Links

• Democratic Convention, Philadelphia, PA