Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have now officially accepted the nominations of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, and both have given impassioned speeches to close their respective conventions.
If you watched both, as I did, you may have noticed some striking differences between the two.
The man in Cleveland painted a dark picture, riddled with doom and gloom (and lies). His underlying message was: Be afraid. Only I can fix this. Be. Afraid.
A week later, the woman in Philadelphia reached out to both her supporters and her detractors, saying several times, “Join us.”
Let’s take a side-by-side view of some highlights – and lowlights – of these two speeches, shall we?
“I Alone Can Fix It”
“Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.” – Donald Trump
Oh really, Donald? Nobody knows it better than you? Not a woman who has been working within (and sometimes against) that system for the better part of 40 years, while you were busy stiffing workers and having your corporations go bankrupt four times? And you alone can fix it? You seem to be forgetting about that whole checks and balances thing we have. You’re running for President, not King.
Contrast that with this:
“…Don’t believe anyone who says: ‘I alone can fix it.’ Those were actually Donald Trump’s words in Cleveland. And they should set off alarm bells for all of us. Isn’t he forgetting? Troops on the front lines. Police officers and fire fighters who run toward danger. Doctors and nurses who care for us. Teachers who change lives. Entrepreneurs who see possibilities in every problem. Mothers who lost children to violence and are building a movement to keep other kids safe. He’s forgetting every last one of us. Americans don’t say: ‘I alone can fix it.’ We say: ‘We’ll fix it together.’” – Hillary Clinton
Terror And Lawlessness Vs. Opportunity
“The first task for our new administration will be to liberate our citizens from the crime and terrorism and lawlessness that threatens their — our communities.” – Donald Trump
The statistics that Trump rattled off have been widely debunked. The country is NOT more dangerous now than it was eight years ago.
And what does Clinton have to say about her primary goal?
“My primary mission as President will be to create more opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States…from my first day in office to my last!”
Kick Them Out vs. Humanitarian Welcome
“…We must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place. We don’t want them in our country.” – Donald Trump
Any person from any country that has terrorists? He says, “We don’t want them.” What is that quote that’s coming to my mind right now? How does it go?
Oh right. Matthew 7:3.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
And what did Clinton have to say about immigration?
“I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants contributing to our economy, it would be self-defeating and inhumane to kick them out. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy and keep families together – and it’s the right thing to do.” – Hillary Clinton
What About Those Jobs?
“I am going to bring our jobs back our jobs to Ohio and Pennsylvania and New York and Michigan and all of America and I am not going to let companies move to other countries, firing their employees along the way, without consequences. Not going to happen anymore.” – Donald Trump
Will you apply that to your own companies, Donald?
After all,
“Please explain to me what part of America First leads him to make Trump ties in China, not Colorado. Trump suits in Mexico, not Michigan. Trump furniture in Turkey, not Ohio. Trump picture frames in India, not Wisconsin. Donald Trump says he wants to make America great again – well, he could start by actually making things in America again.” – Hillary Clinton
Two Very Different Visions For America
In the past two weeks, we have heard from the presidential nominees of our country’s two major political parties, along with their supporters. And I heard a very different vision coming from Philadelphia than I did from Cleveland.
In Cleveland, we heard about needing law, order, and the need to get tough on everyone.
In Philadelphia, we heard about the need for empathy, humanitarian responses, and inclusion.
I leave you with these words, from the next President of the United States, Hillary Clinton.
“You have to keep working to make things better, even when the odds are long and the opposition is fierce.
We lost my mother a few years ago. I miss her every day. And I still hear her voice urging me to keep working, keep fighting for right, no matter what.
That’s what we need to do together as a nation.
Though ‘we may not live to see the glory,’ as the song from the musical Hamilton goes, ‘let us gladly join the fight.’
Let our legacy be about ‘planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.’
That’s why we’re here…not just in this hall, but on this Earth.
The Founders showed us that.
And so have many others since.
They were drawn together by love of country, and the selfless passion to build something better for all who follow.
That is the story of America. And we begin a new chapter tonight.
Yes, the world is watching what we do.
Yes, America’s destiny is ours to choose.
So let’s be stronger together.”
Featured image is a screengrab from YouTube.
