Hoopla-less conventions probably won’t change many minds

By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb

The national political party conventions are mostly virtual this year, minus all the hoopla and excitement of a traditional convention. This raises a variety of questions.

The Democratic convention concluded on Thursday. Did Utahns and other Americans pay attention to the mostly recorded speeches, and will the convention give Joe Biden a boost? Is the virtual convention a permanent feature for national and state politics?

Pignanelli: “The Democrat keynote addresses … touched all the erogenous zones of the body politic.” – Mark Shields, PBS

Political conventions are like snow cones in the summer: sweet to some, too sugary and unappealing to others, melting fast then soon forgotten. This season, the audience is much lower than four years ago, which is significant because viewership has been dropping for decades.

Some programming, such as the showcasing of rising stars, was mediocre. Strong performances included Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, and famous Republicans crossing lines (i.e. John Kasich, Colin Powell). The introduction to Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris was compelling. Few details regarding programs of a potential Biden Administration were provided. The substance and emotion were focused on critiquing and ousting the incumbent.

Politicos doubted a convention activity could appeal without thousands of delegates cheering and demonstrating momentum. But the country has grown accustomed to web-based pre-prepared presentations. Instead of speaking to a packed gallery using teleprompters and delivering applause lines, many presenters delivered a more personal connection to viewers. Further, the event obliterated future needs for real-time roll calls and live keynote speakers.

Virtual conventions can efficiently project a party’s candidates and messaging. Plus, they are less messy than a traditional snow cone.

Webb: It’s still amazing to me how we ended up with two old duffers as presidential candidates instead of giving a new generation a chance. (I’m old, but people older than me are also duffers.) I slogged through much of the Democratic convention and mostly learned that the Democrats are trying their best to get me to vote for Donald Trump even though I greatly dislike much about him.

The convention was glitzy with a lot of inspirational talk, but policywise it was the same old liberal dogma of identity politics, bigger government programs, higher taxes and more regulation. The only speakers who focused on policy were leftists like Bernie Sanders who promoted ultra-liberal wish lists and promised Biden would deliver government-mandated utopia.

The Democrats expect to win simply by being anti-Trump, not by selling a sensible policy agenda. With their emphasis on victimhood, “structural racism” and supporting protests that turned into violent riots, I doubt they convinced many middle America voters to support Biden.

What are the themes that emerged from the convention, and what will be the impact on Utah political races this November?

Pignanelli: Utahns understand Biden is a decent family person, possessing deep caring for the common people. These themes were consistently highlighted during the convention. Attention to Biden’s exemplary character is needed to help deflect expected attacks on the progressive elements of his platform.

Niceness is rarely a quality needed for presidential aspirations, but this year such a characteristic could be important for some Utahns.

Webb: All the Democratic presidential candidates, including Biden, tilted far left during the primary to try to win the liberal Democratic base. I heard nothing policywise in the convention to bring the party back to the middle. While there was lip service to love of country, there were also nods to the radical groups that want to fundamentally uproot traditional American culture.

Even though Biden is an honorable person, his party is more far left than I’ve seen in my lifetime. The Democratic makeover of America will mean abortion up to the moment of birth (with federal funding), onerous climate change measures, attacks on religious freedom, weak foreign policy, higher taxes, bigger government with ever-ballooning debt, and a liberal judiciary that ignores constitutional originalism.

So what’s more dangerous — Trump’s egomania, or a leftist conquest of the country?

The Republican convention opens this week. As with the Democrats, will the GOP scare or bore the audience?

Pignanelli: No convention is complete without demonizing opponents through frightening the audience with threats of a dystopian future if the other side prevails. Threats of unconstitutional tyranny and societal disintegration were repeated all last week. Rioting in the streets, unchecked violence and big brother government are likely scenarios to be described by the GOP messaging if they are not returned to power. But a more productive, although boring, necessity is a listing of achievements that are often lost in the din of the media and tweets from you know who. That will be the true challenge for Republicans.

Webb: I don’t think either convention will change many minds. Trump needs to lay out a positive agenda for a second term and then be far more disciplined in his messaging instead of going off on weird tangents several times a day.

I don’t like the highly-flawed Trump, but I can’t abide the thought of turning the entire federal government over to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.