Danny Glover, Andy Berke push Tennessee Democrats to win local races
PHILADELPHIA — Republicans’ political dominance in Tennessee is partially to blame for the rise of Donald Trump, Chattanooga mayor and former state lawmaker Andy Berke told the state’s delegation Thursday morning.
To make his point, Berke read aloud a series of controversial quotes from Republicans, including Trump, former state lawmaker Stacey Campfield, Sen. Todd Gardenhire and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
“Some of your Republican friends, the ones who claim to be reasonable – they’re going to talk about Donald Trump as an aberration. Something out of the blue. They want you to think he’s on the edge of the cliff, saying these things just by himself."
Berke said there are a lot of people, including elected officials in Tennessee, who “built the path to Donald Trump standing on that cliff every single day.”
Berke reminded his fellow Democrats that a decade ago their party had control of the governor’s office and majorities in the state House and Senate.
He questioned what type of accomplishments the Republicans have had since taking over in Tennessee.
“In my mind what they brought us is the path that leads to that cliff of Donald Trump,” he said, citing the legislature’s decision to allow guns in bars, a “war on teachers,” and the refusal to expand Medicaid for 280,000 Tennesseans.
Berke said the path for Democrats is clear. “We can’t just think about Trump. We need to take care of the people who built that path that led us to Cleveland last week,” he said. “State rep, state senate, Congress – these are the races that determine our political environment.”
Ending his nearly 10-minute speech, Berke said it is time for Democrats to get active and elect members of their party in the November general election.
In addition to Berke, the state’s delegation also heard from actor Danny Glover.
In a six-minute speech, Glover – who said he recently toured the Volkswagen plan in Chattanooga – said he applauded everyone in the room for the work they’ve done during this election cycle.
But Glover said the room of Democrats needed to not only work to defeat Trump in November bunt continue it beyond the general election – a point which President Barack Obama reiterated during his speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday.
“When we talk about electing Hillary Clinton as the president we must also maintain a very constant and healthy push towards the real changes that have to happen,” said Glover in a sometimes head-scratching speech.
While Glover said the country had a lot to be proud of, he challenged the audience to come together to “find the unity necessary to take this country, this extraordinary country, and it’s people – because that’s who they are are, it is it’s people – to the next level that they have do and be in order to make this country into the country it has the capacity to be.”
More from the DNC in Philadelphia
- Sanders to Tennessee delegates: Trump 'most dangerous candidate' in modern history
- Memphis lawmaker hopes to rally young Democrats for Hillary Clinton
- Tennessee Democrats praise Obama's unifying message
- Mayor Barry says Clinton nomination sends 'powerful message'
- Jim Cooper: Clinton can defeat Trump in Tennessee
- Rep. Ellison blasts Trump for KKK's support, praises Tennesseans
- Leaked DNC emails prompt apology to Tennessee Democratic delegate
- Humanizing speech by Bill Clinton a hit for Tennessee Democrats
- Hillary Clinton's nomination a source of pride for Tennessee Democrats
- Tennessee Clinton delegate booted from convention after skirmish with Sanders supporter
- Tennessee delegate, 20-year-old cancer survivor says Sanders inspires him to fight
Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter at @JoelEbert29.