Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination Thursday night in Philadelphia, becoming the first woman to head a major party’s ticket.
Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention was a traditional closing argument presenting a mix of hopeful policy goals and criticism of the opposition, standing in contrast to the overwhelmingly negative acceptance delivered by Republican nominee Donald Trump a week earlier.
Chelsea Clinton introduced her mother to the Democratic delegation:
VIDEO: Hillary Clinton takes the stage to accept the Democratic nomination https://t.co/4RfEj9bX5z #DemsinPhillyhttps://t.co/ggXlVINW6b
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) July 29, 2016
Can't see Hillary in that white suit & not think of suffragists who dressed entirely in white. #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/Ohc83IDpyy
— Shelby Knox (@ShelbyKnox) July 29, 2016
Early in her speech, Clinton thanked her primary opponent Bernie Sanders, saying that his “campaign inspired millions of Americans, particularly the young people who threw their hearts and souls into our primary.” Cameras caught Sanders’ underwhelming reaction, which quickly attracted the attention of the internet:
Hillary Clinton: "Bernie, your campaign inspired millions of Americans…Your cause is our cause." pic.twitter.com/p8xAFZTVSX
— POLITICO (@politico) July 29, 2016
idk there’s a lotta buzz around bernie pic.twitter.com/3VwRmwadEK
— Jack Mirkinson (@jackmirkinson) July 29, 2016
Bernie ordered that soup 30 minutes ago and it still hasn't arrived.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) July 29, 2016
Turning to Republican nominee Donald Trump, Clinton invoked President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous quote: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
FDR rewritten: "The only thing we have to fear is Trump itself."
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) July 25, 2016
“I will be a President for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents,” Clinton declared. “For the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don’t. For all Americans.”
Democrats are starting to make this election not Clinton vs. Trump but America vs. Trump
— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) July 29, 2016
In contrast to Trump’s RNC acceptance speech, which was notably light on policy, Clinton spent the middle portion of her speech delving into the details of the plans she hopes to implement as president regarding student debt, foreign policy, and gun control.
Clinton: No wonder [Trump] doesn't like talking about his plans. You might have noticed I like talking about mine." pic.twitter.com/f4aYpS5ReC
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) July 29, 2016
Ugh. All these SPECIFICS on how she'll fix problems. Can't she just say, "Buh-leeve me" and "It'll be great." #DemsinPhilly
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) July 29, 2016
There's actual policy in Clinton speech. Not Trump's.
Q is do people care. Or believe.
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 29, 2016
Clinton makes appeal to #BernieSanders supporters with nods to debt-free college tuition #DNCinPHL pic.twitter.com/vrdjcondsZ
— Hoàng Văn Minh (@mrr__robott) July 29, 2016
Hillary campaigns in prose, while promising to govern in prose.
— Franklin Foer (@FranklinFoer) July 29, 2016
Turning back to Trump, Clinton questioned whether the Republican nominee’s temperament was suited to the presidency. “Imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis,” she said. “A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”
Trump may be channeling Nixon and "Law & Order" but Clinton has a bit of LBJ questioning Goldwater's finger on the button #DemsInPhilly
— Steven Rattner (@SteveRattner) July 29, 2016
Trump, however, couldn’t help himself, firing off a string of tweets immediately after Clinton’s speech.
Hillary's refusal to mention Radical Islam, as she pushes a 550% increase in refugees, is more proof that she is unfit to lead the country.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
Our way of life is under threat by Radical Islam and Hillary Clinton cannot even bring herself to say the words.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
Hillary will never reform Wall Street. She is owned by Wall Street!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
Hillary's vision is a borderless world where working people have no power, no jobs, no safety.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
Hillary's wars in the Middle East have unleashed destruction, terrorism and ISIS across the world.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016
More notable than anything Clinton said in her speech, however, was the historical weight of the moment:
No matter your political leanings, this is a moment. pic.twitter.com/A000bxxm9y
— Amanda Wills (@AmandaWills) July 29, 2016