CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Even before the Democratic National Convention formally nominated Joe Biden for President, Illinois Democrats were doing their best to virtually rally their political forces to victory, by stirring up enthusiasm in their delegation.
Female leaders held the spotlight in the Illinois delegation for an online session Tuesday evening.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth sounded one of the constant themes this season: that President Trump and his Republican supporters are a danger to true democracy.
"They have stacked our judiciary. They have also continued to attack the LGBTQ and transgender communities. They have come after the ADA that protects so many disabled Americans. But we are pushing back," she said.
And Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told the conference call that Donald Trump is not prepared for this fight.
“I always knew that Joe was empathetic and resilient and was somebody who’s going to fight for working families, because he gets us, but you know, I really got to appreciate that,” Duckworth said. “He was a single dad during a difficult time. He understood what it meant to work an entire long day, and then have to commute for hours to get home so he could be there to tuck his kids into bed.”
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Biden and Harris “will restore compassion and common sense to a White House in shambles.”
“They’ll bring stability, experience, leadership, and a strong work ethic, to the job. Doesn’t that sound great?” she said.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky told convention delegates that women will be the key to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning in November.
"Women are going to lead the way," she said. "You know, in 2016, we actually lost the vote of white women. I really don't see that happening anymore."
Schakowsky added: "It is hard to consider Donald Trump the President of the United States. He really is a woman-hater. Women in general to Donald Trump are nasty, don’t deserve equal pay for equal work, don’t deserve to control our own bodies...But here in Illinois, it’s like breathing such incredible fresh air,” Schakowsky said, referring to the state legislature passing the Equal Rights Amendment in 2018, and a law that protects abortion rights in Illinois even if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturns the Roe v. Wade decision.
Jennifer Welch, the President of Planned Parenthood Illinois, warned however that the stakes in 2020 are very high and Democratic wins are needed at all levels of government.
"If we do not elect more progressive champions into office, the damage done in just four years can take decades just to undo," she said.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others said the future also depends on electing more Democrats up and down the ticket.
Later Tuesday night, former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun cast Illinois’ votes for president Tuesday night during the not-so-traditional Democratic National Convention's Roll Call of the States.
“Discrimination has denied too many black Americans the chance to own a home and build wealth,” Moseley Braun said moments before casting the Illinois delegation’s votes.
“Joe Biden has a plan to end racist lending practices and help more people of color achieve the American dream of owning a home. This isn’t just about racial justice. It’s about strong communities, and more economic security for working families.”
Moseley Braun cast 122 votes for Biden, and 59 for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. California Senator Kamala Harris, the second black woman to become a U.S. senator, is Biden’s pick for vice president.
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