Clinton, now slower and more wizened, sinks his fangs into Trump
"The next time you listen to him, focus on the 'I's' rather than tallying the lies,” he stated.
TroibNews 
CHICAGO — Twelve years ago, Bill Clinton stood at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, playing the role of top economics spokesman for Barack Obama. On Wednesday, an age-worn Clinton, his once robust voice now softer, fiercely addressed another topic that fires him up: his critique of Donald Trump, whom he labeled a self-absorbed narcissist.
“Let’s cut to the chase: The stakes are too high and I’m too old to gild the lily,” Clinton asserted during his twelfth convention speech, which he laced with allusions to his age. “I actually turned 78 two days ago. And I’m still not quite as old as Donald Trump.”
Famously likening himself more to a thoroughbred than a canine, Clinton humorously noted that his party has traditionally let him sprint for them every couple of years. Despite appearing slowed down on Wednesday, he eagerly delivered jabs at Trump, calling him “a paragon of consistency.”
Trump, Clinton pointed out, remains polarizing, consistently assigns blame, and diminishes others.
“He creates chaos, and then he sort of curates it,” he remarked, “as if it were precious art.”
Clinton framed Trump’s ego-driven approach in stark contrast to what he portrayed as Kamala Harris's community-focused vision.
“The next time you hear him, don’t count the lies. Count the ‘I’s,’” he advised, predicting, “When Kamala Harris is president, every day will begin with ’you, you, you, you.”
Clinton’s discourse was met with considerate attention by the audience in the United Center, even as his influence and stature in the party has waned. He continued his offensive against Trump while emphasizing Harris's attributes. He reminisced about her humble beginnings, working at McDonald’s.
“She greeted every person with a 1,000-watt smile and said, ‘How can I help you?’”
As Harris climbed the ranks, he noted, her ethos hasn't changed. Clinton highlighted her record as a prosecutor and her proposals to reduce housing and healthcare costs, boost small business funding, and fortify global alliances.
He touched briefly on the role's demands, yet frequently circled back to Trump.
“I almost croaked in the first debate of this election season when President Trump said, ‘Nobody respected America anymore like they did when he was president.’ Wait wait, and with a straight face. Look, you got to give it to him: He's a good actor. With a straight face, he cited as evidence the respect that existed for us when he was there, the presidents of North Korea and Russia.”
He then posed the question: what to make of Trump’s continual homage to the “late great Hannibal Lecter?”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
“Let’s cut to the chase: The stakes are too high and I’m too old to gild the lily,” Clinton asserted during his twelfth convention speech, which he laced with allusions to his age. “I actually turned 78 two days ago. And I’m still not quite as old as Donald Trump.”
Famously likening himself more to a thoroughbred than a canine, Clinton humorously noted that his party has traditionally let him sprint for them every couple of years. Despite appearing slowed down on Wednesday, he eagerly delivered jabs at Trump, calling him “a paragon of consistency.”
Trump, Clinton pointed out, remains polarizing, consistently assigns blame, and diminishes others.
“He creates chaos, and then he sort of curates it,” he remarked, “as if it were precious art.”
Clinton framed Trump’s ego-driven approach in stark contrast to what he portrayed as Kamala Harris's community-focused vision.
“The next time you hear him, don’t count the lies. Count the ‘I’s,’” he advised, predicting, “When Kamala Harris is president, every day will begin with ’you, you, you, you.”
Clinton’s discourse was met with considerate attention by the audience in the United Center, even as his influence and stature in the party has waned. He continued his offensive against Trump while emphasizing Harris's attributes. He reminisced about her humble beginnings, working at McDonald’s.
“She greeted every person with a 1,000-watt smile and said, ‘How can I help you?’”
As Harris climbed the ranks, he noted, her ethos hasn't changed. Clinton highlighted her record as a prosecutor and her proposals to reduce housing and healthcare costs, boost small business funding, and fortify global alliances.
He touched briefly on the role's demands, yet frequently circled back to Trump.
“I almost croaked in the first debate of this election season when President Trump said, ‘Nobody respected America anymore like they did when he was president.’ Wait wait, and with a straight face. Look, you got to give it to him: He's a good actor. With a straight face, he cited as evidence the respect that existed for us when he was there, the presidents of North Korea and Russia.”
He then posed the question: what to make of Trump’s continual homage to the “late great Hannibal Lecter?”
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
