Former President Bill Clinton delivered a full-throated endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention in a speech that poked fun at both himself and former President Donald Trump .
Clinton's comments on Wednesday marked his 12th consecutive address before Democrats' nominating convention. In 1996, the last time the convention was held in Chicago, the former president accepted the nomination for reelection.
The former president opened his remarks by celebrating President Joe Biden's term in office before turning his sights directly to Trump with a jab at his age.
"Let’s cut to the chase: I am too old to gild the lily. Two days ago, I turned 78, the oldest man in my family for generations, and the only point of vanity I want to assert is I'm still younger than Donald Trump," he stated, earning raucous cheers from the crowd.
"In 2024, we've got a pretty clear choice, it seems to me: Kamala Harris, for the people, and the other guy, who's proved even more than the first time around that he's about 'me, myself, and I.' I know which one I like better for our country," Clinton continued. "Kamala Harris will work to solve our problems, seize our opportunities, ease our fears, and make sure that every single American, however they vote, has a chance to chase their dreams."
Clinton managed to bring up Harris's first job, working in fast food, capping the reference with a self-deprecating, groan-inducing zinger.
"I'll be so happy when she actually enters the White House as president because she will break my record as the president who spent the most time at McDonald's," he stated.
The former president claimed that Harris "is the only candidate in this race who has the vision, the experience, the temperament, the will, and, yes, the sheer joy, to get stuff done" before again castigating Trump.
"Now, how does Donald Trump use his voice? Mostly to talk about himself. So, the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies — count the I’s," Clinton added. "He’s like one of those tenors warming up his voice before going on stage like I did by saying: me, me, me, me. When Kamala Harris is president, every day will begin with you, you, you, you."
"So we got to ask ourselves the questions when going to hire a president, do you want to build a strong economy from the bottom up and the middle out, or do you want to spend the next four years talking about crowd size?" he said.
"I urge you to talk to all your neighbors. I urge you to meet people where they are. I urge you not to demean them, but not to pretend you don't disagree with them, if you do — treat them with respect. Just the way you like them to treat you," Clinton charged the crowd. "If you vote for this team, if you can get them elected and let them bring in this breath of fresh air, you'll be proud of it for the rest of your life. Your children will be proud of it. Your grandchildren will be proud of it."
"Take it from a man who once had the honor to be called at this convention, a man from hope. We need it. We need Kamala Harris, the president of joy, to lead us," he closed.
Bill wasn't the only Clinton to speak in Chicago this week. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, delivered her own remarks on Monday, the opening night of the convention.
Michigan delegate Nicole Wells Stallworth, 47, told the Washington Examiner that Secretary Clinton's speech brought her to tears. Clinton also delivered a memorable moment by smirking while the crowd inside the United Center chanted "Lock him up!" after the former first lady brought up Trump's dozens of felony indictments.
DNC officials said that President Clinton's remarks were meant to highlight the theme of night three, "A Fight for Our Freedoms," but the committee's decision to have Clinton speak on Wednesday had stirred some controversy earlier this week.
CNN’s S.E. Cupp made headlines on Monday for criticizing the Democratic National Committee and the convention’s organizing committee for incorporating Bill Clinton into their speaker list, claiming that his past controversies could dampen the momentum Harris has generated since being promoted on the party’s ticket last month.
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“For a Democratic Party looking to the future, this man has not been president for more than two decades, and when he was he did things that Democrats would now revile,” Cupp said this week, specifically highlighting his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and sexual misconduct allegations dating back to his days as governor of Arkansas .
"But it’s worse than that. It’s worse. Bill Clinton’s problematic," she added. “Listen, Democrats: You can quit Bill Clinton. That’s allowed. You’re allowed to quit him. Isn’t it time to leave him behind?”
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