There was no question that the last night of the Democratic National Convention
would have to finish out strong, considering all that came before
during the previous three days of festivities. And though the concept of
togetherness had been a steady drumbeat throughout the convention in
Philadelphia, Night 4 specifically focused on delivering the theme of
“Stronger Together.” With speakers addressing such topics as an equal
and supportive economy, support for fallen law enforcement, the ideal of
an inclusive America, and support for the military, the message was
clear — we can, and will, overcome. But only if we do so together.
And
while the focal point of the night was to be Hillary Clinton’s formal
acceptance of the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, the stars
helped to set the stage for her to make her grand speech. Here are the
best celebrity moments from the final night of the DNC:
Carole King leads the DNC crowd in a sing-along
“Hello,
Idaho!” said songbird Carole King as she took the stage, giving a
shout-out to the state where she she owns a ranch. In contrast to many
of the other performances we were treated to at the DNC, King stood dead
center, flanked only by a handful of backup singers, for her
performance of “You’ve Got a Friend.” The entire convention floor was on
its feet, some waving their hands in the air as King sang, until she
said, “Everybody! Everybody sing with me!” Dutifully, the crowd sang
along, and King smiled widely as the voices rose.
“Hillary’s
got so many friends, and Bernie too, and all of us together,” King
sang, subtly addressing the evening’s theme, or more directly, the
discord that has been boiling among Bernie Sanders supporters who remain
unimpressed with Clinton. Sing-alongs seem to have been a trend at this
year’s DNC, and this one was no less touching than the rest.
The beat goes on… thanks to Sheila E.
Introduced
as Sheila E. and the E Family, Sheila looked as if she was having the
time of her life, as she and her crew — which included her father, Pete
Escovedo, and brother Peter — played some Latin jazz for the crowd. The
percussionist, who is focused on helping Clinton win Latino votes,
added to the festive atmosphere, getting the audience clapping and
dancing along to the beat.
Tony Goldwyn gives us a history lesson
Officially kicking off the evening’s theme was none other than Scandal‘s
Tony Goldwyn, who’s proving to be somewhat of an MVP for the DNC, what
with his heartfelt tribute to the Mothers of the Movement from Night 2,
and outing himself as a feminist while pushing for reproductive rights
at a “Men for Choice” NARAL (National Abortion Reproductive Rights
Action League) event. But tonight, Goldwyn took us to Independence Hall
in a video screened for all in attendance.
“You
know, it’s hard to believe that this relatively small room is the
birthplace of this great nation,” Goldwyn said. “The year was 1776, it
was hot, and not just the weather. These patriots have already started
fighting the mightiest empire in the world. This is where they gathered
to finally break free, and here in America, we must be in control of our
own destiny that we each have the right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.”
Goldwyn
went on to tell how this same room was the birthplace of the
Constitution, which he called “a blueprint for the democratic government
that has made the United States the greatest country on Earth.” Even
so, it wasn’t without its flaws — which Goldwyn quickly pointed out,
noting that women and African-Americans weren’t allowed to vote. And
while lamenting that our forefathers couldn’t then conceive of a
President Obama or a potential president in Hillary Clinton, he
addressed an important point.
“The
framers knew that life in their time shouldn’t determine life for all
time,” he shared. “The future of our country would be up to us. And in
each generation, Americans from all walks of life have stood to protect
the union our framers created.”
Goldwyn
highlighted some powerful moments in history, invoking Rosa Parks and
Stonewall, and pointed out how they only made the country stronger. He
pressed us to understand that we do have the power to create change, but
only if we work together. And that what comes next for our nation lies
in our hands. No pressure!
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