Sanders Lauds Clinton During DNC Address
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PHILADELPHIA (CBSMiami/NSF) - After last week's raucous and divisive Republican National Convention, Democrats opened their convention Monday looking to present a striking contrast in unity as they prepare to nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president.
There's always Day 2.
Between suspected Russian hackers and renegade delegates committed to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia often looked at least as rowdy as last week's proceedings in Cleveland.
The soon-to-be nominee's name drew boos on the convention floor. The outgoing Democratic Party chairwoman was jeered in front of her home-state delegation, leading to a late decision to strike her from the main program to avoid a repeat in front of a larger audience. At least one delegate had taken a "Stronger Together" sign, scratched out the last word and wrote in its place: "with Bernie."
All of that was bracketed by complaints about logistics that undermined Democrats' attempt to be the steady convention.
Not that they didn't try. Sanders himself touted Clinton twice in the space of a day --- once during a boisterous event with his delegates and again before the full convention. In his late-night speech at the Wells Fargo Center, Sanders gave perhaps his most full-throated endorsement of Clinton so far.
He noted how this year's Democratic platform was, in his view, the most progressive the party has ever produced.
"Our job now is to see that strong Democratic platform implemented by a Democratically-controlled Senate, by a Democratic House and a Hillary Clinton presidency. ... Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president, and I am proud to stand with her tonight," Sanders said.
Even before he took the stage, Sanders was pushing his supporters to line up behind Clinton. In an email to delegates after some of the booing early in the day, Sanders scolded those who had taken part.
"The political revolution is not about one election or one candidate. ... Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays. That's what the corporate media wants. That's what Donald Trump wants," he wrote.
But even Sanders drew boos on some of the occasions when he praised Clinton.
Sanders had also told a group of supporters earlier in the day that supporting Clinton was important in her November election against the Republican nominee Trump.
"We have got to elect Hillary Clinton and (vice presidential candidate) Tim Kaine," he said as some delegates cheered and many booed. "This is the real world that we live in."
The party also rolled out other popular or Sanders-friendly public figures to try to patch over differences between Clinton and the opponent she defeated in the primaries after a grueling, months-long battle.
Paul Simon played "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Sarah Silverman, a comedian who backed Sanders in the primary, put the message most succinctly and most bluntly.
"To the 'Bernie or Bust' people: You're being ridiculous," she said.
First Lady Michelle Obama, who is wildly popular among the Democratic base, also implicitly drew a comparison between diehard Sanders delegates and Clinton, who responded to a primary loss to President Barack Obama in 2008 by joining his Cabinet.
"Hillary did not pack up and go home, because as a true public servant, Hillary knows that this is so much bigger than her own desires and disappointments," Michelle Obama said.
The day started out on a discordant note; outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, someone viewed with disdain by Sanders supporters, was jeered at a breakfast for delegates from Florida, where she serves as a congresswoman.
"It is so wonderful to be able to be here with my home state," Wasserman Schultz said, as a cascade of boos and heckling began. "All right, everybody. Now, settle down."
The appearance came less than 24 hours after Wasserman Schultz announced she would step down as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee at the conclusion of this week's convention.
Wasserman Schultz was tripped up after leaked internal party emails raised questions about her impartiality in the presidential primary between Clinton and Sanders. The emails are believed to have been obtained by Russian hackers.
Some Sanders supporters Monday shouted "Shame on you!" at Wasserman Schultz, while her supporters chanted her first name. The congresswoman tried to put a brave face on the intense interest surrounding her decision to resign as party chair, reportedly under pressure.
Despite his overtures to Clinton, though, Sanders showed no signs of sadness Monday about Wasserman Schultz's departure. At a rally for his delegates, the crowd roared when Sanders brought up Wasserman Schultz's departure.
"Her resignation opens up the possibility of new leadership at the top of the Democratic Party that will stand with working people and that will open the doors of the party to those people who want real change," Sanders said.
The News Service of Florida's Brandon Larrabee contributed to this report.
