Dr. Brian Clardy is a delegate from Calloway County at the DNC and a Murray State history professor. He speaks with Matt Markgraf about Clinton's speech and the message he will bring back to western Kentucky voters and how he might use his experience from the convention as a teaching tool in the classroom.
Clardy had a list of things he was looking for in Hillary Clinton's speech, from economic reforms and foreign affairs to adopting some of the more progressive plans championed by Bernie Sanders.
He said while she didn't get into any specifics, she gave the broad outlines, addressing the social element of "equal pay for equal work" and free college tuition. He felt it was a successful speech and helped set the tone for the fall. She was also able to paint a narrative about her opponent, he said, during which she said Trump's wordssaying his words “should set off alarm bells.” Clardy likened this to a convention speech 28 years ago, "I would say that her speech was very similar to George H.W. Bush’s convention speech in 1988, where Bush was able to paint a similar narrative about Michael Dukakis. And it was very successful, probably even more so.”
(In his speech, Bush gave what political commentators called the ‘speech of his life’during which he said his opponent’s “view of the world sees a long slow decline for our country.”)
Reflection on Convention
Clardy said it was a good opportunity to spend time with the Kentucky delegation and getting to know party leaders in the commonwealth. He said he got along well with both Clinton and Sanders supporters. Also, he said it was an opportunity of a lifetime and a dream come true: "To actually be there and feel the electricity and see the artists and the politicians and looking at the visuals and hearing the speeches, and then coming back to my room and turning on the TV or going to a reception and the TV is on and you hear commentators talking about things you just heard... is an experience that anyone who has an interest in politics should have at least once in their lifetime."
Speaking with Voters
If asked to give a political stump speech, Clardy said he would stress his personal view that Donald Trump isn't qualified to be Commander-in-Chief and that his knowledge in foreign policy is minimal. Clardy says he hasn't seen one concrete policy proposal from Trump's campaign and questions the changing nature of American society and whether or not some of Trump's ideas fit what he calls '21st century realities' including generalizations about Hispanic and Muslim Americans. "Do we want someone who will use the differences that we have as people to divide people and to scare people or do we want someone who bring people together as Americans?"
Teaching the Convention
As a history professor, Clardy said he would present an objective approach to teaching students about the presidential race by studying Trump’s positions so students can think about issues from both perspectives. He would also draw on historical clips from past conventions to teach the practical functions of the two major political parties.
Overall, he said it was a life changing experience and that parties aside, "We're all Americans at the end of the day and never, ever, ever give up on your dreams because they do come true eventually."
Note: Brian Clardy is the Wednesday night host of Café Jazz on WKMS. Hear more conversations with Clardy throughout the week. Last week, we spoke with a delegate at the Republican National Convention. Hear our series of interviews here.
