Capitol View for August 22

Tim Walz framed the presidential election last night as about freedom – said his party has a better embrace of it. The speech Minnesota's governor gave at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was his introduction to much of the country. Accepting the party’s nomination , Walz slipped between describing a policy agenda in the broadest terms and delivering a halftime speech for a party newly energized but still nervous. “Our job for everyone watching, is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling, one inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one door knock at a time, one $5 donation at a time.” On the topic of freedom – a signature word at the convention – Walz said this: “When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor's office, corporations free to pollute your air and water and banks free to take advantage of customers. But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love, freedom to make your own health care decisions.”

Conventions are always about framing, but it’s how the voters hear and digest the message that matters. Trump’s campaign responded to the Walz speech, in part by saying: “Walz didn't offer a single plan to fix Kamala's inflation crisis, end Kamala's border crisis, or settle the wars popping up all across the world.” There are 75 days to go.

Minnesota’s delegation to the convention went wild – as wild as people from the state get. They danced to the Prince music performed by John Legend and Sheila E. before Walz took the stage. And they stayed well past the Walz speech, hoping he’d make a curtain call. They mugged for the cameras and did interviews with the press who stuck around past deadline. Back in Mankato, there was a Walz watch party. Hannah Yang was there. She reports that the speech was projected on an auditorium screen at the high school where Walz once taught. The room erupted into cheers like a pep rally as he recognized Mankato West students and staff as being the source of inspiration to start his political career. Larissa Beck, 38, of Maplewood and a 2004 alumna, said it was “surreal.” Yet, Beck said everything leading to this moment made sense in a way, describing Tim and Gwen Walz as being an “integral fabric” at Mankato West High School and taking an interest in their students. A cadre of students made the trek to Chicago and lined up on stage in football jerseys right before Walz came out for his remarks.

There was also an event in Alliance, Nebraska – a town where Walz broke in as a teacher in his earlier years. Speaking of Nebraska, The New York Times has this super rich look at the towns, the antics and the formative years of Tim Walz. It’s by one of Brian’s favorite writers, Matt Flegenheimer, who didn’t disappoint. It starts with a gun anecdote and ends with a choice kicker that I won’t spoil.

Fifty Republican veterans sent a letter to Walz condemning his military service. In the letter to Walz released Wednesday through the Trump campaign, Republicans in Congress with military backgrounds demanded that Walz “come clean” to the public about his service record. “To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat,” they wrote. “Military service is not merely a job or a uniform.” At a veterans caucus meeting at the DNC on Tuesday, retired Navy captain and astronaut Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly defended Walz in remarks to reporters. “When you serve over 20 years in the military, you’ve earned over a career the opportunity to retire,” Kelly said. “He’s a patriot, a veteran and Donald Trump worked really hard to avoid being drafted into Vietnam.” In his speech Wednesday, Walz said he “proudly wore our nation’s uniform” and credited the GI Bill for allowing him to attend college.

The Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating if saboteurs placed maggots in the hotel breakfast being served at the hotel where the Minnesota delegation stayed. USA Today reported that the incident took place at the downtown Fairmont hotel being shared by delegations from Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and South Dakota are also staying. A Minnesota DFL spokesperson told MPR News that there were no known incidents involving members of the delegation or guests at its daily breakfasts.

At a rally outside the DNC yesterday, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar responded to Democrats who suggest securing a ceasefire requires tireless work. Omar spoke at a news conference for the Uncommitted National Movement and urged Harris to secure support from critical pro-Palestinian voters. In a supposed jab at U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said in a speech this week that Harris was working “tirelessly” for a ceasefire, Omar said it’s been unconscionable “to witness my colleagues in this administration refusing to recognize the genocidal war that is taking place in Gaza.. working tirelessly for a ceasefire is really not a thing, and they should be ashamed of themselves.” Minneapolis City Council Member and uncommitted delegate Jeremiah Ellison also spoke at the news conference. Minnesota had 10 delegates vote present rather than for Harris in the convention roll call, the most of any state.

Council member Ellison’s father, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, spoke last night at the convention. He addressed the warfare in Gaza and how it is causing tension within the Democratic Party. Ellison said he believes Harris and Walz could solve the problem. “When they say we need a ceasefire and an end to the loss of innocent lives in Gaza and to bring hostages home, they're listening friends. They agree with us.” Ellison reflected on the murder of George Floyd and the police prosecutions that followed, noting that Walz named him the special prosecutor who won convictions against officers who killed Floyd in 2020. “They understand the legacy of George Floyd, no one is above the law and no one is beneath it. No one is outside the circle of our compassion,” Ellison said in his remarks. “In the Republican Party, everyone thinks they're above the law. Hell, nearly a dozen of their own lawyers are facing serious charges. Even their lawyers need lawyers.”