Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, accepted the nomination for vice president on the 21st (local time).
“It is the greatest honor of my life to accept the nomination as vice president of the United States,” said Governor Walz on stage on the third day of the party’s national convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
As Governor Walz appeared, the audience cheered loudly and waved signs that read “COACH WALZ.” Before becoming a politician, Governor Walz was a school geography teacher who also coached American football.
Governor Walz thanked Vice President Harris for nominating him as vice president and also thanked President Joe Biden for “four years of strong and historic leadership.”
He set the tone for the day with Vice President Harris’s keynote speech: “When we fight? We win!”
He also enthused the audience by shouting, “We will not go back.” This sentence is also a representative statement of Vice President Harris, who defines the November presidential election as a “choice between the past and the future.” The “past” refers to former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate.
Governor Walz focused his speech on his personal life rather than his political career that day, highlighting his background as a loving father, former public school teacher, and high school football coach, suggesting he was a so-called “ordinary person.”
He called out his wife Gwen, his eldest daughter Hope, and his son Gus, saying, “They are my everything and I love them.” In particular, Governor Walz talked about how he had Hope through IVF after undergoing long-term infertility treatment. The family members were moved to tears by Governor Walz’s remarks.
Gov. Walz also took aim at Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), saying, “I had 24 kids in my class when I was a teacher, and none of them went to Yale.” Vance is a graduate of Yale Law School.
He proudly introduced himself as having served in the military for 24 years, and said that when his father, a Korean War veteran, passed away from lung cancer, he was left with a mountain of medical debt, but was able to overcome it and attend college thanks to the related social security system.
“It was the (football) players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress,” Gov. Walz said. “They gave me the belief that one person can make a real difference for their neighbors.”
Governor Walz, known for his prowess with firearms, also spoke about his personal knowledge and experience with firearms that day. He said, “I’m a better shooter than most Republicans in Congress, and I have the trophies to prove it.”
However, Governor Walz emphasized the need for gun control, saying, “I am a father too,” and “Our first responsibility is to keep our children safe.”
He drew attention by ending his speech that day in the format of an American football commentary.
“It’s the fourth quarter of football,” Gov. Walz said. “We’re on offense, we have the ball, we’re running down the field.”
“Harris is tough, experienced and prepared,” he continued. “Our job is to block and tackle, one inch at a time, one yard at a time, one call at a time, one knock at a time, one five-dollar donation at a time.”
(Seoul = News 1)
2024-08-22 10:39:38