Party unity scarce at Democratic National Convention

PHILADELPHIA — The flags of all the 50 states and territories line Broad Street, fluttering in the afternoon breeze as a welcome to the delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Broad Street stretches from the famous Philadelphia City Hall downtown all the way to the distant Wells Fargo Center, where the convention events are held.

But the long ride down Broad is just a short hike compared to the rift that still exists between supporters of Bernie Sanders and presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton. On Monday, the mere mention of Clinton’s name — even during the opening prayer! — evoked boos from the crowd.

This is distinctly unlike the Republican convention. In Cleveland, Ted Cruz was booed off the stage because he refused to support the nominee. Here, Clinton is booed because she is the nominee.

If Monday was meant to be a day of unity, it was a failure. As a heavy rain fell outside the Wells Fargo Center, a storm was raging inside, unquelled by the comedy of Al Franken and Sarah Silverman, the voice of Paul Simon, or the words of Michelle Obama.

Even Bernie Sanders himself could not contain the disappointment and anger of his supporters. At an afternoon meeting of Sanders delegates, the senator was booed when he told his followers they should support Clinton, according to one person who was there. And when he took the stage on Monday night, the world was treated to the amazing spectacle of Bernie Sanders being booed by Bernie Sanders supporters as he tried to make the case for Clinton.

And what is that case? She’s better on Supreme Court judges, she’s agreed to a liberal political platform, and the formation of a Unity and Reform Commission aimed at reducing the power and influence of super-delegates in the party.

There isn’t even a lousy T-shirt.

As Sanders tried gamely to persuade his implacable band of revolutionaries, he succeeded only in highlighting the fact that his campaign was about confronting the system in a way Clinton simply has not. If Sanders really believed Clinton was adequate to the task of leading the kind of revolution he campaigned on, he’d never have chosen to run in the first place.

Yes, you can argue that Clinton has moved somewhat to the left to appeal to Sanders’ supporters. But in the end, those concessions are small and the platform no more binding than the obligation of a political party to remain neutral in a race, which the Democratic National Committee clearly did not, according to a trove of strategically leaked emails.

Oh, there is that: Sanders finally got his wish that DNC Chairwoman and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., step down from her post, an exit that spared the party the ugly spectacle of Wasserman Schultz being booed in the opening moments of a convention.

Unity on Monday was as fleeting as the breeze blowing down Broad Street, fluttering those state flags in its wake.

Steve Sebelius is a Review-Journal political columnist. Follow him on Twitter @SteveSebelius or reach him at 702-387-5276 or SSebelius@reviewjournal.com.