- The Washington Times - Wednesday, August 21, 2024

CHICAGO – Television host Oprah Winfrey got the crowd going at the Democratic National Convention here Wednesday night as she urged them in a rousing speech to vote for values, character and “common sense” and to reject the “nonsense” of former President Donald Trump when they hit the polls in November.

Ms. Winfrey, a surprise guest, made the first address to a political convention in her four-decade career as one of America’s top public figures, starting her speech with her endorsement.

“What we’re going to do is elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States,” she said.

She said freedom is what matters most to Americans, and despite people trying to undermine those freedoms, “when we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us.”

One of the freedoms she emphasized most was abortion, as have many speakers on the platform these past three nights.

“When you do not have autonomy over this, or you cannot control when and how you choose to bring your children into this world, and how they are raised and supported, there is no American dream,” she said.

Ms. Winfrey took a swipe at GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, saying Americans need to help their neighbors no matter who they are if their houses are on fire.

“And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady — well, we try and get that cat out too,” she joked.

She hit Mr. Trump over “tweets and lies” without naming him explicitly.

“These are complicated times, people, and they require adult conversation,” she said.

“This election is about you and me and what we want our futures to look like,” she said. “There are choices to be made when we cast our ballots.”

She said she is a registered independent and made a closing plea to independent and undecided voters, saying values are what’s needed most and urging voters to make sure decency, respect and common sense are on the ballot — all implicit swipes at Mr. Trump.

“We’re not going back,” she said. “Let us choose truth, let us choose honor and let us choose joy.”

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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