‘Decency and respect are on the agenda’

Oprah Winfrey was a surprise guest at Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, where she delivered a rousing speech that highlighted the differences between Kamala Harris and her Republican counterpart.

Winfrey, who has kept a low profile in politics so far this election cycle, called on viewers at home and Democrats at the United Center in Chicago to continue to have faith in “the best of America” to help the country get through this to endure a period of bitter setbacks. partiality.

Like other speakers, Winfrey sounded the alarm about the agenda expressed by former President Donald Trump and other far-right forces. “People who want you to believe that books are dangerous and assault rifles are safe,” she said. “That there is a right way to worship and a wrong way to love.”

Winfrey did not mention Trump by name, but there was no doubt about her target. Beware of politicians “who seek first to divide and then to conquer,” she said. “If we stand together, it will be impossible to overcome us.”

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Winfrey cited the life story of Tessie Prevost, an activist who as a six-year-old in the 1950s helped integrate schools in New Orleans against the threat of snipers. Citing the work of forebears like Prevost, who died last month at age 69, Winfrey called on Americans to strive for greater unity.

“America is an ongoing project that requires commitment and openness to the hard work and hard work of democracy,” she said. “Every now and then it’s necessary to stand up to life’s bullies.”

Winfrey also mentioned the blow from Trump’s vice presidential running mate JD Vance, who was criticized for past comments about “childless cat ladies” fueling politics. Winfrey noted that neighbors don’t ask each other about their political beliefs when volunteers show up to help fight a house fire. “And if the spot happens to belong to a childless cat lady, we’ll try to get that cat out too.”

Declaring herself an independent, Winfrey took aim at Trump’s recent joke to evangelical voters that they only have to vote for him once and then never vote again.

“You’re looking at a registered Independent who takes pride in voting over and over again because I’m a proud America and that’s what Americans do,” she said. “Values ​​and character are especially important in leadership and in life. Decency and respect are on the agenda in 2024.”

Winfrey echoed other speakers, questioning the extent to which Republicans have seen their party consumed by Trump and his MAGA movement.

“We are Americans. Let us choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to any individual. Let’s choose containment over retaliation. Common sense over nonsense. Because that is the best thing in America,” she said.

Winfrey touched on another theme often mentioned on stage this week: “We don’t get turned back, turned back, bullied — we don’t go back,” she said.

Winfrey had the audience roaring with her opening remark, “Who says you can’t go home again?”, referencing her long tenure in Chicago in the 1980s through the 2000s, when she hosted her daily syndicated talk show ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ presented. ”