On Tuesday, August 20, Democratic Representative Dean Phillips from Minnesota told NTD reporter Luis Eduardo Martínez that he hopes the messages of unity, setting aside differences, building bridges, and listening to voters will resonate throughout the entire Democratic National Convention.
The four-day Democratic National Convention in Chicago featured Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepting the Democratic nomination to run as the party’s candidate in the 2024 presidential election. The theme of the second day was “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.”
Representative Phillips believes that the themes of unity, setting aside differences, building bridges, and listening to voters should be central throughout the conference.
“We currently have a toxic culture permeating our politics, which is not easy to address. It’s easy to talk about these issues, but it’s much harder to act upon them,” he said. Cooperation and unity have always been his principles and the mission since entering Congress, “I have had some success in this regard.”
“I sincerely hope that in the near future, President Harris and Vice President Walls will make this a focal point and actually incorporate it as part of their platform, inviting thinkers, political theorists, and people with diverse lifestyles to participate. Perhaps these individuals are different from the core Democratic voters, and I hope that future Democratic and Republican presidents will consider selecting cabinet members from each other’s camps to show the American people that their voices will be heard in the White House.”
“In a democracy like ours, where elections are fiercely competitive, it is challenging when about half the country feels excluded from the dialogue. Therefore, I hope to encourage and promote this idea. Regardless, elected officials across the nation have a responsibility to show more mutual respect and set an example of the behavior we expect, not just for American citizens, but for global citizens.”
Representative Phillips also mentioned that the Founding Fathers of America intended for the president’s role to be that of a chief executive responsible for executing laws, not making them. Crafting laws is the responsibility of Congress; however, when the functions of Congress malfunction, the government needs to set the policy agenda.
“I believe Americans should consider more carefully choosing those who are ready to lead, not only in terms of policy but also in managing operations effectively to provide excellent service to Americans and create value for taxpayers as President,” Phillips said.