Biggest Moments of 2012 DNC
Most memorable moments of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Sept. 6, 2012 -- intro: The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., is the party's time to shine and to throw its support behind President Obama. Check out some of the biggest moments from the convention.
Check Out the Biggest Moments of the 2012 Republican National Convention
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quicklist: 1title: Bill Clinton Defends Obama text: Playing the part of "truth-teller," Former President Bill Clinton took the stage Wednesday night to clear up misconceptions about President Obama's first term and argue for his re-election.
"No president -- not me or any of my predecessors -- could have repaired all the damage in just four years. But conditions are improving and if you'll renew the president's contract, you will feel it," he said.
Going on for more than 30 minutes, Clinton fiercely rebuked efforts made by the Romney campaign to present a country worse off under Obama than before he took office.
"Are we better off than we were when he took office, with an economy in free fall, losing 750,000 jobs a month? The answer is yes," he roared.
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quicklist: 2title: Elizabeth Warren Says the System Is Riggedtext: Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren delivered a hard-hitting speech Wednesday night, specifically targeting big business for the cause of the country's economic problems.
"People feel like the system is rigged against them. And here's the painful part: They're right," Warren said. "The system is rigged. Look around. Oil companies guzzle down billions in subsidies. Billionaires pay lower tax rates than their secretaries. Wall Street CEOs -- the same ones who wrecked our economy and destroyed millions of jobs -- still strut around Congress, no shame, demanding favors, and acting like we should thank them."
She also seized on one of Mitt Romney's gaffes, when he told a crowd at the Iowa State Fair, "Corporations are people."
"No, Governor Romney, corporations are not people. People have hearts, they have kids, they get jobs, they get sick, they cry, they dance. They live, they love, and they die. And that matters," she said. "That matters because we don't run this country for corporations, we run it for people."
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quicklist: 3title: The First Lady Takes the Stagetext: Michelle Obama, wife of President Obama, gave a powerful speech during the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Obama did not once mention her husband's opponent, yet she took a subtle jab at the notion that Democrats are attacking Mitt Romney for his wealth and success in private sector.
"Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much," she said. "They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did. In fact, they admired it."
Her brazen tone, however, did lighten up during her remarks. The first lady even appeared to tear up at various points in her speech. She was not the only one to shed a tear. Audience members and delegates also were wiping their cheeks as she spoke about the future of the country and her husband's plan to improve it.
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quicklist: 4title: Julian Castro's Rousing Keynote Speechtext: Julian Castro 37, mayor of San Antonio, Texas, delivered a rousing keynote speech on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Beginning his touching remarks with comments about his experience as a young boy growing up with his mother and grandmother, who was a Mexican immigrant, Castro said, "My mother fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone."
The young mayor who accuses Mitt Romney of trying to "dismantle the middle class" recalled a suggestion made by Romney that kids should "borrow money from their parents" to start a business. "Gee," Castro said mockingly, "Why didn't I think of that?" Castro said he didn't believe Romney meant ill in his comments, "he just doesn't know how good he's had it."
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quicklist: 5title: Cory Booker Gives a Fiery Speechtext: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who once called Obama's campaign tactics "nauseating," threw his support behind the president in a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention.
"You should be able to afford health care for your families. You should be able to retire with dignity and respect. And you should be able to give your children the kind of education that allows them to dream even bigger, go even further and accomplish more than you could have imagined," Booker blared during the convention's 6 p.m. hour, a time with few viewers. "This is our platform. This is our platform. This is our platform."
Booker, who touted his party's platform in a fiery and aggressive speech, said, "Being asked to pay your fair share isn't class warfare. It's patriotism."
The Newark mayor continued, "It is our fundamental national aspiration that no matter who you are, no matter what color or creed, how you choose to pray, or who you choose to love, that if you are a citizen of the United States of America, if you are an American, first generation or 15th, one who is willing to work hard, play by the rules and apply your God-given talents, than you should be able to find a job that pays the bills."
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