5 Takeaways From The Second Night Of The Republican National Convention
The second night of the Republican National Convention often seemed like it was taking place in February. Maybe of 2020. Maybe of 2022. Just at some time when the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 180,000 Americans and caused the unemployment rate to spike to 10.2%, isn’t happening.
With the exception of first lady Melania Trump, who delivered her speech to a mostly unmasked crowd in the White House Rose Garden, not a single speaker referenced the massive death toll of Americans in the past six months. Several speakers, led by National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow, spoke about the pandemic in the past tense.
“Then, came a once-in-100-year pandemic. It was awful, health and economic impacts were tragic; hardship and heartbreak were everywhere,” Kudlow said, ignoring prepared remarks that made it clear hardship and heartbreak continue.
More than 1,200 Americans died of the coronavirus on Tuesday.
“Business can’t endure a Biden-induced recession,” said John Peterson, the owner of a Wisconsin metal fabrication business, during his speech. “Some will struggle. Some will not survive.”
The nation is already in a recession, and has been since February.
This line ― think of how great things were before the pandemic! ― is already a common GOP talking point. But it seems unlikely to work. Public polling indicates a substantial majority of Americans blame President Donald Trump for mishandling the pandemic, and it is typically among the most important issues for voters, tied with the economy and health care.
And even in February, a strong economy was not enough to power Trump to a polling lead. His Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, has consistently led Trump in public polling since he entered the race, even when economic growth was substantially stronger than it was now.
Republicans have occasionally used the convention to highlight elements of Trump’s coronavirus response, including having him...
