Richard Ellis/ZUMA
On Wednesday night, President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned address at the Democratic National Convention, where he burnished his legacy of hope, praised Hillary Clinton, and eviscerated Donald Trump as a “homegrown demagogue” and threat to American values. The speech sparked thunderous applause from the crowd and has already been called one of the president’s finest.
Both sides of the aisle have lauded the speech, but admiration from one corner of the political spectrum is especially noteworthy: The #NeverTrump Republicans who also watched the president’s speech and declared it the final nail in the coffin of their own party’s presidential nominee.
The GOP offered a vision of doom, despair, and division. Tonight the President I think divides us offered optimism. I hate this year.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 28, 2016
The status quo is better than a dumpster fire in the name of conservatism by a sociopathic fraud. https://t.co/7XfI2reMEq
— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) July 28, 2016
Some also voiced their irritation after Obama named Ronald Reagan in one line, suggesting that the president appropriated themes traditionally championed by conservatives:
Will a Trump apologist explain to me why an 18 yo watching the conventions would want to be a Republican? We’re giving away a generation
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) July 28, 2016
American exceptionalism and greatness, shining city on hill, founding documents, etc–they’re trying to take all our stuff
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) July 28, 2016
Text just now from a senior House Republican who gave me permission to tweet this: “We were supposed to make that sort of speech.”
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 28, 2016
Prominent conservative writer Rick Wilson also watched the speech and took the opportunity to slam Trump supporters for their less-than-presidential outreach tactics:
10/ It’s an integrated, smart campaign. But by all means, let’s just do more dank memes, dumb Trump tweets and MAGAstrubation.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) July 28, 2016
Meanwhile, Trump was trying to figure out how to work a laptop:
