RNC 2020: False Claims, Blatant Inaccuracies, and Lack of Diversity as GOP Becomes Party of the Trump

A week after the DNC, the Republican National Convention began in Charlotte, North Carolina and took a very different tone.

The Republican Party did not release a convention platform for 2020, breaking a practice that has been done every four years since 1856. Instead, the GOP reused its platform from four years ago.

This means there is no new agenda to address COVID-19 as the death toll from the virus continues to rise and millions remain economically vulnerable and jobless. No policy platform to address racial injustice and police violence plaguing our country. No policies to mitigate the worsening effects of Climate change that have spurred deadly wildfires in California, a massive derecho in the Midwest, and powerful Atlantic hurricanes. With no new platform or agenda, the Republican Party has become the party of Trump.

Here’s a look at other key events from the RNC:

False Claims and Inaccuracies About Biden

Despite promising an aspirational and uplifting tone, the RNC began by painting a dark image of a liberal dystopia that would come if Joe Biden is elected.

It appears as if Republicans planned this convention assuming the progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders would be the nominee and just never rewrote the script. GOP speakers falsely accused Biden of being a “socialist” and provided many misleading characterizations of Biden as a “far left radical.” On the contrary, Biden has been accused by some progressives in the Democratic party for being too moderate on issues like criminal justice.

The misinformation didn’t end after the first night. Speeches from Vice President Mike Pence, Lara Trump, and Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn were full of misleading claims and blatant inaccuracies.

In his speech accepting the GOP nomination for president, President Trump also incorrectly painted Biden as a “socialist” with extreme views and agendas that he believes will “completely dismantle and destroy” the “American way of life.”

GOP’s Old White Men Roll Call Vote

While a virtual convention can be difficult to organize, the DNC used the format to its advantage during the roll call vote, featuring a diverse display of the distinct beauty of each state and territory and highlighting the voices of marginalized communities. The country as represented by the DNC’s roll call vote is a country where diversity in all forms is showcased and celebrated.

In stark contrast, the RNC roll call vote was dominated by old white men, standing stoically in front of a white background with #RNC2020 written on it. The RNC has depicted the Republican party, as well as the country, as one exclusive to old white men.

COVID-19 Lies

Throughout the RNC, speakers tried to paint President Trump as an adept leader who heroically took “decisive action to save lives” from the coronavirus. They touted his ability to contain the virus and protect Americans.

This is a flat-out lie. The U.S. is approaching 6 million cases and more than 176,000 people have died from COVID-19. Businesses are still closed and millions unemployed. Against the advice of public health experts, Trump pushed schools to reopen, causing new outbreaks which forced schools to shut down again. The U.S. now has one of the worst ongoing epidemics in the world, among the developed countries, due to President Trump’s mismanagement of the virus.

Trump has repeatedly downplayed the virus since its inception, blaming China, the Democrats, the media, and the WHO. He takes no “responsibility” for the lack of testing. As one thousand Americans die each day from COVID-19, Trump has dismissed the immense loss of life saying “it is what it is.”

Trump has repeatedly called for further cuts to the CDC and National Institutes of Health. He has even promoted ineffective and dangerous treatments including the unsupported use of hydroxychloroquine and even advocating for injecting bleach as a cure for the virus.

Vice President Mike Pence continued the false claims regarding the pandemic, claiming, “We’re on track to have the world’s first safe, effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year.” President Trump echoed this false promise in his speech, noting the vaccine could come even sooner than the end of this year.

While scientists are eagerly working on vaccines, there is no guarantee one will be available by the end of this year. Even if it’s approved by December, it will take several more months until it’s widely accessible.

During the final night of the RNC, the White House itself did not follow proper social distancing and mask procedure. Additionally, President Trump’s remarks from the White House were yet another potential violation during the convention of the Hatch Act, which is meant to ensure that the federal workforce operates free of political influence or coercion.

Ahead of President Trump’s remarks, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris criticized his mishandling of the pandemic.

“Donald Trump stood idly by and, folks, it was a deadly decision,” Harris said. “All we needed was a competent president. One who was willing to listen, willing to lead, take responsibility, have a plan, do their job.”

“Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States,” Harris continued. “It’s his obligation to protect us. Yet, he has failed miserably.”

Backdrop of Racial Injustice Left Unaddressed

Amid nationwide protests calling for racial justice and systemic changes in policing, Vice President Pence chose to defend law enforcement officers and did not name any of the Black Americans killed by police this year in his RNC speech.

Just this week, protests erupted after Jacob Blake, a Black father of six, was repeatedly shot in the back by Kenosha police officers earlier this week.

Instead of saying their names, Pence simply said, “The violence must stop, whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha,” calling for “law and order on the streets of this country.”

Other speakers said “violent mobs” are overrunning American cities, even though most of the recent protests are peaceful. Rather, it is police violence that is overrunning the country. Police have shot and killed 1,019 people this year, according to a Washington Post database, and victims were disproportionately Black and Brown Americans.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron briefly invoked Breonna Taylor’s name during his attempt to appeal to Black voters on behalf of President Trump. However, Cameron like other Kentucky officials have still not charged the officers with the murder of Breonna Taylor in her own home over 160 days ago.

While her killers continue to walk free, Cameron and other RNC speakers chose to vilify protests rather than hold officers accountable.

“It was disheartening to hear no mention of the sickening state of racial injustice. The Republican Party under Trump’s leadership is not the party for minorities and as we know too well neither is it the party for public health or Climate change,” said Preeta Sinha, Founder of One Green Planet. “I remain undoubtedly positive that Trump’s America is regressive, divisive and afraid. It’s crucial we not take this election lightly or go by the polls, but get out and vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”

Read more coverage of Biden’s climate plan, racial equity proposal, and agenda for women.

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Related Stories:

• DNC 2020: Biden Accepts Nomination for President, Pledges to “Overcome This Season of Darkness in America”
• DNC 2020: Sen. Kamala Harris Accepts VP Nomination and Democratic Leaders Come Together to Overthrow Trump
• DNC 2020: Powerful Calls to Action from Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders, & Dr. Jill Biden, And Formal Nomination of Joe Biden in Virtual Roll Call
• Biden’s VP Kamala Harris and Where She Stands on Climate, Food, Animal, and Public Health Policy

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