Newark Mayor Cory Booker delivered a fire and brimstone speech to delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday evening. He delivered the party platform and invigorated the crowd with a booming address and emotional plea of sorts.
“When your country is in a costly war sacrificing abroad and our nation is facing a debt crisis, being asked to pay your fair share isn’t warfare, it’s patriotism,” Booker said. “We must choose to grow together.”
In the past, Booker has called President Barack Obama an inspiration and mentor. However, earlier this year, Booker and the president were at odds regarding sharply critical comments made by Booker regarding smear campaign tactics being made against presidential hopeful Mitt Romney by the Obama camp. At the time, Booker compared Obama’s attack on private equity and free enterprise–a platform Romney has promoted–to attacks on the fiery and anti-American sermons of Chicago Minister Jeremiah Wright. Both camps have since settled the controversy.
Democrats unveiled their party’s platform at the convention. It mirrors Obama’s call for higher taxes on wealthy Americans and endorses same-sex marriages and abortion rights.