Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Big Wisecrack at the 2020 DNC

Pundits often compare American politics to blood sports, but, to me, the presidential election seems more and more like television entertainment. Although I’ve heard Republicans complain about all the liberal Hollywood stars, it is the Republicans, not the Democrats, who elected not one but two television stars to the White House: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. I loved Ronald Reagan’s TV show when I was a child, but I’m not sure that being good on television helps a person govern.

In one of the more bizarre moments in the Democratic Party’s online nominating convention, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus engaged in a bit of random political banter with other virtual conventioneers. I wouldn’t exactly call it a speech, but Louis-Dreyfus' one-liner gave us one of the convention’s most memorable moments:

“Just remember, Joe Biden goes to church so regularly that he doesn’t even need tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops to help him get there.”

To refresh the reader’s memory, she was referring to a June 2020 incident in which federal forces gassed protesters, after which President Donald Trump marched across the street from the White House to wave a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. There were no reports that he entered the church, prayed, or opened the Bible, which was apparently borrowed.

Social media went berserk tweeting and reposting her comment. Will anyone remember anything else that she said that night? I doubt it. I love sarcasm more than the next person, and I think Louis-Dreyfus made a point. Nevertheless, Trump’s assault on St. John’s failed to trouble his White evangelical base voters, so I don’t think they will care about Louis-Dreyfus’ wisecrack. 

But will we remember her wisecrack about “tear gas and a bunch of federalized troops?” Of course we will. I suspect the clips will show up every time Trump says something to show that he is on the White evangelicals' side.

Sometimes we remember a speech because of fancy language, wisdom, or deep thought. Sometimes, however, one striking sentence gets our attention. We know about, “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” What else do you remember about John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address? Not much? That’s what I thought. One great sentence! 

Now, the Republican National Convention starts on Monday. My previous post pointed out that William Jennings Bryan won the 1896 Democratic nomination with one brilliant speech, and one brilliant sentence out of that speech made the difference: “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” But at a Republican convention years ago, the nominee destroyed himself with one carelessly chosen line in his acceptance speech. I’ll try to blog about that in the next day or two, just to give you something to think about before the upcoming Republican convention. 

Earlier Post: William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold Speech

Comedians and politics? Satire can be either good or bad. 

Comment: I visited St. John’s Episcopal Church when I worked in Washington in the 1970’s, and think that it is a lovely and spiritual place.