Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
Updated ·4 min read
How do you know that the second night of the Democratic National Convention went well?
Fox News praised it. Megan McCain praised it. This is like an Arizona State fan complimenting UA on a big football win. It just doesn't happen.
It doesn't happen very often.
For the uninitiated, Fox News leans conservative; if they leaned any further they'd fall down. They spent the lead-up to the convention, held at the United Center in Chicago, bemoaning Joe Biden's absence from the presidential race. "Coup" is the preferred word. (Someone should send the network a dictionary.) This from the network that spent the previous three years and change ripping Biden mercilessly. I think they call this "meeting the audience where they are."
Barack and Michelle Obama gave home run speeches, her especially
McCain, meanwhile, is famously — so famously — the daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, longtime Arizona senator and 2008 presidential candidate. She occupied the conservative chair on "The View" for a few years before leaving the show, unhappily, it seems. Her mother, Cindy, was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 2021 to 2023, appointed by President Joe Biden — which hasn't prevented Meghan from criticizing the president (nor should it).
Meghan McCain offered some compliments on social media on the surprise appearance by Kamala Harris on Night 1 of the DNC and on Hillary Clinton's "very, very classy and moving" speech. But she spent more time complaining, not without cause, at how late the show was running. The unkindest cut was pushing Biden out of prime time on the East Coast, meaning his speech presumably would be watched by fewer people. (How many people pay attention to prime time beyond TV executives and the people who write about them is anyone's guess.)
Tuesday night, the Democrats brought out the big names as far as speakers go. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff talked about his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, in such an aw-shucks way it was irresistible. Then came former first lady Michelle Obama, who gave what may have been the best political speech I've ever seen, turning Donald Trump's words against him — "Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs'?"is the line of the convention so far.
Her husband, Barack — you remember him, former president and all that — had the misfortune of following his wife. "I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama," he said. But he did, and also gave a good speech, which included a size-matters joke aimed at Trump. (He was talking about crowds.)
What did Meghan McCain say about the DNC?
This followed the roll call of states to formally nominate Harris (who had actually been nominated remotely days before). It's usually an old-time politics affair. But this was wild. DJ Cassidy spun themed songs for each state, like "Edge of Seventeen" by Arizona's own Stevie Nicks for the Grand Canyon State. ("Private Idaho" by the B-52s for Idaho was a personal favorite; "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen for New Jersey just showed no one really pays attention to the lyrics.)
Some of it was goofy, some of it was inspiring, and all of it was great TV. How great? Well, let's let noted critic Meghan McCain weigh in:
"This is amazing," she posted on social media, then followed with, "I’m sorry but this #DNC2024 roll call with DJ Cassidy, themed state music and party/club atmosphere is blowing the RNC’s roll call out of the water. It looks like a giant party and celebration and everyone in that room looks like they’re having a blast."
That's how great.
Even Fox News anchors praised DNC speeches
Meanwhile, over on Fox News, when the night was done the network cut to the usual round of hosts and panelists to weigh in on the proceedings. It was ... unexpected.
Bret Baier said Michelle Obama gave an "amazing" speech. Martha MacCallum said of Emhoff, "He did a good job." Dana Perino agreed. "I did think that the Doug Emhoff speech was very special."
Even Brit Hume, crank emeritus, had some kind words. "I think it was a night of great speeches. ... The speech of the night was Michelle Obama," he said.
And with that, Opposite Day was done. Whether the love, as it were, can last is anybody's guess, but there are two more nights to go.
Joe Biden's farewell: How CNN, Fox News reacted
Reach Goodykoontz atbill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook:facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X:@goodyk. Subscribe tothe weekly movies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fox News and Meghan McCain offer rare praise for DNC
