Former VP finalist Karen Bass on Joe Biden’s DNC speech: "He knocked it out of the park"

LOS ANGELES - "I thought he knocked it out of the park… it was wonderful.”

As the Democratic National Convention wrapped up on Thursday with former Vice President Joe Biden delivering his acceptance speech for the party’s nomination, Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) spoke with FOX 11’s Elex Michaelson to express her delight over Biden’s remarks, remarks Biden has likely been preparing to deliver since he first ran for President in 1988.

“I loved when he talked about democracy, decency, science, compassion… all of those are on the ballot,” Bass said. “I loved when he said wearing a mask is your patriotic duty, and when he spoke to the people who lost loved ones, something we have not heard the President do at all.”

Until last week’s selection of Senator Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate, Bass, a five-term Congresswoman from Los Angeles, and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, was widely considered a leading candidate for the job, with Ambassador Susan Rice rounding out the presumptive finalists.

Bass’ praise for Biden’s acceptance speech extended to the rest of the four day convention as well, which, in the age of coronavirus, was forced to become a largely virtual affair.

“I think all week was really good,” the Congresswoman said. “One of the best things about the convention was the story-telling, the stories of average Americans, the feeling you got of just complete inclusiveness.”

In a time of political chaos, Bass said this week’s convention was something that could inspire people, as it provided a “normal,” “decent,” and “caring” “breath of fresh air.”

That assessment was in opposition to what Bass believes will be the focus of next week’s Republican National Convention.

“You know what I expect from them is fear-mongering, I expect it to be the resurrection of George Wallace’s campaign,” Bass said. “They’re going to talk about the suburbs, they’re going to try to paint the cities as though they’re just chaos and blood running down the street.”

“I think it’s going to be a very horrible, dark picture of America,” Bass predicted, adding that the President’s method of leading through hatred and division will be in extreme contrast to the “light” on display at the DNC.

A full convention schedule has yet to be released for the RNC, but some names expected to speak include Vice President Mike Pence, First Lady Melania Trump, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. President Trump will address the convention Thursday from the lawn of the White House, a decision which has been the subject of much debate.

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