Did Sarah Silverman Save the Democratic Convention? Ed Rendell Thinks So.
Image by CNN
Democratic heavyweight Ed Rendell says Sarah Silverman’s slap down of diehard Bernie Sanders supporters may have turned around the entire Democratic convention.
The former Philadelphia mayor credited the comedian with shutting down the boos with her “you’re being ridiculous” admonition in a way that no politician could have done, Politico reported.
“No politician could have ever said what she said to the Bernie or Bust people,” e said. “It had a tremendous effect.”
Rendell was speaking aabout the high-stakes efforts to unify the party following the embarassing leak of 20,000 Democratic National Committee emails that detailed how the supposedly neutral group was actually in the tank for Hillary Clinton.
The scandal forced the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and threw the convention into disarray. Angry Sanders backers booed every mention of Hillary Clinton at the start of convention.
But Silverman, flanked by Sen. Al Franken, took the edge off the nasty mood with her one-liner.
“I think by the end of the night what started out because of the email controversy as a horrible beginning for us had been significantly neutralized,” Rendell said.
Rendell also praised Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a prominent left-wing backer of Sanders, for easing tensions by speaking positively about Clinton.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
