Groups role in campaign 2020. Nextgen americas benjamin insel talks about his role getting the youth to support joe biden. Washington journal is next. Host good morning. It is the washington journal. You are looking at the Wisconsin Center in milwaukee, one ofseveral sites for this years Democratic National committee convention, which starts this night. Program would take place from there, but it can be held from other areas. Cspan willf that, be covering at 5 00 this evening. We want to hear from you about political conventions and if you think they matter in this day in age, especially in the new environment we are in. You can let us know your thoughts by calling us. For republicans, 202 7488000 free democrats four democrats, and independents 202 7488002. Us, tweet ustext cspanwj, and a post on facebook at facebook. Com cspan. The New York Times has a highlight of who you will see tonight, including minnesota senator amy klobuchar, the nevada senator and the first latina to lead a Senatorial Campaign committee, new york governor andrew cuomo, michigan governor gretchen whitmer, jim clyburn, john kasich, former ohio governor, republican president ial candidate in 2016, Bernie Sanders, senator from vermont, who you will remember is the Vice President was the Vice President s main rival in the 2020 primary. Those of the speakers for tonight. When it comes to those who will speak from wisconsin, who will , if you go to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, they have video what that area will look like. Showing you the stage, which you can see. That is for those who will be based in wisconsin. That is the platform you will see. A couple of cameras. And some of the technical equipment that is involved. For those in wisconsin, that is where they will speak. The Vice President and the nominee for Vice President , Kamala Harris, will speak from delaware. Vice president joe bidens technical person for the campaign posted on his twitter feed what that will look like when they make their speeches later this week. They plan to stand in front of several video screens. On those screens, there will be people from across the United States zooming in and watching the long as both Vice President joe biden except the nomination and the Kamala Harris except the nomination for Vice President. Accepts the nomination for Vice President. It comesis hour, when to political conventions themselves, do they matter . What do you get from them . Heres how you can let us know. Republicans,1 for democrats 202 7488000 and independents 202 7488002. If you wish to text us, you can do so at 202 7488003. You can follow us on twitter and facebook. Political conventions and if they matter. Republican line, redwood, california, tom, go ahead, you are on. Cspan does not take criticism well at all, especially you, pedro. What i would like to know is why cspan is not dedicated any coverage at all to the kushner middle east peace deal with the uae because this is world changing. Also, the guilty plea at the fbi host we tackle that in a question last week. When it comes to political questions, supposedly what are you calling on what you are calling on, what do you think . Caller you did not devote plainfield, wisconsin, independent, go ahead. But canthey do matter, i tell you what does matter in the state of wisconsin . Coming toent is oshkosh, wisconsin. He is coming to get her jobs back. In what doobs you want to call it . A little town, he saved our shipyard. Now he is coming tossed cost to save another military company that makes our military jeeps. Host that is one of the stops in oshkosh, but when it comes to the convention, what do you think about it and do conventions matter . Caller no they dont because these things matter. Why would a convention matter when somebody is trying to get wisconsin jobs back . Host let me ask you. If you say they do not matter, tell me why. Caller at a time like this, we are worried about jobs, not about a bunch of monkeys sitting on a stage. To bob inill go baldwinsville, massachusetts on their independent line. Go ahead. Caller i really do not think this one matters much. I guess mr. Biden will not be participating will only be participating for one day. Donald trump will be at his convention every day. The point to meet would be what is the point if the main candidate cannot show up every day to introduce all the people him tore speaking for back him up . Host typically, the people accepting the nomination will accept will show up the day they give their speech. Besides from the actual showing up, why do you think they do not matter . Caller like i said, because joe biden is not really participating. He is not even answering questions. He will not stand up and talk to everybody. Host previous president ial candidates have only appeared may be a short amend of time in previous canon in previous conventions. You would say that about them as well . Caller yeah. Why not . Ok. tina in kaiser, West Virginia. Independent line. Hi. Caller i wanted to let you know that i think conventions do matter because you know more what the candidates will stand for. You pretty much know more about their personal lives. You really do not find out a lot of the interviews in a lot of the interviews. Host you are saying the actual Convention Appearance itself is different than the speeches and appearances leading up to it . Because i do not now, you tend to find out more about the candidates. Host if i may ask, can you think to a past convention that you have watched that you learned something about the candidates themselves that you did not learn previously . Caller i watched the george w. Bush convention. Host what did you learn from that that you did not learn from other events . I do not remember because that is so far back. Moret found it informative. Host ok. Tina in kaiser, West Virginia there about political conventions, saying she learned things about the candidates themselves when they are appearing at these events. Facebook, this is cory holder, the point that it provides any sort of persuasive change of mind. Anventions either serve as mechanism to celebrate a nominee or openly castigate an opponent. Most voters look for substance, and conventions are not the best live form for this. Relative to the has ants, the convention opportunity to assure the more left members who lean democrat that the democrat path is progressive. A couple from the papers when it comes to the topic of conventions. From the Editorial Board of the New York Times, pageantry has its place, but this year the entire nation is under enormous strain. America wants to know that the president ial contenders understand their problems and are focused and intent on how to solve them. An oped in the Washington Post earlier this year saying conventions do not do that much to bring about party unity. If there has been a spirited contest for nominations, they often become lastditch the losers tofor air their platforms and offer a sour reminder to their supporters of what could have been. Senator sanders expected to speak in tonights activities and give his thoughts. You can see that all play out at cspan, cspan. Org, and our radio app at 9 00 tonight as we begin coverage of the Democratic National convention. Your thoughts on if they matter. Patrick in oxnard, california. Independent line. Caller good morning. I am against them. I think it is a bygone era, it is archaic, and, as you mentioned with covid, we are just in a different euro with technology. Conventionhe 1980 footage from yesterday that you broadcast. It was like watching history. We are in a different time. Covid, we have high technology. We can skype these things. Plus, there is so much internet access, there are plenty of ways to get the information, especially for the various can feigns various campaigns. Host is it about the Party Atmosphere . Caller i agree with you. There is the atmosphere, but i think we are changing into a different era, especially with where we are with covid, social distancing, and bringing people together. It is not an appropriate time right now. Host fort myers, florida, dennis. Democrats line. Caller conventions are important because people gather, they Exchange Ideas. I heard the gentleman speaking of zoom and everything else, but you kind of lose the human contact. Also, you forget about the economics in regards to conventions. Lets face it, people go to a certain city. They take hotel rooms, go to restaurants. They have other services. That is an economic boost to that community. Lets face it, people have gathered together to Exchange Ideas in regards to whatever republican, democratic, independent, green, whoever, but it is important that people have that human contact because host sorry, go ahead. It,er because, lets face when people have ideas, it is facetofaceou are away,housands of miles even though maybe the ideas can be put forth. That is all i have to say. Host do you still plan to watch even in this new format . Caller of course. I have watched the conventions for as long as i can recall. The First Convention that i did not watch wait a minute, i was stationed in chicago in 1968, so i recall that one very well. Ist one more question, if may. What are you watching for . What do you get out of it . People to see what the who are involved with it, you know, the speakers have a point of view that they want to bring to the voters, and the voters of the most important thing at the end of the day. No matter if you vote by mail, early vote, or if you show up on election day. Host ok. Dennis in fort myers, florida talking about the experience of conventions. He talked about those economic matters. Just to show you the headlines from the papers. It is the wrong headline. I apologize. This one from the wall street journal not only talked about milwaukee and the economics of conventions and how that will take a hit because of the change in format, but charlotte as well. Charlotte was the original vote location for the republicans. Florida than was mentioned in jacksonville. Those planes went by the wayside. Plans went by the wayside. But again, on the day of the Democratic National convention. Some of the changes highlighted by the New York Times. Aside from the five major speeches from mr. Biden, his wife, Kamala Harris, and the obamas, the average length of remarks will be just two minutes. Mr. Sanders will have an eight minute time slot from tonight. He plans to speak live from burlington, but has recorded in case there are technical difficulties. The story goes on to say there will be a montage featuring the 2020 candidates, a 30 minute roll call, and, toughest of all for a Political Class that enjoys few things more than talking on camera, strict time limits. Speeches will be live. Live on tapeill be. Unlike a Typical National political gathering where action takes place at a Party Breakfast or arena concourse, the event will be run out of a control room inside the convention center. We showed you a little bit of what that control Room Atmosphere will look like from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel video they provided on their website. If you would like a look. From miami, florida, republican line. Political conventions and if they matter. Go ahead. Noter really, it does matter because all the people you have on the political stage right now should be in jail for treason. All of those people has ganged up on one man because he has brought the economy to its height. When they were president s and all these things, they did nothing for the people. Host aside from this convention, political conventions overall . Regardless of this one, do they matter . Caller they do not because they are nothing but fooling the people. You are just laughing at the people. And you are using the media to do it host would you say that about the conventions from both parties . Caller no. Just the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party should be put in jail for treason. Host you made that point. From antioch, tennessee. This is ken. Hi. Caller conventions are important. But with the situation with covid, i do not think it is wise. Overall, i think we spend too much money on the campaigns to elect people to office that are not doing a good job as it is. That money could be better used to feed the hungry or house the homeless or what have you. I do not think it is a good idea with covid. Host so you would be in favor of the format we will see this time around of people appearing from their individual states and very few people present when the speeches are being made . Caller yes. Host do you think you get the same type of information . Caller you should. I do not see why you would not. Host what do you mean by that . Caller i do not think they will be saying anything different with people there versus not. Host will you watch this convention or both conventions . What are your viewing habits like not only from this year, but from previous . Caller i will watch both. Host ok. Anyonezie on twitter saying that this years conventions matters are full of themselves. Everyone knows who they will be voting for. Matter, and this one especially. You will see joe biden be empathetic to pain and President Trump desperately trying to see if what he says about what biden says sticks. If you want to tweet us your thoughts, you can tweet us at cspanwj. Clearance in kentucky. Republican line. Caller hello. I wanted to say i think conventions do matter because that is where you get to hear what their views are on the subjects and so you can get in the idea of what they stand for and what they do not stand for. That is what i think. Host do you think that will change this time versus previous conventions . Caller what do you mean . Host as far as learning what they stand for and the views they take because, this year, a lot of it will be done now with a crowd of people in a room, but across the net is states . You think you get the same type of information . Caller it will be hard to say this year. I think the debates are important, too. But i dont know if i see that happening. Like i said, i think conventions do matter because you get to hear what they stand for and what they do not stand for. Host do you think you learn more from conventions than debates . Caller yes and no. When you are at the convention, you hear what they stand for. When you are in debates, they debate why they stand for this and why they do not stand for this. They are both kind of important. That is what i think. Host ok. Clarence and kentucky. In kentucky. Some keynote speeches you will hear. Usa today highlights some other voices that will be highlighted in the convention this week. Personalize the partys message, the convention will feature voters talking about their priorities, including a farmer in pennsylvania who voted for the supports in 2016 and joe biden. Advocates for who gun control after her son was shot. A team leader at General Motors in michigan. A person who immigrated from and a when he was 12, person who teaches a bilingual program at the school. At a school. Some of the voices you will hear from across the net is states. In wisconsin. Joe biden and Kamala Harris said to make their speeches from a site in delaware. Michigan,livonia, democrats line. Your next up. Good morning. Ofler i have watched a lot political conventions over my 72 years, and i really enjoy watching them, especially with my family. My children and grandchildren watch them, talk about them. Speakers,analyze the especially the new, up and coming politicians, not only on the democratic side but on the republican side. Kind of look at their body language. I really enjoy watching the conventions and having conversations not only with my family but is well with my friends. As well with my friends. I think they are important. I hope they will continue. This year, i do not know if we will be able to see them and try to analyze them, but it is good to see them perform in front of a crowd of people, where is this year that may be is not going to year thatwhereas this maybe is not going to happen. I would love to continue to watching to continue watching. Host do you still plan, even in this new format, to watch with your family . Caller i plan to watch with family. We will see if we can look at it and make decisions, talk about it, analyze the speakers, especially the new, upandcoming speakers. Host you miss the Party Atmosphere. That is what im gathering. Caller we do. But we are going to watch it is a family. Host ok. Make sure you watch on cspan, by the way. Coverage will start at 9 00. No commentary during the convention itself. We will show you what plays out not only in wisconsin but in other areas of the United States. Cspan. Org, and our radio app. Thats free. Sandra in louisiana, republican line. Grayson, louisiana. Caller hi. Tot sandra, let me ask you turn your tv down before you go on. Caller ok. Host your television is on in the background. I think you got it. Ok. Er host go ahead. Caller hi. This is sandra. Host ok. What do you think about political conventions . Caller i do not think that political i enjoy listening to donald trump. He has never lied about anything he is known in the past four years. I have watched biden for the first eight years on the tv. He has done absolutely nothing for louisiana. Host what do you get from watching political conventions . Caller i do not watch the convention because i