CLEVELAND — On the eve of Hillary Clinton’s running mate announcement, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker came to the site of the Republican National Convention to condemn what he saw and praise the presumptive Democratic nominee.
“It’s not who we are as a country,” Booker said of the GOP convention, while speaking to reporters at a press conference with Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Minnesota Sen. Al Franken on Thursday. “It’s not the values and the principles that we stand for. These chants of lock someone up, take away their liberty, throw them in prison? That’s why we had a revolution in this country!”
He added, “What they’re coming out and doing has nothing to do with a contest of ideas and values.”
The longer Booker spoke, the more visibly angry he became at the Republican Party, as he said, “sitting at home watching this convention has been one of the more disappointing, frustrating and saddening experiences of my life.” Clearly enjoying the limelight, at one point he began speaking in Spanish when asked about potential Clinton running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. When a reporter from Jewish Insider asked him a question about Israel he exclaimed “Baruch Hashem! Baruch Hashem!”
Booker didn’t reveal anything about Clinton’s vice presidential search, however. Top contenders include Booker, Kaine, Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
When asked by the Washington Examiner what his upcoming plans with the Clinton campaign were he said, “You’re talking to a former football player. I’m happy to do what the coach asks me to do and play whatever role the team wants me to play.” But when it comes to the convention in Philadelphia next weekend, he said, “I hope I get a chance to give a speech.”
