Cory Booker’s speech at the Democratic National Convention won’t spend much — if any — time on his disappointment at not being Hillary Clinton’s VP choice. Booker’s future is too bright for him to even taste a sour grape on stage. (He’s already moved on, see tweet below.) The former mayor of Newark, New Jersey — now a U.S. Senator — is one of the most compelling faces and voices in the Democratic establishment. And he’s achieved his establishment status while maintaining — by virtue of his heritage, his style, and his unique backstory — credibility with the everyman on the streets.
[Watch the DNC Live on Cory Booker’s feed here]
For people wanting to know more — to understand the real arc of the Cory Booker story — you have to watch Marshall Curry’s 2005 film, Street Fight. The Academy Award-nominated documentary is a master class in storytelling, biography, political intrigue and character study. In 90 minutes Booker’s motivations, his technique, his drive are all on transparent display against one of the most corrupt political machines in memory. It’s subject, Booker’s 2002 race for Newark mayor against 4-time mayor Sharpe James, didn’t end in victory. But Booker rising star was born out of this 90-minute stunner that LA Weekly called “filmmaking of the first order.” Compared to the political dirty tricks Booker faced against James, the DNC’s alleged plotting against Bernie Sanders looks like a tempest in a teapot.
Sincerely, Tim Kaine is 1 of the most honorable men in politics. I admire & am inspired by him, give them your vote. https://t.co/PABfjA3QOC
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 23, 2016
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