Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, and fired up the audience with a call to choose “optimism over cynicism” in the November election.
Dressed in a purple power suit, Winfrey smiled and rallied the packed convention in Chicago. After receiving a standing ovation, she praised former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama who addressed DNC attendees the previous night.
“Watching the Obamas last night, that was some epic fire. We’re fired up and we can’t wait to leave here and do something,” she said. “And what we’re going to do is elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States!”
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The media mogul reminded voters what’s at stake.
“More than anything, you know, this is true, that decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024, and just plain common sense,” she said. “Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect.”
Winfrey said she’s a registered independent and urged independents and undecided voters to choose the Harris-Walz ticket.
“Let us choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to any individual because that’s the best of America,” she said. “Let us choose optimism over cynicism because that’s the best of America. And let us choose inclusion over retribution.”
As she concluded her comments, Winfrey brought back the famous shout she employed years ago to rally the audience on her daytime talk show.
“We won’t go back. We won’t be set back, pushed back, bullied back, kicked back. We’re not going back!” she said to thunderous applause. “Let us choose truth. Let us choose honor, and let us choose joy!”
Other speakers on the third day of the convention included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Bill Clinton, and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz.