DN editorial: Yo, Dems: Don't be like the Republicans

NOW THAT the Republican National Convention is over, we can take a few deep breaths until the Democrats come to town Monday to begin the process of nominating Hillary Clinton as their candidate for president.

While we won't tell the Democrats what they should do, we can offer a few tips on what to avoid, all based on what happened in Cleveland this week.

For starters, convention organizers should invest in anti-plagiarism software that checks speeches scheduled to be made against speeches from the past. Most programs cost less than $100; many are even free. As we always say: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Come to think of it, Benjamin Franklin said that, but no matter. Only 10 of the 45 words in that paragraph came from Franklin. The rest are original.

Second, if you are going to have celebrities as speakers, make sure you find ones who have not passed their sell-by date. An '80s sitcom star and a '90s soap-opera actress won't cut it. In short, do not trot out anyone who will prompt viewers to say, "Gee, I thought he was dead!"

Third, if you are going to cede valuable podium time to someone to endorse your presidential candidate, make sure he actually endorses your candidate. Don't let him ramble on for 21 minutes with a speech in which, in so many words, he endorses himself. It makes you look foolish or, worse, snookered.

If a shameless American politician can snooker you, imagine what Vladimir Putin will do.

Finally, a word about Donald Trump. He is a fair target for criticism by Democrats. Speakers can take him to task for his policies, if they can figure them out, and his personality. Those are big targets.

But he is the nominee of the Republican Party, who won the right to run by putting himself before his party's voters, besting a field of more than a dozen opponents.

Trump is not a criminal. He is not a traitor. He is not the spawn of Lucifer. He shouldn't be arrested, hanged or put before a firing squad.

Accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanors, even before he has held office, might delight those out there who despise Trump, but you already have their votes. Political conventions hand the party the opportunity to win converts among undecided and independent voters. They won't be motivated by hate.

Instead, try hope. Try to offer a vision whereby we strive together to create a just, tolerant and strong nation that serves as a beacon for democracy around the world. Building a campaign around anger, resentment and fear could make voters think you have nothing more to offer - except the fact that you are not your opponent. A slogan like "Make America Great Again!" implies that greatness can be achieved simply by pushing the right lever in November. Greatness is not bestowed, it is earned. A nation divided can never be great. It will be too busy eating itself alive.

So, our advice is to turn away from discord and division, not only next week, but also in the months to come.

As Americans, we should not be guided by hatred and fear, but by the better angels of our nature.

For the record, we did not say that first. Abraham Lincoln did.