Obama: 'Reject Cynicism And Reject Fear' And Elect Hillary Clinton

The third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia has been marked by endorsements for Hillary Clinton, indictments of Donald Trump and moments of high drama on the floor.

Leon Panetta, the former CIA chief and secretary of defense, was interrupted by chants of "No more war!"

But Vice President Joe Biden brought the crowd to its feet by simply by walking on stage with theme of "Rocky" playing in the background.

Biden portrayed Clinton as a person who knows about the problems of the middle class and who has always been in public life. Clinton "knows" he repeated over and over. And Donald Trump has no clue, he said.

Then he used one of his favorite words: "He's trying to tell us he cares about the middle class. Give me a break! That's a bunch of malarkey!"

President Obama came on stage to chants of "Yes, we can! Yes, we can." And he contrasted Trump's vision of America with his own vision and Clinton's vision.

"America is already great," Obama said. "America is already strong. And I promise you our strength, our greatness doesn't depend on Donald Trump. In fact it doesn't depend on any one person."

Hillary Clinton, Obama said, understands that.

Tim Kaine accepted his nomination as the vice presidential nominee and during his speech, he mocked Trump.

"There's nothing suspicious in my tax returns, believe me," Kaine said as he mocked Trump.

A normal presidential candidate, he said, doesn't ask you believe them. Instead, they tell you how they plan on getting things done.

"Folks you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth," he said.

Here's a some of what's happened and what's coming up:

-- Part of the program Wednesday was devoted to gun violence: Christine Leinonen, whose son was killed in the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., called for a ban on assault weapons.

Erica Smegielski, whose mother was the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, said the world does not need another politician to "cower behind the gun lobby." Instead, she said referring to Hillary Clinton, the country needs "another mother who is willing to do what's right."

-- The headliner will be President Obama. He is speaking 12 years to the day when he delivered a speech to the Democratic convention in Boston. That speech catapulted an aspiring senator to the national stage and eventually led him to the White House.

We've posted a live stream of the proceedings at the top of this post. We'll also update this post as the night develops.

Update at 10:53 p.m. ET. President Obama Takes Stage:

After a video that detailed his tenure in the White House — from his speeches during mass shootings, to his handling of the Great Recession, to his Supreme Court nominations, to the passing of the Affordable Care Act and a Supreme Court decision making gay marriage legal in all 50 states — President Obama took the stage.

Update at 10:37 p.m. ET. Kaine Contrasts Clinton And Trump:

Sen. Tim Kaine spent much of his contrasting Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. His son, a Marine, just deployed Europe, Kaine said, and he would "trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life."

As for Trump, he said, anyone who has ever believed his promises has been "hurt."

Trump, he said, has run a campaign full of requests for voters to believe him.

"There's nothing suspicious in my tax returns, believe me," Kaine said as he imitated Trump.

A normal presidential candidate, he said, doesn't ask you believe them. Instead, they tell you how they plan on getting things done.

"Folks you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth," he said.

Update at 10:08 p.m. ET. Kaine Accepts Vice Presidential Nomination:

Kaine, who is still speaking, just accepted the party's nomination for vice president.

"Can I be honest for a second?" he asked. "I never expected to be here."

Update at 9:58 p.m. ET. Arrests Outside The Arena:

NPR's Will Huntsberry sends us this update from the sit in outside the arena:

"Protestors are now being lead away in plastic handcuffs, after being warned three times to stop blocking the entrance. Roughly 25 were arrested by my count."

Update at 9:27 p.m. ET. Biden Delivers Impassioned Defense Of Hillary And America:

Vice President Joe Biden united the crowd simply by walking on stage with theme of "Rocky" playing in the background.

He received a standing ovation and then launched into an impassioned defense of Hillary Clinton and the United States.

He portrayed Clinton as a person who knows about the problems of the middle class and who has always been in public life. "Hillary gets it," he said. Biden also referenced the history Clinton would make if she's elected president.

"We all understand what it will mean for our daughters and granddaughters when Hillary Clinton walks into the oval office as president of the United States of America," Biden said. "It will change their lives. My daughters and granddaughters can do anything any son or grandson can do and she will prove it."

Clinton "knows" he repeated over and over. And Donald Trump has no clue, he said.

Biden then tried to indict Trump by using one of his favorite words: "He's trying to tell us he cares about the middle class. Give me a break! That's a bunch of malarkey!"

Biden closed his speech by conjuring American exceptionalism.

"We do not scare easily," Biden said. "We never bow, we never bend, we never break when confronted with crisis. No, we endure, we overcome, and we always, always move forward. That's why I can say with absolute conviction, I am more optimistic about our chances today than when I was elected as a 29-year-old kid to the senate."

Update at 9:07 p.m. ET. Another Sit-In

NPR's Will Huntsberry reports there is a sit-in going on outside the arena. He reports:

"Democracy Spring activists are attempting to block an entrance to the convention. As the protestors have attempted to block entrances police have pushed and moved them out of the way. A small stream of attendees is currently being lead through around the protest. Currently there have been no arrests or detentions. Democracy Spring is a collective that wants to get dark money out of politics, have publicly funded elections and abolish super delegates."

Update at 9:02 p.m. ET. Panetta Interrupted:

Leon Panetta, the former CIA chief and secretary of defense, was interrupted by chants of "No more war!"

Panetta was trying to give a speech in which he praise Clinton for her smarts, strength and courage.

"I have worked alongside nine presidents, Republican and Democrat, all experienced, all believing in the U.S. role in world leadership and I can tell you this - that in this election, there is only one candidate for president who has the experience, the temperament, and the judgment to be Commander-in-Chief. And that's Hillary Clinton," he said before the chants began.

Panetta powered through the rest of his speech even as some delegates shouted, "Lies! Lies! Lies!" and turned on the flash on their phones to be more visible.

Update at 8:32 p.m. ET. A Moment Of Contrast:

Following a performance of "What the World Needs Now Is Love," the crowd erupted into shouts of "Love trumps hate! Love trumps hate!"

It was a moment of deep contrast to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland where the defining chant was "Lock her up! Lock her up!"

Update at 8:23 p.m. ET. Gabby Giffords:

Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona representative who was shot during a mass shooting in 2011, was given the first standing ovation of the night.

She spoke about the need for gun control and said that if anyone could stand up to the gun lobby, it would be Hillary Clinton.

"Hillary is tough," she said. "Hillary is courageous. She will fight to make our families safer. In the White House she will stand up to the gun lobby; that is why I am voting for Hillary.

"Speaking is difficult for me, but come January I want to say these two words: Madame President."

Update at 8:03 p.m. ET. 'Ending Gun Violence':

The crowd at the arena grew quiet as Christine Leinonen began speaking.

Leinonen's son, Christopher, was killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Plaintively, she pointed out that an assault weapons ban was in place when Christopher was born.

"Where was that common-sense gun law when he died?" she said. "I never want you to ask that question about your child. That's why I support Hillary Clinton."

Erica Smegielski, whose mother, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, was killed during a mass shooting, said that Clinton is the candidate to stand up to the gun lobby.

"I'm here alone, without my mother, while too many politicians cower behind the gun lobby instead of standing with American families," Smegielski said.

And what the world needs now, she said, is not another one of those politicians.

"We don't need our teachers and principals going to work in fear," she said. "What we need is another mother who's willing to do what's right. Whose bravery can live up in equal measure to my mom's."

Update at 7:46 p.m. ET. On Climate Change:

California Gov. Jerry Brown left no doubt that the Democratic Party believes that climate change is real.

"Trump says global warming is a hoax," Brown said. "I say Donald Trump is a fraud."

Update at 7:15 p.m. ET. Harry Reid Rips Republicans:

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid delivered perhaps the most stinging rebuke of Republicans and their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, that we've seen at the DNC. He said this about the Republican majority leader:

"I have never seen anything more craven than Mitch McConnell and what he has done to our democracy. His Republican Party decided that the answer to hardworking Americans' dreams is to slander our African-American president, stoke fear of Muslims, sow hatred of Latinos, insult Asians, and, of course, wage war against women."

And this about Trump:

"When Trump decided to run for president, he probably said to himself, 'I'm an egomaniac. I don't believe in science. I think women are inferior. Where would I feel at home?' "

And:

"Parents: You're right to worry about your children hearing what comes out of Donald Trump's mouth. Republicans: You should have been careful, also, because Donald learned it from watching you!"

Update at 7:07 p.m. ET. Excerpts From Obama's Speech:

The White House has released two excerpts from President Obama's speech. They show that Obama will paint an optimistic picture of the country.

"As I've traveled this country, through all fifty states; as I've rejoiced with you and mourned with you, what I've also seen, more than anything, is what is right with America," Obama will say. "I see people working hard and starting businesses; people teaching kids and serving our country. I see a younger generation full of energy and new ideas, unconstrained by what is, and ready to seize what ought to be."

Obama will also praise Clinton for having the experience and tenacity needed to be president.

"Even in the middle of crisis, she listens to people, and keeps her cool, and treats everybody with respect," Obama will say. "And no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits."

Update at 7:00 p.m. ET. Drama On The Floor:

The third day of the Democratic National Convention began with a little bit of procedural drama.

The convention took up a motion to nominate Tim Kaine as the party's vice presidential candidate. Rep. Marcia Fudge moved to approve the nomination by acclamation. Most of the delegates obliged and Kaine was officially nominated. But for about a minute, supporters of Bernie Sanders who oppose Kaine demanded a roll call vote.

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