Colorado GOP Senate candidate borrows from Obama to zing him, mocks Hillary Clinton's pantsuits

Darryl Glenn speaks at the Republican National Convention

(Image credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

published 19 July 2016

The Republican challenger to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Darryl Glenn, got a prime speaking slot on the first night of the Republican National Convention, and he made the most of it. He began by explaining why he, a black man, was a Republican. "The Democratic Party is the party of handouts and after over seven years of hope and change, the only thing we have left is change in our pocket." He kept up the quips, saying of Hillary Clinton: "And you all know that she loves her pantsuits... But we should all send her an email telling her she deserves an orange jump suit."

Glenn also criticized black leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and the Black Lives Matter movement. "Frankly, somebody with a nice tan needs to say this: All lives matter," he said. He also borrowed from President Obama's breakout 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, saying, "This is not about black America, white America or brown America, this is about the United States of America."

In 2004, Obama was talking about red America and blue America, but he went on to win his Senate race. So maybe if imitation is a form of flattery, Glenn is really paying Obama a compliment?

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.