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Opening the first night of the Democratic National Convention, San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro became the first Latino Keynote speaker in the history of Democratic conventions. In his remarks, Castro shared his personal family history as he extolled President Obama. Also taking to the stage was first lady Michelle Obama, who in a similar fashion shared her life story and her relationship with her husband. Tonight’s line-up includes former president Bill Clinton. The convention, which is being held at an outdoor venue – Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, goes through Thursday. On that final night when President Obama will formally accept his party’s nomination for reelection, the DNC is will move to the Time Warner Cable Arena because of the threat of thunder and lightning.

Contrasting the rhetoric from last week’s Republican National Convention, DNC speakers are expected to employ language intended to court their liberal base. While the GOP reveled in blaming President Obama for attacking corporate success, Democrats are emphasizing the importance of the government in helping Americans reach and stay in the middle class.

But while the Democratic Party has identified itself as the party of the people, its actions reveal a much closer alliance with corporate America than is expected. Describing the Democratic Party as “History’s Second Most Enthusiastic Capitalist Party,” writer and analyst Lance Selfa, in a new edition of his book, Democrats: A Critical History,” examines the little-discussed history of the liberal party from its reliance on corporate campaign donations, to its relationship with social movements, and its defense of American empire.

GUEST: Lance Selfa, writes regularly about American politics and current affairs for the Socialist Worker newspaper and the International Socialist Review. A revised and updated edition of his acclaimed book The Democrats: A Critical History was just released this year.