Analysis: Effective, Tough, But Supporters Say Work Remains
Barack Obama gave an effective speech this evening that could answer critics on several counts:
-- For those who say Obama has not shown a toughness or willingness to take it to John McCain, Obama not only labeled the senator as out of touch with the lives of regular Americans, he challenged the GOPer to abandon a politics that involves the smearing of a rival's character and questioning of his patriotism. (A politics that McCain has employed with some success in recent weeks, as he has charged that Obama is just a celebrity, nothing more.)
-- For those who say Obama has not effectively linked McCain with George W. Bush, he did so tonight, mentioning the president seven times and Vice President Dick Cheney once. And then there was this damning Katrina reference: "We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty, that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes."
And this: "John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. ... I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change."
-- For those who say Obama isn't a patriot, he issued praise for his McCain's sacrifice for country, but a call to his rival to stop politicizing service."I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain," Obama said. "The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and nbled together and some died together under the same proud flag.
"They have not served a Red America or a Blue America," Obama said, harkening back to the 2004 convention speech that launched his national career, "they have served the United States of America. So I've got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first."
McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said Obama's record is thin, his readiness to lead still a question.
"Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was so fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama," Bounds said in a statement. "When the temple comes down, the fireworks end, and the words are over, the facts remain: Senator Obama still has no record of bipartisanship, still opposes offshore drilling, still voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year, and still voted against funds for American troops in harm's way. The fact remains: Barack Obama is still not ready to be President."
With the party's unity a subject of much debate during this week in Denver, Hillary Clinton issued a prompt statement lauding the specificity of Obama's policy agenda and echoing his call for new leadership in Washington:
"Barack Obama’s speech tonight laid out his specific, bold solutions and optimistic vision for our nation and our children's future. His speech crystallized the clear choice between he and Senator McCain. Four more years of the same failed policies or a leader who can tackle the great challenges we face: revitalizing our economy and restoring our standing in the world. I am proud to support Senator Obama, our next President of the United States and Joe Biden, our next Vice President of the United States."
Democrats crowding the floor of a confetti-littered Invesco Field offered mostly glowing praise for the senator's speech, while others were realistic about the challenge the party faces against a formidable and respected GOP nominee.
"We're just floored -- there was never a time, never a moment that felt so important and made us want to give a little more, go a little further," said Jon Kaiman, formerly a Clinton delegate from New York now supporting the nominee. "He gave us the confidence to do that. I'm proud to be a Democrat, and I'm proud to be an American."
As Republicans gear up for the announcement of McCain's running mate tomorrow and the launch of the GOP's convention Monday in St. Paul, Minn., others said they know Democrats can't bask in the glow of this historic day.
"We're just ready to go back and get busy," said Ian Davis, a delegate from Austin, Tx.
LaVerne Richards, a Houston delegate who said she still remains concerned about party unity, put it more succinctly. "Work, baby," she said. "We have lots of work to do."
(JENNIFER SKALKA and LAURA MARRAST)
the American style of politics is so different, but back here in Kenya since all these campaigns for the US presidency started in Obama i have seen Americans hope again,yearn for a better tommorow, a brighter future for their children. but greatest of all of them was Obama determination to lead a nation that so many across thw world had lost respect in, that so many had written off as being a racist society and that the white house is only for a white president. Day in day out we hear people talk of experience to be president, and i ask myself is their a book with rules on who to elect as president, does a war veteran with all due respect make a better choice of president?seriously...many politicians mostly promise so much and never deliver, when Bush was sworn in both times as president of the US he made promise and 8 years down the line he has taken the great nation to the dogs, i dont need to count the unwarranted war on Iraq, i see the same notions as of Bush in Mc Cain.let those trying to descredit him give us sobstance experience and his Celebrity status arent anything he automatically becomes a celebrity because he is a leader,and one the world over everyone is watching, emulating looking upto and a real role model. and to the rest of the world i believe he is fresh air to an already stale country, the man to take it to his glory!!!!!!!!
I look foward to a change in our country. This is a dream that has nothing to do with anything but character. It says that regardless of who you are or where you come from you deserve the same opportunities as the privileged few. I never thougt I would see the day we are all literally considered equal. Man, woman, white, black, asian, latin. We are 1 (ONE).
Obama gave an inspiring speech. However, his ranting about wealthy corporations with huge profits doesn't make sense. Aren't corporations allowed to prosper in a democracy? When disaster hits, it is these same corporations such as Miller Brewing that deliver bottled water to affected regions. As for privatizing Social Security, there was never any mention of doing away with the current system, just offering young workers a choice. Offering people a choice is surely an Obama ideal, isn't it? Obama made his point about inclusiveness when deciding his speech should be in a stadium.
Tens of thousands saw it firsthand.
If Obama gets elected president, Hillary will not stand a chance of being president for 8 more years, since the incumbent most always gets re-elected. Sorry Hillary- but even with all your experience which this man does NOT have, unfortunately you don't stand a chance of making it in.
Obama gave an inspiring speech. However, his ranting about wealthy corporations with huge profits doesn't make sense. Aren't corporations allowed to prosper in a democracy? When disaster hits, it is these same corporations such as Miller Brewing that deliver bottled water to affected regions. As for privatizing Social Security, there was never any mention of doing away with the current system, just offering young workers a choice. Offering people a choice is surely an Obama ideal, isn't it? Obama made his point about inclusiveness when deciding his speech should be in a stadium.
Tens of thousands saw it firsthand.
McCain's pick of Palin, a woman with very little executive experience, a woman who has approved a 26 billion dollar oil pipeline to Canada instead of the United States shows that McCain's decision was made from an adlolescent place of "I'll show you mentallity" instead of one of wisdom and judgment and will be a disastor! Maybe McCain really is senile and confused and incapable of making sound judgments in light of the fact that he is 72 years old and has health issues and if something was to happen to him, this 44 year old woman would be in charge of the highest office in the land with the many huge problems facing us today. And, his argument that Barack has no experience And Is not Ready is out the door, his strongest argument against Barack.
However, in his evil thinking to pull Hillary women from Barack with no fact as to the ability of this woman to lead shows a very adolescent way of thinking and as his first executive decision, a disaster!
Warren,
The problem with too much corporate power is when it gets an unfair advantage over the rest of us. It gets unfair access to government officials and sets the agenda that benefits them over the interest of the public. There is nothing wrong with corporate profits but there needs to be a level playing field. We are finding that corporations are abusing there power to an unearthedly extent - so this is from our media, our energy, our environment, our healthcare, our security, our communications.
In every case - large corporations are preventing meaningful reform by promoting fear and slanting elections towards candidates that will only benefit them.
So - eventually - you and I are the losers - we have less choice in what we see in the news, we have poor quality products imported from China - killing the innovation of the American worker, poor job benefits because corporations want to pay their CEO's bags of money - whereas they prevent unions and wage raises for you and me.
Please start reading up on this issue - there are some real good sites on the internet. Go on the different liberal and conservative blogs - and please try to understand what's going on here. You will never find out from Sean and Rove and Rush Limbaugh - they are getting richer by the hour-selling us their lies.