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Obama's Grand Speech: Reason for Hope

It was a historic speech on a historic night--in a remarkable setting. A crowd of tens of thousands of Americans, filling an entire stadium in the middle of the country, waved American flags and signs calling for "Change." Never in the nation's history had more Americans attended such an event. Never before had an African-American accepted the presidential nomination of a major party in the United States. And the speech of Barack Obama matched the moment.

He connected his own history--the history of a not-quite-ordinary American family--to the mythical promise of America. His rhetoric soared--as usual--but it was tethered to reality: in particular, the stark differences between how Obama would approach the challenges the nation now faces and how John McCain would do so. Obama laced his criticism of the Bush years and the possible McCain years with a dose of populism, which gave portions of the speech a sharp edge. And he brought his pitch for hope and change down to the ground with a succinct description of policy ideas he would work for as president.

Obama, as convention dictates, began with a high-minded theme: America is a land of promise, but, he declared, that promise--especially for hardworking Americans--is in jeopardy, placing the nation at a critical juncture. "These challenges are not all of government’s making," he said. "But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush. America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this." Given that polls show that at least seven out of ten Americans--maybe more--believe the country is on the wrong track and a similar number of Americans disapprove of Bush, his criticism was not at all radical.

In one of the more important passages, Obama, taking a populist turn, made the case that his opponent does not understand this:

The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives--on health care and education and the economy--Senator McCain has been anything but independent. He said that our economy has made “great progress” under this President. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. And when one of his chief advisors--the man who wrote his economic plan--was talking about the anxiety Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a “mental recession,” and that we’ve become, and I quote, “a nation of whiners.”

A nation of whiners? Tell that to the proud auto workers at a Michigan plant who, after they found out it was closing, kept showing up every day and working as hard as ever, because they knew there were people who counted on the brakes that they made. Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third or fourth or fifth tour of duty. These are not whiners. They work hard and give back and keep going without complaint. These are the Americans that I know.

Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement? It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

Obama blasted McCain for embracing the "that old, discredited Republican philosophy--give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else." He proclaimed that it was time for GOPers, "to own their failure. It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States."

He did not say--as Hillary Clinton did during the primaries--that he was running to fight for you. His is still a campaign of collective action--us, not me-- and that might continue to make it hard for voters facing tough economic times to identify with Obama. (Some people desire a champion slugging for them, not a movement to join.) But on tax cuts, health care, outsourcing, energy independence, and education, Obama vigorously outlined the stark differences between him and McCain--and he presented those differences in language designed to appeal to working-class voters.

On national security, Obama ceded no ground to McCain. "If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next Commander-in-Chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have," he said. None of his arguments were new--he blasted McCain for being overly eager to go to war in Iraq before the job was done in Afghanistan--but he did so with great confidence. "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell--but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives," he remarked.

Obama sounded strong; he looked strong. "If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice--but it is not the change that America needs," he said. Obama warned McCain to stop questioning his patriotism: "I've got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first." And, he said, don't go pulling the same-old, Rove-like stunts, accusing Democrats of being nothing but tax-raisers and national security weaklings:

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America--they have served the United States of America.

Throughout the entire speech, Obama's delivery was powerful. He stuck with his now-familiar message of hope and change. He reiterated his call for a politics that transcends pettiness and distractions. But he really took it to the other side--issuing specific charges and offering specific ideas for policy changes. Obama still has one failing as a great speaker: he does not quite step out of the moment of the Grand Speech to talk directly to the individual on the couch who is watching and weighing. He seeks to inspire and attract support with political poetry--but there's a touch of abstraction to the exercise.

Nevertheless, what was in the speech was far more important than what might have been missing. Anyone watching could see that Obama has an economic vision. He showed he had no reluctance to challenge McCain on national security. He linked the policy debates of the moment to the noble currents of American history, noting that this day was the forty-fifth anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King Jr. He soared high. He punched hard. He was tough without being mean. It was a near-perfect--or maybe perfect--blend of positive and negative.

Can an acceptance speech make a difference in an election? This was one with the potential to do so. And as the Democrats' convention concluded with fireworks exploding at Denver's Invesco Field and stately orchestral music playing from the loudspeakers, Democrats were entitled to look at their once-improbable leader and say, Mission Accomplished. But the Republicans will have their chance to rip Obama apart at their convention next week--and in the weeks following that. This will be a fierce and bloody election. There will be no more big speeches for Obama, though the debates between the candidates could end up mattering much. Yet on a night when the fast trajectory of Obama's extraordinary life intersected with the slow trajectory of American history, Obama made a passionate and forceful case for himself, for his campaign, and for his view of America and what must be done to serve its citizens. He gave his supporters cause for hope.

Comments

Loopholes are everywhere.

What programs will Obama eliminate?

Posted by: Liberal Larry on 08/28/08 at 10:12 PM Respond

I would disagree that Obama did not say that this election was about "you", it was one of his central points and greatest applause lines. "this election has never been about me, its about you" - he said that pretty much word for word.

Posted by: onceler on 08/28/08 at 11:02 PM Respond

It was a perfect speech.

Posted by: disdaniel on 08/28/08 at 11:20 PM Respond

I think he did even more than you mentioned. In additional to the purely campaign and political functions his speech did something else:

He made the case for liberalism. He didn't apologize for it. He didn't flee from it, water it down or accept the framing of the last 30 years...

(as Kerry did... remember "reporting for duty"?)

Instead, Obama offered a vision of liberalism as the American Philosophy of the 21st Century.

His is an intellectual masterwork that pulled together threads I've seen him express in various speeches and talks... but this was his Thesis all together and expressed as a coherent whole.

He made a case for Liberalism as the American Promise that pulled together threads from the New Deal and Great Society Liberalism of FDR and JFK with the "Third Way" ideas of the Clintons in a way even Bill Clinton could never, or would never, fully dare to do (aka "government can't turn off the tv for you).

Into this, he pulled in the spiritual foundation of liberalism ("I am my brother's keeper") that marked the great strands of 19th Century progressivism and the Civil Rights-era.

This was fused into an overarching, cohesive, intellectually-honest and compelling vision for 21st Century Liberalism that can define the next American era.

It was a Masterwork .

Posted by: Ian Tepoot on 08/29/08 at 4:03 AM Respond

"This will be a fierce and bloody election."

Well, the GOP will try but so far as I can tell, McCain is just bloodying his fists hitting an target as strong as concrete.

Barack is no punching bag and he doesn't have to take the low road to win.

Posted by: capt on 08/29/08 at 5:48 AM Respond

Obama has already won the White House. There are far more democrats registering to vote for him this year than in any previous. Every republican knows they are ashamed of what they let happen to this country. Change is here, and not "Yes We Can" but YES WE WILL!

Posted by: It's Over for the Republicans on 08/29/08 at 6:18 AM Respond

I think Mr. Obama is too much of a corporate centrist to get my vote, BUT.....BUT....that was a powerful and convincing speech by any standard.

Had I not been sucked in by Bill Clinton's similar rhetoric in 1992 - after which he gave the country over to Wall Street - I'd probably get sucked in by Mr. Obama too!

Posted by: Mark on 08/29/08 at 6:59 AM Respond

So Mark,

Who does that leave for you if you think the dems will sell you to the corporate nazis? Nader?

Having watched the republicans for the past eight years, I see no other route for you, other than not to vote at all.

Posted by: artson on 08/29/08 at 8:48 AM Respond

Hey, voting independent is not no vote at all. If enough people voted for another party we could really shake up the 2 parties and maybe relax their death grip on American politics. If you're really tired of the same old same old, maybe you should stop betting on the same 2 horses. Political power in America is nearly a total monopoly. Unfortunately it's one area of American life that is not subject to competition at all. Instead of privatizing utilities and social security, wouldn't it be better to let people and ideas compete on a fair political playing field? The biggest problem with that is we don't really know what the playing field looks like because of so much secrecy and classification of information. Every candidate says exactly what they think people want them to say, but does what they have to do to get power. Do you really need to wait until the next president starts breaking promises and not reaching goals to be reminded of how this game works? All but 2 presidents have ended their terms with lower approval ratings than they began with. Stand by for history repeating itself.

Posted by: jdub on 08/29/08 at 9:40 AM Respond

Such an inspiring speech. I was blown away by the visionary plan he laid out in such great detail, and the sincerity in which he expressed it. His humble origins are something I can really relate to.

However, there was one aspect of the speech I did not feel comfortable about. When he was talking about his green plan to create 5 million new jobs, get off the foreign oil addiction in 10 years, and embrace solar and wind, he snuck in something that I did not like. He said he would pursue nuclear and clean coal technology. Sounds good to some perhaps, but as an engineer with a reasonable knowledge of both processes, as well as the risk of waste and problematic emissions with high carbon content / energy output, I was rather disheartened. I was hoping he would emphasize decentralized, renewable energy programs. I think it is unfortunate that he plays to those big corporate interests.

All in all, I would way rather vote for him if I lived in the state because I am convinced he would do a better job for the people of your country and the world would be a better place. Have I been caught up in the romanticization of it all? Probably, but I genuinely believe that he will stick to his roots and be the change that people want and needs to see in the world. Period.

Posted by: halley on 08/29/08 at 10:07 AM Respond

It was inspirational no matter what side of the fence you are on. It should motivates us as humans and as Americans to want to do better and improve ourselves.

I hope that it helps to enlighten those which are not.

Posted by: J on 08/29/08 at 10:39 AM Respond

I am a lifelong Democrat who thinks Obama is a sham and his speech was smoke and mirrors. I will be donating to and voting for McCain. I think you must be wishful thinking to see anything other than cut and paste his same old empty words.

Posted by: Linda Mac on 08/29/08 at 12:17 PM Respond

You said it all - "there is reason for hope"

Posted by: coppermoon on 08/29/08 at 1:14 PM Respond

Linda Mac - You're a liar. No lifelong Democrat would choose McCain over another Democrat. But by all means, vote for McSame.

Posted by: Nutz on 08/29/08 at 1:24 PM Respond

Linda Mac - You're a liar.
Nice ad hominem, based on opinion and unsupported by any shred of proof.

No lifelong Democrat would choose McCain over another Democrat.
And no lifelong Democrat would have chosen to vote for a grade B actor over another Democrat, but hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, did.

Posted by: Droolius Sneezer on 08/29/08 at 1:33 PM Respond

I'm dumbfounded by all the so-called democrats who think choosing McCain is the next-best thing to Hillary. I was devastated Hillary lost. She was my candidate. But I'd never consider voting for McCain. At least Obama and Clinton have similar ideals. I hope you'll change your mind, Linda Mac. I hope all the people still mourning Hillary's loss will wake up and see that their "I'll show you" attitudes are going to cost everyone a lot.

Posted by: kpaigel on 08/29/08 at 1:43 PM Respond

Do not know how any true Democrat could vote for McCain. I wanted Hillary in the worst way but would still campaign and work for Obama as I am a true Liberal Democrat. The Republicans are against everything I want in life and for my family.

Posted by: Marti on 08/29/08 at 1:51 PM Respond

Trying to define for the world what is a "True Democrat" is probably about as useful as people trying to define for the world what is a "True Christian".

Such definitions work for exactly One Person.
The one speaking.

Not every Democrat is a Liberal.
Not every Democrat is pro-abortion.
Not every Democrat is anti-2nd Amendment.
Not every Democrat thinks increasing our domestic oil drilling and refining capacity would be a bad idea.

Give up on the "Democrat Litmus Test", based on your own positions.

Get out of the echo chamber and you might find that there are other kinds of Democrats than the kind you happen to be.

Posted by: Droolius Sneezer on 08/29/08 at 2:05 PM Respond

There is a way to determine if you are a true Democrat or not.
If you go to the website dnc.org or for that matter rnc.org you will be able to read each of the parties' position on the issues and then determine which positions resonate with you. That will come as close as is humanly possible to determine which party's issues you relate to. I have and I know that I am a proud Democrat, an Obama supporter, but had Hillary been the candidate I would have supported her because I align with the position of the Democratic party on the issues important to me.

Posted by: Patsy on 08/29/08 at 4:36 PM Respond

If I felt that there were only two alternatives, Democrats or Republicans..., that Political America was strictly bi-polar, left-right, conservative-liberal, I'd agree with you.

But I don't.

There are other ways to find out where your real political heart lies.

Try this one, for instance.
www.3pc.net/matchmaker/quiz.html

It will match you against 7 different parties, and not just by chance, Dems & Repubs are side-by-side in the middle of the chart.

Posted by: Droolius Sneezer on 08/29/08 at 4:57 PM Respond

Hey Linda
Let me guess, your a huge Hillary supporter. She made a valiant effort but lost. Get over it.

Posted by: Bob Milin on 08/29/08 at 7:36 PM Respond

Why is that anytime someone has a different opinion than what the reader likes that everyone loses the focus of what is being discussed and starts name calling? Why can't someone have their freedom of speech without spitting criticism? I have no faith in any of these people to be a representative of the people. The money that they have spent on this campaign is beyond the conception of most of us! They are all a bunch of back biting liars! Hope is ludicrous in this bureaucratic chaos! It's out of our hands. It is by seeing different opinions that I am able to think it through and make a decision for myself. If I'm not mistaken, we are all in this together. Ben Franklin said, “If we do not hang together, we shall all assuredly hang separately."

Posted by: Mikki Franks on 08/29/08 at 9:06 PM Respond

I was very disappointed. There was a lot of blame and finger pointing at the Republicans. What happened to different kind of politics?

The same old promises about I am going to fix the economy and get us off foreign oil. The fact is America is a very divided country, at least amoung those that vote. We can make some incremental improvements, but no huge changes are possible without working with the Republicans.

America is controlled by big business and big government, and sad to say that will not change with Obama. It is up to each one of us to talk with our neighbors and find local solutions to problems. Even with the Republicans.

The faults with our country lie with us. No one likes to hear that, but it is true. As long as we sit back cast our votes and think we are done, nothing will change. I am as guilty as anyone. Is it too late? I hope not.

Posted by: Red on 08/30/08 at 11:11 AM Respond

For the people that complain about how Obama is just another neocon who will not change the country, well I have to say you are wrong. Maybe he wont change the downward spiral of the nations big business monopoly etc. But as a minority I feel that the greatest change he has accomplished (yet) has been the powerful force he has been in the African-American community. He has brought together a sector of the population that has always felt ostracized, and made them feel worthy and capable of changing this nation. So to all you nay-sayers, you have no idea the positive influence this man has had/will have on the future generations of African-Americans.

Posted by: Anna on 08/30/08 at 11:59 PM Respond

Anna, Obama isn't running for president of African-America.

He keeps chanting the mantra of "change" in the way government operates, without ever offering much in the way of specifics on what said "change" will entail.

Just as Kennedy may have made many Catholics proud when he became the first Catholic president, that by itself didn't do much to change Government for the better.

Anyway, Mother Jones writer Debra Dickerson says Obama isn't African American at all.

www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/01/22/obama/print.html

www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?ml_video=81955

Posted by: President Of What? on 08/31/08 at 9:36 AM Respond

Red, you've got a good head on your shoulders.

(probably a redheaded head, unless I miss my guess)

Posted by: GVC on 08/31/08 at 9:39 AM Respond

Barack Obama has essentially refocused his speech on the unrelenting battle between him and John McCain in the American political field. The Democratic candidate hasn’t made much progress in attacks against the Republican candidate. In his August 28 speech, which took place in Denver, Colorado, Obama reinforced his preference for a progressive campaign with clear ideas focused on American’s real problems— problems for which his opponents have a lot to answer as he said. Obama was authoritative and concrete before starting the final straight line in the race for the White House. He gave soul to its slogan of change by establishing concrete proposals on taxes, energy and education. Barack Obama has gone on the offensive in describing John McCain as an ideologue cut off from American reality, who does not understand the average American.
Once again Obama showed that love for his homeland, the United States of America, occupies first place in his heart:
“We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans — Democrats and Republicans — have built, and we are to restore that legacy”
Obama spent a stormy 8 months in a race for the Democratic nomination with Senator Hillary Clinton, but at the DNC, in a sharp turn from her previous position, Senator Clinton urged her supporters to back Obama, and vowed to make every effort to help drive Obama to victory. Former President Bill Clinton also expressed confidence in Obama’s preparedness for the Presidential seat. The succession to the rostrum of Ted Kennedy, Hillary and Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore and the Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden to support Obama reinforced the Democratic Party’s unity— a clear belt of security to accompany him in the race to the White House. A candidate who intends to set up new partnerships to neutralize any menace to 21st century progress (i.e. terrorism and nuclear proliferation, poverty and genocide, climate change and disease) is an ideal candidate for the White House. There are not only Americans who give themselves confidence for responses to their problems, but the rest of the world also sees its concerns reflected in this year’s race for the American Presidency. And this vision defines the American promise and dream that Obama wants to keep alive.
He ended with an honor to Martin Luther King, who 45 years earlier to the day, delivered his famous "I have a Dream" speech, and an appeal to America to keep their “hope alive.”
After such a speech, the expectations for McCain’s speech become very high, particularly since he has presented a VP nominee, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska and we will see an interesting campaign. All this is an advantage of the American politics.

Posted by: Mamoudou Kouyate on 09/01/08 at 7:49 AM Respond

I would encourage you to write to Sen. Obama if you really feel this way. He was our senator in Illinois, and it was surprising to my husband and I that he really reads his email. Even though I don't think we would get personal responses back now, as we did before - I think his people have a way of getting him peoples perspectives if they put heartfelt thought into communication to him.

Posted by: Judy on 09/02/08 at 9:49 PM Respond

Inspiring speech.

www.wearingobamaeveryday.com

Posted by: Chris on 09/09/08 at 6:24 AM Respond

This election has nothing to do with the issues. What Obama and his people have done is made this election about race.
What it has become is this. If you vote for Obama your o.k. If you do not vote for Obama you are racist. This is not what it is supposed to be about but I guess if your just trying to get what you want you take it any way you can get it.

Posted by: mike on 09/11/08 at 5:26 AM Respond

obama is another lawyer using lawyer tricks...talk a lot and say nothing.

I am going to laugh so hard when he concedes defeat in the election!

Posted by: Robert McArthur on 09/13/08 at 10:59 AM Respond