Obama's Speech Posted by Michael Cohen

Ok, I know I'm in the tank for Obama already, but the speech he gave last night was simply extraordinary. One of the best campaign speeches I've ever heard. Can you imagine being a voter who doesn't know much about Obama seeing that performance? He just seemed so damn presidential. Hard to believe three years ago he was a State Senator from Illinois. Anyone who says that Obama doesn't have the experience to be President, I would say "watch this speech." It was his introduction to millions of Americans who may know little about him. He was under enormous pressure to do well - and the guy hit one out of the park.

If he wins this thing I think we'll all look back at that speech as the moment he clinched it.

The speech worked because it did all the things that a great campaign address should do. It provided voters with a truly hopeful and inspiring vision for the future, which I can't say either Edwards or Clinton provided. Listening to Obama one got a real sense that if he wins we're on the verge of genuine political change in this country. Along those lines, it was one of most unifying message you're ever likely to hear from a presidential candidate. For months people have been arguing that Obama's problem is that he's not angry enough; that he is not energizing pissed off Democrats who hate Bush. Yesterday, he proved how silly that argument really is. There was not a note of rancor in that speech; no us vs. them arguments and the only real strawman he provided was one sure to energize plenty of Americans - the status quo.

But above all, Obama was able to cast his victory in terms far larger then himself. Listening to Obama speak one got the sense that this win was a vote for change as opposed to simply being a vote for Barack Obama. That's not easy to do, and I walked away from the speech feeling good about Obama, but better about America. This is movement politics at its best and frankly not since maybe Reagan in 1980 have I seen someone do it as well as Obama did last night.

And most of all I loved the story Obama told about a Cedar Rapids woman working her way through college, but who "still believes this county will give her a chance to live out her dreams." Call it cheesy, but if there is one idea that runs through this country it's that of the American Dream; the notion that any American can, through hard work and determination, achieve their dreams. For us jaded "very, serious people" it may seem like a cliche, but for millions of Americans it's how they view their country and its the most basic American value. And frankly unlike John Edwards, who in his concession continued his assault on corporate greed and argued that the deck was stacked against the middle class, Obama seems to understand, like Bill Clinton did in 1992, that people want to "believe in hope."

Of course, lots of things can happen between now and Election Day; and I would certainly be loath to count out Hillary Clinton, but last night was pretty special - and that was one damn good speech.

Update (From Ilan):   Just thought we should actually add video of the speech to this post

Comments

[Cal]

And frankly unlike John Edwards, who in his concession continued his assault on corporate greed and argued that the deck was stacked against the middle class, Obama seems to understand, like Bill Clinton did in 1992, that people want to "believe in hope."

Edwards did finish second, so quite a few people must find some hope in his pitch. And I suspect that a lot more people will agree with his message after the subprime crisis plays out -- unfortunately after the primary.

Inequality right now is at 1920's levels. Maybe I'm wrong about Obama, but I'm skeptical that a man who takes so much money from the financial industry will bring us "genuine political change."

[creditos]

Obama for president

If he can win in Iowa and do well in New Hampshire with Independent support, Obama will have earned the opportunity for a final appeal to Democrats. As he does so, he will undoubtedly tout his then-proven ability to attract Independents and attract new voters into the process. That is why Clinton’s status as frontrunner will be more vulnerable.

Carlos Menéndez
http://www.segurosmagazine.es

[Mike M.]

Obama gave a great speech yes, but it was painfully short on specfics, just as he's been throughout the whole campaign. Edwards' was very specific, going so far as to name a girl who died because her insurance company refused to give her a liver transplant. That's a problem that needs to be solved, something that can't be allowed to happen again. Obama's ""change" talk is just too general. I'm sure you know better than me what works and it's likely that win or lose, Obama does better than Edwards. But I fear that as president he'll spend more time trying to find some sort of reconciliation with the other side than he'll spend actually solving problems.

[Neil]

Cohen discovers what everyone else knew, Obama is a charismatic public speaker who draws people in with reason and elevates them with high ideals. You might as well ask, is he the next John F Kennedy? (I hate that frame: is he the next Michael Jordan?, the next FDR?, the next Patrick Fitzgerald?)

Obama won one primary by 8 points. The most important takeaway is that Democrats caucused in record numbers and Republicans stayed home. Guiliani, the national security candiate, is not #1 or #2 in Iowa.

Cohen is ready to crown Obama. Although I surely don't mind the enthusiasm for the democratic candidates, let's let the process play out.

[Watch Reaper Online]

You're right, Cal. I think with Edwards finishing second it's a good plus for him and his supporters. But for me, he still has a lot to prove!

[Peace]

Obama puts both Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan to shame in his speech making ability.

[MA]

If Obama do this all the way, and why shouldn't he, it makes me a little bit sad, because I'm a conservative. But it's inspiring anyway! ;)

[MA]

Nice review btw. I agree completely, I think.

[Tina]

This article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the Acropolis Review from a while back suggests Obama also has surprising support in the South. It'll be interesting to see the 2008 fundraising numbers when they're released.

http://acropolisreview.com/2007/11/republican-congressional-delegation-on.html

[Janet Reno]

Obama’s efforts to connect to the Republican Party, specifically Bush, and Dick Chaney, of the Halliburton Company, dates back to the Presidents Grandfather, Prescott Bush, and indeed Chaney was once an executive officer of Halliburton.

The American military pounds Iraq with Artillary, bombs, and the like, destroying large sections of cities, and infra-structures, then Halliburton comes in to rebuild. Halliburton and Halliburton associated companies have raked in ten’s of billions.

Obama is just like the BIG HALIBURTAN. Haliburton has contracted to build detention centers in the U.S. similiar to the one in Quantanammo Bay, Cuba. Halliburton does nothing to earn the Two Dollars for each meal an American Serviceman in Iraq eats.

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

Halliburton was scheduled to take control of the Dubai Ports in The United Arab Emiirate. The deal was canceled when Bush was unable to affect the transfer of the American Ports.

Now we see what some might suspect as similiar financial escapading from the Democrats.

Two years ago, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity gave a $50 million contract to a start-up security company - Companion- owned by now-indicted businessman (TONY REZKO) Tony Rezko and a onetime Chicago cop, Daniel T. Frawley, to train Iraqi power-plant guards in the United States. An Iraqi leadership change left the deal in limbo. Now the company, Companion Security, is working to revive its contract.
Involved along with Antoin “Tony” Rezco, long time friend and neighbor of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and former cop Daniel T. Frawley, is Aiham Alsammarae. Alsammarae was accused of financial corruption by Iraqi authorities and jailed in Iraq last year before escaping and returning here.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON --
Recently, Obama's campaign staff have been vetted by the IRS to disclose his connection to the criminal money generating underworld. Besides, his connections to the REZCO MAFIA types, his up-coming tax fraud charges — Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and disclose Obama's MUSLIM Farrakhan mob connection to Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama's spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright's daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said "truly epitomized greatness." That man is Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan and Chicago's Trinity United Church are trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. Obama should stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke "GLORK" Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He is MAD!!! --

OBAM YOU'RE NO JFK --

"GLORK" Obama looks like Alfred E. Newman: "Tales Calculated To Drive You." He is a MUSLIM "Glork" He's MAD!!! Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot of Mad. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman after he spotted it on the bulletin board in the office of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff, later a contributor to various magazines created by Kurtzman.
Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek.

Michelle Obama should be ashamed.

"GLORK" Michelle Obama should be ashamed of her separatist-racist connection to Farrakhan and Chicago's Trinity United Church trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. If Michelle Obama new what her husband -- the Hope-A-Dope, Fonster Monster -- Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama did in Harlem, she would wash her wide-open, Hus-suey loving MUSILM mouth out, with twenty-four (24) mule-team double-cross X-boX-BorraX. He is a MUSLIM "Glork" It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He's MAD!!!

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

[candice]

I'm not really sure who i'm gonna vote for but one thing remains...these people dont write their own stuff!!!! Obama didnt write that speech, someone else did & he mearly read it with passion. He did touch on a few things i liked but the fact that his minister OF 20 YEARS is a white-american hater!!!!! I am so sick of the race card!!! i wish everyone would turn purple!!!!! then what would we have to talk about...the shade of purple?!!!

[Latino Voter]

There surely is more to a presidential candidate than a good speech. Populists and radical clergymen can sound very appealing through speeches, offering all sorts of good ventures to their constituents. The fact is that Obama listened to hate-filled rethoric from Reverend Wright for 20 years. He was keenly aware of the foundations of the Trinity Church - Liberation Thelogy. This type of preaching has destroyed countries -- just refer to the civil wars that Central America endured during the 1980's because of the social hatred promoted by Catholic priests following this Liberation Theology that the Trinity Church also follows. I have heard nothing to convince me that Obama is not tainted by all this. I am not going to risk having a President of the United States who has been listening for this type of rethoric for years and never until now "condemned" it.

[Lue Blacknell]

This is why this country will never be what it could be -because there is so much hatred from you white folk-you hated to find out that there are some Black people that hate you too! We will all perish---- Even though Eve was Black-check out your DNA!!!!!!!!

[Kyle Huwer]

His speech sure did sound pretty. However, oh so hollow. WHAT is he going to do to change America? HOW is he going to accomplish those changes?

All the people who are screaming (out loud or in their heads) for Obama I think are tad-bit crazy. Well, maybe not crazy. I just think that for someone to be such an advocate of change that you need to have some sort of mission, some sort of plan. It's just like he is rallying the troops to go out into battle, but when they are all riled up, he (the leader) has no game plan, no maps of the battlefield. That is dangerous, IMHO.

[Kyle Huwer]

His speech sure did sound pretty. However, oh so hollow. WHAT is he going to do to change America? HOW is he going to accomplish those changes?

All the people who are screaming (out loud or in their heads) for Obama I think are tad-bit crazy. Well, maybe not crazy. I just think that for someone to be such an advocate of change that you need to have some sort of mission, some sort of plan. It's just like he is rallying the troops to go out into battle, but when they are all riled up, he (the leader) has no game plan, no maps of the battlefield. That is dangerous, IMHO.

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