When President Obama is set to deliver a major speech for a national audience, he faces the unfortunate hurdle of high expectations. Americans have come to expect every speech to soar with inspirational rhetoric, leaving supporters -- and maybe even a few detractors -- with goose bumps.
By this standard, I've seen many suggest Obama's convention address fell short last night, because the speech didn't manage to levitate him, his audience, and the arena. But what I saw was something else -- this Obama, compared to the one from four years ago, is a little older, a little grayer, and a little wiser. He's now less lofty and more grounded, less youthful and more mature.
In Charlotte last night, we didn't see a candidate; we saw a president.
One of the keys to the speech was establishing the presidential campaign as a race of wildly different visions. For much of the year, the Republicans' goal was to simply make 2012 a referendum on the incumbent -- if you're not satisfied with the status quo, vote for the challenger, no matter who he is or what he's offering.
Obama sought to put that to rest once and for all -- he used the word "choice" or "choose" literally 20 times -- telling the audience the truth: "[W]hen all is said and done, when you pick up that ballot to vote, you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. Over the next few years, big decisions will be made in Washington, on jobs, the economy; taxes and deficits; energy, education; war and peace, decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and our children's lives for decades to come. And on every issue, the choice you face won't be just between two candidates or two parties. It will be a choice between two different paths for America."
What's more, I was struck by how forward-thinking the speech was. In my notes before Obama began speaking, I made two columns: one for his defense of his record, another for his critiques of Romney/Ryan. What I actually needed was a third column to document what the president intends to do if given a second term, including combatting the climate crisis and "some nation-building right here at home."
But Obama's overarching point was a spirited defense of his vision of government, which he summarized in one word: "citizenship."
If the driving debate of the American experiment is the conflict between our individualism and our sense that we're all in this together -- you've all read Our Divided Political Heart, right? -- this was the president's opportunity to make the case for the latter. A week after Republican convention speakers rejected the very idea of activist public institution providing a foundation for shared prosperity, Obama used his speech to push back.
"[W]e also believe in something called citizenship -- a word at the very heart of our founding, at the very essence of our democracy; the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.
"We believe that when a CEO pays his autoworkers enough to buy the cars that they build, the whole company does better.
"We believe that when a family can no longer be tricked into signing a mortgage they can't afford, that family is protected, but so is the value of other people's homes, and so is the entire economy.
"We believe the little girl who's offered an escape from poverty by a great teacher or a grant for college could become the next Steve Jobs, or the scientist who cures cancer, or the President of the United States, and it's in our power to give her that chance.
"We know that churches and charities can often make more of a difference than a poverty program alone. We don't want handouts for people who refuse to help themselves, and we certainly don't want bailouts for banks that break the rules. We don't think the government can solve all our problems. But we don't think that the government is the source of all our problems, any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we're told to blame for our troubles.
"Because America, we understand that this democracy is ours.... As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It's about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government."
After speakers in Tampa spent three days telling Americans they are on their own, they better hope they have wealthy parents with disposable income, and they should rely on vouchers and coupons once the pillars of our society have been privatized, Obama's call for national responsibility was most welcome.
I don't know whether the president left viewers feeling as elated as, say, the "Yes, We Can" speech, but I was nevertheless satisfied with the address that was equal parts sober and hopeful, serious and optimistic.
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This is well put Steve. I was expecting soaring rhetoric as a bookend for Clinton's good ol' boy wonk-speech. Instead what we got was "This is what we stand for. This is what we're going to do."
And he (re)introduced issues that he's going to focus on in a second term. I was most heartened by his mention of climate change as this is going to be the defining issue of my children's lives. We need to roll up our sleeves and get going on this in a big way.
There is no question that this election offers two competing visions for America. The president did a good job in communicating that to the American people in his speech. You cannot argue that Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and the Republican Party truly believe this country is in decline and must be made a smaller and weaker country to appease the Tea Party radicals that want to destroy our government. Mitt thinks that success can only, translate to wealth, from fortunes to the number of cars or homes you own, that if you haven't gotten rich by now than something is wrong with you and you don;t deserve a shot at the American Dream. This is a message paid for by the rich secret donors and corporate money men backing Romney's campaign, and the president did well in pointing that out to voters. - principled progressive
For 3 days we heard speeches aimed at "The Faithful".
Last night, the President gave a speech to the Nation.
AMEN.
President Obama shared a vision of the America that I watched grow during my 64 yrs. Yes we have problems, yes we are individuals and have differences, some major, but we are all Americans with the opportunity to maintain our country as the envy of the world. The entire convention reinforced values over valuables, humanity over profit and honor over selfishness.
"Because America, we understand that this democracy is ours.... As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It's about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government."
"Ask not, what your country can do for you..." Definitely echos here. And I gotta say, Michelle's awesome fashion sense does seem to mirror Jackie Kennedy's, too.
A more mellow speech than I was expecting too, and no doubt that was deliberate. I am thinking, aside from appearing more presidential, it was also to avoid the right from trotting out the "angry black man" insinuations.
I don't think this is a time for "barn burners" Just a reasonable adult in the room approach to the mendacity and lies of the Romney campaign.
Clinton was the 'barn burner', and it was something that needed to be done. It set the stage for Obama's reasonable approach and together the message was very effective. No way should the Dems just roll over and ignore the lies without addressing truth and fact.
Now we can all look forward to another day of frantic spinning, desperate attempts at deflection, and the wonderful sound of Republican heads exploding. :}
To me the November question is simple:
Will the American electorate demonstrate enough Collective Wisdom to vote for the adult in the room, and all the down ballot candidates in his party? -Kevo
After the soaring speeches by Michele, Bill, and many others, Obama's job was to bring everything back down to earth, to reality.
He gave an excellent speech.
of course this is a choice, and the choice is obvious.
the President and VP Biden.......Obama/Biden all the way
The president had me in tears last night. I expected awesomeness and that's exactly what I heard. Our president has it right. He understands what America strives to be and he has a vision to move us closer. He left me speechless.
My most lasting memory of the DNC will be the delegates. They represent all of America. People of all colors, nationalities, and economic class, men and women, straight and gay. It was beautiful to see!
Citizenship. What a beautiful word. It is one of those special words that has wide appeal. I imagine citizenship is one of those words that always gains high favorables with undecided voters. It is also a word that has a very special meaning with minority voters.
I expect to hear the word citizenship a great deal from TeamObama and Democrats as we move towards November 6. There is no better word than citizenship to use against a candidate who refuses to release his tax records, has off-shore bank accounts and refuses to ask the richest one percent to share in the sacrifice.
Not two different visions for America, but two different visions of Americans.
Republicans see Americans as immature children: selfish, resentful, lacking attention spans, unable to delay gratification, eager to believe in fantasies and stories, unable to separate facts from falsehoods.
Democrats see Americans as adults: mature, conscious of limitations, determined to work through difficulties, conscious of where they came from and how they got here and where they're going, capable of reason when presented with the facts.
Maybe expecting the best of Americans, rather than the worst, will at long last prove to be the winning strategy?
I am curious to know why no one mentions the rationale behind the opposition to Obamacare aka The Affordable Healthcare Act. It boils down to the bottom line. If you own a hospital you make more in government subsidies and tax write offs for uninsured patients than you do for insured patients. Insurance companies dictate what they will pay for a procedure period. It's all about profitability.
If there's one thing I know, it's that uninsured patients were not, and are not, a profit center for hospitals.
Does 2 plus 2 equal 4 in your world? Because your "economics lesson" makes even less sense than the usual Republican horse manure.
Why are you so angry little man?
Clearly the commentaries in this blog favor and approve president Obama's speech, after all this is liberal heaven, but is it enough to sway even one "conservative" Fox News monger? Well, you are smart, you know the answer, if not you wouldn't be here... Polarization is the root of all misunderstandings. Thanks for the listen!
Sure, most of us are 'partisan'. But we are also awake, alert, and have been around the block a time or two!
There was no joy in
Mudville, Tampa, for mightyCaseyMitt struck out.Contrast that yawn festival to the past 3 days. If you are a "conservative" Fox News monger" you just might be swayed. Everyone loves a winner, and wants to join the parade.
Mitt has 8 weeks to sell us his vision of America- better get goin', Governor!
No conservative Fox News watcher is voting for Obama.
Well, okay, statistically, that's not true. Some will do it by mistake. Some will do it just because they hate Romney THAT MUCH. Some will do it for reasons totally unfathomable to me. Random variance happens.
But, in terms of meaningful numbers of votes, and for all intents and purposes, no conservative Fox News watcher is voting for Obama.
So, given that, the question is whether a) people already inclined to vote for Obama are now more likely to show up at the polls and b) whether that sliver of "undecideds" who watch conventions to help them make up their minds are more likely to vote for Obama. And, yeah, I think this convention, and the speech last night, moved the needle on both of those.
An elevator in every garage?
I thought that my President was wonderful, he offered this nation a vision of what WE can BE and what WE can (& must) do together! Frankly after watching this convention last night I really knew that the ADULTS showed up and showed out!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!
At the end of the RNC, you got to see Clint Eastwood dress down an empty chair that was apparently telling him to @!$%# himself. At the end of the DNC, you got to see the President stand up and make a Presidential speech.
I think this is the clearest choice in a generation.
The Democrat's positions aren't all that different from what they have been for more than a generation, but the Republicans' are even more extreme than they have ever been before.
Nate Silver over at fivethirtyeight.com (ok, now he's at the NYTimes blog, but I still think of him as running his own show) has an excellent analysis on how the Democratic Party doesn't have to convince Republicans, just get out a larger share of their base and we will win hands down.
Last night, Rachel called herself "a civics nerd" and was almost giddy that the word "citizenship" had managed to find its way into the core of a presidential campaign speech.
Me too.
Because for the last two decades, the core Republican ideology has become openly hostile and is now actively derisive of the entire concept of citizenship that was at the very heart of the Founders' conception of how a country without a king would work.
First, foremost, and above all, the Founders were the products of classical education. They were steeped in the histories of Rome and ancient Greece and the ideal of citizenship, of shared obligations to the polity and public-spirited participation in public life, was at the heart of their project. Back when I was a little kid in the early 70s, "citizenship" was still something they taught in school. We had elementary texts that taught us that we had obligations to the rest of society and film strips synched to vinyl records (kind of a primitive Powerpoint presentation, for you younger folks who've never seen a film strip) that dared to tell us that paying taxes was an obligation and, however painful, a good thing.
And, as best I can tell, all of that stuff somehow became too "controversial" to teach and it all got watered down and washed away and now the party with the word "Republic" in its name openly sneers at the notion. They think roads and bridges are parasitic boondoggles. They think taxes are outright theft. They think military service is a fine, great and noble thing for poor people to do.
One of our two major political parties had declared war on the entire concept of social contract but pointing that out is considered out of bounds.
Most excellent, Sir!
Here is the truth; There are two types of Republicans who oppose this President, first are those who are against the president and are completely in the dark. They have no desire to become enlightened. They would support Daffy Duck as a presidential nominee if he was the Republican running against this president. They watch Fox news and nothing else and it would take a life changing experience or a sledge hammer to change their minds. Then there are the ones who know what they are doing and all they want is a puppet in the white house who can be manipulated and bought just like the last Republican President. Mitt Romney is just what they are looking for. The problem is there is going to be a debate and those who are undecided will get to see the President wipe the floor with a Mitt, and the vice President send Ryan-a-cryin!
Ignorance and Greed are the only opposing forces in this reelection and if the greed had it's way and got Romney elected it would only produce more ignorance. The only way to stamp out this republican kudzu is to reelect President Obama so we can educate more young people which is the only poison that works against ignorance.
I thought bringing up "citizenship" was truly important. That's a word and a concept I was taught at an early age to love and respect, as in "A citizen's duty is to... " There were many things listed. Over the years I have distilled all of them in my mind to "It's a citizen's duty to serve and support and protect the community's values, in order to promote one's own."
Often it's said one is supposed to be willing to "die for your country." As someone who was once in a situation where that was not some distant intellectual concept, I gave that one some thought at the time, and have so since. I think the president very masterfully put forward what part of a country one is supposed to be willing to die for: not what it is, but what it can become. Consider it that way, and "serving and supporting and protecting the community's values" even to the point of giving one's life becomes a very positive act.
"Citizenship", a sense of individual responsibility to the community for the common good, with the the result of improving the individual good thereby, has been at the root of every experiment in self-government going back to the Athenian Republic. It's something that hasn't been talked about in recent years, to the point where I think many might find what I say here "quaint" - and I think that lack of thought and talk and action about that word lies at the heart of our problem.
So thank you Mr. President for calling to our "better angels."
My husband made an interesting comment after he saw Obama's speech- he said it helped him understand the difference between the two candidates. They clearly have different views on where this country is going. He stated the difference like this: Obama is trying to reassert American supremacy among the world markets, while Romney is moving toward true globalization because of his faith in investment and money in general. Romney genuinely believes that that is the way forward, while Obama truly believes he is advocating the proper course moving forward. Intentions are good on both sides, but how you see the future will dictate how you vote this election. It was interesting to hear to me, and I thought I would post it here to see what other people thought. I think he hit on something, but I am having a hard time coming up with words to describe it. Wondering if anyone had any thoughts.
I am not sure I understand your husband's point. The election is about the course of the country and the world for future - one is stagnant giving everything to the rich hoping it will trickle down and create jobs as chauffeurs, cooks, maids, etc... the other investing in the future, teaching kids, re-educating adults to take jobs of the future. Where do you get American supremacy vs globalization.
Obama wants to have America as the greatest of the great (not militarily) - and not fall further behind China and 14 other countries because we don't invest in education and technology. Obama sees a global economy and is trying to secure America's place in it. In the near future there is Green Energy, High-speed rail, etc... - which other countries are investing in - and developing the technologies of the future.
Romney's plan invests in a larger military - that's "his" view of American Supremacy. We go back to Bush, to a place where every other country is our enemy - and war beats diplomacy.
I think he was talking about how Romney views investments vs Obama's investments. When Romney talks about investments, he is referring for the most part to actual investments. He sees the way forward through stocks and the world market where it doesn't matter where you come from as long as you bring the dough. That is the globalizing force that has changed politics so much over the past decade or two. My husband argued that this is why Romney's policies invest in the upper class so extremely. Because money is the equilizing force, he needs to appeal to those with lots of it.
Obama sees investments as using money to put it into people, who maybe don't make as much individually, but combined provide a greater force for change and opportunity. That is the more traditional view of America, he argues. That people make America great and not the money that they have or do not have.
I hope that makes sense. By the way, we both agree with Obama's viewpoint much more than Romney, but I had never really before considered the difference in the valuation of money vs people before. Which is maybe what he really meant- money vs people. I think he was labeling it incorrectly. To Romney it is the money and to Obama it is the people that make America great. That is the contrast that Obama brought out so well in his speech. Yes. Thank you for responding, it was getting muddied in my head and I needed to work it out.
The Republicans may be reading Ayn Rand but the DemocRATS are bible thumpers too...
If you read the essay on women written by Arthur Schopenhauer in the early
1800's...women are child like and remain so their entire lives. Giving them
grown up "adult choices" in ANY area/venue? Our currently increasing
"Nanny State" is testimony to their lack of ability to cope with
their new role of accepting responsibility for anything...they act like
children their entire lives.
Thank you for demonstrating the provenance of the term "horse's ass" sir. It's sad but unsurprising that you would be Irish, and an embarrassment to the rest of us. "Bog stupid" is another term that comes to mind.
You seem to admire your "base" for treating women as helpless/dependent/incapable/can't control their bodies...childlike? Yup...I'm Irish on both sides and since you have an IQ/veteran and horse poop fetish from other posts...I have an IQ of 128...submarine veteran...hmmm, can't help you with your horse poop fetish...sorry:)
Its been my experience when an individual spots his IQ, he's ALWAYS lying and is usually as dumb as well "HORSE POOP " . So mister SUB guy genius or whatever, your ridiculous childlike comments are great fun. Please don't stop, I need to have some more yuks watching another brain dead moron being an uninformed knuckle dragging ass. I am Irish and it has not 1 thing to do with anything we are talking about here. Most of my Irish friends would be embarrassed for your family. So BIG sub guy? lol vet? , high IQ genius, Irish "MAN" ? you are quite a funny little guy. So run back to your dear leader ( RUSH the Great Pumpkin-head Limbaugh/convicted drug attic ), show and get some more "information" for your "argument". lol WILL
ooops...Rush is on...gotta go...later
It's funny to watch an idiot run with his head up his ass, but you're doing a good job of it. And t hanks for reminding me of all the idiots one stumbles across in the service.
Last night Myself and a group of folks watched together as the convention came to an Inspiring crescendo . After we were all quite moved and EXTREMELY uplifted. So then I wake up to ALEX and the morning crew who seemed to have watched some other "SHOW' . To hear John H's take as an example was quite frankly 'offensive. I am not alone in coming away from this morning's ALEX WAGNER show very angry and disappointed. I have called and spoken with a dozen or so of my friends who without any prompting also see this odd take on his speech. I am hearing that even MSNBC seems to have that systemic smell of RACISM. I'm not saying ALEX is racist. This kind of DEEP RACISM is hard to see , but we see it. So in a world filled with hate and distrust , I am so sad to see MSNBC go down this road. Please address this or I am afraid it will go as biz as usual. We and You are better than that. WILL
Will- I did not see Alex's show this morning but I had watched a little of Morning Joe and I was very disappointed to see how Joe, Mika, Chuck Todd & others kept pulling negatives out of the VERY positive convention. Obama was amazing. A truly wonderful, connecting speech. People, including me, had tears in my eyes. We have an amazing President! And the others who talked: John Kerry, Joe Biden, Jennifer Granholm! These people are very dedicated to Pres Obama. Where is MSNBC going? Even on the convention coverage to have Steve Schmitt, Republican in such a prominent role there always looking for a way to sutley and sometimes not so subletly, make digs at the Pres and the Democrats. Why? I don't understand it. Fox News certainly dosen't give Dems a chance. Yea, maybe we should be better but my thinking is I don't want all this negative talk when I feel that what we need is more of the positive! Obama has been criticized for everything since he was elected. He has done many great things. He was great last night. Why can't we enjoy that! Relish it! I thought MSNBC was our channel-the only one really. Maybe its trying not to be? What do you others think?
Fox news routinely has democrats on. Have any of you haters ever actually WATCHED fox news?
Elizabeth! I completely had the same experience , as did ALL my guests last evening. Which included two quite "reasonable rebup's". We were all to a person VERY moved "to tears" by the PRESIDENT and all of the preceding speeches. It seem's that MSNBC's attempt to show how bipartisan they can be , plays into the ROVE/ Repub playbook. To allow the commentary from obvious hostile partisan's is BRAIN DEAD ! and not fair to those of us who feel that this is an historic and HEALING time in our history. Its like being harassed at our own PARTY !! CONSTANTLY !! Steve Shmitt's amiable ruse is remarkably transparent to me, am I alone in this? I have no problem hearing his side, but on this night!! What CRAP ! And M STEELE , what can I say, complete bumbling fool, but he too is an MSNBC star allowed to spew blatant lies , yet come back unchecked the next day ? Elizabeth , I have always felt that this historic time has been purposely diminished by those who do not feel a BLACK MAN can be OUR PRESIDENT/ TEA BAGGERS and those who feel there should be a "PERMANENT " repub administration/NEO CON'S . As a matter of fact, I believe this is such a HUGE moment in history , we should be preparing MT. RUSHMORE for the likeness of our GREAT PRESIDENT OBAMA, first person of color to lead our nation! Then adding insult to injury , like a bull with a nose ring MSNBC always take the bait and seem to assist the rebub's in sabotaging these SPECIAL HISTORIC moments in REAL Time. I believe in a naive attept to look like MSNBC takes the higher road , they allow these paid Partisan's to plant doubt in the viewers minds in an insidious but obvious sneaky way. We deserve BETTER. But to hear the MSNBC crew run down the PRESIDENT has me reaching for DEMOCRACY NOW. To be more interested in the veil of bipartisanship than actual facts is a folly my friends! They (MSNBC) are actually unwitting agent's for ROVE and CO game plan by allowing this on Inauguration eve! . So Elizabeth , keep your head high and know you are not alone, WE are 100% on the same page. We must go out on our own and help those people to the polls who are burned out with all this hate and confusion . This country can get back on the path to being the land of tolerance and love for ALL its citizens! Always remember these people who have taken over the REPUB party are traitors to our country , no matter how people try and candy coat it !! To be against the progress and well being of our nation as treasonous to me ! WILL
Yakman you are a disgrace to the Irish. But your going back to the toilet dump you are obviously a faithful of-the old, ugly, crude, rude, unintelligent Rush! Stay there.