POLITICS AUGUST 27, 2008
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Walking into the Pepsi Center this afternoon, I ran into a prominent elected official who’s also a strong Obama supporter. What did he think of the convention so far? Not much, it seemed. The Democrats’ message to date felt muddled, he said. He was looking forward to Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama “breaking through” with their respective addresses.
This muddle was partly a matter of necessity. Saluting Ted Kennedy, putting a warmer face on Michelle Obama, and granting Hillary Clinton her moment were things that simply had to be done. (Mark Warner’s dud of a keynote was simply a matter of a poor choice of speaker.) But these felt like discrete, individual tasks--not part of a grander theme meant for low-information voters. Meanwhile, the endless psychodrama of the Clinton-Obama relationship was stifling the Obama camp’s ability to present a crisp message. A voter wondering whether Barack Obama really connects with the lives of ordinary Americans probably didn’t hear much to convince him on that score.
Tonight, the Democrats took a step towards clarity. Bill Clinton’s speech was one of the finest cases for Obama’s candidacy yet. It was thoughtful and sophisticated, heartfelt without crossing the line into phony dreck. Clinton’s acute reminder that he is one of two living Democrats to have seen the world from behind the Oval Office desk lent a particular heft. And at last he brought himself to do the one thing the Clintons had yet to say about Barack Obama: “He is ready” to be president. The checking of that box was a critical moment in this campaign--and in the longer-term redemption of Bill Clinton among core Democrats.
The Democrat I ran into this afternoon didn’t mention John Kerry. But I imagine that he, like many in the Pepsi Center, was pleasantly surprised by the former Democratic nominee’s speech. Kerry’s swipes at “the myth of the maverick” John McCain--with his memorable refrain pitting the past positions of “Senator McCain” versus “candidate McCain”--was precisely the sort of clever-but-tough line of attack against McCain that Democrats have struggled to perfect. (Kerry’s ability to turn that joke into a self-deprecating crack about his own “voted for it before I voted against it" formulation--and the crowd’s hearty laughter--also felt like a small moment of redemption in and of itself.) Kerry’s speech recognized the best way to undermine McCain’s formidable image of integrity and honor is through plain and indisputable facts about his record--not ad hominem shots that allow McCain to flash his POW card.
As for Biden, he was solid but not spectacular. His habit of rephrasing lines from his prepared text dulled some of his speech’s crispness, and he threw in too many of his signature cornball rhetorical asides “ladies and gentlemen.” More significant, Joe Biden can reach true magical heights when talking about the economic plight of working-class Americans, and tonight he just didn’t seem to sing. His speech was stocked with soundbite-y refrains--“That’s the change we need”; “John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right”--which perhaps sapped his ability to achieve the memorable lyricism of which he’s capable. That said, the refrains are clear--and likely to break through the dreaded muddle, so in that sense Biden’s speech was a success.
Still, what really matters is tomorrow. If the Republicans have their way, this election will be a referendum on Barack Obama--and whether Americans are prepared to elect this man with a strange name and background to be president. No one can sell the man better than himself. Whether this convention is remembered as a triumph or a muddle will be determined tomorrow night in a football stadium. The Democrats’ quarterback is ready to take his snap.
Michael Crowley is a senior editor at The New Republic.
12 comments
Kerry was good, but his delivery was rushed and breathless. Biden was excellent. He took his time, and he connected with the audience in a way I didn't expect. His speech was at least 10 times better than the one Edwards gave four years ago. What is it about the media this week? It's as if you guys can't go to bed without saying something cynical and divisive.
- ralphnelle
August 28, 2008 at 2:24am
“The Democrats' quarterback is ready to take his snap.” Clinton spoke about a “home run” and Limbaugh was babbling about the “B-team” yesterday. --So it’s going to be sports metaphors this campaign period, rather than military or naval strategies and battles? That makes sense, since the country is being moved away from emphasis upon the president as “Commander-in-Chief,” for the moment, to an emphasis upon the president as the ‘Chief Executive.’
- p.
August 28, 2008 at 10:34am
As to the “B-team” and “The Democrats' quarterback is ready to take his snap.” --In its current possession, then it would appear that the so-called ‘B-team’ (led by Clinton, Biden, Kerry and Reid) has gotten itself out of appearing to be in the predicament of being stuck on their two-yard line, and threatened to be driven into their own end zone. Now its broken free and is appearing ready to make a drive toward the opposing goal-line. Rush should be careful with his similes. After all, better the 2nd string from the University of Nebraska than the 1st string from New Mexico State University (Go Aggies!), no? --P.S. Definitely sports metaphors, it seems. There have also been boxing metaphors in some of the reporting this week as well. So, will the Boomer-Babes put on their cheerleader outfits and join in the ‘game,’ or no? (sorry. couldn’t resist one last cheap shot. . . ).
- p.
August 28, 2008 at 10:49am
"If the Republicans have their way, this election will be a referendum on Barack Obama--and whether Americans are prepared to elect this man with a strange name and background to be president." Hmm... William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Saul Alinsky ... I agree: that is a plenty strange background.
- Yacov Shulman
August 28, 2008 at 11:51am
What I am waiting for from both Obama and McCain is not more of what they are going to do, but how they are going to pay for better education, Social Security, Insurance for every child. Getting out of the war is a mute point, they have ask us to leave. Getting back to America, when will we rid ourselves of Millions of illegal aliens who are draining that healthcare system? Why can't we even demand that English is our language? Other countries have. Issues. If the press wants to push an agenda, stop nit picking every silly flub and start asking the hard core questions about getting back to America.
- BG
August 28, 2008 at 12:31pm
Being that I do not favor much of the Democrats base platform ideals and the Republicans have went down the tubes this cycle I decided to vote on candidates and not on a party. I figure a good, strong, intelligent candidate is preferred over a weak candidate in a corrupt organization that preaches my ideals but does not follow what they preach. This being said: I know very little about many of the big name Democrats as previously I had no interest in following them. I knew absolutely 0 about Biden. His speech last night impressed the hell out of me. This guy is a well worm Warhorse who who takes a beating and never gives up or goes down. This strong overbearing Republican-like personality is exactly what Obama needed to club the GOP over the head with. I can't get over how much, from this one small speech, this guy won me over.
- TimL
August 28, 2008 at 1:26pm
I thought the first half of Biden's speech was better than the second, but that's because I listened to all the speakers from Bill Clinton through Biden and so the hits on McCain were getting a repetitive (except for Kerry's). But Biden's list of family concerns, spoken of "after the kids are in bed" was rhetorically transcendent. Dems ought to take that bit of his speech and juxtapose it with Phil Gramm's "nation of whiners" quote in an ad. It would be a deadly combination.
- cleavet
August 28, 2008 at 1:39pm
As to blow-hard Rush: The Democrats OWE him, along with plenty of other with him, numerous Thank You notes for his work this year. Maybe a Hallmark card, decorated with fuzzy little bears (elephants would be best, but unlikely to be found)in soccer uniforms, or some such, would be a good choice?
- p.
August 28, 2008 at 1:47pm
Biden was excellent. I think Democrats should play up his point of "John McCain was wrong, Barack Obama was right." In an apparent effort to salvage something of his presidency, even the Bush administration has quietly been pursuing policies initiated by Obama, from timetables to diplomacy, from Russian militarism to veterans' concerns. Note that the administration is NOT following the example of John McCain. It seems that even George Bush knows that John McCain doesn't get it, and has turned to Barack Obama for cues on how to run the country. I'm surprised that more people aren't talking about Tammy Duckworth's excellent speech. While not as polished as that of a professional politician, she made an excellent case for an Obama presidency from the point of view of the military. And the conclusion of her speech, when she walked off the stage with her wartime injuries in full view, was a powerful and inspiring moment.
- SaltyDem
August 28, 2008 at 4:36pm
“even the Bush administration has quietly been pursuing policies initiated by Obama” --ADVOCATED by Obama and “initiated” by Obama are two different VERY things. From the looks of it, the original estimates made by the Bush administration, regarding increased Iraqi oil production by 2010, just may come true. --The withdrawal of American troops is a given (the smae numbers won’t be needed). After 5-and-a-half years, the major air bases and the embassy are mostly complete (these are multi-billion dollar projects that completion of in this time period would be an impressive feat under any circumstances). The country is ringed with the smaller fire bases (effectively cantonments). Iraq, like Baghdad, has been effectively partitioned, population wise. The major factions, and the resistance movements, are isolated. Any damage to the elements of the petroleum infrastructure by the resistance movements, then the past 5 years is when it would have had the least consequences (blowing up out-moded infrastructure due for modernization anyway; so much for the Libertarian’s nonsense that this venture is unprofitable due to destruction of infrastructure by resistance movements compelling expenditures that would otherwise not have been made). The Five major multi-national petroleum corporations are being given control over the development and operation of the petroleum resources of the country. It is obviously a good time to begin modernization of the Iraqi petroleum infrastructure (constructed, 1961-1979). The major petroleum service corporations (A.K.A. oil field services and engineering and construction corporations) (such as Halliburton) have restructed and relocated their headquarters to the Persian Gulf region. An abundance of experienced labor for major construction projects is on-hand, and, just as with the bases, an abundant supply is available in the region beyond that. Troops will obviously need to be maintained in the country to protect the modernization. But, can be reduced steadily, with American air and naval forces maintaining air dominance (including armed drones) and Iraqi security forces increasingly able to take over security tasks. This has been a very thorough conquest. Now, with the task in Iraq mostly complete, and the remaining items under control, time to move on into south-central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan. . .), and into Africa [including the linking of French-Senegal-Sudan-and-east Africa (Mauritania-Darfur-Somalia)]? If so, then that will be 'quieter' work, more like the American-Anglo punitive expeditions and mercenary-coups of the Clinton Administration years.
- p.
August 28, 2008 at 11:29pm
Just like the name of this essay: “Back on Track.”
- p,
August 28, 2008 at 11:30pm
The United States needs a change. A major change. Unwinnable wars looming heavily. The situation US is in needs to be changed and change is not brought about by an individual but a situation demands change and an individual is just instrumental. McClain perhaps will find it difficult to change what Bust has done and if elected US will drag on and delay a change. Perhaps Obama is not captive of recent past and will be better positioned to introduce a change -which is the demand of the situation and has nothing much to do with political position of Obama. Subhash Dhuliya
- Subhash Dhuliya
August 31, 2008 at 4:47am