James Carville Rips First Night Of Dem Convention

As the convention wound down to a close Monday evening, the Republican National Committee blasted out video of ex-Clinton strategist James Carville slighting the night's festivities. "If this party has a message," he said on CNN, "it's done a hell of a job hiding it tonight, I promise you that."

Pundits and analysts kicked around similar concerns, wondering whether the convention was too positive and not tough enough on John McCain and the Republicans.

My take: given the coordinated efforts to paint Michelle Obama as the angriest woman in America, the program on her night had to be positive. Not only her speech, but her lead-ins. Thus the love-in. Does anyone think that Hillary Clinton's night won't boast some sharper contrasts?

I emailed strategist and CNN talker Alex Castellanos to get his view. "I think tonight was fine," he wrote. "Tonight was defense, [meant to] fix the problems and open the door to Barack Obama for voters, so that tomorrow night they can start herding the voters through it with sharper attacks."

Castellanos offered another explanation for Monday's positive tone: the Kennedy moment. "It was important because it transferred to Obama the moral leadership of the Democratic Party, which the Kennedys -- not Clinton -- hold."

And it appears the conservative strategist was not totally resistant to Michelle Obama's charms, either, adding that she "may have helped a bit."

Comments

[jjasonham]

I agree with Macbabe. CSPAN all the way!! I learned that during the primary season. Just pure, unadulterated convention...without comments, spin, and more spin! I would also switch to the online streaming from the Dem Convention site itself. Hmmm..maybe that's why the "Millenials" have a different view on things.

[Outofnowhere]

Good idea. I'll have to try that too. The commentators are the reason I didn't look at the whole thing. I get sick of the "experts" trying to convince me how to think.

[PoliJunkie]

But did you listen to the call-in show? OMG some of those callers were STUPID!!!

[BBackSoon]

When will Carville's 15 minutes be up?

[OB08]

That's why a lot of people don't watch CNN anymore. They are becoming like Fox News. I watched the convention on CSPAN, at least you don't have those clowns saying negative things all the time.
Carville is sore loser. He needs to stay home with his negative lousy wife.

[lafrance]

you are so right. I watch mostly cspan for the convention and a little of MSNBC to see Keith Olbermann.
I rarely watch CNN and their Faux news act.
Next week they will gushing all over the place about Mr. noun, verb and POW. And how wonderful republicans are.
When CNN sees they have smaller and smaller ratings they may get the idea that the average person doesnt want to watch Faux News II. known as CNN (Conservative news network)

[macbabe]

CSPAN Folks!!!! Great Music, No Comment's Just Convention...
...these networks are getting paid by ratings, if you don't watch them they lose $$$, hit them where it hurts!!!

[mindyourlight]

Totally agree - I watched the entire event (from 7pmEST) on CSPAN. They just position the cameras and let it roll. I don't need the play-by-play (fairly intelligent enough to follow along by myself, thank you!) and I certainly don't need or want the commentary - when they something new, someone please tell me.
Most networks didn't show Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s speech, which I thought was quite powerful. He was able to help provide insight to Barack as a long time friend and someone he worked with when Barack was in the state legislature. Although JJJ may have his father's name and presence at the podium, he is NOT his father and for that I give him much respect. If you didn't see his speech, I encourage you to find it online. It was quite good.

[blp58]

AGREED! C-SPAN is showing the party as it's unfolding! It's as close to being there as possible. I have C-Span on from 5:00 Pm to midnight with the stereo cranked up! I feel like I'm there! Sniff, I'm getting all choked up thinking about it! NEVER MORE PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT!

[baxtersbrother4]

C-SPAN Rocks!!!!!! I can not stand Bill Kristol. After Michelle spoke he started complaining.

[Tropiholic]

mr matalin is looking for a job

[Petwlkr]

No kidding. He has clearly worn out his welcome with the Democratic Party and the public in general are really over this twisted "point/counter pointer" racket he has cooked up with that witch of a wife of his. He should just join Faux News and quit pretending to be anything other than what he is...a Republican!!!

[hexham]

Folks, don't overthink it. Carnival's wife was a top aide to Cheney. She knows where (literally) the bodies are buried. Obama wins, congress investigates Bushco, maybe the wife goes to jail. then he has to take care of the kids. See? now we know why he wants O to lose.

[blueskybigstar]

So simply put.

[robjh1]

Trust me the evenings are still young. There's plenty of time for the much needed mudslinging to start. When it does start, I'm sure all will want it to end.

[karaplanet]

Those silly talking heads on CNN babbled to each other, while Claire McCaskill and Nancy Pelosi railed about McCain. Unfortunately, anyone watching their coverage, including THEM, missed it completely. Idgits.

[bb1234]

I don't get Michelle Obama's speech. Isn't she mad? Isn't she embarrassed by our country? What about healthcare, crime, unemployment, racism, bombing innocent children, massacering families by our troops, etc. I actually believe her anger, that's the real Michelle. Now she tries to sugar coat it? What happened to "change"? What happened to "being real"? What happened to "fighting the fight"?

She had the opportunity of a lifetime last night to address all of these issues and she presented herself as the doting wife and mother? Give me a break!

I thought she was an accomplished and educated (Harvard, Princeton) self-made professional. She didn't event mention the schools she went to or all of her career successes. Hey feminists, where is your outrage? She came across as a stay at home mom, supporting her husband. Is that the real Michelle?

She sold out last night, that's what happened!

[hexham]

sure, you wolves in sheeps clothing would like nothing better than to say "oo, and angry black woman" and stereotype her.

she was pitch-perfect last night.

[lafrance]

Hexham is right. these trolls want to paint Michelle as an Angela Davis remake. The militant black woman who is angry at the world.
Michelle showed she was classy, smart and a great speaker.
All those tears in the audience was not fake. It was because Michelle touched their hearts and spoke to them. She was her usually wonderful self.

[blueskybigstar]

I've seen her speak and she can do all those things you say. Unlike you, many people became scared about how articulate she is. She is trying to win over the people she scared. She is not trying to launch her political career. I don't think it would be smart for her to upstage her husband.

[LisainNYC]

What a joke.

If you don't "get it" then you're an idiot or a phony. Michelle Obama didn't sell out at all. You are just trying to goad her into being that angry black woman whom you can then criticize as scaring away white America.

The commentators mentioned constantly that she went to Princeton and Harvard. How can you call her a stay-at-home mom when she spoke numerous times about balancing children and work?

[neocon666]

Since you obvioulsy didn't get it, the jist of Michelle Obama's speech is that she is a AMERICAN, with the same hopes and fears as anyone else. She talked about the struggles her family went though for her and her sibblings to be where they are today. And when did Michelle Obama talk about the things you mention above? You're just dissapointed that she didn't come across as Sista Soulja so you and your cronies could attack her for doing just that.

Seems like your angry that she didn't come across as an angry black woman.

[neocon666]

Correction: "you're angry".

[nonibright]

Michelle should not be expected to put forth the party platform, that's her husband place. She'll take care of her duties, Mom first, as shown last night then 'politician'. Perhaps she should have gone along with Cindy McCain to Georgia!! What do these guys want??

[jolofboy]

This is exactly what is wrong with this country...the media is always hiring some so called experts to tell us what to do, what to think and even predict the future for us except for themselves.
McCain didn't deserve to be mentioned anywhere yesterday because you and i know there is no contest here. He is not the problem in this election and no one wants to hit the nail in the head and say it out loud, there is only one choice here to make and go with it for the future of this country.

On the international level, electing Mc would be the biggest loss of respect for this country ran by total republican idiots... starting with the one inside the white house. I am sick of listening to these people, turning the election to a soap show and low hitting contest when there is no need.

[DragonBuddha06]

I think Carville proves his idiocy yet again by missing the point of Michelle Obama's speech completely. She wasn't trying to sell a politician to the american people last night, she was trying to sell her husband, a man. She was trying to show the world Obama's personal side; his family side. She wanted to show Barack as a person, not another politician. And I think she did a spectacular job.

[Sabreen60]

All we've been hearing from the pundits is that the people don't know who Miche//e and 0ba-ma are - that Miche//e has been smeared by the re-puks. Well the purpose of last was to showcase Miche//e as the wonderful m0ther, wife, sister and daughter that she is. It was intended to make people understand her background. Carvi//e needs to back off. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[wdw101]

was last night the second time in her adult life she was proud of her country? just checking

[lafrance]

WDW101 - trolling again

[LanceJetson]

What an obnoxious and unnecessary question. I know one thing: I certainly felt prouder of my country listening to Michelle's speech than I have felt for at least 8 years!

[SNT1244]

There are some people that have no business commenting on the Obama campaign, James Carville is one of them. Like Mark Penn who recently wrote an op-ed piece for NYT critiqueing Obama's VP choice, these guys don't have a clue. They participated in a campaign that was so out of touch and completely misunderstood and underestimated the Obama campaign. They have absolutely no insight into Obama's campaign and message. They are no longer the political movers and shakers. Give it up already, you're out of touch.

[Justtellthetruth]

I second that motion.

[wrightthewrong]

Not surprised that Mark Penn would criticize Obama's choice, since he was undoubtedly hoping for either Evan Bayh or HRC, both of whom are connected to Mark Penn.

[wdw101]

well, I am sure they will take your opinion to heart

[SheriChardonnay]

see the clintons know they are trying to destroy this man bid for the white. I really understand why the reukicans depised them in the 90's!

[exhale09]

I have not forgotten how Hillary joined the "Republican" opposition to "Democrats"...John McCain...in bashing Obama, a fellow Democrat. Clinton supporters are not the ONLY Democrats who were outraged.

I had NO problem with Hillary running against Barack, that's what the Primaries are for, but I will never forget Hillary's endorsement of McCain OVER Barack Obama. That is when I lost all respect for her, and began to seriously question her loyality to the Democrat Party.

Shades of Joe Lieberman?

[wdw101]

i loved it.......keep it up boys

[Fabienne]

What is James Carville's message except "me me me" "BillaryBillaryBillary"? Who listens to him anymore?