Obama Speech: Convention Address Makes Economic Populism Central Thrust of Election 2008

If his convention speech tonight is any indication, Barack Obama has (finally) signaled that progressive economic populism is going to be the central thrust of Democrats campaign in the stretch run of the 2008 election.

The speech is probably the most populist national speech Obama has given.

Here are the key snippets:

"We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work...

Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it...

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road...

I will make certain those [health care] companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most...

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses..."

This is strong stuff - the kind of thing I was talking about when I wrote a newspaper column back in June entitled "Countering Race With Class." That column said the only way for Obama to counter the GOP's cultural populism is with a full-throated economic populist message.

For a while now, I have wondered why it has taken him this long to get back to this same economic language that he used in the Democratic primary. It probably is a mix of factors: The Wall Streeters whispering in his ear, Democrats' typical (self-defeating) move to the right in general elections, and the virulent free-market fundamentalism that the New York Times says he embraced at the University of Chicago.

But now, he has to win an election - and he knows that Democrats have won red-states like Ohio not by pretending to be Royalist Republicans, but by being economic populists and tapping into the uprising that I described in my new book (in fact, Obama himself invoked uprising language explicitly tonight, saying, "Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up.")

That his newfound courage is partially rooted in election opportunism doesn't negate its value. If he continues with this kind of posture, he not only will win the election, but will create a mandate that helps force an Obama administration to fulfill the economic promises it is making. And that more than anything would, indeed, mean real change.

For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.

Comments

[PigLipstick]

"the virulent free-market fundamentalism that the New York Times says he embraced at the University of Chicago"

A philosophy that has failed in every attempt to implement it in a real world situation, read Naomi Klein’s book “Shock Doctrine” for a few examples over the past 37 years that resembled the actions of organized crime. Yet, it survived in the halls of Chicago academia where it was nurtured and promoted by its late creator to a naive group of children who had not yet experienced enough life to correctly identify the con men with Academic Tenure.

Obama didn't go into detail discounting the list of past failures of Free-Market Shock Capitalism that included our economy over the past 30 years, though, it would have been inappropriate to address this subject in detail at a convention venue. However, Bill Clinton's speech on Wednesday did include a passing remark concerning the last eight years being the first real world test of this concept on a major world power when all branches of the government were under the control of the far Right. Bill made sure to note that the result's of this first real world test was a complete disaster that continues to drag our country down. I've never been a big Clinton fan but, the man definitely has his moments !

[jmpurser]

We'll see.

Sorry, but the memory of being let down on FISA, the death penalty, Faith based initiative, and the tax cuts makes me think that any "progressive" sounds coming from Obama will remain only sounds.

[MissDaphne]

He said it now, in front of 84K in person and a gazillion people and the whole world watching, because that's how it makes the greatest impact. If he'd been saying it all along, it wouldn't have attracted the world's attention the way it obviously has.
In addition to being strong and principled--he's a great politician. And he actually wants to win. And so do I.

[jmpurser]

FISA
Pro Death Penalty
Pro Faith Based Initiatives
Weak on Abortion
Middle class tax cut
Pulling back on his SS reforms.
Tanks in the polls for a month or so and now all of a sudden he's a "progressive".

Principled huh?

I'm voting for him. I really hope he turns out to be more like what you see than what I do.

[krocklin]

The reason the populist message still meets with resistance is because of Reagan's oft stated slams against government.
Unfortunately this still resonates more strongly than any populist message - even in economically depressed times such as this.
And its not just the well-off who still believe this.
Privatizing and hollowing out every government agency, along with corruption and waste in military spending and pointless wars driven by lobbyists, is bankrupting the country - but the sheep-like populace still distrusts government over unregulated unfettered free markets despite the mortgage and financial crisis!!!
That Republican message against "socialism" still has the country in its grips, assuring that the chickens will vote for Colonel Sanders once again.

[jmpurser]

Agreed. The idea that as a nation we're better off begging the rich and corporations to save us from the evil government still has legs. Complete insanity but it's heartfelt theology for most of the GOP.

[PigLipstick]

Identical to the situation in 1928, despite a faultering financial system the sheep continued to blindly elect Hoover to continue a policy that put millions of Americans in the street and would have pulled down our economic system if it hadn't been for the actions of FDR. Your Colonel Sander's metaphor is right on !

[bascombe]

maybe, just maybe, the sense of urgency with so-called progressives, especially those disaffected raygun democrats, in needing to tell Obama what he needs to do instead of respecting his successful program, will abate. but then again, in my experience, it won't happen. On the left, everyone thinks they know more than anyone else. "Like crabs in a barrel", the saying goes.

[Mitchell4A]

Yes, the economy is the ticket. All he has to do is cross a basic hurdle, make Americans feel that he will do a good job on foreign affairs. He doesn't have to beat McCain out on the latter.

"It's the Economy Stupid: TAKE TWO"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[SCG2]

Yep David he sure did , in front of millions. I knew he had it in him.

I wonder if Nader will be appealed to now?

[wayoutleft]

nobody's going to appeal to nader. the first real event of the week was the slaughter of 90 afghan civilians by US imperialist war criminals. this gave obama the opportunity to signal his neo-imperialist policy simply by ignoring the incident. it allowed him to dispense with any awkward statements on the matter that may offend either his new-found military constituency, or the remnants of the dem left who always oppose all war except the one that's happening at the moment. imperialist war plus health care has worked before in uncertain times to build mighty nations. however, they were only mighty for a few years.

[PigLipstick]

Well, Nader apparently made some impact with his high polling numbers this week. Enough that Obama included a mention of the problem of corporate control over Washington. Now if Obama returned all the corporate donations he has collected over the past year and agree to including Nader in the so-called open debates held by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a corporation owned by the two major parties, maybe I could take him seriously.

[army193]

David, its call pace oneself...He hits his point one step at a time...I'm sure you have heard all the pundits and maybe sometimes yourself...Never give your pundit and competitor all your moves. IT IS PACE something we are not use too we want it now now and now. Obama word you don't get it has never been about him, but us.

[JimR]

Exactly! Timing is crucial.

[Halsey]

army..you are correct..
]
David, usually you write such thoughtful pieces..I was suprised that this one was about.."you"..and what you said ..when you said it..and where we can "buy" what you said...

yes..you a intelligent..a true progressive...but this piece...sorry self-promo­tion..(it'­s okay..you're allowed one a year)..

Obama said what he wanted to say...at the exact proper time...when he had the nomination signed, sealed and delivered.­..period..­end of story...all you need to is listen to him talk about his upbringing..and what he DID with the opportunities given him (oh..and NOT on a silver platter)..to KNOW Obama IS a populist...

[matthew 270808]

Let's hope it is so.

"Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws"

That was a very bitter laugh line.
God this convention has been depressing.

[schatsie]

I think he reallizes that the Change Mantra is overused and is flipping to 'progress' which is has fewer connotations of fear than change does. After all even Bush talked about change.

I also like the 21st Century motif, McCain is definitely old, privileged, married rich and totally out of touch with the new generation­...questio­n is how much will they vote, will they be able to vote and will it be counted.

[jcwtts1]

I don't think so. Either overused or switching up. He's using the progressive agenda and calling it change.

J