Obama Goes from Defense to Offense

Obama delivered a masterful speech that rebutted, one by one, each and every concern or smear raised about his candidacy. He went from professorial to pugnacious -- and from an exotic newby to an average American with the same values as voters.

He reframed the election from defending himself against Republicans to offense to attacking a "stubborn" McCain and his tired party with failed foreign policies, a non-existent energy plan and disdain for ordinary people in favor of privileged people.

He morphed from a message of "change" to one of restoring America to its "promise".

These are the highlights:

On McCain's so-called independence:
"We will hear about when he's broken [ranks] with his party. But the record's clear. 90% of the time he's voted with George Bush."
"We've heard about McCain's good judgment. What does it say about judgment when you think George Bush is right 90% of the time?"

On health care, education, the economy and war:
McCain has been "anything but independent. His advisor said it was a mental recession and that we've become a nation of whiners."
"I don't think McCain doesn't care. I think he just doesn't know" about the needs of ordinary Americans.
He attacked all of McCain's positions on key issues then concluded. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because he doesn't get it."

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On the Republican's Darwinian, trickle-down philosophy:
Republicans say "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don't have boots."

On sticking with the status quo party to meet future challenges:
America will not overcome its problems with the "same old politics, with the same old players and expect a different result"

On McCain's judgment as a commander in chief:
"You don't defeat a terrorist network that operates in 80 countries by occupying Iraq."
"McCain said he's follow him [Osama bin Laden] to the gates of hell, but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives."

On exiting Iraq:
"I will end the war in Iraq responsibly"
He correctly noted that both the Iraqi government, and Bush administration are agreeing with his proposed timeframe for withdrawal.

On patriotism:
This is the high grand that McCain likes to think he has seized because he has been in the Senate, was in the military and imprisoned in Vietnam for 5.5 years:
"I've got news for you, John McCain, we all put our country first," he said. "I love this country and so do you, and so does John McCain."

On Democrats being foreign policy wimps:
"This is the party of Roosevelt. The party of Kennedy so don't tell me that democrats won't defend this country or keep us safe."

He dismissed the Republican attacks against him as desperation:
"If you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone to run from."

On his ego and celebrity status:
He talked of his family's humble roots and that they weren't celebrities.
"I don't fit the typical pedigree. I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington, but I stand here tonight because all across America something is stirring.. This election has never been about me. It's about you."

On the role of government:
The "American promise is the freedom to make of our own lives what we want but we also have obligations to treat each other with dignity and respect."
"Government must do what we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm, provide education, keep our water and toys safe, invest in new technologies. Government should work for us, not against us. Help us, not hurt us."

On claims the Democrats would turn the US into a "nanny state"
He called for a combination of individual responsibility and mutual responsibility.
"Government can't turn off the TV so that a little girl does her homework. Fathers must take on more responsibility."

On claims the Democrats will spend and tax:
"I know these things cost money and I have laid out how I'll pay for every dime. By closing loopholes and tax havens."
He pledged a line-by-line budgetary reform to eliminate unneeded expenditures and bigger investments in programs that work well.

On criticisms that Obama is fuzzy-headed and abstract:
"I will spell out exactly" what I will do, he said, then did. He outlined tax breaks for ordinary workers and tax incentives to stop the export of jobs. He set a goal to end oil dependence on the Middle East within a handful of years through alternatives, safe nuclear and retooling Detroit to make efficient cars. He promised "world-class education" for all, reasonable health care equivalent to what Congress gets, curbs on rapacious insurance companies, protection of social security.

On his lack of toughness:
He said he was looking forward to debating McCain on "temperament and judgment" to be President. "I'm ready to have that debate".

Behold, the next President of the United States.

Comments

[PumaAnn]

Yes, I agreed with all of you who called him pugnacious in his speech. It was good to see him show a real spark.

I agree......the professorial tone was gone.

I agree.....he delivered.

I never thought his speech should be perfect. To be absolutely perfect, a speech must hit the dead center within the context. Had he done so? It would have been about race. That was the clear excitement of the moment, the clear historical magnitude, and that is why people are truly thrilled for him, for AA Americans, for all of America. The promise was delivered.

Had he focused on that? It would have been disastrous politically.

So I knew that he would NOT be able to truly seize the moment and deliver a "MLK" speech.

He had a job to do. Prove to us he's a real Democrat. He did that.

And he showed that he COULD deliver a MLK speech-caliber in the future. Of that, I'm sure.

But elections aren't about historical speeches. Elections are about elections.

[gro]

It was a great speech!
Too bad most of the media millionaires missed it.

[jukesgrrl]

My elderly mother has been in favor of Obama since the beginning, but for some reason took an immediate dislike to Michelle. But after her speech this week, the lovely understated clothes, and a good, long look at those adorable kids, she changed her tune overnight. It's all in the packaging, I guess. Whatever it takes.

[laylahb]

He's back on defense again. I watched C-SPAN. By the time they all left the stage, I switched to MSNBC. Tom Brokaw already had a press release from McCain, and it was very, very nasty. On CNN, Larry King was about to host a panel of Repugs for the full hour.

Just venting..

[noamjunior]

Keep venting- the more Obama makes speeches like this, the more the cons attacks look desperate and rediculous- keep letting eveyone know that McCain has NOTHING for America

[jeg]

The press release that Brokaw had last night was laughable. It repeated the same things the McCain camp has been saying for the last month, with nothing new. Even Brokaw admitted it was pretty weak, and expected them to have something better today... Olbermann's response was "they'd better".

[ProudLiberalDan]

Finally, he finally went on offense and he did it brilliantly.

Even Pat Buchanan was praising his performance.