Obama Delivers, And Then Some

Obama's acceptance speech has capped a dramatic and emotional week of bringing the Democratic party together, and making a strong case for his candidacy. The tone tonight was very effective, focusing on the specific ways that "change" will make people better off and more secure, both economically and in terms of national security. The tenor and body language was strong and appealing. His values are those shared by most people, and he is connecting with people, not only in the stadium, but anyone listening. It is much different than many of the stump speeches I have heard, and I think much stronger, and more effective, particularly for this phase of the campaign.

His challenge to McCain to stop the questioning of candidates patriotism was well delivered. His discussions of gay rights, immigration, and other social issues are eloquent, and show his gifts to move the country to a higher standard of justice and fairness.

The bit that the election is not about him, but about us, is a theme often missing from the Obama campaign, but is said well tonight, with lots of specifics to sell the point. The emphasis is not on his personal story, but on the challenges the country faces, and how his election has change our lives. He has presented a powerful image of someone who is ready to be our president. It was substance, and it was leadership. And it really worked.

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

[REICH]

Obviously the uneducated did not catch the lie that Obama uttered to cheering supporters.

Obama said that he would stop Capital Gains Taxes on small business. That is a lie. I am a small business owner and I can tell you that "Small Businesses" do not pay "Capital Gains Taxes" and they never have. Small businesses pay income taxes on revenue. Obama has promised to raise income taxes on me so that I have to pass on the higher taxes, in a form of higher service charges, on to my customers. This in turn will cost you, the voter, the average American more to buy my services and this may in turn reduce my revenue because the average person can not afford my services. This will happen to all businesses that supply any goods or services to the consumer.

Obama's policies will cost everyone more money, not just the rich that is really just you and I.

Geeze, don't you get it!? The President of the United Stats should not be elected because he or she is a popular figure in politics that gives great speeches. Judge the politician on what they do or what they have done in the past, not what they say just to get elected.

[deminmo]

And it garnered more viewers than any convention
or other speech by a Presidential cadidate, so I guess
Obama has achieved the goal of reaching not only
Democrats but Independants and maybe some Republicans.

[desade]

The speech was nothing but a smoke screen. Reducing taxes on 95% of Americans? World class education for all kids (and who pays for it???)? Affordable health care that will increase costs for middle America? He said what people wanted to hear without giving any solid plan to pay for all his of "changes". NOTHING! Go back and re-listen and you will find nothing of substance of how it will get accomplished, except vague notions of closing loopholes. And the lobbyist backed Congress (yes, Reblicans and Democrats) are all guilty of pandering to business. Let's not forget that Obama followed like a "good little soldier" Pelosi and her running of the Senate. How quickly do all of you forget the vast promises the Democrats made to America, and then failed to live up to eliminating wasteful spending. Yet her 2nd in command, Murtha, was allowed to bilk the taxpayers for millions of dollars in pork barrel spending to his cronies.

So this speech said nothing and had no substance. No substance, no vote.

[deminmo]

When has any Republican, McCain or otherwise,
said how they will pay for anything? Take the "war"
in Iraq and Afghanistan. At best, the plan is 2012
so how do we fund this? What programs get cut?
What do we do, borrow what we need from China, like
we have already?

[sherpadog]

Yep, just stopping the wart in Iraq would give us plenty of revenue to support Obama's platform. Anyway, how can you be down on a leader who thinks outside the box so often.

[MLGaree]

What the American people who tuned in last night to Sen. Obama's keynote address to the Democratic National Convention saw was the next president of the United States of America. Not only did the senator hit a "home run," he hit a "grand slam"! The only people who couldn't identify with what he said about the state of our country were the very wealthy and the well connected (usually, one in the same where the Bush Administration is concerned).

In my opinion, it would take a miracle for McCain to convince the majority of American voters that, what we really need, is four more years of that which we have gotten for much of the last eight years from the Bush Administration: an economy in shambles, involvement in a war we entered on the basis of official lies and deceit, unemployment inching ever upward, people who have lost, or are losing, their homes, etc., etc., etc.

The most tellling evidence that, if we elect McCain the next president, we will in fact see a continuation of what we've seen from Bush was Obama's remark that McCain has voted with the Bush Administration 90 percent of the time. What intelligent person could be convinced that McCain would do "a 180" if HE were to become president? Let's face it, McCain is one of the Washington "insiders," and that is what he will remain to be.

Get ready for President Obama, ladies and gentlemen!

Michael Garee

[Oakknollfarm]

It is good thing for Obama that there were no decisive votes during the convention; he would have voted "present".

[jcharlotte]

Brilliant presentation by Barack Obama.
The "dream" now will come to fuition.
Americans in the future will look back at this point in history, after all of the facts have surfaced of the current administration, and ponder about how America was in it's embrionic stage of totalitarianism.

[Sebastian11]

His speech was not only brilliant, It was the greatest in American History. The facts, the organization, the style and delivery were impecable. The message without question reveals that he is not only ready to be Commander in Chief, it also tells me he'll make one of the very best presidents in recent history.

[MLGaree]

I don't think we'll have to "look back" at all to conclude that America "was" in its embryonic stage of totalitarianism. The evidence has been clear and conclusive for going on eight years now that Bush and his cohorts would bring this country to its knees if allowed to. The Bush administration would make a total mockery of the Constitution, if allowed to. What will see when we look back on his eight years in office is probably the most corrupt, inept, destructive administration in U.S. history. Other presidents, even Nixon, have been able to enjoy some degree of "rehabilitation" by historians; I doubt Bush will be able to be among them.

[deminmo]

Bush is taking the US as Dictator. My only fear is that Bush
and Chaney will do the one thing to eliminate this election;
a state of emergency and martial law. Causes; Naval
blocade of then war with Iran, or continued interference with
Georgia and Russia, and war with Russia, or last senario;
Pakistan falls apart and Bush goes in to save the nukes.

[elizaW]

McCain just stole the Democrats thunder. With his choice of VP, women across this country are ecstatic. Obama talks about change and picks a Washington DC insider for VP. McCain on the other hand goes way outside the Washington DC circle and picks someone Middle America will be able to relate to.

[cornflower]

I'm a woman and I'm not ecstatic. I am wondering what prompted him to pick her other than the fact that she is female. She's completely unqualified, and I mean completely, to be president.

[Janskats]

He picked her to get the far right wing fundies to fork out some dough..if in fact he picked her at all! Probably came down to him from the hand of his Almighty High Bundtmeister Rove. She's as far right as anyone could get..and her phony attempts to invoke Hillary and Ferrarro are obscene! She's Hillary's opposite. Months ago, she called Hillary "whiney" during the primaries!

This female is a diehard opportunist..claiming she's a "feminist" and a "union member". I don't know yet which union she's supposed to belong to, but I wager it's not a labor union, and her joining wasn't by choice! As to feminism..she's one of the so called Feminists For Life..along with Justice John Roberts' wife! Get real!

Her husband..a "househusband" and commercial fisherman..is a production manager for BP Oil..one of the biggest oil producers, yet she claims to have "gone against" the oil companies!
She clalims to be a corruption fighter..but until this morning, had an ad on her website with indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens endorsing her..the "bridge to nowhere" guy!

So, seems like those take-downs of her fellow (corrupt) Repubs was nothing more than "throwing elbows" to take out the competition! Besides..Lord help us..do we really want to listen to that grating voice for the next four years..like fingernails on a blackboard! Oh..her teen daughter is unmarried with child. Guess that fundie "abstinence only" method doesn't always work!

[ndolomar]

I'm guessing, then, that Geraldine Ferraro doesn't count -- despite her being selected as a VP choice 20 years ago? Doesn't seem like much mold-breaking, actually, just amnesia on the parts of many Americans.

[Texanna33]

I am a woman and I think McCain's choice in VP is downright silly!

I don't ever want to hear another word about Obama's lack of experience when McCain's choice has exactly 20 months experience, period and the odds of her having to step in as President for McCain are pretty good considering McCain's age.

Any woman who really cares about this country or a women's right to choose will not be swayed by McCain's choice in VP.

In fact, I think McCain just cinched the election for Obama and that does make me ecstatic !

[Kassandra]

the only political speech I have listened to twice. Last night and again, this morning on C-SPAN

[PumaAnn]

I agree. I thought the speech brought it all together.

[djarvis]

Great post and a dead-on analysis. Just one point that I differ on.

"The bit that the election is not about him, but about us, is a theme often missing from the Obama campaign..."

I have watched or listened to, parts or all of many Obama speeches throughout his campaign. I heard him say many times that the campaign is not about him, especially after the Iowa Caucus, when he said that "... you, Iowa made this happen." Last night's speech made me even more sure that Obama is the man for the job.

[TakeNoNeoConPrisoners]

I too thought Obama's acceptance speech was excellent, historic and right for these times. But at the same time, I am cautious b/c raising hopes so very high is simultaneously exposing oneself to some rather disappointing failures. Remember the Dems do not yet have a plurality in Congress and whatever repubs will be there will oppose with a vengence any programs put forth by an Obama admin.
It tales 60 to override filibusters in teh Senate. Would we have 60 Dems on board all the time or even some repubs. I doubt it given guys like Joe Lie and other conservative Dems will be there. So great Obama speech. He has raised the bar very high. I just hope of all hope he can deliver most of what he says.

[nomobull]

with our willingness to do our part "YES WE CAN

[joanno]

Obama as a man is the embodiment of the American Dream. Obama, the presidential candidate is the embodiment of the country's dream of itself. He took us back to that wellspring and reminded us of its center...hope. He's reminded us that the potent dream needs only to be remembered to spark again our greatness. This is why he is so incredibly popular around the globe. This country is a beacon of freedom and has inspired over the years and the continents a veneration born of that dream, and we have drawn covers over that dream of late. Obama has drawn back the veil and invited us to reclaim the power and energy of that dream. He invites all of us to believe again, not in him, but ourselves...we the people. The many people around the world who yearn for the dream yearn to see its birthplace restored. Obama is the leader who has reminded "we the people" yes we can and the energy he has unleashed will be cataclysmic in scope.

[cornflower]

Dynamite speech - we have been waiting for this for almost 20 years, i.e. phrases such as "tough talk and bad strategy" - he said it in 4 words, it's true, it's accurate and it's the right indictment of Repub foreign policy. and he said it in 4 words. this is what we have needed to be doing for decades.

Out of sight!

[mjt218]

Great and moving performance by Obama . . . What was the deal with the closing country music though?

[DRPike]

I wondered to but I listened and heard that it is a song that includes the idea that in America a person that comes from the bottom can rise even to the Presidency.

[gobarackgo]

A Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan or Albert Einstein, only comes around once every 75 years or so. I may be drinking way too much of the Kool-Aid, but I really think Obama could become a truly historic figure.