Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Dems. Hit It Out Of The Park

Over the past several months we have been very critical of the Democrats inability to connect with the American people.  From health care reform to equal pay for equal work to the bail out of the auto industry to TARP to the stimulus, Democrats have failed miserably in connecting the benefits of their policies to the daily lives of Americans.  The president assumed responsibility; admitting recently that his biggest failing was having been “so focused on getting the policy right” that he neglected to “tell the story.”  Pundits opined that the muddled message and lagging economy had tempered the enthusiasm among the party faithful for the president and his agenda.  Democrats were warned that if they wanted to elect the president to a second term they could ill afford to allow that malaise to cast a pall over their national convention.    
Last night, Democrats responded with an opening night that reverberated with emotion and energy.  Pundits from all political persuasions were struck by the palpable enthusiasm within the hall and wondered aloud where it had been hiding for all these many months.  The happy party atmosphere exhibited last night by the Democrats stood in stark contrast to the angry subdued scene that played out at last week’s Republican convention.  While the Republicans were all about individualism, money and achieving success the Democrats celebrated community and the important role that others played in helping us along life’s journey.  The contrast between the two conventions in terms of orchestration, message and enthusiasm was palpable.    
Perhaps the reason for this enthusiasm was that for that for the first time Obama surrogates stepped to the microphone and defended the president’s record with great passion.  Former Obama Chief of Staff and current Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel enumerated the daunting problems the Obama administration faced upon taking office: an recessionary economy on the brink of a depression, two wars, the collapse of the banking industry, the collapse of Wall Street, the collapse of the auto industry, the collapse of the housing market, the monthly loss of 750,000 private sector jobs, massive unemployment, growing poverty and runaway health care costs.  Emanuel correctly noted that any one of these problems was sufficient enough to doom a presidency; and he credited president Obama with making the tough decisions necessary to turn the economy around. 
That was the last speech that looked backward into history.  Speaker after speaker followed Emanuel with a positive message about the future.  And where the Republicans marched through a parade of governors who talked about their own accomplishments while barely mentioning Mitt Romney; this was all about Obama and what he had accomplished for the country.  Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick enumerated several of the president’s accomplishments and challenged Democrats to “grow a backbone and stand up for what we believe in.”  San Antonio Mayor and keynote speaker Julian Castro explained that the president understands the plight of Americans and has fought hard to make their lives better.  He contrasted that with Mitt Romney saying: “Mitt Romney doesn’t get it…and he doesn’t understand how good he has had it.”
But the highlight of the night was the address given by Michelle Obama.  The first lady talked about her love affair with the president.  She provided never before details about their upbringing and how that upbringing has shaped the way that President Obama governs.  She said that the president understands and appreciates the American dream “because he lived it” and that “the decisions he makes aren’t political they are personal.”  She said that the president believes that “when you walk through that door of opportunity you don’t slam it behind you…you reach back and help someone else.” And that the measure of success is not how much money you make but how many people you help along the way.” She said that after watching her husband she understands that “serving as president doesn’t define who you are…it reveals who you are.”
The reviews of the first lady’s remarks were off the charts were off the charts.  Columnists and talking heads of from every political persuasion agreed that she hit it out of the park.  Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Eugene Robinson called it “the best speech…period.”  Others called it one of the top five or six political speeches ever given.  Rankings aside, everyone seems to agree that the Democrats far overshadowed their Republican counterparts.  And if the Democrats can continue in the same fashion over the next two nights they will rekindle the enthusiasm that swept Barak Obama into office four years ago.
Tonight Bill Clinton takes center stage.  He will be competing against the nationally televised season opener for the National Football League where the defending World Champion New York Giants will take on the nationally popular Dallas Cowboys.
Republicans are no doubt hoping for an epic shootout from the Giants and Cowboys; the kind of game that will pull viewers away from what is likely to be a typically “Bubba” performance.
            
           


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