Barack Obama video of speech at DNC 2008

The oratory skills of the main speakers at the Democrat National Convention, make the British politicians seem stilted in comparison. The fawning as the crowd prevent them speaking for several minutes, with the speaker not in control (President Bill Clinton was embarrassed by the exuberance). The cynical minded of course would say that this is a show, especially important for party unity after a heated Primary.

With Barack Obama though the hype is genuine. When he talks about change and hope, from changing Washington to giving hard working families the chance for the American dream the cynicism is put to one side. When talking about change coming from the bottom up – that involves not just the person at the top but the people at the grass roots – his message is that it is not just him. To change America is not just to buy into him, but to become part of that movement being an instrument of change even if just a mark on a ballot paper. That message is the twenty first century version of JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. He sold it well.

When talking about McCain, respecting the man but attacking what he has said and his policies was a master stroke: “It’s not that McCain doesn’t care; he just doesn’t get it”. Commenting on McCain’s voting record supporting President George W. Bush 90% of the time: “Do you want to take a 10% chance on change?”. Going on the offense yet sounding positive about America.

McCain next week will have a tough act to compete against – and it may be wishful thinking hoping that  hurricane Gustav might delay the GOP from having to with their convention.

Obama Barack by acclamation is Nominated

Video of Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream”, video of President Clinton at the Convention and video of Senator Hillary Clinton stopping the roll call.

Forty five years ago today Martin Luther King had a dream.

Later tonight a 47 year old African American will give his speech accepting the Democrat nomination for President of the United States. President Clinton gave a grand piece of political theatre that was a fitting grand finale for Team Clinton as you can see in the video below, endorsing Obama:

Though Senator Clinton calling for an end to the roll call of states by saying for the remaining ones in one voice to announce Obama as the nominee was a grand gesture.

With growing anticipation the Convention waits for Senator Obama to give his speech. Vice President Al Gore will be speaking before hand. Obama is scheduled to talk at 2:15am UK time. Kind of tempted to stay up for that one.

Hillary Clinton impresses at Convention

"The duty to build that bright future"

Hillary started well with talking about the hard work of the campaign being wasted with failed Republican leadership retaining the White House. “No way, no how, no McCain”. The greatness of America being bound up with the determination of the American people in everyday life.

She was grateful for the support and “sisterhood of the traveling pant suit” through the fifty states. After eight years of George Bush the standing of the US is at a low internationally. She started talking about why she stood for the Presidency – and it almost sounded like she still was as the crowd became fired up. “These are the reasons why I support Barack Obama”. The Campaign was not just for her as a candidate but for the people of the United States.

“There are no limits to what is possible in America – but this will not be easy … We must fight for a Democratic President”. This was the talk that Obama supporters needed to hear – building up Obama as the man to get it done and the Democrats knowing how to do it. If only talking made it so; but reality is not what you want at a convention. What you need is something that fires up supporters and makes good TV. On that score , Clinton excelled.

“John McCain is my colleague and my friend”. Perhaps the friend bit was overdoing the sentiment when you consider the latest polling suggests as much as 30% of Hillary supporters are going to vote for McCain (up from the 15% The Economist mentioned over two weeks ago). “We do not need four more years of the last eight years”. The message that what angers Democrats about America today will only change with Barack Obama in the White House is the one that needed playing: inadequate health care, out sourcing, fore closers, more war less diplomacy, unequal pay – more of the same with McCain.

The story of the struggle of women to vote in the US, to the point now where her daughter could vote for her. To keep going in the darkest moments; as Americans not big on quiting and to get going to get Obama elected, without a vote to spare. “The duty to build that bright future.”

It hit all the right notes, and it was impressive. Gracious in accepting Obama, he could not have asked for more if he had written the speech. The question is will the die hard feminists that championed Clinton as their woman for so long will, like her, get up from the disappointment and support the party.

Her speech gave them no cover to do anything other than support Barack.

What Hillary Clinton must say

Can she unite the party?

Senator Clinton has released her delegates from voting for her at the Democratic Convention. It will be crucial for the party to lick it’s wounds, heal the rifts and fully support the Democratic nominee: Senator Obama. Already outside the convention there have been protests suggesting that Clinton was cheated out of the nomination.

Such talk will not help is such bellweather states as Ohio. With a quarter of Democrats leaning towards McCain or undecided Clinton needs to encourage her supporters to actively vote and work for a Democratic President. In Ohio McCain leads by 1.5%.

The Democrats have transformed their political machine. That will be crucial in tight states. But the last thing any political party needs is one at odds with itself. The time for bitter recriminations and self reflection is after the General Election – never when you are asking the electorate for power. If you cannot govern yourself you do not deserve to govern a country.

If Clinton can get her avid supporters to put the party before the candidate and realize that a Republican President is not in their interests on the issues – that is what counts. She needs to be guns blazing with McCain in her sights and why Obama needs the Democratic Party’s full support. In short a cheerleader to rally the party.

However this will be at 3 am GMT (10 PM Eastern Seaboard). So reflections on her speech will be after Cornflakes. Strongly recommend C-Span to people in the UK – more then just something people watched in episodes of The West Wing. Includes live feeds of the convention.