Day Three- Surprise!
Posted by jbhirsch on August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27th 2008
Obama’s surprise appearance tonight may have been predictable for some, but for me, it came as a total surprise. I was inside the Pepsi Center for most of the afternoon listening to some of America’s greatest politicians and didn’t have access to any outside news feeds.
His surprise capped off a day which was nothing short of spectacular.
I interviewed about 20 delegates from all over the country and it was extremely interesting to hear their perspective on different issues and ideals. Each delegate was honored to talk about issues they felt were important and tell their story about what they were doing to change America today. I met a State Representative, an Obama campaign volunteer, a radio show host and even a comedian. Every single person had a message and a reason they support the Democratic Party and Barack Obama.
The energy inside the Pepsi Center was exciting. The roll-call had gotten everyone cheering and eager for a great line-up of speakers. Melissa Etheridge entertained the crowd as the arena filled early in anticipation for an exciting evening.
Tonight was about Joe Biden accepting the Vice Presidential nomination, and speakers like Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Senator Evan Bayh from Indiana (we all know him from the VP shortlist), Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, Former Senator Tom Daschle and Senator John Kerry showed their support for the Obama-Biden ticket.
Madeline Albright said, “The first quality a leader needs to have is the ability to learn.” I found this interesting because it makes you think outside the box. Most people say leaders need charisma, courage, strength, but she is pointing out that you can’t have any of those things without having the ability to learn.
Senator Evan Bayh attacked McCain: “He [McCain] says he agreed with George Bush on almost every issue. He must be the only person in America.” The crowd enjoyed that jab.
Senator Jack Reed reminded us that he and Obama opposed the war from day one, and former Senator Tom Daschle reminded America that if Obama is elected, “not only will our party win, our country will win too.”
Honestly, I didn’t come here tonight to hear these people speak about how great Obama will be for our country. I don’t mind hearing it, and I actually enjoyed it, but I came to hear what former President Bill Clinton had to say.
Ok so maybe I am a huge fan of the Clinton family. There is nothing wrong with supporting a family who has always fought to make America a better place for everyone, not just the upper class.
Clinton touched on the heat of the primary season. “In the end, my candidate didn’t win. But I’m very proud of the campaign she ran: she never quit on the people she stood up for, on the changes she pushed for, on the future she wants for all our children.” I thought it was so important to talk about Hillary first and get that issue out of the way. We all knew he was going to endorse Obama, but it would have seemed less sincere if he didn’t talk about her amazing run right off the bat.
“Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she’ll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us. Actually that makes 18 million of us…” Clinton really delivered this well. The polls indicate that some Clinton supports are still not supporting Barack Obama. As we know, I am a huge Clinton supporter. I personally plan to vote for Obama in November, but only because I do not want to see another Republican in office. Obama wasn’t my candidate, but I am choosing to vote for him because I don’t want to see another 4 years of the last 8.
Hillary supporters are still a bit bitter about the primary season, but there is no reason to throw this election out the window for the Democratic Party. Obama and Clinton see eye to eye on many issues with only slight shifts in opinion. It is my hope that after this convention, Hillary supporters will see that backing Obama is what we need to do to get this country moving in the direction we want it to.
“Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I’ve done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job,” former President Clinton said. Despite the past, Clinton is kept in high regard by many Americans. This bold statement will be taken to heart by many voters who look to Clinton for leadership, and hopefully help Obama’s campaign.
He said that Obama “hit it out of the park” with his selection of Joe Biden as a running mate, and continued to talk about what Obama will do as President.
Clinton compared Obama to himself and his campaign 16 years ago: “…the Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be Commander-in-Chief. Sound familiar?” I thought this was great because it legitimizes everyone’s belief that experience isn’t everything. It shows proof that 20+ years as a Senator doesn’t make you a better candidate than someone with just a few years of Senate experience.
Clinton didn’t just endorse Obama. He spelled out for the nation what Obama will do to make the changes we need. Clinton humanized Obama for the American people: “His life is a 21st Century incarnation of the American Dream.”
The crowd cheered loudly for the former President. In his attempt to reach out to Obama supporters, Clinton supporters and those undecided voters, Bill gave a spectacular speech. He did what he needed to do: unite the party behind Barack Obama.
Senator John Kerry addressed the delegates and guests and compared the candidate McCain to Senator McCain. I thought this was a great way to call him a “flip-flopper” without actually having to use the term. It is so overused in politics and Kerry did a great job of drawing out McCain’s flaws in a novel way: “Before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself.”
Kerry was clever with his attacks on McCain. “We are electing judgment and character, not years in Senator or years on this Earth.”
The Pepsi Center was buzzing and it was almost time for Biden to take the stage. A local resident of Delaware spoke about how Biden helped changed her life, and a video montage, featuring comments from Biden’s family and Barack Obama, gave America a look at the road Joe Biden had traveled to get here tonight.
Biden’s son, Beau, introduced his father as “his hero.” Didn’t Chelsea do the same last night for Hillary?
Senator Joe Biden accepted the nomination with pride and spoke about his journey to where he is today. “Failure at some point is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.” He spoke about his difficulty with speech when he was a child and used the family values which his mother raised him in believing to show his American spirit. “My mother’s creed is the American creed. No one is better than you. Everyone is equal, and everyone is equal to you,” Biden said.
Biden spoke about Obama as an honorable man. Biden pointed out Obama’s stand on the war, the economy and many other issues that face our country today.
He called for us to back Obama like we have other great Presidents: “Our greatest presidents―from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to John Kennedy―they all challenged us to embrace change. Now, it’s our responsibility to meet that challenge.”
Biden not only told us about his past, but he gave us confidence that he will lead us into the future with change.
Obama’s surprise electrified the crowd and gave true meaning to the message Biden had just conveyed. Obama reassumed skeptics that Biden is the best choice for his running mate.
Before Biden’s speech, I wasn’t overly happy with Obama’s decision to choose him. After hearing him speak about his life and his experiences, I can now confidently say that that I think he compliments Obama in a way no one else could. Although I wish Hillary was the President or Vice President, I think this ticket is what Democrats need to win this election.
More importantly, I met several famous politicians and celebrities today!
Susan Sarandon, Anne Hathaway, and Gloria Reuben stopped for photo ops, but others like Spike Lee, Ashley Judd, Forest Whitaker, Steven Spielberg and Jamie Foxx passed me by during the mad rush to exit.
As for politicians, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland was by far the nicest of anyone I have met at the convention. He took the time to talk to us and really get to know us. Of course being from Quinnipiac, he immediately associated me with the Poll and we got into talking about our polling on Ohio. It’s a good thing we predicted his victory in his last race.
I saw other politicians like Governor Howard Dean, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Former Governor Michael Dukakis around the convention hall.
Overall, I thought Bill rocked the house tonight. He really reached out to everyone in the nation with his words of wisdom and insight.
It was an exciting night at the Pepsi Center… and I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring at Invesco Field.
