This morning, I attended the DNC Winter Meeting at the Hilton here in Washington and left feeling more convinced than ever that Obama will be our next President in 2008.
I had to tolerate a fair amount of Democratic Party hooplah before finally hearing Obama speak. I stood in line for about an hour just to receive the "credentials" pictured here. All the while, Hillary supporters hounded me with offers of Hillary '08 stickers and placards. I turned them all down, of course.
Finally, I entered the giant ballroom where the event was taking place. Howard Dean opened the session in his usual goofy manner, and Harry Reid offered a short and fairly uninspiring speech to the throngs of spectators waiting for the real Democratic leaders to step forth. Unfortunately, I had to sit through a speech by Chris Dodd as well, and became downright annoyed when he idiotically proclaimed "bipartisanship means getting Republicans to agree with Democratic principles!!" As senseless as that line was, the crowd loved it.
Finally, Obama arrived, and the room erupted. He began his speech by remarking that all the photographers and glitz made him feel like a contestant on American Idol. But what seemed like a typical "break-the-ice" type joke employed by many speakers as they begin, actually served as an engaging intro to Obama's central message. Obama declared that despite the incessant punditry, frantic score-keeping, and overly "strategized" campaigns of contemporary American Politics, we must remember that this isn't just some "game."
Obama set the theme of his speech when he warned, "Our biggest rival in 2008 isn't the other party, it's cynicism." He went on to decry the state of American politics, and the fact that cynicism has replaced hope, and gamesmanship has replaced serious discussions about real issues.
I have to say that I have never seen a person command the podium as Obama does. His speaking style is extremely effective in the way that it oscillates between hushed seriousness and dramatically intense calls to action. By the end, the crowd was in a feverish uproar. I had goosebumps. OBAMA '08!
blog more you bastard
Posted by: Allen | Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 12:05 AM