Obama's Speech: Style AND Substance
Barack Obama’s acceptance speech tonight showed me why he is electable–and actually got me excited enough to stay up late and blog about it.
As rhetoric, it was superbly crafted:
On those specifics–I endorsed Obama last winter (after Kucinich dropped out), and I found myself agreeing with about 80 percent. I have issues with his energy policy, which relies too heavily on big, scary technologies such as nuclear and coal–but I thoroughly applaud his commitment to get us off imported oil within ten years (something that should have started in the Carter administration, or even the Nixon). I have issues with his foreign policy, which strikes me as unnecessarily hawkish, though light-years ahead of McCain’s. But I commend him for consistently opposing the Iraq debacle at the beginning and putting forth a timetable, even a slow one, for withdrawal.
And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.
So Obama is real progress. Not anywhere near as far as I’d like, but that may actually be to his advantage–because I think when the American people listen, they will find a genuinely likable and sincere individual who is of the people, despite the GOP’s absurdist attempts to paint him as an elitist or as a dangerous radical. He’s not very radical at all, and he comes from a broken home, worked as a community organizer, and talked quite a bit tonight about the economic hardships he faced, and how they reinforce his commitment to make sure every American can afford a college education and decent health care. In language that the typical red state voter (if not blinded by racism) can see and hear.
A lifelong activist, profitability and marketing specialist Shel Horowitz’s mission is to fix crises like hunger, poverty, racism, war, and catastrophic climate change—by showing the business world how fixing them can make a profit. An author, international speaker, and TEDx Talker, his award-winning 10th book, Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World, lays out a blueprint for creating and MARKETING those profitable change-making products and services. He is happy to help you craft your messaging and develop profit strategies. Learn more (and download excerpts from the book) at http://goingbeyondsustainability.com
@Shel – Thanks for the feedback. You may be right about his sincerity after all, but as you say it is difficult to be sure because of his calculations.
@Shel – Thanks for the feedback. You may be right about his sincerity after all, but as you say it is difficult to be sure because of his calculations.
@SharonA, yes, the progressive agenda is to push Obama toward the positions that make sense. Living in a solid blue state where my vote doesn’t count, I may end up voting for McKinney and the Greens. If they get 5%, they become a legitimate party (though I don’t think that’s likely). But if I lived in a swing state, I’d definitely vote Dem this year–and lean hard on Obama to get with the program.
@SharonA, yes, the progressive agenda is to push Obama toward the positions that make sense. Living in a solid blue state where my vote doesn’t count, I may end up voting for McKinney and the Greens. If they get 5%, they become a legitimate party (though I don’t think that’s likely). But if I lived in a swing state, I’d definitely vote Dem this year–and lean hard on Obama to get with the program.
Shel,
Thank you for this well-written piece on Obama’s speech at the convention. I did not watch it because I am unhappy with his stance on just about every issue, particularly on energy. We should not be wasting any more precious funds investing in unsustainable, destructive and extremely dangerous energy sources like nuclear and coal – and there is no such thing as ‘clean’ coal. That said, I am interested to see if Obama can be pushed to progressive positions on some issues, and I acknowledge that he would most likely be somewhat better on energy than McCain, especially now that McCain has chosen an oil woman to be his running mate. I’m also concerned about the Supreme Court and that is another reason to support the Democrats, even though I have witnessed that neither of the two parties in our losing two-party system values democracy. I will be putting my energy into election reform and Instant Runoff Voting.
Shel,
Thank you for this well-written piece on Obama’s speech at the convention. I did not watch it because I am unhappy with his stance on just about every issue, particularly on energy. We should not be wasting any more precious funds investing in unsustainable, destructive and extremely dangerous energy sources like nuclear and coal – and there is no such thing as ‘clean’ coal. That said, I am interested to see if Obama can be pushed to progressive positions on some issues, and I acknowledge that he would most likely be somewhat better on energy than McCain, especially now that McCain has chosen an oil woman to be his running mate. I’m also concerned about the Supreme Court and that is another reason to support the Democrats, even though I have witnessed that neither of the two parties in our losing two-party system values democracy. I will be putting my energy into election reform and Instant Runoff Voting.
@TerriZ – by coincidence I just found Gordon Snyder’s post about Obama’s Internet policy. Yes, he gets it. Posted it to my Facebook page: https://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536574918
@TerriZ – by coincidence I just found Gordon Snyder’s post about Obama’s Internet policy. Yes, he gets it. Posted it to my Facebook page: https://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=536574918
@Shel – Thanks for the feedback. You may be right about his sincerity after all, but as you say it is difficult to be sure because of his calculations.
@Shel – Thanks for the feedback. You may be right about his sincerity after all, but as you say it is difficult to be sure because of his calculations.
@TerriZ – yes, this is not a good time for people who don’t know the Internet to be in charge. Even my parents can manage to send e-mail.
@Lew – I agree on both counts. How much effect racism will have could change the outcome in November–but so could the enormous registration drive they’re planning.
@TB, I don’t seem as being able to get the income redistribution through, so I don’t worry about it much. And the US still has *far* lower gas prices than Europe and much of the rest of the world. I think he is sincere, but neither of us can know for sure. I also think he’s a master calculator, as many successful politicians are, and the sincerity is filtered through how he thinks it iwll play.
@TerriZ – yes, this is not a good time for people who don’t know the Internet to be in charge. Even my parents can manage to send e-mail.
@Lew – I agree on both counts. How much effect racism will have could change the outcome in November–but so could the enormous registration drive they’re planning.
@TB, I don’t seem as being able to get the income redistribution through, so I don’t worry about it much. And the US still has *far* lower gas prices than Europe and much of the rest of the world. I think he is sincere, but neither of us can know for sure. I also think he’s a master calculator, as many successful politicians are, and the sincerity is filtered through how he thinks it iwll play.
@TerriZ – yes, this is not a good time for people who don’t know the Internet to be in charge. Even my parents can manage to send e-mail.
@Lew – I agree on both counts. How much effect racism will have could change the outcome in November–but so could the enormous registration drive they’re planning.
@TB, I don’t seem as being able to get the income redistribution through, so I don’t worry about it much. And the US still has *far* lower gas prices than Europe and much of the rest of the world. I think he is sincere, but neither of us can know for sure. I also think he’s a master calculator, as many successful politicians are, and the sincerity is filtered through how he thinks it iwll play.
@TerriZ – yes, this is not a good time for people who don’t know the Internet to be in charge. Even my parents can manage to send e-mail.
@Lew – I agree on both counts. How much effect racism will have could change the outcome in November–but so could the enormous registration drive they’re planning.
@TB, I don’t seem as being able to get the income redistribution through, so I don’t worry about it much. And the US still has *far* lower gas prices than Europe and much of the rest of the world. I think he is sincere, but neither of us can know for sure. I also think he’s a master calculator, as many successful politicians are, and the sincerity is filtered through how he thinks it iwll play.
Greetings. I just found your site. Nice layout and good features. Although it’s more from the academic side you might be interested in my own blog (https://teachingbe.blogspot.com/) from time to time.
As for your post on Obama, I disagree. Obama is likeable, but not sincere. There are legitimate concerns with his associations in the past (Wright, Ayers), both in the content of those associations and the way Obama has denied any influence from these. See Shelby Steele’s book “A Bound Man” for more. On policies, you are right to point out Obama’a seeming hawkishness as a concern. His redistributionist tax policies, however, will more likely cause economic problems than ease the situation, most of which is caused by global factors rather than any specific U.S. policies. BTW, the price of gas, corrected for inflation has only gone up an average of about $.04 per hear for the last 28 years since 1980, when the price was the equivalent of $3.00.
Regards,
T. B.
Greetings. I just found your site. Nice layout and good features. Although it’s more from the academic side you might be interested in my own blog (https://teachingbe.blogspot.com/) from time to time.
As for your post on Obama, I disagree. Obama is likeable, but not sincere. There are legitimate concerns with his associations in the past (Wright, Ayers), both in the content of those associations and the way Obama has denied any influence from these. See Shelby Steele’s book “A Bound Man” for more. On policies, you are right to point out Obama’a seeming hawkishness as a concern. His redistributionist tax policies, however, will more likely cause economic problems than ease the situation, most of which is caused by global factors rather than any specific U.S. policies. BTW, the price of gas, corrected for inflation has only gone up an average of about $.04 per hear for the last 28 years since 1980, when the price was the equivalent of $3.00.
Regards,
T. B.
Greetings. I just found your site. Nice layout and good features. Although it’s more from the academic side you might be interested in my own blog (https://teachingbe.blogspot.com/) from time to time.
As for your post on Obama, I disagree. Obama is likeable, but not sincere. There are legitimate concerns with his associations in the past (Wright, Ayers), both in the content of those associations and the way Obama has denied any influence from these. See Shelby Steele’s book “A Bound Man” for more. On policies, you are right to point out Obama’a seeming hawkishness as a concern. His redistributionist tax policies, however, will more likely cause economic problems than ease the situation, most of which is caused by global factors rather than any specific U.S. policies. BTW, the price of gas, corrected for inflation has only gone up an average of about $.04 per hear for the last 28 years since 1980, when the price was the equivalent of $3.00.
Regards,
T. B.
Greetings. I just found your site. Nice layout and good features. Although it’s more from the academic side you might be interested in my own blog (https://teachingbe.blogspot.com/) from time to time.
As for your post on Obama, I disagree. Obama is likeable, but not sincere. There are legitimate concerns with his associations in the past (Wright, Ayers), both in the content of those associations and the way Obama has denied any influence from these. See Shelby Steele’s book “A Bound Man” for more. On policies, you are right to point out Obama’a seeming hawkishness as a concern. His redistributionist tax policies, however, will more likely cause economic problems than ease the situation, most of which is caused by global factors rather than any specific U.S. policies. BTW, the price of gas, corrected for inflation has only gone up an average of about $.04 per hear for the last 28 years since 1980, when the price was the equivalent of $3.00.
Regards,
T. B.
I basically agree and the little online quizzes said that Kucinich was my man too altho we voted for Hillary.
Obama is the reasonable choice but, of course, what he might be able do is limited by the rich and powerful lobbies who really control the movement of government. And I’m afraid that racism will have an unknown and important effect on the outcome of this election.
As with most things we wish for the best and fear the worst.
I basically agree and the little online quizzes said that Kucinich was my man too altho we voted for Hillary.
Obama is the reasonable choice but, of course, what he might be able do is limited by the rich and powerful lobbies who really control the movement of government. And I’m afraid that racism will have an unknown and important effect on the outcome of this election.
As with most things we wish for the best and fear the worst.
I basically agree and the little online quizzes said that Kucinich was my man too altho we voted for Hillary.
Obama is the reasonable choice but, of course, what he might be able do is limited by the rich and powerful lobbies who really control the movement of government. And I’m afraid that racism will have an unknown and important effect on the outcome of this election.
As with most things we wish for the best and fear the worst.
I basically agree and the little online quizzes said that Kucinich was my man too altho we voted for Hillary.
Obama is the reasonable choice but, of course, what he might be able do is limited by the rich and powerful lobbies who really control the movement of government. And I’m afraid that racism will have an unknown and important effect on the outcome of this election.
As with most things we wish for the best and fear the worst.
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And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.
And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.
And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.
And the last time there was a major-party nominee who more-or-less agreed with me on 80 percent of his positions was George McGovern in 1972–when I wasn’t old enough to vote. The one before that was probably Henry Wallace in 1948, when I wasn’t even born. The one before that might have been Thomas Jefferson.
Hi Shel — I didn’t watch the speech, so thanks for the distillation. I’ve never been a politically-involved person; I’m not registered for any party and before Obama, I’d never donated to a presidential campaign. And I’ve donated to his campaign twice already!
I like what he stands for, and I like his way of getting things done. I see him as a practical idealist…laying out his vision and then accepting whatever gains he can get toward it, whether big or small. I think he can help America improve its standing in the world, because he’s a respectful person…something I don’t think George Bush knows a thing about!
And McCain? I look at the tremendous changes to our daily lives, both in business and personally, made possible by the internet. And here is a man that doesn’t even know how to send an email! How can he possibly understand important issues like net neutrality that affect small businesses so greatly? McCain is a hero, and has been a positive asset for America. But he’s not prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
imho 🙂
Hi Shel — I didn’t watch the speech, so thanks for the distillation. I’ve never been a politically-involved person; I’m not registered for any party and before Obama, I’d never donated to a presidential campaign. And I’ve donated to his campaign twice already!
I like what he stands for, and I like his way of getting things done. I see him as a practical idealist…laying out his vision and then accepting whatever gains he can get toward it, whether big or small. I think he can help America improve its standing in the world, because he’s a respectful person…something I don’t think George Bush knows a thing about!
And McCain? I look at the tremendous changes to our daily lives, both in business and personally, made possible by the internet. And here is a man that doesn’t even know how to send an email! How can he possibly understand important issues like net neutrality that affect small businesses so greatly? McCain is a hero, and has been a positive asset for America. But he’s not prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
imho 🙂
Hi Shel — I didn’t watch the speech, so thanks for the distillation. I’ve never been a politically-involved person; I’m not registered for any party and before Obama, I’d never donated to a presidential campaign. And I’ve donated to his campaign twice already!
I like what he stands for, and I like his way of getting things done. I see him as a practical idealist…laying out his vision and then accepting whatever gains he can get toward it, whether big or small. I think he can help America improve its standing in the world, because he’s a respectful person…something I don’t think George Bush knows a thing about!
And McCain? I look at the tremendous changes to our daily lives, both in business and personally, made possible by the internet. And here is a man that doesn’t even know how to send an email! How can he possibly understand important issues like net neutrality that affect small businesses so greatly? McCain is a hero, and has been a positive asset for America. But he’s not prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
imho 🙂
Hi Shel — I didn’t watch the speech, so thanks for the distillation. I’ve never been a politically-involved person; I’m not registered for any party and before Obama, I’d never donated to a presidential campaign. And I’ve donated to his campaign twice already!
I like what he stands for, and I like his way of getting things done. I see him as a practical idealist…laying out his vision and then accepting whatever gains he can get toward it, whether big or small. I think he can help America improve its standing in the world, because he’s a respectful person…something I don’t think George Bush knows a thing about!
And McCain? I look at the tremendous changes to our daily lives, both in business and personally, made possible by the internet. And here is a man that doesn’t even know how to send an email! How can he possibly understand important issues like net neutrality that affect small businesses so greatly? McCain is a hero, and has been a positive asset for America. But he’s not prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
imho 🙂