Convention watch: Michelle's task

Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 9:20 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008

The New York Times writes about Michelle Obama being the primetime speaker for the first night of the Democratic convention. “Democrats face a number of imperatives at their convention, none trickier than making more voters comfortable with the prospect of putting a candidate with a most unusual background -- the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, who grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia -- and his family in the White House. No one, his advisers believe, makes the case better for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois than his wife, who will expand her profile by delivering one of the marquee speeches carried by television networks.”

“The introduction of a candidate is a task facing every presidential campaign, but one that carries unique challenges for Mr. Obama because of his race and questions about his patriotism, values and faith that Republicans have already vigorously sought to raise and exploit.”

More schedule: Pelosi and Jesse Jackson Jr. will speak opening night. Then, Aug. 26, Rahm Emanuel, Steny Hoyer, Nydia Velazquez, Linda Sanchez, Tammy Baldwin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mike Honda, Xavier Becerra and Chris Van Hollen take the stage.

"Individuals arrested at the Democratic National Convention will be processed at an industrial warehouse with chain-link cells topped by razor wire, a facility some have compared to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. Groups planning marches, concerts and other events during the Aug. 25-28 convention dub the center "Gitmo on the Platte," for the nearby South Platte River. The Denver sheriff's office, which operates city and county jails, insists anyone taken to the center will be there only a few hours while they're fingerprinted, issued a court date and released after posting bail. Others will be transferred to facilities designed for longer detentions."

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Comments

well at least jesse jackson sr. isn't speaking. That would be awkward.....

Faith Forum: Sincerity Versus Stump Speech
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/faith-forum-sincerity-versus-stump-speech/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:25 AM)

The substantive problem for Obama is that he is already underperforming against John McCain. He limped across the finish line in the primaries and, since Clinton conceded in June, his poll numbers have flat-lined.
In the face of that lackluster showing, his choices have been curious. The time spent in Europe and now in Hawaii might have been better spent courting the white, working-class voters who have proved immune to his charms.
Trying to bring them into the tent by agreeing to Clinton's growing demands is a poor substitute for direct appeals. She might not be able to deliver them, even if she tries.
Yet already the list of what Hillary wants and what Hillary gets is unprecedented for somebody who lost the nomination. She gets a prime-time address where she will be introduced by daughter Chelsea. She gets her own team to produce a hagiographic video of her.
Hubby Bubba gets a prime-time speech on Wednesday night. And Hillary gets a platform plank that uses "glass ceiling" language right out of her speech to suggest she would be the nominee if not for sexism.
A few more big-ticket items and she'll be the co-nominee. Maybe that's the point.
It reminds me of a Cold War joke about how the Russians view a compromise. They come to the table and announce the rules: What's mine is mine, what's yours is negotiable.
How would President Obama respond?
I think we just found out.

What_you_Selling (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:26 AM)

Let's get this party started! I feel that obama has an attack team that is set to squash McCain and Mr.Rove tatics like warm butter on a hot bagel!! America needs universal healthcare, we need mom and pop stores again!! let's get this party started.

Edison (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:29 AM)

That was quite a jump in story line, from scheduled speakers to gitmo on the platte! Could you have bridged these thoughts just a little better?

ujw, ny (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:30 AM)

Is McCain Now Copying Solzhenitsyn?

By Taegan Goddard | August 17, 2008 8:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Last week, a speech by Sen. John McCain had phrases that were likely lifted directly from Wikipedia.

Now it seems McCain may have lifted another story last night at megachurch pastor Rick Warren's Faith Forum. According to a very persuasive Daily Kos diary, the anecdote McCain told about a North Vietnamese prison guard making a cross in the dirt as a sign of solidarity -- or as he said, "just two Christians worshiping together" -- is very similar to a story about Alexander Solzhenitsyn and his times in the Soviet Gulags.

"As Solzhenitsyn stared at the Cross drawn in the dirt his entire perspective changed. He knew he was only one man against the all-powerful Soviet empire. Yet he knew there was something greater than the evil he saw in the prison camp, something greater than the Soviet Union. He knew that hope for all people was represented by that simple Cross. Through the power of the Cross, anything was possible."

Steven Waldman notes that McCain's recounting of this story has changed over the years and "has gradually morphed from being about the humanity of the guard to being about the Christian faith of the guard and John McCain."

Andrew Sullivan says that McCain's early accounts of his years as a POW do not even include this story.

Mc Nothing (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:31 AM)

Oh, great, Michelle the Mouth can tell us her "baby daddy" story again about how he was raised by a single mother who took food stamps. then, he can tell us again how he stink after going to the gym, has smelly socks and hogs the remote. All the things we really need to know about a possible President. I do hope they tell her not to mention how she's proud for the first time again or that America's a mean place. And, oh boy, Pelosi on the same night. Maybe, she can tell us why she thinks she owns the House, won't let our reps put forward the vote that 70% of Americans want.

1day (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:33 AM)

He's different and that is OK by me. His wife is articulate and open. Every time I see the War Gnome's wife on the other hand all I think is "beaten puppy". I wonder if she'll get in that Buffalo Chip contest or not. Her husband is a nasty, vile old man who has no real center. Vote Obama!

bill, okla (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:34 AM)

"Individuals arrested at the Democratic National Convention will be processed at an industrial warehouse with chain-link cells topped by razor wire, a facility some have compared to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Maybe they should ask for the waterboarding special...

You Liberals better keep a muzzle on your far left out of control hippie wannabe's. When America sees what a bunch of left wing morons can do to a city, they will think twice about voting for any democrat; much less Obama.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:35 AM)

Please-it is not Obama's exotic background that has people worried, it is his policy of being all things to all people.The electorate is center-right, and he is far left, although he goes out of his way to avoid being specific enough to pin down. Bill Clinton campaigned right of center, and governed, in the first two years, far left, thus causing the 'republican revolution' in the House and Senate. Obama cannot win with a far left agenda, and he is terrible at hiding his positions, witness his performance on Saturday night. He talks around, beside, and over the question, never really giving an answer, and it DOES NOT work. (McCain, agree with him or not, gives concise answers to questions. All of those who think he somehow 'cheated' by knowing the questions miss this point: it wasn't the questions he knew, but the ANSWERS.) He is unafraid to tell you what he believes, take it or leave it. Obama tries to tell you what you want to hear, no matter what your beliefs are. For example, on the matter of abortion, he would not give a straight answer, because he knew it would be unpopular. His stance on medical treatment for babies born ALIVE after abortion resonates with no one. After birth, it is no longer a matter of a woman's body and choice, but infanticide. Obama refuses to commit himself on an issue of this importance, voting 'present' when the legislation was up for a vote in the Illinois legislature. It is for these reasons that the THINKING voter cannot support him. Those of you who make decisions based on your FEELINGS look past it. Sad. Very sad.

Donna, Lincroft, NJ (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:36 AM)

As long as Michele comes across as somneone who is kind she will be fine. Unfortunately all too often she comes across like she is lecturing (and I hate to say...sometimes a little bitter) you and that will not go over well.

I have a feeling this convention may be one that history writes about for years to come.

Cannot wait to tune in!

Lisa, NY (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:36 AM)

I think that it is great Mrs. Obama will speak on opening night of the Democratic Convention. I have seem her speak and she will by her speech expose those who have tried to demonize her. America will see what a wonderful mother, wife, everyday person she is. You will see what a great first lady she will be ! Just wait and see .........

Ron, phila. pa. (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:44 AM)

We are still waiting for FR to address the fact that John Mccain was not in a cone of silence during Obama's questioning even though he lied that he was.

9999 (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:45 AM)

I think putting Michelle front and center does two things effectively:

1) Helps people relate to Obama on a human level. The biggest problem Obama has is that despite really embodying the definition of the American dream, middle America just doesn't seem to identify with him. Having family front and center can help on that front.
2) Helps people relate to Michelle on a human level. Her (unjustified) unfavorable ratings can be an issue later on. I think given a broad audience, people can see through the partisan bull surrounding her.

I like the idea of a mini-Gitmo. Maybe all these folks that acted like Gitmo was Club Med can get a clearer view.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:46 AM)

I'm proud of Michelle. Can anyone say if this is a first that the wife of the presumptive nominee will give a keynote address during a GOP, or Dem convention?

I'm praying she will knock it out of the park!

donna (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 9:54 AM)

How do you characterize yourself..Jerry for Corpus? Right wing nut, conservative or just a stupid Limbaugh listener?

subgruvet, ok (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 10:19 AM)

Michelle will do fine. Let McBush worry about his own Convention. T date only 39 out of 49 Republican Senators will attend his Convention. They know he is just like Bush , and they do not trust him. OBAMA 08

Cindy (Sent Monday, August 18, 2008 12:06 PM)

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