In one sentence: Obama's best speech ever.
On the 45th anniversary of Dr King's "I have a dream" speech, Barack Obama delivered a speech in which he officially accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States.
In this speech, Obama was less celebral and more specific. He pointedly referred to areas in which McCain is even more extreme than Bush, such as the Iraq War. While the Bush administration is finally on the verge of setting a timetable to pull out, McCain wants us to remain there permanently.
While telling us that John McCain deserves respect for his service to our country, he reminds us that John McCain votes with George W. Bush 90% of the time. Nobody can in good consience vote for McCain unless they really love the last 8 years.
Obama says that its not that McCain doesn't care, its just that he doesn't understand. McCain has said in the past that you are middle class if you make 4 million dollars per year. McCain gives less tax breaks to those making under $150,000 than Obama.
He says that McCain's "ownership society" means that "you are on your own." No healthcare, tough luck. No job? Deal with it. Your kid is sick? We won't help. Another tour of duty to Iraq? Good luck. That, Obama says, is what the republican's policies have created, and I do agree with him. Not everyone has the support of a family like I and many of my peers do.
Obama tells us about his heroes: his grandparents, who sacrificed material success to pay for his college.
Obama says that government cannot solve all of our problems, but it should be able to provide us a safe place to live, help provide schools for our kids, provide us with clean water, and help us. And that this is the promise of America. While we must look out for ourselves, "We are our brother's keeper, our sister's keeper."
Specifically, Obama would eliminate the capital gains tax for small businesses, cut taxes for 95% of all families (McCain would mostly cut only the top 25%'s tax). He has also promised to
end our use of foreign oil within 10 years. He reminds us that McCain has voted against fuel economy standards and cleaner energy. Drilling is putting your thumb in the whole of the dam. Obama promises the use of a myriad of technologies, including nuclear power, wind power, biofuels, and many other sources that will provide us with millions of new jobs.
Obama reminds us that this would cost money, but that he will eliminate ineffective programs and close tax loopholes for corporations to pay for this. Contrast that with McCain, who wants to continue a war that is not currently funded.
Obama tells us that we must take responsibility. Fathers and parents must take a part in their childrens' lives. We should all be concerned about the environment and do what we can.
"McCain says he will follow Usama Bin Laden to the gates of hell, but he won't even follow him into the cave he lives in." This is true, McCain is afraid to go into Pakistan.
"You don't protect Israel and deter Iran by talking tough in Washington."But more important than any of this speech, Obama is the dream of America. Forty-five years ago our country was heavily divided by race; many minorities could not easily vote, get a job, or even go in the same bathroom as whites. Dr. King began the (mostly) non-violent movement that changed all that.
Obama talks about specific ways in which we can come together:
On gun control: While hunters and urban dwellers may have different opinions, "Don't tell me we can't come together to keep AK-47's out of gang members." I agree and support background checks.
On gay marriage: While we may not agree that gay people can get married "Don't tell me we can't help gay partners be able to visit each other in the hospital." I know of nobody who will not agree with that.
Chris Matthews remarked tonight, that unlike Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, and other African Americans who were appointed to their positions, Barack Obama has been democratically elected to be the candidate for president. We have come a long way in the past 45 years, and we can only hope that Barack Obama will be elected president, as my future, as well as yours, depends on it.
Lastly in his speech, Obama reminds us that we should engage in debate without judging each other's patriotism. He tells us that McCain loves our country as much as himself, or you and me. He says that while we can debate policies, we should not debate the character of the opponent. He says, "I've got news for you John McCain, we all put our country first."
He is taking the debate from the Britney Spears ads to the issues, and that is ground in which John McCain will surely lose.
