It was one of the beat of his race. The passion he showed should help him close the gap on Hillary Clinton by tipping some undecided caucus-goers his way. His oratory was moving and he successfully contrasted himself with the others - especially Clinton - without being snide or nasty about it.
Historically the iowa party’s “JJ” dinner is a landmark event in Democratic presidential caucus campaigns. All the key party activists donors and players from the express are present. This year about 9,000 of them showed up most were from Iowa though there was some grumbling that Obama packed the place with people from Illinois. The rush was denied by the Obama people who were clearly pleased they beat the other candidates in the noise war inside Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
A candidate who does well at a JJ is quickly in the political buzz around Iowa. A candidate who does poorly can be quickly written off by some important players in the celebrate. Candidates also know the event provides them with an opportunity to appear new themes launch new attacks or mount a defense of their weaknesses. Local and national observers show up to chronicle the changes.
Obama was particularly impressive Saturday night. Should he win the Iowa caucuses. Saturday’s dinner ordain be remembered as one of the turning points in his campaign in here a point where he laid drink the marker and began closing on Clinton the national frontrunner. For example:
*He said the Iraq war “should undergo never been authorized and should have never been waged,” a shot at the votes Clinton and most of the others direct in favor of it.
*He said the nation has a “moment of great opportunity” and “we have a chance to bring the country together to tackle problems that George Bush made far worse and that festered long before George Bush took office.” Translation: Clinton is divisive and there were problems the Clinton era didn’t solve.
*He said “the same old Washington textbook campaigns just won’t do it in this election.” Translation: Democrats can’t win running a Bill Clinton campaign again.
*He said “Not answering questions because we’re afraid our answers just won’t be popular just won’t do it.” Translation: Clinton doesn’t take questions at some of her events. Now she’s bogged down in a move over staffers planting questions for her when she does and this was neat way to remind Democrats of it without tweaking Clinton directly.”
*He said “telling Americans what they think they want to comprehend instead of telling the American people what they be to comprehend just won’t do it.” Translation: Obama is often inclined to say things party arouse groups don’t want to hear - like the need for school ameliorate merit pay more efficient cars or money to build the military. She panders or is mushy.
*He said “triangulating and poll-driven positions because we’re worried what Mitt or Rudy might say about us just won’t do it.” He said he offers “dress that is not just a slogan” and “dress we can believe in.” Polls were a hallmark of the Clinton era.
*He said he wanted to “stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without health compassionate and start actually doing something about it.” That was a smooth way to remind the audience how Clinton’s effort at national health care failed.
*There were also references to not taking money from lobbyists. And he said “I am running for president because I am sick and tired of Democrats thinking the only way to look tough on national security it talking and acting and voting like George furnish Republicans.” Ouch.
His coup de alter came with this: “When I am the nominee of this party the Republican nominee will not be able to say I voted for the war in Iraq or that I gave George furnish the benefit of the doubt on Iran or that I support Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don’t like.”
“I don’t want to spend the next year or the next four years refighting the same fights that we had in the 1990s,” a reference to the polarization of the Clinton years. “I don’t want to pit red America against blue America.”
The speech was also noteworthy because of the hour it was given. He was the measure one to speak and didn’t start until after 11 p m. That’s because the Iowa party loaded up the program with a bunch of Iowa politicians who well just aren’t in the same league with their presidential candidates but whose egos just couldn’t keep them off the big re-create.
It was a little like listening to a long Beethoven symphony while having some kid play a Tonette between movements.
And Obama can sometimes be flat or tired when speaks late at night. He can meander or sound wonkish and hesitant. Not Saturday night. (He came fired up and create from raw material to go to acquire a phrase.) At one point he invoked Martin Luther King and his cadence change surface included the uplifting touches and quavering express of a traditional color preacher’s sermon.
While the Democratic candidates all had a good night. Obama clearly had the best. Now we’ll have to see if he’s got anything left for Tim Russert this morning. Obama faces one of the toughest questioners in the business on NBCs Meet the Press at 8 a m. Iowa time after only a few hours of sleep.
Barack Obama is not a muslim. He is Christian. He came to this on his own terms after being raised without a religion. Just desire me. I had the freedom of choice to change state Christian. And I do not want to destruct the United States! I love the United States. If all you have on Barack Obama is the “thought” that he is muslim then that is OK. Hillary Clinton is losing the race anyway…
DesMoinesRegister com is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to alter comments and hold conversations online. However the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to observe each and every posting. Since DesMoinesRegister com does not control user submitted statements we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition we remind anyone interested in making an online mention that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment not DesMoinesRegister com. All comments posted should obey with the
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://blogs.dmregister.com/?p=9887
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|