Analysis of Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech

Tonight, Barack Obama accepted the nomination as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate for the 2008 fall elections. In doing so, Obama became the very first man of color, the first man of African decent, to claim that prestigious honor of leading the Democratic Party.

The setting was historic, in the home of the NFL's Denver Broncos' INVESCO Field which had been turned into a beautiful Greek Theater. The Speech also falls on the 45^th anniversary of the day when a historic figure, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., delivered his notable "I have a dream" speech.

Preceded by speeches from key Democratic figures such as Al Gore, the 2000 presidential candidate and author of noble prize winning piece "An Inconvenient Truth," Obama's address was remarkable.

He started by paying tributes to key people in his campaign, as well as to family and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden. After the regular honorable mentions, Obama delivered the most important speech of his life.He got down to business by stating specifics of his plan for the country. Some of those specifics are below.

On Oil:
Obama states that he will implement a 10 year plan to end America's dependence on foreign oil. The implication is that America is going to explore other forms and sources of oil and not depend on the Saudis. He mentioned exploring and taping into our natural gas reserves, and investing in new oil technologies like solar and other renewable energy.He also stated that he would invest $150 billion dollars on this new renewable kind of energy.

On Taxes:
Obama states that he will give tax cut to 95% of working class Americans , as it makes no sense to raise tax on them when they are the ones hurting most. He pledges to raise tax only to the top 3% of Americans.

On Education
He wants all American children to have access to quality education; no child really should be left behind. He connects this to his story growing up in a family of a single mother and dedicated grand parents who raised him from humble beginnings to become who he is today, a testament to the American promise as he knows it. He states that he would establish grants for those serving their country so that they truly have access to education.

On healthcare
Those that already have insurance coverage will see lower premiums, while those not covered will have affordable healthcare equal to that offered to those in Congress, said Obama. He also pledges to promote equal pay for men and women who do the same job for the same time.

Obama further went on to say how some of these goodies would come about. He states that the "loopholes of cooperate greed...bureaucracy" will need to be changed to enable money to be channeled to the right need. He urges Americans to claim a "renewed sense of responsibility" by each doing his part to make things work. In other words, mutual and individual responsibility is needed to get things done.

Obama calls on Americans to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient, and parents to raise their children and fathers to be there and care for the family.He states that this election has "never been about me; it's about you." This was a great way to attack the issues of pride and self interest that his opponents have charged him with.

On Change, Obama states that "change comes to Washington, not from Washington." By that, he means that it is the people who will demand and make a difference by electing the candidate that will bring different views and ideas for the common purpose.

When referring to John McCain's push for change, Obama states that yes, McCain cares about America, but the problem is that he "doesn't get it...he doesn't know." This was especially lauded since in their last interview with Reverend Rick Warren, McCain had stated that $5 million dollars was considered rich. That shows really being out of touch with the reality of most Americans who are reduced to living from pay check to pay check, if that.

On foreign issues, Obama states that the distraction from the true perpetrators of the catastrophes of September 11, 2001 would have been his priority, and getting Osama Bin Ladin will be top on his agenda.

He attacks McCain for stating that he would follow Bin Ladin to "gates of hell" when he could not even "follow him to his cave." This was reference to the fact that the country went to war in Iraq when Bi Ladin and the Taliban were stationed in Afghanistan posing danger.

He mentioned how Iraq, the very country America has been sending troops to, actually had a surplus of $79 Billion dollars while America is here in deficit, borrowing money from the Chinese to help Iraq. Who should be helping who?

Overall, Obama did an outstanding job refuting McCain's key attacks that he is not the right candidate. He showed great integrity as usual, and really appeared more presidential than he had been in the beginning of this campaign.

That leads me to believe that yes, people can and do grow on the job. President Lincoln did it, and as the former president Clinton revealed the other night, he too grew on the job.

Think about it; how many people can say that they learned everything they needed for their job in college? Most of what we know is theory, and when on the actual job with real practice, we become perfect.

I know you'll say that the presidency is not a job that has time for on the job training or practice, but truly, how many of you have been a president before? John McCain, with all his years of experience cannot say that he has all of what it takes to be a president, for he had never been one.

What it boils down to is that when the issues are stated and the candidates are compared on how they stand on the issues, most people will make up their minds. Experience or no experience, who really has the common touch, the ability to move you to be your best, and to give America to the people, not to the few? Who has something different from what had not been working in the past two years? Don't be afraid to embrace something new. It is in our very essence, our very human nature, to go through changes and experience something different.