Thinking Out Loud - Democrats Respond to RNC Speeches

Either Barack Obama doesn't get it or he doesn't want to let on that he does. Because if he did, he and the Democratic party wouldn't have anything to run on for the next sixty days. In an email to his supporters (and obviously any press people who contacted him via his websites early on), he and Joe Biden sent out emails regarding the RNC speeches. In Obama's email, he asks, "Why would the Republicans spend a whole night of their convention attacking ordinary people? With the nation watching, the Republicans mocked, dismissed, and actually laughed out loud at Americans who engage in community service and organizing."

He must be referring to such comments as Gov. Sarah Palin's comment "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities."

Taken as such it might seem like an attack on community organizers (if you really have a good imagination, that is). But since it is taken out of context (which Sen. Obama would rather you not know the context), it is only a snippet, a sound bite. Which is "politics as usual." Something Sen. Obama is trying to convince the American public he is not party to in the Capitol.

In context, Gov. Palin was responding to the Democrats contention that because she was a small town mayor, she doesn't have the experience to be a "heartbeat away from the Presidency." Which in itself is a silly statement, since a mayor (and Governor, lest you forgot) has executive duties and responsibilities. At the same time, the Obama campaign has asserted his own experience credentials to be President include his work as a community organizer. The Governor's comments were not an attack on community organizers but rather on Obama's assertions that this makes him experienced enough to be President. (Which is like me saying that since I drive a truck, I can be Secretary of Transportation.)

Then the email goes on to tell how the Democratic convention was different, that everyday average people came up to tell how they knocked on doors and gave donations. And this is the point where, like all the emails from the Obama campaign, they ask for money. ("Watch the video and make a donation of $5 or more now to show that in this election, ordinary people will make their voices heard.")

Well, I guess they need to pay for the multimillion dollar rock video set extravaganza of Barack Obama's acceptance speech. And in this he is correct. The simple understated (read "not over indulgent or ego boosting") setting of the RNC was definitely different from the Democrat's blowout at Invesco Field.

Then the Obama email goes to say, "What you didn't hear from the Republicans at their convention is a single new idea about how to make the healthcare system work, get our economy moving for the middle class, or improve education."

I guess he missed the parts of the speech where McCain said the following:

= "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can."

= "I will open new markets to our goods and services."

= "I will cut government spending."

= "My tax cuts will create jobs."

= "My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance."

= "Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second-highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 will improve the lives of millions of American families. Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit. Opening new markets and preparing workers to compete in the world economy is essential to our future prosperity."

= "We're going to help workers who've lost a job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away. We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower-paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage."

= "My fellow Americans, when I'm president, we're going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don't like us very much. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we'll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage the development and use of flex-fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles . . . This great national cause will create millions of new jobs, many in industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity; jobs that will be there when your children enter the workforce."

= "We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children."

He must have snoozed through these parts.

Then he finishes up his email with a last statement. "Just attacks -- on me, and on you."

I don't know about you, but it sure sounded like they were just "attacking" Barack Obama, not me. I certainly didn't feel attacked.

Then Sen. Joe Biden sent out an email. Most of it was the same rhetoric and the same plea for money. But the interesting comments came from some statistics he mentions where he trots out the same old horse of linking Bush and McCain as if they were the same person.

Joe asks, "How can John McCain pull us out of the deep hole we're in when he voted with George Bush more than 90% of the time?"

He really shouldn't draw on voting issues since the top of his ticket has a very dismal record in this arena. For instance, Barack Obama missed over 45% of all votes in the Senate. That comes out to just under three uhndred votes. And he voted with the Democratic majority over 95% of the time. A Democratic majority that decided to go on vacation without allowing an up or down vote on allowing discussion of a comprehensive energy bill (an "All of the above" bill), during a time where average citizens are hurting so deeply from higher and higher oil prices.

This does not sound like change. This does not give anyone hope.

"Anvil" Joe then goes on to state, "No matter what McCain says, we can't bring about change by relying on the same ideas that have failed us for the last eight years."

I guess he missed out on Sen. McCain's speech as well, which outlines a whole new direction to get the country out of the mire it has found itself. A mire the Obama campaign hopes you don't notice they were at least 50% responsible.

Rather than sending any money to any campaign, us "ordinary Americans" (I wonder if the Obama camp is including those of us who "cling to our guns and religion?") can let our voices be heard on November 4th, 2008.

But, as usual, you can agree with me or disagree with me. You can say "Amen, brother, shout it from the mountain top." Or just tell me to "Oh, shut up." No matter. Either way, its still a free country and you can feel however you want to feel. This is just me, thinking out loud.

Sources:
Remarks by John McCain's - 2008 Republican National Convention
http://portal.gopconvention2008.com/speech/details.aspx?id=84

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin - 2008 Republican National Convention
http://portal.gopconvention2008.com/speech/details.aspx?id=38

Barack Obama - Congress Votes Database
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/

Emails Received:
McCain's speech Friday, September 5, 2008 9:31 AM From: "Joe Biden"
The attacks Friday, September 5, 2008 12:54 AM From: "Barack Obama"