The Candidates' Performances At The DNC — Now On Video!
Because you all want to know how the Dem Presidential candidates did at the DNC's Winter Meeting today, we've compiled some highlights! We've got videos of the best moments lodged by Hillary, Obama, Kucinich, the whole bunch. To watch them, click here.
First up was Chris Dodd, kicking off his underdog campaign with a loud, raspy call to arms reminiscent of Howard Dean's debut four years ago at the 2003 DNC Winter Meeting:
Next came Barack Obama, giving a more sober, subdued speech than usual, imploring the other campaigns for a positive primary race, and a focus on the issues rather than personalities, talking points and gaffes:
Wesley Clark scored a possible first: a large meeting of Democrats from across the country where a speaker favorably quotes the very talented — and very right-wing — General Douglas MacArthur, on the nobility of a soldier's sacrifice:
John Edwards declared, "silence is a betrayal" on Iraq, and said that Democrats should go beyond non-binding resolutions and give a strong message to President Bush: "You're not the Decider!"
Dennis Kucinich played up his working-class roots and his love for old-time Democratic liberalism — even to the point of bringing back an old Franklin Roosevelt New Deal program!
And finally, Hillary Clinton declared that she would not have started the Iraq War if she were President, and said that as President she would end it. This is likely a pre-emptive effort against attacks for her vote in 2002 in favor of authorizing the President to go to war:















I'm not particularly enamored of political speeches
though I did watch today. Only surprise for me was Kucinich's wife. Wow!
February 2, 2007 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very interesting. I thought they all looked and sounded pretty good. Great pool of candidates this year.
I don't know if their entire speeches were in the same tenor as the comments posted here, but good for Clark and Obama for including some sobering comments and not just applause lines, despite the venue. For some reason, I find that to be a highly impressive, honorable thing to do.
February 2, 2007 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was there and the atmosphere in the room was fantastic for the major candidates. I noticed many people felt that finally we have a few good candidates. (Though I suspect not everyone will agree on who they are.)
February 2, 2007 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the soundbites, Eric. This is a lot better and more convenient that sitting through hours of C-Span while I should be studying law.
February 2, 2007 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's Elizabeth Kucinich from the Kucinich '08 website.
http://kucinich.us/node/1122
Rep. Kucinich and Elizabeth were married in August '05.
February 2, 2007 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks for posting the soundbites. I'm still a Kucinich supporter since he talks about things that matter. Hilliary seemed to get the most applause but, hey, it was a DNC crowd.
February 3, 2007 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right On Dennis. I met him at a back yard event in the 2004 primary. He is the genuine article, if only people were serious about trying to Give Peace a Chance!
February 3, 2007 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
My concern with Hillary is not that she won't end the war in Iraq, but before she gets that chance she'll help start another one with Iran.
Given her hawkish stances over the past four years, given that she was one of the last to come around to opposing the war, and given her belligerent statements about Iran, when she speaks I suffer a bout of synesthesia. What I'm hearing smells funny.
February 3, 2007 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gravelmentum picked up steam--or pebbles--this morning. I think his two main ideas are pretty crappy (national referenda and a national sales tax), but the guy is a fromer U.S. Senator, so I'm glad the DNC did him the solid of inviting him to speak.
February 3, 2007 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I look forward to seeing similar clips for the Saturday speakers. Obama comes across well, as does Kucinich. The others don't impress me at all; HRC is phoney as a three-dollar bill, and I expect that will sink her.
February 4, 2007 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Watching the cold response to Dennis Kucinich's wonderful comments made me feel really sad. What kind of Democrats would half-heartedly clap or sit on their hands about bringing single-payer, non-profit healthcare, renewing the New Deal, and creating publicly funded pre-school?
Is this what it means now to be a "dyed in the wool democrat"? Sa-a-ad.
I appreciate Barack Obama's comments, but that was a pretty empty thing to say. However, I don't think that standing on position would have done much for any candidate in that crowd.
-Eva
February 4, 2007 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
As far as the quality of the speaking, I rate Dodd as #1.
You have to laugh about Senator Clinton's claim that "If I were president in October 2002, I would not have started this war!"
Imagine if she had said, "If I were president in October 2002, I would have left Saddam in power and not have started this war!"?
February 4, 2007 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink