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Obama's Speech: "America, We Are Better Than These Last Eight Years"

Some excerpts of Obama's speech have just been sent out by the campaign, and they suggest that tonight Obama will do what he's done to such great effect for the last 18 months: Insist that his audience think big; demand that we do better than we think we can.

And he'll fuse that demand with a sharply-worded critique of the GOP and its performance over the last eight years, as well as of McCain's policies.

"America, we are better than these last eight years," Obama will say. "We are a better country than this."

As he has many times in the past, Obama will demand that his audience see this election as a momentous historic choice, similar to other moments where the road of history has forked -- a reading that of course recommends him, but also has the virtue of being entirely accurate.

"We meet at one of those defining moments -- a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more," Obama will say.

Obama will argue that to choose the Republicans will be to take the wrong road at this crossroads of history.

"This moment -- this election -- is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive," he'll say. "Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: `Eight is enough.'

Obama, as expected, will also laud Bill Clinton's presidency, and hold it up as a yardstick of what the Democratic Party thinks of as progress.

"We Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country," Obama will say. "We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was President -- when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush."

Obama will counter attacks on his national security readiness with the familiar evocation of Roosevelt and Kennedy.

"Don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country," he'll say. "Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe."

"As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home."

More excerpts after the jump.

"Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story -- of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

"It is that promise that has always set this country apart -- that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.

"It is why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women - students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.

"We meet at one of those defining moments - a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

"Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach

"These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed presidency of George W. Bush.

"America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this."

***

"This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough."

"Now let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect. And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.

"But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush was right more than ninety percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to take a ten percent chance on change."

***

"You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.

"We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage; whether you can put away a little extra money at the end of each month so that you can someday watch your child receive her diploma. We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was President -- when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush.

"We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work.

"The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great - a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight."

***

"That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

.

"Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

"Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship our jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

"I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

"I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.

"And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

"Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he's said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.

"Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.

"As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy - wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced."

***

"We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans -- Democrats and Republicans - have built, and we are to restore that legacy.

"As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.

"I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing so that America is once more the last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future."


125 Comments

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You just know that this speech will be the equivalent of four grand slam homeruns.
Can't wait to see and hear it tonight!

Obama-Biden '08!

From the excerpts it looks like one hell of a speech, but I'm biased.

Obama/Biden'08

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O wow.

Just wow - it's going to be the real Hell Yes I Can Lead This Country Obama.

Greg - I wish you'd point out the recurring theme in everyone's speeches. You did refer to it here, but it seems to me to be a very raw and direct plea to all Americans to turn away from the dark side, if you will. They've all said, more or less: "America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this."

And it's the truest part of this campaign - it's all about appealing to our better natures again after relentless appeals to everything that is worst in us and most subject to manipulation.

I can already see some GOP backlash from this though:

"Does Barack Obama hate America? Seems he has for the past 8 years. John McCain loves America and ALWAYS has, even while he was a POW for five and a half years."

"Eight is enough"

Gotta love it.

Everybody wants to know: Does Nicholas support Obama?

I am more worried about Dick Van Patten.

Well, if McCain gets his endorsement it's all over for Obama.

LOL!

And you have to say it the way they said it in the show: "Nick-oh-luss".

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Either I'm a cynic (well I am a cynic) or I'm old enough to have a long memory but I'm not seeing "I have dream" there, I'm seeing just another ode to centrism. But to a generation that has reduced the English language to WTF and LOL, it probably seems quite a gem.

Unfortunately the presidential race during the general election is not the place for a I have a dream kind of speech. There are too many people out there watching, what does this mean to me? Obama needs to get elected and then he can begin to change the nature of dialogue in this culture. He started with No Red America, No Blue America, but this is crunch time. He needs to answer: why you, why now?

How true. And I fail to see why Obama should be giving an "I Have a Dream" speech, anyway. This may be the anniversary of Dr. King's speech, but this is Obama's night.

I wasn't feeling this one based on the exerpts--it seems too heavily focused on policy. But maybe you're right, that that's the thing that the undecideds need to hear about. (Anyway, the ***'s probably leave 90% of the speech out.)

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Obama is not a civil rights leader.

Barrack Obama is the nominee for the President of the United States. This is his acceptance speech.

This isn't the speech to rally your followers to carry on the fight for equality.

Word.

Fo' Sho.

As I read the excerpts, I already imagined Obama saying them and my excitement has multiplied by the hundreds. I can't wait!

I want to pretend I'm not excited. I want a KO in real time.

Is anyone lookin at the crowd? I guess there is a party tonight in Denver.

What happened to all the "rain of biblical proportions" that Focus on the Family prayed for Denver tonight?

LOL

Hm. Not sure yet.. overall the excerpts are a B for me. The rest of it will be important--and delivery too, naturally.

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Hang on, there, roo - why will delivery be important if you think emotions are dangerous?

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Hey Tena, glad to see you're here. I thought you would appreciate this.

Even though he didn't talk about the Facebook page ;)

The comments were pretty damn funny, too.

Because most you earthlings are still slaves to your emotions.

Any idea on how long the speech will be?

I had heard 50 minutes.

Wow. And that must be in the ball park as Obama is scheduled to take the stage at 10:15 ET.

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"Eight is Enough"!!!

Yes we can!

YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!

Grampy McSame:

"NO WE CAN'T...my friends."

I think if you look, Gramps, deep inside you, past all that hate and bitterness, where the wild things are, you will see that indeed yes we can,

My Friends, when I got back from the POW camp, I came home to my wife. This woman who stuck with me through bad, bad times. She became disfigured and I thenfound a hot new babe--with tons of dough. Talk about a surge!
Should I leave this wonderful woman for a new and younger version? Remember, she was rich!
And and thought "Yes I can!" Hell, I was a POW.
"Yes I Can"

And, as President, can I, John McCain, lead us into more wars? "Yes, I can!"

Can I ship more jobs overseas? "Yes I can!"

Can I side with big business and paid fat cat lobbyists who don't care about the average American? "Yes, I can!"

Can I lower taxes for the richest Americans and put more of the tax burden on the middle and working class? "Yes I can!"

Why? Cause I'm a POW.

I'm John McCain and I approve of this war.

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WE CAN! Look what we've done so far!!!!!!!

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Tena - word for you upthread @ your 7:49 post. ;)

There has never been anything false about hope.

Take our country back

Make the courtiers tremble...Storm Versailles-on-the-Potomac

Hey what do you know, this revolution will be televised.

The revolution starts now!

perhaps it's the gin and tonic, but that will.i.am and john legend performance just got the tears going. and i cry rarely.

wow.

Obama had promised a "workmanlike" speech and this seems along those lines. I'm not expecting another "Yes we can" address, to tell you the truth. I'm sure it will still be good, though.

Nova voter, my wife and I were on the verge of tears too--that performance was just beautiful. That's the kind of energy and feeling that helped make me into such a passionate Obama supporter to begin with.

My wife has been pulling out the kleenex all week long:

Michelle's speech.
Hillary's speech.
Joe Biden's speech.

She LOL at the "Sisterhood of Traveling Pantsuits," which I didn't get until she explained it to me.

Spoilers!

And the amazing thing is, Obama writes his own stuff. Name me one leading presidential candidate in the last 50 years who did that.

obama's mission tonight should be to put to rest once and for all, why he is a better choice than mccain...answer the why why and why...so far, the excerpts are doing just that...

the delivery will be inspiring b/c obama is delivering it..duhhhhh!

beautiful poetry caught all of our attention, but some are holding out b/c they want to get to the meat and potatoes of this thing....i am thoroughly disappointed in any obama supporter who whines about getting more flowery speeches vs an inspiring call to action, highlighted with sound policies to help us turn back the clock on these past miserable 8 years..if that is not inspiring for you, then my friend, you are in this for the wrong reasons...i like obama; in fact, i think he is a kind, decent, hardworking, altruistic individual who is willing to risk his life for the opportunity to serve us, but remember this thing is not about obama the person...it is bigger than obama, bigger than any one of us...this is a movement to turnback the clock on failures of this past administration...we need a change that is more positive than today and yesterdays of mcbush....that should inspire all of us to answer this call for change...

the dems are always blessed with the opportunity to answer that call...it only comes around every so often....

give it to mccain obama, keep it classy, but define mccain with the facts...the facts that MSM refuse to acknowledge...we all know how skilled our candidate is at oratory..now use that skill to mobilize the cynics into action......and use it to remind all of us why we are fighting this fight...why we donate, volunteer, blog etc....it is because we have a common purpose--win win win and not just an election-win back our country that has been hijacked by the very deceitful, selfish, warmongering bush/mccain regime...

I'm sure the Repubs strategists are watching this right now with Crowe on stage and the crowd dancing in the sun and thinking to themselves, "oh we're screwed."

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On the front page, David Kurtz is wondering if you can do the traditional balloon drop at an outdoor venue.

Two words, dude: Balloon cannons.

Cue the ballon cannons! Cue the ballon cannons! Where are my fucking ballon cannons! Cue the ballon canons! Fuck! What's going on with the fucking ballon canons!

I don't know about Balloon cannon, but definitely confetti cannons...

Off topic, but you should enjoy this Wolcott summary of the VP choices for McCain before it becomes dated. I particularly like his line about Pawlenty: you can't fill a vacancy with a vacancy.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2008/08/chelsea-clinton-has-gotten-so.html

My favorite was about Joe Lieberman:

"Together on stage, he and McCain would look like a gay Metamucil ad."

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My understanding that there will be fireworks and confetti from cannons. I am not sure about balloons.

Someone above mentioned how cynical they are. I hear ya, how could we not be? It's hard to let go of that and actually have hope, but I find myself really moved by the speeches and even the music. Everything is taking on so much meaning, moreso than I have ever known. Yikes! Did I just say that?

Tim Kaine "If you dream of seven houses then McCain is the candidate for you" I think a lot of people wouldn't mind seven houses...

Yeah, that line made me go:

.......?!?

Nevertheless... ONE HOUSE, ONE SPOUSE - OBAMA 08!

I guess I'm voting for McCain now...

Apparently you don't do your own yardwork.

You have a yard?!

MOVE MOUNTAIN!!

Go Richardson!

Loved his line, "McCain might pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but America will pay for his flip-flops."

That line was freaking great. A pun on a pun!

Richardson esta que quema! (He's on fire!)

Bien hecho! He looks badass! And he's delivering!

"McCain can pay hundreds of dollars on his shoes, but we'll pay for his flip-flops..."

Priceless!!!!

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Richardson: McCain might spend hundreds for his shoes, but we will pay for his flip-flops.

Priceless!!!!

"John McCain can pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but we cannot pay for his flipflops."

Best line of the night...

Seconded.

That line needs to be in attack ads ASAP, alongside John Kerry's golden:

"Before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself."

It's unanimous!

There is all this talk about how McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time. The idea seems to be that McCain is from the Bush school of thought when it comes to the economy and foreign policy. This is incorrect.

Bush is from the McCain school of thought. Bush followed a diluted form of McCain's policies - to the detriment of the country. McCain is a maverick of he Republican party not because he supports the occasional bipartisan bill, but because he holds an ideology that even Republicans find extreme. The idea that we can turn the economy around by going further down the road Bush has put us on is insane.

McCain wants to return us to the country of our forefathers. A country where the middle class was non-existent, imperialism dominates our agenda and poverty runs rampant.

Is anybody gonna miss Dick Cheney? LOL

"...Not where we imagine them to be, but where we know them to be!"

Nice.

You go, Bill!!!!!

I just got finished screaming "Move Mountain!" while catching glimpses of Tim Kaine's speech in my car, sitting at a red light - too bad a chubby woman was crossing the street at the time, she wasn't pleased.

LMFAO! Oh MAN!

LOL! You'd better be careful...

Bill Richardson ISTHEMAN

Dang!!! Richardson was good

"We can honor his (McCain's) service, but that doesn't mean we have to elect him President"

because we need more than a good soldier to turn this country around.

Richardson did a very nice job.

I have no doubt there are shivers down the GOP spines just about now. This is breathtaking. This open top stadium is renewing the feeling out revolution, movement, MSM is biting their tongues. I wish we had more of Richardson.

This is what Unity looks like.

What story line have republican bloggers come up with about today?

The man who designed Obama's stage/set is the some man who designed the sets for Britney Spears concerts.

They'd better get used to the sound of this:
President Barack Obama.

I am just watching Stevie Wonder, and I can stop tearing up...I think it is a mix of joy, and pure history in the making...

As somebody pointed out upthread, the repugnants will have a field day with one inartful line:

"America, we are better than these last eight years," Obama will say. "We are a better country than this."

Shouldn't this be rephrased? Shouldn't he say something more like:

"America, we can do better than these last 8 years." Or "America, we deserve better than we have gotten these last 8 years."

The point is to separate criticism of Bush, McCain, and the repugnants from criticism of America. After all America is larger than it's broken, dysfunctional republican dominated government. The Bushies haven't changed the people we are. They haven't altered our fundamental values.

Again, it's just a small quibble not a deep criticism. But you know the repugnants and how good they are at taking words and twisting them.

Stevie...Oh, I love Stevie...Hasn't lost a whisker...Damn. B.E.A.U.TIFUL.

Stevie...Oh, I love Stevie...Hasn't lost a whisker...Damn. B.E.A.U.TIFUL.

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O god, Al Gore had gotten so good -

I love being a Democrat - we would have seen that everyone had equality - regardless of sexual orientation-

I love being a Democrat.

Dang!!! Al Gore is good

I believe in recycing but thats ridiculous.LOL

I believe in recycing but thats ridiculous.LOL

Get him on the campaign trail.

Jin is off the Island!!

(sorry I'm a Lost junkie)

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I love it that almost everyone since last night has started mentioning the constitution in their speeches, in addition to torture. I'm beyond grateful -

Al Gore is on FIYAH!!

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Al Gore is doing an awesome job of winding up both the crowd and me -
'

I swear, this is the best Dem conventin ever. BO's campaign sure knows how to put on a show. The optics these last 4 days has been great.

I cant wait to see what the Repugs will do next week. They will have pressure on them to produce similar or better optics and energy. Anything less I believe the media story for a few days will be about McCain's flat convention.

That it became this after 24/7 talk of disunity only makes it even more remarkable.

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O shit - is it ever! We know who we are, finally.

We got confused - not anymore. WE know we are the ones who should be in charge, god damn it.

I can't believe this convention -

Whoever voted for Nader in 2000 should run head first into a brick wall.

I love Gore more each day.

I love Gore more each day.

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This is another unfuckingbelievable speech - they just get better -
Al's had me crying for 10 minutes now

Just a kind of constant misty eye evening with moments of heavy tears. Just seeing that stadium filled with people...

Did Gore just call Obama "the One"?

i was thinking the same thing. BO is Leo, lol.

Thats Neo not Leo.

Thanks...that makes more sense. LOL.

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O Children! The Pride is back!

We've found our pride again - finally!

You know it's amazing when you can follow an entire thread - without a single icky creature crawling from under the bridge...

We've got them on the run... Charge - Move Forward! Win!

If you hear the dogs, keep going.

If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.

If they're shouting after you, keep going.

Don't ever stop. Keep going.

If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.

Damn the stadium is PACKED. Stick a fork in MSM

Reports are that a few thousand may get turned away, but that police and security are looking for every nook and cranny to put them in. Possible attendence 90,000.

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Great job by Al Gore!

Tena - I left you a link upthread @ your 7:49 comment.

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Thanks - that was enjoyable.

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but Jenn - seems once a god, always one.

;)

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I mean - you know the pride in being real Democrats and liberals is back when all our elder statesmen stand up and publicly say "we are for rights for everyone - no matter what."

We aren't being cowed anymore. We are roaring back like I can't believe.

I believe McWar is kidnapping people to attend his speech tomorrow!!!

They can not find 10000 people...

Amazing line from Gore: "I believe in recycling, but this is ridiculous"

This man has so much class. His speech was flawless is delivery, class, and substance...

And the best is yet to come...

Talking's cheap. Will he have the balls to deliver? Doubt it. How will Mr compromise accomplish "change"? A change to what? Getting stuck like the USSR in Afghanistan for 8 more years? How many US/NATO troops will there be in Afghanistan in 4 yers? What's the "CLEAR" mission in Afghanistan? Does this involve even more NATO soldiers killed? How much will this cost?

So worth the wait! MP3 highlights are up here.

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