In Obama's Closing Argument, Accents Of Bill Clinton In 1992
Barack Obama just wrapped up his big closing argument speech in Canton, Ohio, and his remarks drive home one of the under-appreciated aspects of this amazing campaign: The similarities between Obama and Bill Clinton, and between their respective readings of the electorates each man sought to win over.
The speech shows, again, that Obama rivals (and perhaps surpasses) Bill as one of the great public communicators of the last few decades. But their similarities run deeper. Obama's success -- like Bill's -- is rooted in an uncanny sense of the electorate's mood, and of what it's looking for in its next leader. The likenesses were unmistakable today.
In 1992, Bill -- though he was running against a popular incumbent who'd just prosecuted a successful war -- sensed a widespread drift among voters that was only partly rooted in economic doldrums. Crucially, Bill also sensed that the electorate was looking for a clear signal from its next President on just how the nation would be moved from the 20th Century to the 21st at a time of rapid global change.
As his speech makes clear, Obama's reading of the electorate is in some ways very similar today to Bill's read 16 years ago.
In the speech, Obama revisited his decision to run for President against tremendous odds, and alluded to the drift he sensed -- as did Bill -- among voters.
"We weren't given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be," Obama said. "But I also knew this. I knew that the size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics. I believed that Democrats and Republicans and Americans of every political stripe were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, and a new kind of politics -- one that favors common sense over ideology; one that focuses on those values and ideals we hold in common as Americans."
"Twenty-one months later, my faith in the American people has been vindicated," Obama added.
It's true that Obama's opponent has little in common with Bush Sr. McCain isn't an incumbent, and he's running at a time when his party is in deep trouble after prosecuting a war that has been judged a catastrophic failure, rather than a "success," as the first Gulf War has been labeled by some.
Nonetheless, Obama -- should he win -- has outworked McCain in ways very similar to Bill's outmaneuvering of Bush Sr. Like Bill, Obama has sensed that the electorate is looking for something larger than a set of policies or personal attributes. Unlike McCain, who has proven utterly incapable of grasping the public mood on many levels, Obama has sensed that the electorate wants to know how we will remake our politics -- domestic and international -- for the next century.
Bill famously envisioned his presidency as a "bridge" from the 20th to the 21st centuries in terms of keeping America at pace with globalization. Obama is presenting his presidency as Act II in that drama -- now that we've crossed Bill's "bridge," he is promising to transform our politics in kind. In essence, Obama is promising a true 21st Century politics.
"As I've said from the day we began this journey all those months ago, the change we need isn't just about new programs and policies," Obama said. "In this election, we cannot afford the same political games and tactics that are being used to pit us against one another and make us afraid of one another. The stakes are too high to divide us by class and region and background; by who we are or what we believe."
Obama has sensed this state of affairs for years. Today's message, really, hasn't changed much from the vision Obama articulated in his famous 2004 convention speech. It just took awhile for Obama to come within real striking distance of implementing it.
The full text of his speech is here.
ONE WEEK!
October 27, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans appear the incumbent party and McKKKain appears the head of the party right now. You don't only elect a President. You also elect a party that will run executive agencies such as the Republican FDA that looked the other way while thousands of people who died from Vioxx, Celebrex, and Heparin. You also elect a Republican EPA that lied to police and firemen in nYC that said that the air appeared safe while thousands of NYC police officers and firefighters got sick and many of them died. You also would elect a Republican FEMA that did nothign for a week while people died in New Orleans.
However it's the Falling stock market stupid.
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October 27, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great speech Obama!
McCain has you EXACTLY where he wants you!
October 27, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain wants Obama to win too? Great -- it's what all the cool Republicans are doing.
October 28, 2008 6:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is as fired up as I've seen Obama.
October 27, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't watch the speech. I'm at "work". (Which, let's face it, is going to be a misnomer this week). What was the audience reaction like?
October 27, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
And now, this.......
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Wright_TV.html#comments
bring it, you turds.....go ahead, make my day.
October 27, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This will only prove Obama is a Christian. Ok...
October 27, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Bring it on. If this is all they've got, then I almost feel bad for 'em.
Almost.
http://thepajamapundit.com/
October 27, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which is why McCain decided to make his last stand in Pennsylvania - It's race-baiting time.
I hope Obama calls him on it, and points to the Mugging Hoax Campaign Push and the 75,000 emails sent to Jewish Americans in Pennsylvania that "asked voters to remember the Holocaust" when deciding their vote.
October 27, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word! I am so not scared of Jeremiah Wright - that's old news. Older than Ayers.
October 27, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Completely disconnected with anything that is relevant in this election. I'm sure tho holks over at the corner, redstate, noquarter, etc., will excited, but this is going to fall flat.
October 27, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. This is a suicide note, not a campaign commercial.
October 27, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the Cheyne-Stokes breathing of the Republican Party. . .
October 27, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, who had October 27 in the "When will McCain trot out the Jeremiah Wright tape" pool?
October 27, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Crap, I had it for Halloween, Friday the 31st. Let's do some math to see where I went wrong.
31-1: (realizing early voting is really strong, bump it up a day).
30-1: (Did Feldman just loose PA? (which was almost a lost cause anyway))
29-1: (OMG, Bush voted for me and announced it?!? What was he thinking?)
28-1 (VA, NC, GA, MO, IN, OH, FL, MT, ND, AZ....uh, something's wrong here)
=27
October 27, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!!!
October 27, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
heh heh, yeah I'm no longer waffling (at least for now). But seriously, I was expecting Wright and worse this Friday. Maybe the equation has changed and he's dropping the dirt now. Maybe this is all he's got.
October 27, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yup -- if this is the best they can come up with, I'm just feelin' relieved.
October 27, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
And they aren't playing it in VA. Not that I think it would help them. But if they aren't doing something to win back VA, then it's useless.
October 27, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder if the MSM is going to start looping this shit again and turn a $3m three-state ad blitz into a national one? Why do I not feel sanguine about this? God, what a nest of snakes and scorpions are these right-wing crazies.
October 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to mention Ross Perot . . .
October 27, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
George H.W. Bush was *not* that popular by the electoral period.
I remember the slogan, "Saddam Hussein has a job. Do you?" And that wasn't from Clinton people, just a reaction.
October 27, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
We were in a full fledged recession by election time.
October 27, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
here's a link with text.....
http://nationalrepublicantrust.com/
October 27, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
My father just called me in tears, having watched the speech live and hearing so much of JFK in Obama's call for young people to serve and for the nation to give everyone the chance to earn a decent living and own their own home.
Every time I think Obama has hit the peak of inspiring speech, he comes back and tops it.
At this rate, I won't live through the inaugural.
October 27, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know--I've spent the last eight years running out of the room (sometimes literally) when the Current Occupant appeared an the television screen with his mouth opening and closing. Finally speeches that make me proud of my leaders!
October 27, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Current occupant.
And John McCain. I simply cannot listen to him any longer. His voice seems suffused with whiny resentment. Similar to how Bush's voice is suffused with smugness.
October 27, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Airhead Bimbo whose voice makes me cringe. So screechy. Kinda like a finger-wagging grandmother.
October 27, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell! This was just a warm-up! I'm scared what his inauguration speech will be about!
October 27, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama was magnificent. Wow!
October 27, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I'd seen it.
If I hear McLame say Obama is "eloquent" one more time - it's tantamount to saying he's "articulate."
Makes me want to grab that old fool and shake him.
October 27, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Senator Obama is very well spoken. So articulate. He's really going places! And such a nice man. That infectious smile is always upon his face! And so well dressed. You'd never know he was from, you know, Illinois.
October 27, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget that he also has nice teeth...
October 27, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet he can dance, too.
O/T, but it's been bugging me all morning long, since hearing a clip from a McCain rally in which they played the theme from Rocky: didn't Rocky lose that first fight? He came close, it was respectable, but ultimately, didn't he lose?
October 27, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
The big question is did he get permission from the recording artist to use it?
October 27, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if past history is any guide, his campaign didn't get permission.
But seriously: didn't Apollo Creed win that first right?
October 27, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, Rocky lost. But then, he got the rematch. I don't see McCain going the distance and then coming back in four years to get his ass whipped again.
October 27, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
And don't forget that he's also so clean. And I LOVE MotoCrat's comment!
October 27, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you do that, the ashes will fall out.
October 27, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Old Man Bush had a 38 percent approval in fall 1992 ... he was done for going in.
October 27, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is definitely a blast: I got Obama at 434 and McQuit at 104.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/
Thanks to our heros on the other thread who brought us the link. I repeat it here in the spirit of kicking some major league ass.
If the Phillies win the World Series, it will be GREAT NEWS FOR
October 27, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, talk about an easy way to alleviate fears. It's fun and I now realize that if NM, CO, and PA goes Obama, NC, FL, OH, MO, and even VA don't matter. Whoa.
October 27, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hence the now-frantic thrashing with Wright....
October 27, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was seeing that Saturday nite/Sunday morning my time slot. Nevada would be icing on the cake too. McCain has to work harder than Obama at this point and he's short on $$$$$ !!!!
hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!hee!
October 27, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone got a link to the video?
October 27, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Link (through Salon.)
October 27, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
D'oh! It says "Off Air." :-( Thanks for trying, though! Guess I just have to wait for the Baracksters at his web site to post it...
October 27, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry! Youtube so far has just the final few minutes - the ones that got my father crying.
October 27, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
The YouTube link must be really getting hammered. first time a YouTube page hasn't come up quickly for me.
October 27, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Answer to Joe the Plumber in the text of BigO's speech:
You wanna be a plumbing tycoon, Joe? You're gonna need customers to get there!
October 27, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to mention, maybe he should actually become a plumber first.
October 27, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!
October 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's already been shaken. And stirred. And dropped on his head.
October 27, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, he's gonna become a Congressperson now.
October 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like the symbology. Clinton built a bridge for us to cross over into the 21st century. And Obama is going to explore the challenges the new century has to offer to make America better.
October 27, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Incredible speech. I can't wait for this man to be president. After eight years of refusing to allow the illegitimate construction "President Bush" (I can barely type it with the middle fingers of both hands) to emerge from my lips, I can feel the excitement in my spine at the prospect of a great president, with the possibility of Barack Obama being the greatest president of my lifetime.
October 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just hope that Barack, unlike Bill, can keep his pants on while he's in the Oval Office . . .
Anyway, the closing argument speech was fantastic.
October 27, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding?? With Michelle at his side? No need to look elsewhere, IMHO... (meow)
October 27, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excuse me - if there is one thing I'm pretty fucking certain of, it's that Obama doesn't chase women.
It's pretty fucking obvious how much in love he is with his wife.
October 27, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where the heck is that comment coming from?
Seriously?
Because one Democrat behaved that way, any Democrat will?
October 27, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey it was just a joke everyone . . . relax :)
Although let's face it: Bill wasn't the "one" Democrat who behaved that way . . . there was JFK, LBJ . . . and just as many Republicans, I'm sure . . .
October 27, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're sure?
I'm beginning to wonder now - you don't know about Newt Gingrich? Or for that matter -= McLame?
October 27, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame was strangely silent when the John Edwards news came out. If we could read his thoughts it would be "Whew! Better him than me. Glad we hid that telecom lobbyist I was screwing."
October 27, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. When I think of a Democrat returning to the White House, the extramarital activities of previous occupants isn't really on my radar screen.
October 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I merely read the speech, and I'm weepy! What a grand indictment of the past eight years, the McSleeze campaign, and the village idiot they kidnapped for VP. He did it without screaming, railing, or using barely-disguised racial invective. He was reasoned, inspiring, and intelligent. This is what we need--the time is now.
October 27, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't see that. All I saw was that vast open stretch of road he was going to lead us down.
October 27, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
". . . Obama has sensed that the electorate wants to know how we will remake our politics -- domestic and international -- for the next century."
Damn, I knew the guy had some visionary quality - but Greg, are we really ready for 22nd century politics?
Just had to jump on that! But I love you, man!
October 27, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Using Wright will fire up the base but will say to the independents: McCain is not someone who keeps his word, he's not a Maverick just another Bush.
October 27, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. McCain et al. are in all-out flail mode at this point.
October 27, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
All my concerns about GOTV are relieved.
With increasingly inevitability there were concerns not all Obama voters will show up at the polls, the Wright Ad just added fuel to fire. Me thinks it will cast more votes for Obama than against him.
October 27, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The base has been fired up so much I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything left to burn?
October 27, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's temper?
October 27, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Incoherent stuttering isn't the same as being on fire. You throw gas on the fire to make it bigger and cold water on the stutterer to get them to stop.
October 27, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn! Where did Motocrat go? I need to talk to him -
He posted a comment on a lower thread I really need to get back with him about -
if he went all over Texas with his dad watching fast pitch games, I need to know when that was. My husband played fast pitch in the Dallas city major league - he played all over the state back in the day -
October 27, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely a fantastic speech . . .
This man will go down in history as a G R E A T
Obama truly has it all ... superior intelligence, calming temperament, compassion, integrity, and charisma.
I look forward to President Obama . . .
October 27, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they're similar in their brilliance as politicians and the way they connect with voters, one thing I think is different -- and that will work greatly to Obama's advantage in office -- is that unlike Clinton, he is disciplined and focused. If his campaign is any indication, Obama won't allow his presidency to be sidetracked by less-central issues nor will be allow daily tactical considerations to divert him from his long-term strategic goals.
October 27, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, here's one time I'll admit Biden was right:
As I recall, Castro has shown some interest in an Obama victory. Coincidence?
October 27, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troll Alert!!!
October 27, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I know that personally I'm really worried about Cuba.
[rolls eyes]
Castro's brother doesn't keep me awake nights. The only thing that worries me about Cuba is that we won't normalize relations - which is what we need to do.
But hey - maybe it would be better to have Palin in office so she can check Putin's head when it rears up over Alaskan airspace.
Yeah, that's the ticket for keeping us safe.
October 27, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well thanks for taking time off from crying to offer a little meaningless snark. What worries you is irrelevant as is most everything else that spews from your orifice.
Now get back to crying.
October 27, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
An excellent idea. Certainly far cheaper than a missile defense shield and probably just as effective!
October 27, 2008 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is "payback" for the US insistence on putting "missile defense" in former Soviet States. Very easily predictable, I believe I even mentioned this scenario and asked how would America feel about this very this scenario during the Russia/Georgia incident.
Would would your President McCain say "Do as we say not as we do evil Russia!!"?
How can America content that putting "missile defense" on Russian borders is completely above board and that Russia has nothing to worry their pretty little commie heads about and then raise a fuss should Russia ship "missile defense" to mere miles off the US border?
October 27, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
That and pushing NATO and the European Union into bringing former eastern European countries under their care. Russia was promised there would be a buffer zone between them and the west. Clinton broke it and Bu$h made a circus out of it. Now, the Russian navy and Air Force have been invited to play in our backyard swimming hole.
October 27, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
So you endorse appeasement.
October 27, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just read the Ohio speech - it's extremely powerful. I cried reading it. If that's what he delivers Wednesday night, I hope a lot of people are watching.
October 27, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he should have saved it until Wednesday and delivered it live to the Nation.
From what I can understand the Wednesday prime time buy is a 30 minute political ad, or infomercial. It's being put together by the person behind the Bill Richardson primary ad campaign (I guess they were pretty smartly done).
October 27, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know darlin but you always think sumpin else should have happened.
;)
October 27, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
gee! What if this was just a primer for what he's going to say Wednesday?
October 27, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't wait to watch the speech (wish I had been able to catch it live). Wonder what he's gonna do on the 29th infomercial.
October 27, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, there was a little over 18 months between the end of the Gulf War and the '92 election. My impression at the time was that Bush believed his popularity would carry him and he could rest on his laurels but a year and a half is a long time in the minds of voters. He also ran a really lackluster campaign that made me wonder if he truly wanted a second term.
October 27, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is a leveled up Bill Clinton. Clinton was a masterful politician. Obama is a transformational figure.
October 27, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink