I guess Bill Clinton earned his African-American “green card” back Wednesday after his speech at the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center.
The card had been revoked during the Democratic primary when he made what many in the black community perceived as racially-tinged comments when Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary, dismissing it by saying Jesse Jackson won South Carolina when he ran for president.
The former president came out in full force for Obama Wednesday while vice president candidate Joe Biden put presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain on blast for everything from the economy to the so-called War on Terror.
Clinton has had a strong following among African-Americans during his presidency, so much so that he has been called America’s first black president. He proclaimed not only that he would support Obama, but also that the Illinois senator was ready to be commander-in-chief. The latter was something the Republicans hammered his wife on not saying during her speech.
But Bill Clinton covered nearly all the bases in his support for Obama and how he believes the last eight years under George W. Bush has hurt America economically along with its image around the world. Now comes the big test. Both Clintons will be able to ride the headlines and the convention for all of a couple of days before the Republican convention, where the other party will remind Americans of everything they said against Obama in the primaries. The Clinton’s green cards are issued only temporary with the expiration date set for Nov. 4.
It will be up to them to maintain the enthusiastic endorsement for Obama and make the connection between McCain and President Bush until the November election. The Republicans will unleash withering attacks against Obama over the next few months that will make their initial use of Rev. Jeremiah Wright look like a monk prayer service. They will use the words of both Clintons in the primary against Obama.
If the Clintons fade into the woodwork and leave it only to Obama to answer back, McCain will win the election. The Republicans upcoming “love affair” with the Clintons is nothing more than a booty call. It’s the ugly boyfriend or girlfriend you take to the private park but never ever around your friends.
The Clintons must strike back hard in September and October at these attempts like they struck back at the convention. Then, and only then, will they get their African-American green card back permanently.
All eyes will be on Obama tonight as he closes out the DNC with his remarks. I am hoping that we haven’t heard his best inspirational words during the primary and that he will use Thursday night to propel the campaign forward during the next crucial stage. What do you think Obama has to say in his speech? Can he win or lose the election in one night? Tell us what you think in the comments!
After Hillary Clinton gave her speech at the Democratic National Convention last night, few could argue that she’s on board with the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Actually, did she really have a choice?
Clinton, while keeping her own political career in mind, doesn’t want to be blamed for Obama losing to John McCain in the November presidential election. She knows if that happens, it would make it nearly impossible to make another run at the top seat at a later date, at least as a Democrat.
McCain’s campaign wasted little time trying to fan the flames of alleged Hillary Clinton supporters with an ad suggesting that Obama didn’t select her as a running mate because she “spoke the truth” about him during the primary. The sad thing is that some of her followers will believe that ad and vote for McCain.
Unfortunately, some are not sophisticated enough to know that the same group that put together that ad had prepared vicious attack ads against Clinton if she was the nominee.
I’m having a hard time finding the rationale of how a Hillary Clinton supporter can make the leap over Obama to McCain. If you look where Clinton stands on issues from women’s rights, the economy, health care, abortion, education and compared them to where Obama and McCain stands, it’s not even close. Continue reading
It’s funny how kids can bail you out of a jam, big or small, and that’s where Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama found himself late Monday after his wife Michelle, gave a stirring speech on the floor of the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Obama, who was on a live satellite feed from Kansas City, mistakenly said he was in St. Louis. Almost on cue and unprompted, his youngest daughter asked her father, “Daddy, what city you’re in?” giving the presidential candidate the opportunity he needed to correct the minor flub.
It was the only mistake in a night meant to highlight the Obama family and the first salvo in unraveling the stereotypical images of the couple that has been unleashed in the media. Even conservatives on Fox News Monday night had a hard time finding fault with Michelle Obama’s speech, clinging to personal taste and style as a critique when they found no issues to go after.
But if this was an effort to change the Obama’s image from the Addams Family to the Cosby Show’s Cliff and Claire Huxtable, it was a solid first step. The Obamas have a true American story. Barack Obama grew up in Hawaii, raised by his grandparents when his mother was stricken with cancer and through his own personal will and smarts went to an Ivy League school.
Michelle Obama grew up on the south side of Chicago to working-class parents who overcame odds to get the best education possible and attended Princeton and went on to become an attorney. Those are stories we normally celebrate — the meaning of hard work and overcoming barrier after barrier. No one handed the Obamas anything. They didn’t marry into money. They weren’t given any breaks. Continue reading
A historic week kicks off today in Denver at the Democratic National Convention. I am sitting here patiently awaiting Michelle Obama’s speech. Here is a schedule of all the events this week.
