Obama's Acceptance Speech: A Most Significant Event

The Democratic Party Convention ended with a display of fireworks and a superb nomination-acceptance speech, by Barack Obama.  Here are some thoughts about the final day of the convention.

It occurred on the 45^th anniversary of another significant event in America’s political and social history, Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.  King’s speech, culminating the 1963 March on Washington, began the modern phase of America’s struggle to bring civil rights to all its citizens.  Barack Obama’s speech last night, accepting the nomination of a major political party for President of the United States was an equally important event in our Trojan fight to bring America to the full measure of its promise.  Personally, I was moved almost to the point of tears as I watched this event unfold.  

Obama’s speech was also a classic political speech.  Take it from an old university speech teacher, as a political speech, this one was as good as they get.  Obama made a strong argument for why he should be President of the United States.  He answered every criticism his political opponents have aimed at him.  He spoke of the America he would like to help bring about.  He said he would fight to get weaken the influence of professional lobbyists on government policy and action.  He said he would eliminate the tax incentives to companies that ship jobs overseas.  He wants to eliminate the capital gains tax for small business, cut taxes for 95 percent of working Americans, and bring health coverage to every American.  His most ambitious plan is to totally eliminate the importing of Middle East oil, over the next ten years.  

Obama also spoke in detail about the value of hard work, study, and concern for others, instilled in him by his single mother and grandparents.  He told us of how those values inform and motivate his life.  And, to the delight of this speech teacher, he did it all in a most eloquent style. 

Next week the Republican will put on their political happening.  I have no doubt that it will be a spectacular event.  They will do it well and they will make their argument for their political point of view.  That is, of course, as it should be and I will look forward to see the show they put on.  But, I think they will have a difficult time matching what the Democrats did this week.