The Political Voices of Women

*Note from Catherine Morgan – This was originally posted yesterday.  I think, sadly, many are missing this powerful speech by Obama at Invesco Field on Thursday evening, due to all of the Palin controversy.  I agree we need to continue to discuss Sarah Palin, and I encourage more posting and commenting on the issue.  But, just in case some readers missed Obama’s speech and/or coverage of it…I will also be adding links to video of the whole speech, and other commentary.

See full video of Obama’s Speech here.

Video responses and commentary by the media on Obama Speech.

Now back to Tracy’s post…

I know you probably watched some of the convention and probably Obama’s acceptance speech on TV, but after watching it on TV myself after walking back from Invesco Field, I can tell you that the televised broadcast did not accurately portray the emotional reaction to Obama’s speech. There really is no substitute for being there, but this footage, taken right after Obama walked on stage gives you a pretty good idea of what it was like to be in the crowd at Invesco Field. I recorded the 2.5 minute ovation from my mile high seat.  Enjoy the crowd (follow the link because I couldn’t embed my YouTube video).

I cannot find a link to this information anywhere on the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner website so I am posting the press release I received from them because it features a focus group of undecided or “weak supporters” of either candidate from Nevada:

Denver, CO. August 29, 2008. On this historic evening, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner/Democracy Corps conducted qualitative research in the swing state of Nevada among 39 undecided voters or weak supporters of either candidate who watched Obama’s speech. Participants answered a series of questions about the election, the candidates, and the major issues in this campaign. They then watched Barack Obama’s acceptance speech live, followed by another series of questions on many of the same topics. Two follow-up focus group discussions with 21 of the participants allowed for significant exploration of reactions to the speech. While this was clearly a qualitative exercise and not a representative survey, the movement we saw in attitudes toward the election and Barack Obama was dramatic:

# After viewing the speech, more than 1-in-4 of these swing voters moved from undecided to supporting Barack Obama or from supporting John McCain to undecided.

# On a thermometer scale of 0 to 100, Obama’s mean score rose 9 degrees (from 57 to 66 degrees) after voters saw his speech.

# Obama achieved gains on every personal attribute tested in this exercise, with the most dramatic movement coming on some of the most important measures in our polling – ‘on your side,’ ‘has what it takes to be President,’ and ‘will keep America strong.’

# In a head-to-head match-up with John McCain on which candidate would better handle a series of issues, Obama again gained ground on every measure, with the most significant movement coming on ‘national security,’ ‘strengthening America’s relationships with other countries,’ and ‘sharing my values.’

In the focus group conversation after the speech – one group with those who shifted toward Obama and another among solidly undecided voters – it was clear that the introductory video and speech made a deep impression. Voters spoke emotionally about the importance of family to Obama and the central role that family plays in his life and his beliefs. They applauded his emphasis on personal and mutual responsibility, his commitment to veterans, and his refusal to engage in negative personal attacks on McCain. They came away with a firm belief that Obama understands the challenges facing our country, and particularly middle class and working families. Perhaps most importantly, from his plan to cut taxes for small businesses and the middle class to his commitment to alternative energy and victory in Afghanistan, they believe he has the right ideas to produce the change these voters desperately seek.

Voters in both groups cited the unique atmosphere at Invesco Field as one of the most memorable aspects of tonight’s speech. They found the sheer size and scope of the event very impressive, but they were most impacted by the audience and the fact that it didn’t look like a typical convention audience. Looking at the crowd tonight, they saw real people who reminded them of themselves and their neighbors, reinforcing the focus on the middle class that so many of them saw running through both Obama’s personal story and his policies.

What do you think?

Here is some of the early media response to Barack Obama’s acceptance Speech

SEE FULL VIDEO OF BARACK OBAMA’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH HERE

Anderson Cooper on CNN…

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Here is the full video of Barack Obama’s Presidential Acceptance Speech.

More to come. I will have media and blogger reaction very soon.  In the mean time…let me know what you thought about this speech in comments.

Update:  See early media reaction here.

After the speech…family, fireworks, and fanfare.

Al Gore gave an impressive speech tonight.  Did you see it?  Just in case you missed it, here is the full video of Al Gore’s speech at The Democratic National Convention.  I’ve also included some blogger reaction to the speech.  What did you think?  Let me know in comments.

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I was only 3 years old when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “I Have A Dream Speech” on the Washington Mall so, obviously, I wasn’t there. Yet it seems that every day of my life has been shaped by the words spoken that day. I’ve seen the video footage so many times that it seems that those events are a part of my personal experience. However those are images captured through a lens and someone else’s point of view.

I have shadows of memories of watching the funeral of John F. Kennedy but my recollections of his life and his Presidency are all courtesy of video footage, docu-dramas and books from someone else’s point of view.

It seems that every day of my 48 years I’ve measured my life, (my view of the world, my personal politics and social conscience) politicians and my country by the benchmarks established by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

So when I woke up this morning and had no Internet service due to a defective modem and Comcast said that they couldn’t get out until tomorrow, I had a bit of an emotional crisis.

How could it be that I wouldn’t be able to blog about the day that it seems that I have waited for all of my life?

Thank heavens for my friend Bob who knows that I’m a historical and political nerd. Bob patiently allowed me to vent and yes, cry, until a plan was developed to get me back online today. As a blogger, freelance writer, and elder caregiver, “I get by with a little help (actually a lot of help) from my friends.”

In hind sight, I apologize for being more than a little snippy with the Comcast customer service rep. After all how could he know what this day means to me.

I have lived through the assassinations of RFK, MLK and RFK; the Viet Nam war, Watergate, Iran-Contra and every other political scandal of the past forty some years.

As a child I stayed up and watched political conventions with my Mom. Remember the convention coverage of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley then later,Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and Peter Jennings? If you don’t then believe me, those conventions didn’t look anything like the one we’ve seen this week.

I proudly cast my first vote in a Presidential election for Jimmy Carter in 1980 and could not believe that the American people elected Ronald Reagan. I’ve been encouraged by Jesse Jackson, Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan. I’ve voted for every Democratic presidential candidate from Carter to Kerry, including Michael Dukakis. Poor Michael Dukakis.

And through it all I still held on to the words and speeches from my childhood.

However when the election was stolen from Al Gore in 2000 my hope began to fade. And when it happened again in 2004 with John Kerry I was mad as hell. I was disillusioned, disappointed with the American people, disgusted by the swiftboat tactics of Karl Rove and determined that I wouldn’t let a day pass that I didn’t write a post, sign a petition, write a letter or share a news story that would help end the reign of Bush/Cheney.

And now, as I sit here waiting for Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech for the Democratic party’s nomination as their presidential candidate I know that I am witnessing and writing about history from my point of view.

This day has been 45 years in the making and for me, it’s so very personal.

Related posts:

I’m Starting to Feel It — Hope

Laughter Turned to Tears

Here is the full video of Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential Acceptance Speech, and the surprise appearance by Barack Obama.  I’ve also included some media and blogger reaction to Biden’s speech.  What do you think about Joe Biden?  Will he make a good running mate for Obama?  Will he be a good VP?  Let me know what you think in comments.

Biden’s Vice Presidential Acceptance Speech…

After Joe Biden’s speech…Obama makes a surprise appearance…

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I thought Bill Clinton’s speech tonight was excellent, and his support for Barack Obama seems genuine.  Just in case you missed it, below is Bill Clinton’s speech in its entirety.  I’ve also included some of the blogger reaction to this speech.   What did you think?  Did Bill Clinton sell it?

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Roll Call Suspended and Barack Obama Nominated by Acclamation.

Here is the footage of Hillary Clinton uniting the Democrats, by asking for a suspension of the roll call, and nomination of Barack Obama by acclamation.

From MOMocrats…

Hillary Clinton came out representing New York minutes ago and proclaimed that her state was giving all of their votes to Senator Obama, then she called for an affirmation to suspend the roll call and vote as one body to support Barack Obama as president. Nancy Pelosi asked for a second, there were hundreds, and she asked for a vote, the house roared, and she announced he is the official nominee of the Democratic party. We’ve made history. The first woman Speaker of the House announced it and the first viable woman candidate for president did her duty for the good of the party and the country. Goose bumps…

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