The Political Voices of Women

This is very sad news…

From Reuters – Senator Edward Kennedy Dies at 77…

U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America’s most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, has died at age 77, his family said on Wednesday.

Hi everyone.  I’ve been off the political blogging grid for awhile now.  But I just had to speak up about this healthcare thing.

Below is a DNC video that I recently was sent a link to.  And this is some of how I feel about it…

I don’t claim to have any answers – just questions.  So, here goes.

I could understand the Republicans being against Obama’s healthcare plan if they at least had a plan of their own.  Do they?

Sometimes I wonder if our elected government  has forgotten that they represent The “United” States of America…and that this issue is about LIVES not elections.

Okay, that wasn’t really a question, more like a statement.

And I’m totally NOT for taxing the top 2% of Americans to subsidize the 15% without insurance. But just out of curiosity…

Who are these people?  The top 2% people?  Are you one of them?

And how many of them would be totally against donating some of their wealth or business savvy (at least temporarily) to finding a way to help the uninsured of their own country?

Seriously. Did anyone think to ask? Maybe this population of our country isn’t as heartless and greedy as some people would like us to believe?

Anyway…Here’s the video from the DNC.  What do you think about all of this?  Dare I ask?

*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 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.

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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There has been a lot of talk about tonight’s roll call vote.  Some didn’t want it to happen at all, and others want to have it cut-off before it is even finished.  Personally, I think the Democratic party owes it to the voters to complete this roll call, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen.  Anyway, here is what other bloggers are saying about the roll call vote.  Once the roll call vote is over, I will update this post.  In the meantime let me know what you think in comments.

From McClatchy Election 2008 Blog…

Remember the good old political convention days, when the roll call of the states was the highlight of the convention?
Good luck finding the roll call Wednesday.

A roll call is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. MDT, dinner time back east. It’s not clear how many states will participate–even delegates aren’t being told.

This much is known: At some point, a Hillary Clinton supporter will move to nominate Barack Obama, probably unanimously, and that will be it.

Just don’t ask who will do it or when. No one really knows yet.

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Michelle Obama Biography…

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I think Michelle Obama did a nice job with her speech. Especially, since she is not a politician, and she was following Senator Ted Kennedy. Here is a video of Michelle Obama’s full speech…



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If you ask me…This satellite cameo of Obama with the kids, is priceless. What do you think?



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So, now you’ve seen it for yourself. Here is some reaction by other bloggers…

From Women’s Voices for Change…

History met hope tonight, to borrow words from Michelle Obama’s stunning address in which she posited herself as American everywoman, a hardworking wife whose most important and cherished role is to be as good a parent to her daughters as her parents were to her. With her mother in the audience and her two young daughters beside her, she gesticulated with hands and arms as she spoke to suggest that while she is Princeton and Harvard, she possesses a common touch. To those who thought that she was somehow too exotic, too removed, and somehow threatening, to appeal to ordinary Americans, she dispelled qualms never mentioning race, and celebrating the achievement of Hillary Clinton this week when America celebrates the 88th anniversary of American women gaining the franchise.

From Reno and it’s Discontents…

I think most of us can agree that Michelle Obama gave a fabulous speech tonight. She managed to hail Hillary Clinton and talk about all women in a way that was celebratory. However, what I’m most interested in are the reactions from the Right of Center bloggers included in the National Journal Bloggers Poll with me. We were polled yesterday on whether we felt Michelle Obama would hurt or help Barack Obama’s campaign. Well, first of all, its really kind of a ridiculous question, but it does show us clearly how low our public discourse on this election has gone.

From Pamela at Democratic Daily…

I thought it was awesome. I was incredibly impressed. She’s grown a lot on the campaign trail. Tonight’s from Michelle Obama speech was honest, from the heart and very moving.

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After watching the full evening of the Democratic National Convention on C-SPAN I decided to pop over to CNN just to see what they were saying. I was amazed. I couldn’t believe that we had watched the same event.

The CNN pundits repeatedly harped on the fact that there wasn’t “enough red meat” and how the Democrats didn’t attack Bush/McCain enough.

Now lets think about this for a moment.

Here we had the opening night of a convention to nominate a candidate who promises to bring together people across party lines, a candidate who wants to prove that we are not a nation of “red states” and “blue states” and the media pundits want the opening night’s speakers to come out like attack dogs. Duh!

Apparently while millions of Americans are desperate for political change, the media wants to see the same old political games. In fact, some of them are practically salivating and dreaming of a repeat of 1980.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that the next few nights will provide the media and us with enough Bush/Cheney/McCain bashing to get our fires going. In fact, I’m hoping that someone is going to pull another Ann Richards’ speech out of the bag. And, I’m sure that more than one disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporter will be caught on camera with their “Hillary 2012″ tee.

But Monday night it was refreshing to watch an evening of ordinary people taking the stage and speaking about their encounters with Barack Obama. It was nice to see the faces of the people that the party has shied away from like former President Jimmy Carter and Senator John Kerry (D-MA).

The first night of the Democratic National Convention was for the “true believers”, “the new believers” and “the I want to be a believer(s)”.

Just seeing Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reminded us that bridges are falling down in America. Watching the children of Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduce their mom reminded us of how important this election is to young people. Watching former President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Jimmy Carter interview Hurricane Katrina survivors reminded us that we MUST care about the most vulnerable in our society. Seeing Caroline Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) reminded so many of us of just why we’re Democrats. ( Yes, I did shed a tear when he walked on stage.)

And, Michelle Obama… she reminded us that Dr. King’s Dream is inching a little closer and maybe, just maybe the world will begin to view African American women in a light other than some of the popular stereotypes.

So I highly recommend that if you’re planning on watching the remaining nights of the convention, watch C-SPAN first and decide what the speeches mean to you. Save the pundits for later. I’m glad that I did.

Senator Ted Kennedy gave a powerful, inspiring, and courageous speech tonight at The Democratic National Convention. And, just in case you missed it…

—Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about Ted Kennedy’s speech. What did you think?

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