Michelle Obama hit a grand-slam home run tonight with her prime-time speech at the '08 Democratic Convention in Denver.
Yes, her words, manner and tone were irresistibly likeable and lovely, accessible and genuine. Only the hardest hearted of persons could hear Michelle's keynote speech and not hold fond affection for this family.
And yes, she delivered it pitch-perfect, with just the right balance of earnestness and joy, pathos and simple pleasure. And just the right balance of heart and soul and head.
But it was also a politically savvy speech in which she:
- Cannily paid tribute to Hillary Clinton and her "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling."
- Declared admiration for vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden who "never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again."
- Softened and humanized her husband, who is typecast by many as remote and intellectual.
- Took the opportunity to again proclaim "I love this country"
- Neatly summarized the main messages of Obama's fall campaign to "to end the war in Iraq responsibly, to build an economy that lifts every family, to make health care available for every American, and to make sure every child in this nation gets a world class education all the way from preschool to college."
Indeed, Michelle Obama and her adorable daughters hit a grand-slam home run on Day One of the Convention.
And we'll likely need those feel-good vibes to sustain us tomorrow when Hillary Clinton and her most avidly dissatisfied supporters have their prime-time spotlight tomorrow evening.
Sen. Ted Kennedy's Courageous Appearance
Sen. Ted Kennedy delivered the other highpoint of Day One with his courageous appearance and speech, in which he re-emphasized the message of his career: the necessity of providing health care to all American men, women and children.
Supported by his wife and surrounded by his family, Ted Kennedy was energized by the electrified crowd and delighted just to be there. Despite his ongoing battle with brain cancer, Kennedy poignantly promised to return to the Senate in January 2009.
As sad it is to see the 76-year-old liberal lion of the U.S. Senate ailing, what a privilege it is to witness a Kennedy of his generation grow old.
While his brothers John and Bobby have been canonized by the Democratic faithful, Teddy has ultimately achieved far more good for our country in his 46 years in the U.S. Senate than they could in their short political careers.
God bless Ted Kennedy. I deeply hope he does return to the Senate in January.
Other Standout Speehes
Other speeches that stood out to me were by:
- Sen. Claire McCaskill, who positively glowed in the spotlight as she exuded about home state Missouri and exhorted everyone to support Obama.
- Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who is rhetorically quite different than his father. Interestingly, while Jackson paid tribute to the racial struggles of his father's time, he also separated himself from his father's brand of politics, and pledged adherence instead to Obama's less confrontational approach. I wonder if Jesse Sr. had mixed feelings about his son pronouncing the passing of his father's political era.
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Caroline Kennedy sparkled with intelligence and passionate commitment.
For tomorrow's speaking schedule, see my Insider Guide to the '08 Democratic Convention in Denver.
(Photo taken on August 25, 2008: John Moore/Getty Images)
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