Bill Clinton, Joe Biden have big challenge
Two veteran politicians face the same tough task tonight -- to try to equal, if not top, Hillary Clinton's performance Tuesday night.
Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, has to soothe her supporters as well -- then get them to fall in behind nominee Barack Obama as the best way to return to what the Clinton camp regards as the halcyon days of his presidency.
But his relationship with the Obama campaign was more testy than hers, as they traded accusations of playing the race card. And he has not stayed on message as well as Hillary Clinton in the unity push since she endorsed Obama in June, making remarks that could be construed as raising doubts about Obama's readiness.
In a memo setting up the day, Obama's camp called Bill Clinton a "unique and beloved figure in American politics: "As one of the most successful presidents of the 20th Century, he knows the challenges and choices that face our nation’s chief executive. He’ll talk about why Barack Obama is the right person to lead America—and why Senator McCain’s promise of more of the same is the wrong choice for America. Under President Clinton, the country experienced record economic growth and years of peace and prosperity. During his term the middle class grew, and millions of people were lifted out of poverty. President Clinton knows that Obama will bring about the kind of change we need to get the country back on track after eight disastrous years of George Bush."
Then later tonight, Senator Joe Biden, in his acceptance speech as the vice presidential nominee, not only has to promote Obama as a person and potential president, he has to find ways to go after Republican John McCain, his long-time friend.
But Biden must find the right balance between energizing Democrats, but not coming off as mean-spirited. And he has a history of both long-winded, sometimes incomprehensible, speeches and of committing gaffes. He doesn't need another "Barack America" moment. And there's always the "ladies and gentlemen" and "literally" count.
In the same memo, Obama's campaign said: "Joe Biden will show the type of campaigner he’s going to be as he lays out the case for Obama. Senator Biden and Senator Obama share middle class roots, a dedication to helping others achieve the American Dream and a deep understanding of the dangerous world in which we live. Biden will talk about how John McCain’s embracing of failed policies means more of the same for families who are struggling today and how Obama won't just repair the damage of the last eight years, but will stand with the middle class on every issue from jobs and wages to health care and retirement savings."
Clinton, in the eyes of most observers and pundits, succeeded in telling her supporters that Obama could follow through on her priorities -- and in warning that McCain would mean four more years of what Democrats say are failed policies of the Bush administration.
Sure, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have a big challenge tonight, but they are experienced politicians. They will hold their ground. Obama, however, is the one who has the impossible challenge. He lacks substance, knowledge, and understanding of the issues. He will again deliver a shallow, flowery speech without passion, or appeal. People are already tired of his gestures and flourishes. The closing night is going to be a downer. Just watch.
what will be interesting is to see if the perceived weakness of the Dems with regards to economic policy, foreign policy (never a strong point with Bill and interesting that they would have him comment on this) and being "america first" vs the rest of the world first as is the perception. I am not sure if Biden can be the advocate BO wants.
In response to mk, If you think that Obama cannot deliver an inspiring speech after his formal nomination, then you haven't been paying attention up until now.
I didn't know that Mitt Romney used the intials "mk" when posting here. Hi, Governor! Are you enjoying Denver?
Many would contend that Barak Obama is one of the most electrifying politicians to make a spech since JFK..Trying to tell us that this will not happen at the DNC.( as the first comentator does) is like trying to tell us that John McCain's adress at the RNC will not be a string of sentences consisting of a noun, a verb and POW.
Yes, yes we've all heard about McCain's "experience", it doesn't matter how much you have if its the wrong experience... and from everything I've seen and heard out of McSame... he has no idea how to change the direction of this country... just another 4 years of failed ideas, policies and leadership.
mk,
Barack Obama will rise to this challenge just as he rose to the multiple challenges of the primary campaign and throughout his life.
What’s wrong with having a candidate for president who is capable of speaking in complete sentences, a candidate capable of inspiring people with his words? What a welcome change from the last eight years of butchered English and out right lies.
Words matter. Think Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F Kennedy. What’s wrong with being intelligent? Is the American electorate afraid of someone who can think critically, who questions, who can entertain opposing views and come to an informed decision?
As for lacking “substance, knowledge and understanding of the issues” you obviously don’t know what you are talking about. Take the time to learn about a man who turned down a big money job in the corporate sector to work on Chicago’s south side where he became a community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment.
He made a positive difference in Chicago and he will make a positive difference in America when he is elected President.
BO is an empty suit as regards the type of experience required for the presidency. How often does this need to be said? No amount of rhetorical dressing will cover this up.
Obama is an empty suit. As always, he will spew a bunch of empty cliches tomorrow night.
He will never win this election. The only chance he had was if he picked Hillary as his veep, but he BLEW that.
"DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN" -
The Who
This campaign slogan WILL WIN. It should blast loud and strong on Thursday night. This should be, IMHO, the campaign theme that leaves Denver
I like the way the two loosers Romney and Giuliani are trying to advice Obama and claim that Biden is not the right VP choice.
Mayor Giuliani should stay in his political pond (NYC DA, Mayor etc) and not jump into the Big ocean of national politics with the big boys/Girl.
National politics was a little too much for him to handle and his Florida first strategy showed how green he is and his lack of capacity to hold his own in the major leagues.
Romney on the other hand with all the millions of his own money was unable to close the deal against an old dinosaur whose campaign almost imploded for lack of leadership.
If the way these candidates ran their campaigns are any indication of how they are going to govern, Barack Obama would clearly make the best President
"Sure, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have a big challenge tonight, but they are experienced politicians. They will hold their ground. Obama, however, is the one who has the impossible challenge. He lacks substance, knowledge, and understanding of the issues. He will again deliver a shallow, flowery speech without passion, or appeal. People are already tired of his gestures and flourishes. The closing night is going to be a downer. Just watch."
8 years of Republican experience and substance has yielded us an unnecessary war, thousands of servicemen dead, billions and billions spent, an economic surplus being turned into trillions in debt to the chinese, the housing market in the tank, the economy in the tank, no healthcare for a surging minority of Americans...
I'm just wondering what exactly appeals to you about those nitwits? Are you braindead or have you just been asleep for the last 8 years?
Mk and Shecky, you are both idiots. Seriously.
Within a world where my younger cousins have only lived in a country [once great] filled with knowing war and high prices and slowly crippling social standards, it amazes me how narrow-minded people can get.
As experienced is important I think we need something more then knowing about more of the same- We honestly need change and I’m slowly starting to fear the worst as those ‘elders’ around me continue to make the wrong choices for the illusion of safety.
We [The younger generation] have seen our future dry up before our eyes and slowly fall into a spiral that should be fixed as soon as possible- Instead of living in the moment those in charge should get a good grip about tomorrow…
I support Obama; I believe we should make collage more affordable. Health care for middle-class families and so much more… Are those values worth losing because he lacks ‘experience’ of foreign affairs?
[To young to vote- yet in two years I’ll be ‘We the people’ as well.]
Obama [as stated in Anne's post.] would indeed make the best President
for now and the future.
I actually counted ...15 "ladies and gentlemen", and 7 "literally". It got just as disingenuous as McCain's "My friends". electionspeakers.com is where we critique the speaking 'styles' each week.. It's a non-partisan site with professional speech coaches focusing only on process not content or strategy.
Dr. D comments@electionspeakers.com August 27,08 4:39pm
Those who suggest, without much evidence, that Obama is "an empty suit" or lacks "substance, knowledge, or understanding of the issues" ought to read The Audacity of Hope. Not only does he break down the challenges this nation faces quite clearly and thoughtfully, he does so with considerable grace in acknowledging conservative points of view before laying out justifications for his own platform.
It's so much easier to continue the character attacks--as per the McCain camp, disappointingly--than actually debate the issues. There are plenty of "empty suits" showing up, but Obama isn't one of them.
D I S E N G E N U O U S N E S S ...
Everyone knows that Obama disrespected Bill Clinton ...
playing the race card on him, and trying to tarnish his
record during the primaries ... but, because of the
disingenuous DNC, and Obama, and their putting party
above country, and blackmailing the Clintons into
supporting Obama ... using their debt and Hillary's
future in politics as their leverage, the Clintons have
been strong armed into supporting Obama. Why should a
successful and respected two term President like
Bill Clinton have to stoop to the ambitions of the far
left DNC, and their upstart, empty suit candidate ...
while Obama and the DNC disingenuously pretend that everybody has
kissed and made up??? Also, the PUMAS and other
Hillary supporters have had to endure the same
condescending disrespect from them as well. I say
the DNC and Obama made their bed, so let them lie
in it ... they deserve nothing more.
Those who suggest, without much evidence, that Obama is "an empty suit" and "lacks substance, knowledge, and understanding of the issues" ought to read the Audacity of Hope. Not only does Obama clearly and intelligently confront the challenges facing the country, he does so with considerable grace in acknowledging more conservative viewpoints before explaining and justifying his own platform.
It would be refreshing to see Obama challenged on the issues for once, rather than the personal attacaks in these blogs and in the disappointingly tawdry ads from the McCain campaign.
I was praying that we would have a chance to get Hillary in at the convention, but my hopes are gone. I am a VERY dedicated supporter of Hillary and would NOT vote for Obama for all the tea in China. He is lost and will never be able to stand up to the demands as a president w/knowledge, experience or anything. I am just devastated that Hillary is NOT our candidate but SO glad she wasn't a VP candidate!
I completely agree with MK that it is Obama that has the real challenge. Everytime I hear him speak it's the same platitudes and disinjenuous rhetoric I've heard from every politician, not just democrats so I don't understand why people think he will bring change. Anyone with a brain knows he can't simply pull all the troops out and leave Iraq on its own! I hope he lays out his policy's, idea's and opinions more clearly over the next few months or the democrats have a real problem on thier hands. By the way, people continue to talk about the "wrong direction" we are going in. Does anyone remember that this country was attacked in 2001 which completely changed the country for ever??? I hope people wake up and realize the world is not a nice place and they are very fortunate to live in the USA where individual rights still count. I don't think Obama understand that. Finally, it's nice Obama has a book, but that doesn't cut it in a presidential election!
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