If you missed Hillary's speech tonight, let me summarize it for you: Obama is the Democrat nominee so I will support him, since he is the Democrat and I am a Democrat. She also talked about her campaign and how her candidacy inspired women and little girls. She looked great and her video was great. She just didn't make the case for Obama. She didn't talk about how he is qualified to lead. She said his name plenty of times, but she really didn't talk about him. Tomorrow night Bill Clinton will speak. We all know what he will talk about, because it is all he ever talks about, and it ain't Obama. The other speaker tomorrow night will be Joe Biden. Biden is known for his love of the sound of his own voice so I expect he will be talking more about himself than Obama. Since tomorrow night is "national security" night at the convention, it would be hard to say much specific about Obama (considering his limited experience in that area), even if Biden wanted to. We may have to wait until the big Obama acceptance speech Thursday night before we hear a prime time argument for an Obama presidency beyond "Vote for him because he is the Democrat." With so much attention on stagecraft and being that the speech will take place in a huge venue outside the convention hall, I wonder if the case for Obama will be overshadowed by the theatrics. It is definitely a possibility.
Following the Hillary speech, Greta Van Susteren showed the McCain ad which includes video of Hillary criticizing Obama during the primary for having no experience and asked her guest Terry McAuliffe what experience Obama has now that he didn't have when Hillary made that statement in the spring. McAuliffe could not answer that one, in fact he repeatedly refused to answer it, beyond saying that is just the stuff you say during primaries. The exchange went on for a while with Greta even asking why should anyone believe what any politician says during a primary then. That McCain ad showing Hillary criticizing Obama for having no experience, after praising McCain for his experience, is devastating and the question Greta asked is one that should be asked of any Hillary supporter now looking at supporting Obama. "What is Senator Obama's experience that Senator Clinton said he didn't have last spring? What does he now have?"
Update: Flip Pidot is looking at the text of the Clinton speech that was released prior to delivery and noting the things Hillary didn't say.
Update II:At least Hillary used Obama's name this time.
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2008 Presidential Race
Comments (15)
McAuliffe was also rendered... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Oyster | August 27, 2008 7:11 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
McAuliffe was also rendered speechless earlier in the day when he was asked about Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers and gave a pretty weak defense. When he was told that Ayers said he wasn't sorry for what he did and felt they didn't do enough there was an awkward silence for about 5 seconds and the subject got changed real quick-like. I don't think he knew. McAuliffe is straining to be supportive. And it shows.
1. Posted by Oyster | August 27, 2008 7:11 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 07:11
2. Posted by Clancy | August 27, 2008 8:26 AM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
I would never have imagined that I'd grow to love Hillary - but I have.
And as much as I hate to admit it, it looks like McCain was the right choice. I'm not sure a true republican could have won, but I'm hearing a lot of my on-the-fence and pure-blood Dem friends indicate a preference for McCain over the lying, inexperienced, blowhard.
2. Posted by Clancy | August 27, 2008 8:26 AM |
Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 08:26
3. Posted by Falze | August 27, 2008 8:38 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Can't wait to see who Biden says he's running with...Barack and Bama, Barack Obaman, or Barack America!
3. Posted by Falze | August 27, 2008 8:38 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 08:38
4. Posted by Rance | August 27, 2008 9:07 AM | Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
You may have missed the point of Hillary's speech. It wasn't made to laud Obama, there are dozens of other speakers who will do that. Rather, it was made to convince her followers to stay in the process and work/vote against McCain. Therefore the theme wasn't "Obama is great" but "McCain is bad for you."
4. Posted by Rance | August 27, 2008 9:07 AM |
Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 09:07
5. Posted by Falze | August 27, 2008 9:57 AM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
the point of the speech of the speaker that came in 2nd, with basically as many primary votes as the guy that got the nomination, it to convince her supporters to pretty PLEASE not abandon the party and vote for the other guy INSTEAD of lauding the guy that did win and saying he's the best guy for the job?
Put another way, you have to burn one of the top 3 or 4 speakers on a speech begging for party unity?
No, no one missed the point. This is a problem and worth noting.
5. Posted by Falze | August 27, 2008 9:57 AM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 09:57
6. Posted by _Mike_ | August 27, 2008 11:09 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
I'm still disappointed that the DNC had enough sense to cancel Jimmy Carter's speaking appearance.
6. Posted by _Mike_ | August 27, 2008 11:09 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 11:09
7. Posted by _Mike_ | August 27, 2008 11:17 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
On topic, it's appears that Hillary is hedging her support. Anything she says now could come back to haunt her in 2012 if she is still entertaining Presidential aspirations... besides the fact that a McCain win would be better for Hillary securing the Democrat nomination in 2012 and it's very unlikely that the DNC wouldn't re-nominate an incumbent Obama in 2012, even Carter got the nomination in the 1980 race.
7. Posted by _Mike_ | August 27, 2008 11:17 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 11:17
8. Posted by Wordygirl | August 27, 2008 12:36 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
The omissions from her prepared speech are very telling. Since she will still be in office as a Senator, she can take credit for all the wonderful accomplishments of an Obama administration.
8. Posted by Wordygirl | August 27, 2008 12:36 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 12:36
9. Posted by dnb | August 27, 2008 4:00 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I'm a Republican, but I liked Hillary's speech. The longer she ran, the better I liked her (though I'd never want any liberal Democrat to be President). However, I believe she really loves this country, something I'm not sure Obama does, and that was evident from her speech.
Michelle Obama looked constipated; I don't think she much liked Hillary's time in the spotlight.
9. Posted by dnb | August 27, 2008 4:00 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 16:00
10. Posted by Roy Lofquist | August 27, 2008 6:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dear Ms. Byrd,
I thought her video was hideous. Turn off the sound and it looks like a cross between a B movie trailer and a Chevy/Bud commercial. No continuity. No discernible story.
In short, every aspect of this campaign looks like it was made for MTV. It may excite the hip and the cool but it is bombing in the barbershops and diners.
Regards,
Roy
10. Posted by Roy Lofquist | August 27, 2008 6:09 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 18:09
11. Posted by civil behavior | August 27, 2008 9:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
No way. No how. No McCain.
Clear enough?
11. Posted by civil behavior | August 27, 2008 9:37 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 21:37
12. Posted by retired military | August 27, 2008 10:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"it's appears that Hillary is hedging her support. Anything she says now could come back to haunt her in 2012 if she is still entertaining Presidential aspirations."
What do you mean IF???
12. Posted by retired military | August 27, 2008 10:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 27, 2008 22:25
13. Posted by James Cloninger | August 28, 2008 12:32 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
No way. No how. No McCain.
Clear enough?
Not pithy enough for a bumpersticker.
13. Posted by James Cloninger | August 28, 2008 12:32 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 28, 2008 00:32
14. Posted by Oyster | August 28, 2008 6:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
civil behavior: I'm glad you were clear about it. Because I had no idea you would have felt this way.
14. Posted by Oyster | August 28, 2008 6:56 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 28, 2008 06:56
15. Posted by epador | August 28, 2008 8:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
McCain on won on yaw on.
15. Posted by epador | August 28, 2008 8:58 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 28, 2008 08:58