AP Slams Obama’s Speech - “A Broken Promise” - Promised Details But Gave Zero, All Attacks, Same Old “McCain Is Bush” - Video
DENVER (AP) - Barack Obama, whose campaign theme is “change we can believe in,” promised Thursday to “spell out exactly what that change would mean.” The speech, quite simply, was a broken promise. And hopefully not the first of many.
Instead of dwelling on specifics, he laced the crowning speech of his long campaign with the type of rhetorical flourishes that Republicans mock and the attacks on John McCain that Democrats cheer. The country saw a candidate confident in his existing campaign formula: tie McCain tightly to President Bush, and remind voters why they are unhappy with the incumbent.
Of course, no candidate can outline every initiative in a 35-minute speech—especially one that also must inspire voters, acknowledge key friends, and toss in some autobiography for the newly-interested. And Obama did touch on nitty-gritty subjects, such as the capital gains tax and biofuel investments.
He said he would “find ways to safely harness nuclear power,” a somewhat more receptive phrase than he typically uses for that subject.
But most of his address echoed and amplified the theme that dominated the four-day Democratic nominating convention here: George Bush.
“John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time,” Obama said. “I’m not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.”
Some of his comments about McCain were unusually sharp. “I’ve got news for you, John McCain,” Obama said, defying anyone to challenge his patriotism. “We all put our country first.”
Obama’s aides have long complained that he gets too little credit for including detailed proposals in his stump speeches, because listeners seem to remember only his stage presence and lofty rhetoric. Obama, who earlier had promised a “workmanlike” speech in Denver, seemed to acknowledge the problem, saying he would fill in the blanks.
Mostly, however, he touched on major issues quickly and lightly. It’s an approach that may intrigue and satisfy millions of viewers just starting to tune in to the campaign seriously. The crowd at Invesco Field cheered deliriously, but Republicans almost surely will decry the lack of specifics.
For instance, Obama said it’s time “to protect Social Security for future generations.” But he didn’t mention his main proposal, which is to add a new Social Security payroll tax to incomes above $250,000 a year.
He said he would “cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families,” but did not say how.
He briefly mentioned abortion, gun rights, gay rights and other hot-button issues without delving into their sticky details. “Passions fly on immigration,” Obama said, “but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.”
On a few topics, he was a bit more specific. “I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow,” he said.
Even if Obama had talked for three hours, of course, he could not have detailed enough proposals to quiet all his critics. But that’s not the strategy.
Allies such as Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano will doubtlessly defend his approach. A few hours before the speech, she said: “What he should not do is what he will be criticized for not doing: Give a detailed policy speech. This is not the place for that.”
She said Republicans will criticize him no matter what. They will argue that his lofty speeches lack substance and details, she said, and a detailed speech that scrimps on soaring rhetoric will prove “he has lost his gift.”
“They will try to Catch-22 his speech,” Napolitano said.
Obama seemed to say, Bring it on, we’re sticking to our theme: McCain equals Bush.
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““John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time,” Obama said.”
And Obama has voted with Harry Reid 97% of the time.
A poster on another site called the speech Obama’s ‘I Am A Dream’ speech. lmao
August 29th, 2008 at 3:22 pmIt sounded like obama insane was a little kid trying to pick a fight during that speech came across really shallow and petty perfect.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pmThe AP is disappointed in O’Bambam?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pmWTF is that?
Are they not a big leftie organization with false journalism credentials? So seems to me they stepped right out of cadence with that shot.
That is actually quite astounding (but good, it gives undecided voters pause as to why they should not vote for an empty suit!)
It is amazing that you can get this far in American politics and really not say much of anything. Although I am grateful that those of us with brains know what this O’Bambam man is all about.
90% of the time
…Does not mean shit, most Senate votes are unanimous.
Also, since when did Bush ever cast a vote in the Senate?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pmAhhhhh, well duh. When did AP figger that out?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pmThis is first-class bullshit. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’m pretty sure that small businesses and start-ups do not pay capital gains taxes, they pay income tax just like everyday people. Hussein has already said he will RAISE income taxes, so he just flat out lied. Hopefully someone calls him out on this.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pmI dunno know, the little I did hear sounded like a snotty State of the Union speech.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pmOnce the bring bills out of committee they are usually voted on by a high percentage of the senators unless they are making a point with party line voting.
Obama is lying to us again with the 90% garbage.
Just like he lied about being buddies with that homo, swinger, SDS terrorist, Univ of Chicago professor Ayres.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pmThe commie media sometimes throws to the right on purpose.
They’ll point to those rare instances to prove they’re unbiased.
This tactic is like using a napkin to hide a 2 ton pile of manure.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pmIt’s just a cover so they can do shit like this:
https://pat-dollard.com/2008/08/surprise-msm-publishes-false-headline/
Even when the MSM tells the truth, it’s a lie.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:23 pmWe face a tough road ahead but we’re here to give you this and that and would like fries with that.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:54 pmThe 90% voting along with Bush is correct, BUT what Jesus’s Younger Brother forgot to mention is, That was only last year and McCain only Voted 45% of all the Votes taken in the senate last year. Jesus’s Younger Bro’ also failed to mention that the Source of this Fact said they did not even count McCAin because they do not mention anyone who does not Vote on atleast 50%
August 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pmNormal programming was interrupted to show Hussein’s speech live…..in Indonesia. According to my expat friend living in Indonesia most Indonesians do in fact consider Barak Hussein an Indonesian as well as a muslim…big surprise.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm