Obama Speech: Convention Address Makes Economic Populism Central Thrust of Election 2008

by: David Sirota

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 22:50


If his convention speech tonight is any indication, Barack Obama has (finally) signaled that progressive economic populism is going to be the central thrust of Democrats campaign in the stretch run of the 2008 election.

The speech is probably the most populist national speech Obama has given.  
David Sirota :: Obama Speech: Convention Address Makes Economic Populism Central Thrust of Election 2008
Here are the key snippets:

"We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work...

Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it...

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road...

I will make certain those [health care] companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most...

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses..."

This is strong stuff - the kind of thing I was talking about when I wrote a newspaper column back in June entitled "Countering Race With Class." That column said the only way for Obama to counter the GOP's cultural populism is with a full-throated economic populist message.

For a while now, I have wondered why it has taken him this long to get back to this same economic language that he used in the Democratic primary. It probably is a mix of factors: The Wall Streeters whispering in his ear, Democrats' typical (self-defeating) move to the right in general elections, and the virulent free-market fundamentalism that the New York Times says he embraced at the University of Chicago.

But now, he has to win an election - and he knows that Democrats have won red-states like Ohio not by pretending to be Royalist Republicans, but by being economic populists and tapping into the uprising that I described in my new book (in fact, Obama himself invoked uprising language explicitly tonight, saying, "Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up.")

That his newfound courage is partially rooted in election opportunism doesn't negate its value. If he continues with this kind of posture, he not only will win the election, but will create a mandate that helps force an Obama administration to fulfill the economic promises it is making. And that more than anything would, indeed, mean real change.  

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Obama Speech: Convention Address Makes Economic Populism Central Thrust of Election 2008 | 25 comments
Holy SHIT! That speach was FANTASTIC (4.00 / 2)
As Kos blogged: "I'm living in mortal fear this speech will end. I want it to go on and on and on..."

That's how I felt.

Olberman's practically having a wet dream talking about the speech n/t (0.00 / 0)


War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008
in a good way! (0.00 / 0)


War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008
[ Parent ]
What about Matthews? (0.00 / 0)
"People have criticized me for being an Obama fan.  I don't care!!!"  And then just went off!!!!  Matthews for Senate!  He's a fan!  He's a believer!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
i think he felt the thrill (4.00 / 2)
in both legs tonight
[ Parent ]
actually (0.00 / 0)
he said

"The hell with my critics!!!"

Spoken like a Broadway star or something...

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers

[ Parent ]
that speech was truly pitch perfect (4.00 / 4)
he defined us
he defined the opposition
he RALLIED us behind our principles
and for good measure, he linked the failures to the CONSERVATIVE ideology of trickle down -- rather than personal failures of George Bush
I'll be damned. (4.00 / 1)
He actually pulled it off. I have a modicrum of hope now.  
[ Parent ]
Modicrumb? (4.00 / 1)
Brick,

don't you mean modicrumb? ;-)

As for the speech, I must say I was impressed -- given the sort of droning lecturing with awkward pauses that I have found his speeches to be, this was a significant departure (especially without the thundering about my gods and your gods), almost at the level of a Bill Clinton effort.

As for message... those of us who are further left of liberal will have a few issues. For instance, the idea that the attack on Afghanistan was legitimate and righteous. But even I was happy to see him finally add some meat to his post-partisan rhetoric, by clearly outlining the commonalities that adversaries (on such issues as choice, gay rights, etc) can share: in doing so, he subtly creates a distinction (and a wedge) between the morally misguided and the haters (homophobes, clinic bombers, etc), in the right.

Unlike BrickMcLarge, I think the speech was not modicrummy, but modicrammed with a good level of detail, and strong response to McCainCo's trash talking. ;-)

[ Parent ]
Yeah, Where's This Guy Been? (4.00 / 9)
I sure hope he sticks around. Because I remember Al Gore giving a somewhat similar speech--not in breadth and power, but certainly in it's surprisingly populist tone--back in 2000.  And I remember him surging in the polls right afterwards, but walking back from what he had said.

So, like I said, this time, I hope he sticks around.  Because if he does, it's not just about him winning, it's about getting the kind of solid governing majority he needs to get the necessary things done.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

He did something similar in St. Paul in June... (0.00 / 0)
...and then ran away from it... It's back!  I hope it stays!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
You may be right. He may have given license (4.00 / 1)
to other Democrats running to choose the more Edwards, Kucinich and recent Hillary Clinton rhetoric.  We can only hope.  I still think that the whole drilling for gas, clean  coal and nuclear power plank is the poison pill to this apparent turn to economic populism.  It bears detailed scrutiny by the blogosphere.
[ Parent ]
Glad you liked it. (0.00 / 0)
Me too.

John McCain doesn't care about Vets.


we just watched history.... (4.00 / 1)

Words cannot describe how proud I am to be an American and Supporting Barack Obama for president.  He hit it so far out of the park it's still going...plenty of red meat, plenty of substance....Perfect....his speech reignites what is true and just and good about America....A moment that I know I will never forget....
Who knew... (4.00 / 2)
...Obama would be the guy to attack McCain the most effectivley. To rebuke the most heinous attacks. He took McCain on in terms of both the specifics, and the greater context of the tide of history. And the entire time he maintained the subtext that it is not Republicans he is damning, but those Republicans that do the most harm and ignore the greater good and tear the country apart.


"Don't hate the media, become the media" -Jello Biafra
The Gore speech in 2000 is properly seen (4.00 / 3)
as the date where the tide began to turn against the DLC.  Gore, a DLC stalwart, turned his back on the "New Democrat" approach that Clinton had been pushing.

Tonight was an extension of the Gore speech in many ways, though precursors could be seen in the Ohio primary fight.

Puts whole convention in context (4.00 / 2)
Easily the best speech I've seen him give, which is saying quite a lot.

Also, this really puts the whole convention in a different context than the worriers, like me, were concerned about.  Monday Micheal was fantastic and Kennedy was inspirational, but the day partially felt empty because McCain was left untouched and Democrats were left undefined.

Tuesday Hillary hit McCain and unified the party, but the convention seemed like it was too much about the Clintons.

Yesterday, Bill, Kerry and Biden all hit McCain some more, Bill pushed what it meant to be a Democrat and the party unified still further, but it seemed it might have peaked; the best day from a dull convention.

But note that all the "problems" were really just fears that something was being left out.  As long as it all built to something better, it would be ok.  But could we really trust it.

Well, it did build to something better -- much better.  Obama went against McCain directly.  He attacked failed Republican policies, not just Bush, and promoted economic populism.  He put meat on the bone.  And he took exactly one hour, preventing the talking heads for getting in a word other than a closing "wow".

Now we can clearly see with hindsight that each day played its role exactly as it needed to.

Yes -- a CONTRASTING speech! (4.00 / 1)

 Not just substance, but toughness. And guts.

 DLCers across the nation -- all 127 of them -- all crapped in their pants tonight.

  Meanwhile, the Cafe 611 on Market Street in Frederick, MD was whooping with excitement. The bartenders and waiters were rapt with attention. Nobody was getting their drinks. Nobody cared. We were all one.

 Ready to rumble!  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

Heh... (4.00 / 5)
Well David, if I read between the lines of what you wrote:

If he continues with this kind of posture, he not only will win the election, but will create a mandate that helps force an Obama administration to fulfill the economic promises it is making.

It sounds like you're saying that Obama of August 2008 is organizing against President Obama of 2009...

Actually this reminds me of one of the videos from the primary they showed on the fancy screen at the convention (link here)

Here's a transcription:

I am reminded every single day that I am not a perfect man. I will not be a perfect President. But I can promise you this - I will always tell you what I think and where I stand. I will be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you when we disagree. And most importantly, I will open the doors of government and ask you to be involved in your own democracy again.

Now when we first heard this, even a lot of us progressives may have not gotten the full message that Obama is directly telling us to push him when he's president, after we GOTV for the Democrats this fall. That paragraph is sandwiched in between other paragraphs about "same old politics" and Democratic meat 'n potatoes type stuff, but it's there plain as day. And I like the fact that it was selected for a video shown at the DNC, at least people watching C-SPAN saw it.

So - I hope that all the folks who were ranting and raving whenever you or Chris or other voices raised issues with the Obama campaign re-read that one paragraph from time to time... I have a feeling I'll have to re-post it in future comments threads....

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers

Outstanding speech. (0.00 / 0)
I listened to it on NPR.  I didn't even notice until it ended that the signal was fluctuating and there was static coming through the speakers with Obama's voice.  It was riveting.  I was yelling "Tell it, brother!"  The neighbors probably think there's a fight going on over here.
Finally! (0.00 / 0)
An ANGRY Democrat! Righteousness! Enough is enough!


Am I the only one who noticed... (0.00 / 0)
...that, when Obama used the line about reforming bankruptcy laws, the camera cut away to V.P. Nominee Joe "Bankruptcy Bill of 2005" Biden looking distinctly un-thrilled?

I took it as a good sign that, although President Obama will be taking advice on many issues from Vice President Biden, this will not be one of them.

Most important part of the speech was when (0.00 / 0)
he dared to condemn conservative free market flim flam and not just George Bush. Most disconcerting and revealing part was his call for drilling for gas, clean coal and nuclear energy.  That's the deal with the devil to get some economic populism. I hope we can get the health care and employee free choice before most of the drilling begins.  
Do you remember writing this? I do. (4.00 / 1)
When I lose all hope and become firmly convinced that they are all a bunch of crooks, I pull this out.

I believe all of these candidates are, in some way, professional opportunists (And I say that about ALL politicians, even the best of them - Being a successful politician means seizing opportunities - that's just a fact). And in believing that, I then judge the candidates on what they decide their opportunity rests on. I don't really care why they came to see the opportunities they see. The only thing that really matters is what they see their opportunities grounded in - that is, what they see their political base as and who they believe they rely on for their current and future political survival and advancement.

These are the factors that tell us how politicians will behave in office, who they will act on behalf of, and what constituencies they think they answer to.

I am still in wait and see mode, but I'm hoping as hard as I can that Obama (and the rest of the Dems) will stand and deliver more than cheap words and an increase in the minimum wage.  

They're asking for another four years -- in a just world, they'd get 10 to 20. ~~ Dennis Kucinich  

Thanks for this quote about "opportunists" (4.00 / 1)
Smart people seize opportunity.  Smart people with a good heart and strong will are what's called social democrats in most of the rest of the world.  Smart people who believe in the ends justifying the means can be fascists or authoritarians or or the other side, utopian do gooders.  

Ends justifying the means. More and more smart people I know think that we should drill for gas in the West and then use the money to improve education or health care.  When you question them further, they want to improve education aka training so that we regain our Number one position in the World.

Sadly, it's not what social democrats see as the way to our salvation.  We see renouncing empire and the gospel of greed.  We bond with the libertarians on the point of becoming more protecting of our own corner of the world and our liberties. We need to reduce our military spending not increase it.  We need to decrease our military bases away from the 761 or so KNOWN bases. (CIA doesn't tell us how many little nooks and crannies they have).

Opportunists and opportunity.  Thanks, I'll keep thinking about this.  

[ Parent ]
Obama Speech: Convention Address Makes Economic Populism Central Thrust of Election 2008 | 25 comments
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