[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Obama's World

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Obama's World
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1219981076.shtml


   I again point out that national politics are seldom discussed here at
   Speed Gibson, but this is one of those times.
   Senator Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech at a sports stadium
   tonight, rather than at the convention hall. Were I a delegate, I
   would consider this an act of disrespect. I would say the same of
   Senator John McCain were he to pull an equivalent stunt.
   National political party conventions have several purposes. There are
   the mechanics of nominating candidates. There is all that free TV and
   press coverage to exploit. But it is also the time to marshal,
   motivate and inspire the troops, the delegates, alternates, and other
   attendees who will return home to man the phones, pass the collection
   plate, and work the neighborhoods.
   In turn, the convention is a special reward for such hard work to
   date, a pilgrimage of sorts granted to the party faithful. It's held
   in nice locales. It's an opportunity to make friends and contacts from
   around the country.
   But today, Barack Obama tells these faithful that special as you are,
   I can do better. Why should I settle for an audience of thousands in a
   more intimate setting when I can get tens of thousands for a celebrity
   like me?
   Correlate this with his canceling a visit with our wounded troops
   overseas because the cameras weren't allowed to follow him inside.
   There are other examples, but it seems clear to me that he has one eye
   on the teleprompter, the other for the camera with the red light on.
   The TV cameras will pick him up at either venue. The press will cover
   him at either venue. The only difference is that he'd rather draw a
   crowd than pay a debt.