Convention chairman Antonia Villaraigosa was adamant that the president was firmly behind the 2008 wording and not supportive of the changes. There was an awkward point when Villaraigosa called for a verbal vote from the delegates present regarding reversion to the original wording; he was intolerant of the changes and sought to immediately undo them. He said that a two-thirds majority was needed. From the viewpoint of those viewing worldwide, there was doubt that even a 50/50 majority was achieved. Villaraigosa repeated the request for the vocal vote three times and finally asserted that the two-thirds majority had been achieved. Watchers must consider acoustics and placement of microphones before reaching any conclusions, but speculation is that we will hear more on this issue in the coming days and weeks.
Well versed in such issues is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is currently working with global leaders in the far East. Reports mention that secretary Clinton watched a recorded version of her husband's speech shortly after it aired.
Clint Eastwood and his amusing chair sequence at the Republican convention notwithstanding, it appeared that the Democrats had considerably more to say than the conservatives, and the convention as a whole held our attention. In addition we were spared from listening to repetitive personal attacks. The Republicans seem unaware of the current influx of voters far better versed than in previous years, sophisticated voters indeed, living in an age of Internet conversation, and a lively “blogosphere.”
It should be interesting to see the president speak tonight as he accepts the nomination.
Photo: CBS News
Article comments
1 - Jet Gardner
Did anyone notice the absense of either Presidents Bush at the GOP conventions? I guess they thought that the American People are all very short-memoried. What convention doesn't feature their latest president?
You missed the highlight of Clinton's speech...
PRESIDENT CLINTON: "...in Tampa - did y'all watch their convention?
I did. (Laughter.) In Tampa, the Republican argument against the president's re-election was actually pretty simple - pretty snappy. It went something like this: We left him a total mess. He hasn't cleaned it up fast enough. So fire him and put us back in. (Laughter, applause.)
2 - John Lake
Hi Jet, Hope you are feeling better. Yes, the Democrats had a great convention!
3 - Igor
The dems convention was sensational, and the reps were dowdy and boring.
I think the persona was set by the women who spoke: Ann Romney was a plastic dud, and Michelle Obama and Jill Biden were terrific.
Presidential candidates should be careful to marry well.
4 - Jet Gardner
I was very satisfied with how he caled Ryan on the carpet...
"...Both Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan attacked the President for allegedly robbing Medicare of 716 billion dollars. Here’s what really happened. There were no cuts to benefits. None. What the President did was save money by cutting unwarranted subsidies to providers and insurance companies that weren’t making people any healthier. He used the saving to close the donut hole in the Medicare drug program, and to add eight years to the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. It’s now solvent until 2024. So President Obama and the Democrats didn’t weaken Medicare, they strengthened it.
When Congressman Ryan looked into the TV camera and attacked President Obama’s “biggest coldest power play” in raiding Medicare, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. You see, that 716 billion dollars is exactly the same amount of Medicare savings Congressman Ryan had in his own budget... You gotta give the guy one thing it takes a lot of brass to attack a guy for what you did!"