Star Power
The good news for Obama is that Oprah was his lead-in. She is wildly popular, as the banshee screams proved when she strode onto the stage in black slacks and a canary yellow jacket.
But the bad news is that Oprah was his lead-in. She is astonishing, truly. The woman was on her maiden campaign trail voyage, and yet she already she was better—more cogent, more effective, more convincing—than anyone out there. "I'm the third best speaker on the stage," the senator said. Unfortunately, he was right.
Summoning the communications skills she had assembled from years of book reading, book-group hosting, TV-show headlining and movie acting, Oprah riffed her way through an eloquent paean to the need for a change of leadership in America. "Dr. King talked about the dream," she said. "Now we get to vote that dream into reality. You gotta step out of your box!" she said. "We can dream America anew!"
She directly tackled the "experience" question that Hillary Clinton's campaign has thrown at Obama, saying that the country should prefer "the wisdom won from years of serving outside the walls of Washington, DC." In fact, there are no walls around the nation's capital—just a traffic-clogged highway—but I know what she meant.
"It's Obama time!" she declared, and the candidate emerged from a tunnel and onto the stage.
Whether by instinct or design, the thin-as-a-rail, youthful looking Obama looked somehow innocent as he appeared—a man-child in this setting, doted over and presented by two powerful, commanding women (his wife and his endorser).
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Member Comments
Posted By: timcorkern81 @ 02/16/2008 6:42:00 PM
Comment: Haha. Troy from Brooklyn can't even spell minorities. How's THAT for an education system? People are ignorant to vote for Osama (I mean...Obama) ONLY because he's black. As certain women are ignorant enough to vote for Hillary ONLY because she's a woman. Every major candidate that has a chance at winning scares the crap out of me when I consider one of them running my country. Some more than others. God help us if Obama or Hillary gets into office. Heard of goin to hell in a handbasket? That's what's comin.
Posted By: JMZ $.02 @ 01/19/2008 4:36:46 AM
Comment: Many of the comments posted are purely ignorant. With our nation's public education failing tomorrow's leaders daily, I am not surprised. Be careful with the finger pointing. This failure began long before President Bush. Please educate yourself before you speak as if you see the full scope.
How many of you have actually served your country in support of OIF or OEF? Have you ever had a mother show whole-hearted gratitude to you for giving her child medicine because she thought they were going to die? Have you ever been told thank you by an Iraqi man in a wheel chair for helping his country stand on their own? Who are you to disrespect the men and women who have gaven their lifes by speaking of a situation you know nothing of?
Do you know what the differences are between the baseline beliefs of Muslims, Christians and Jews? Do you know which of the distinctions following the book(s) of God has the most violent history? And I am not referencing the extremists in this regard. I reference the head of the distinction sanctioning violence as a standard.
Do you know the questionable backgrounds of some our nations 'greatest' leaders? Are you basing your vote on what's best for our country? Do you know the history of each candidate's political decisions? Or are you basing your vote on some feeble connection to the dream of being a 'part' of history?
America, wake up! The decision we collectively make this election will significantly shape our future. Make your part of that decision based on the right reason...the education reason.
Posted By: nubianking11 @ 01/08/2008 12:04:38 PM
Comment: I feel that it's time America has a black Democratic President. I will vote for Obama,and all blacks,minoroties and even whites should vote for Obama. He will do a much better job than Bush,and he will help all working class people,not just us blacks. He is against the Middle East War too. I agree with Obama 100%!
Troy N. Brooklyn,N.Y.