Matt Rogers: Obama convention speech connects with America and shows he's ready to lead

By Gail Marshall on August 28, 2008 8:29 PM | 7 Comments

UPDATE at 8:29 p.m.

I have never had the opportunity to watch Sen. Barack Obama speak. As I board the shuttle back to our hotel, I'm amazed at how this man can connect with people. The crowd of approximately 75,000 people were changed by what this man said. As he concluded his speech, the song "Only in America" erupted from the platform as fireworks exploded in the sky.

That song fit this evening that we spent with Sen. and Mrs. Obama perfectly. Only in America can a man like Barack Obama have the chance to lead our nation.

As we conclude our convention, one thing is crystal clear: This election will be about the promise of our future vs. the failed policies of our past. The choice will be between hope for what we can do together and fear that tears us apart.

Everyone I spoke to today agreed that Sen. Obama needed a great night and that's exactly what he got. We will spend the rest of our evening with fellow California delegates visiting different receptions and events.

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We are having a great day in Denver as we await tonight's grand finale at Invesco Stadium. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed our delegation this morning at breakfast. Both will be running for governor in 2010. The buzz among delegates is that Dianne Feinstein will decide to run for governor, thus clearing the field on the Democratic side.

Last night, we had a great time enjoying a barbecue with the Tennessee delegation. The California Gala was worth the long taxi ride, as the food was by far the best we have tried so far. We also went to Voto Latino, an event dedicated to our strong support among Latino voters. We finished the evening talking with former Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer in our hotel lobby.

A major concern among delegates has been the transportation to the Pepsi Center. A trip that should take no longer than 10 minutes, often takes an hour on the shuttles provided to us.

We just heard Jennifer Lopez is near our hotel so we are going to try and get a picture.

We are awaiting the final night in Denver!

Background on convention blogger Matt Rogers: He is 27 and a farmer from Kingsburg. He worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign during the primary election campaign, and is one of three Democratic delegates from the 21st Congressional District.

7 Comments

T C Morgan | August 29, 2008 9:48 AM

Yeh, yeh, yeh ... The Anointed One, the god of Light, The Most Merciful, the lord god Obama the savior of America, claiming virtual divine status, .... the skies opened, the celestial angels sang,.... it was a coronation. What a spectacle - the glory of Obama descending from above.... on a beam of light over Denver. The media has been completely Obamafied. "This is the year that journalism died in America." Sean Hannity.

And what was with the Temple of Obama? It clearly invoked the image of the worship of ancient Greek gods. Maybe that was the intention! It did seem appropriate, however, that Barack Obama, upon descending from the heavens, would spend a little time with us mere mortals .... but alas, it was not to be. Democrats knelt before him in total obeisance.

I’m thinking of another time - the same situation. Nazi Germany, Nuremberg 1934. One historical account said: "The primary aspect of the Nuremberg Rallies was to strengthen the personality cult of Adolf Hitler, portraying Hitler as Germany's saviour, chosen by providence." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent comment, that Obama is "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time" is strangely reminiscent of those times.

The Leni Riefenstahl infamous propaganda film "Triumph of the Will" was made at this rally. God only knows what propaganda will come out of "Barackopolis."

While this Nazi rally, initially, did not have a theme, Nazi propagandists later labeled it the "Rally of Unity and Strength." Say, isn’t that the theme of the Democrat party this year?

Interestingly, Goebbels spoke on the relevance of propaganda for the Nazi system at this rally. In this speech he said, "Political propaganda in principle is active and revolutionary. It is aimed at the broad masses.... Propaganda is a means to an end. Its purpose is to lead the people to an understanding that will allow it to willingly and without internal resistance devote itself to the tasks and goals of a superior leadership.... If propaganda is to succeed, it must know what it wants. It must keep a clear and firm goal in mind, and seek the appropriate means and methods to reach that goal..... The importance the National Socialist leadership placed on propaganda became clear when it established a Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda shortly after it took power [a future Obama idea?] ....Creative people made propaganda and put it in the service of our movement. We must have creative people who can use the means of the state in its service...."

Obama couldn’t have said it any better. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Mike D. | August 29, 2008 10:20 AM

All that "messiah" and "celebrity" stuff coming from the Right is starting to sound like sour grapes, T.C. Your candidate doesn't inspire anyone, your platform doesn't give anyone hope, so you have to bash the whole concepts of inspiration and hope.

You do demonstrate very well, however, that while Obama appeals to our hopes, the best the Right can do is play to our fears.

kg | August 29, 2008 11:22 AM

I'm amazed anyone takes this stuff seriously. Best education system in the world! College education like Barack and Michelle's (Ivy League?) for all! The same health insurance that Congress has for all! Huge pay raises for teachers! Energy independence in 10 years! Why not just, "A million dollars for every American!!!" And then a promise of lower taxes for 95% of us. I can't decide if it's more offensive that the candidates are idiots or that they think we are.

Mike D. | August 29, 2008 11:53 AM

It certainly does sound ambitious, kg. But recent experience indicates that Democratic presidents have been far more fiscally responsible than Republican ones, while at the same time doing a lot more for the middle class.

Scot | August 29, 2008 1:46 PM

Oh God........serenity now.

Again with the absurd.

Propaganda = information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

The above definition, in the context "to harm," fits McCain's campaign and the Right's comments in here and around the country. If Obama wanted to smear McCain below the belt, he would bring up the story of McCain's first wife, but he doesn't, and he won't.

And hey.....by the way...I guess it didn't occur to you that the stage set last night, you know, the "Temple of Obama?" The one that "clearly invoked the image of the worship of ancient Greek gods?" I guess you didn't notice that it was made to resemble the White House ...in an understated way. That's what you call presentation. Very much like Huckabee did in his address or commercial where the bookshelf behind him was lit to look like a cross. Understated, elegant, well done. Presentation is everything. There's no one naive here, is there?

Yes kg....it's ambitious. It's lofty. But it's time once again to have a president who has vision and aspirations. Kennedy wanted us to go to the moon by the end of the decade. That was 9 years away. Didn't that seem impossible? Wasn't that a lofty vision, a high aspiration? We did it though didn't we. Obama inspires me. John McCain does not. He depresses me. Obama knows we can't achieve ALL of those goals in the next 4 years or even the next 8. But I bet you he tries his damndest to achieve as many of those goals as he can, and that's more than I can say about our current president.

Why is it you Rights are so antagonistic? Vote for whoever you want. It makes no difference to me, and no one else cares.

Isabell Lawson | September 2, 2008 7:14 PM

And another bit of Nazi propaganda. Part of the Girl's Hitler Youth motto
was. In translation...the German girl is chaste!

If people would not live under the delusion that the end of the world is four and one half inches east of the Statue of Liberty, Mr. Morgan could not feed them so much pure sophistry. The Sophists did not care about truth, but only winning in every debate. And they made Sokrates take poison for he fought them with the truth.

nxotnfp | October 10, 2008 10:25 AM

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Isabell Lawson: And another bit of Nazi propaganda. Part of the Girl's read more
Scot: Oh God........serenity now. Again with the absurd. Propaganda = information, read more
Mike D.: It certainly does sound ambitious, kg. But recent experience indicates read more
kg: I'm amazed anyone takes this stuff seriously. Best education system read more
Mike D.: All that "messiah" and "celebrity" stuff coming from the Right read more
T C Morgan: Yeh, yeh, yeh ... The Anointed One, the god of read more