Nancy Pelosi officially goes through the motions of nominating Joe Biden, followed by a video montage focusing on Biden’s working class roots in Scranton as a stuttering young man, through his dedicated family life, and finally turning on his experience and accomplishments as a legislator.
Bo Biden, Joe’s son and Attorney General of Delaware, introduces his father (I didn’t catch much of it, as I was distracted shaking hands with Scott Kleeb…)
Biden thanks the crowd, thanks the crowd. Says how proud he is of his son, and how his wife leaves him both “breathless and speechless.” Proud to be on the same stage with Bill Clinton, and proud of Hillary Clinton, “a woman who has made history and will continue to make history.”
Honored to live in a country with the bravest warriors in the world, and honored to represent his state of Delaware.
Accepts the nomination.
“For every american trying to do the right thing…no longer will you hear the eight most dreaded words in the English language: The Vice-President’s Office is on the phone.”
Biden brings up how he and Obama come from different backgrounds. Calls out his father (whose advice for young Joe was “when you get knocked down, son, get up. Get up.”), then calls out his mother. Failure at some point is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable. When I stuttered, she said, “Joey, it’s because you’re so brilliant you can’t get your thoughts out quickly enough.” And when I got knocked down by guys bigger than me, she said “Bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day.” And after the accident, she told me, “God doesn’t send you a cross you can’t bear.”
Talks about the dignity of work and the America’s promise, the American Dream that anyone can make it if you try hard enough. “Today that American Dream feels like it’s slowly slipping away.” “I’ve never seen a time when Washington watched so many people get knocked down, without doing anything to help them get back up.”
Millions of Americans are asking themselves questions they never thought they’d ask themselves: should mom move in with us now? Did you hear they may be cutting out healthcare company? We owe more on the house than we can pay. How are we going to send our kids to college? How are we going to retire?
That’s the America George Bush has left us. And that will be the America we will have if George–sorry, John McCain is elected president.” Hilarious Freudian Slip from Joe–or was it?
“John McCain doesn’t seem to get it. Barack Obama gets it, though…I believe the measure of a man is not the road he travels, but the choices he makes along that road. Barack Obama could have done anything after he graduated from college…He chose to go to the South Side of Chicago…He made their lives the work of his life. That’s what you do when you’re raised by a single mom who worked two jobs and raised a family…It’s about whether you can look your child in the eye and say We’re Going to Be All Right.”
Talks about how Barack Obama got people off welfare, got more healthcare for children, helped control nuclear proliferation, and helped wounded veterans.
“We don’t have to accept a situation we cannot bear. We have the power to change it. And change it is exactly what Barack Obama will do. That’s what he’ll do for this country.”
Now here it comes. The attack on McCain. Obligatory respect for McCain’s service. “But I profoundly disagree with the direction John wants to take this country. John says we’ve made great economic progress. I think it’s been abysmal. McCain has voted with the Bush Administration 95% of the time. That’s hard to believe!” Hits the More of the Same line.
Key line repeated throughout the speech:
That’s not change. That’s more of the same.
Hits McCain on minimum wage, tax cuts for the wealthy, oil company and pharmaceutical tax breaks, Iraq, energy policy and more.
“These times require more than a good soldier. They require a wise leader.” Lots of great quotes throughout this speech.
Now Biden brings up the contrasts with specific Obama policies, including on energy possible, better education, accessible healthcare for every American, more cops on the street, security back in social security, equal pay for women. “That’s the change we need.”
Calls Afghanistan the “real central front of the War on Terror.”
Ugh. Throws red meat on the Georgia/Russia business. Biden should know better–but hell, it probably polls well.
Biden throws McCain’s lack of judgment on Afghanistan compared with Obama’s foresight. “John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was right.”
On talking with Iran, even the Bush Administration recognizes that we have to talk to Iran. John McCain has been wrong, and Obama has been right. Same thing for timelines in Iraq–the Administration and the Iraqi government are setting timelines: McCain was wrong and Obama was right.
“Again and again, on the most important national and economic security issues, John McCain has been wrong and Barack Obama has been proven right.”
Finally, he brings it home to his Scranton roots. This is the time America gets back up. This is our time. This is Barack Obama’s time. This is America’s time.”
All in all, a fantastic speech. I could have wished that Biden had started hitting McCain a little earlier in the speech before people had the chance to tune out–but that’s just a nit to pick. Awesome job.
OBAMA: “I was everyone to understand why I’m so proud to have Joe Biden and Bo Biden and Mama Biden here to help me take America back. I think the convention’s gone pretty well so far, what do you think? Michelle Obama kicked it off pretty well, don’t you think? If I’m not mistaken, Hillary clinton rocked the house last night! (nice shot of Bill and Hill, obviously smiling). I think President Bill Clinton reminded us what it’s like when you actually put people first. Thank you President Clinton! We’ll be movign to mile High stadium tomorrow. At the beginning of this campaign, we had a very simple idea, that change dosn’t come from the top down but from the bottom up. Change comes from ordinary people doing extraordinary things…We’re going to have a great night tomorrow night, and see you there. Thank you and God Bless America!”
