As the media faints and falls all over themselves praising day 1 of the DNC, I thought we could take a more realistic approach from and Independents point of view. While every speech at the DNC this week will certainly talk about "the failed policies of the past" the words will all spoken by failed politicians of the past. How is that "Forward"?
Newark Mayor Cory Booker: One of the few rising stars of the DNC, Booker appeared reasonable when he said the proven-false and relentless attacks on Bain made him feel "uncomfortable." He added: "If you look at the totality of Bain Capital's record, they've done a lot to support businesses, to grow businesses." He was later forced to give an awkward video walk-back of those comments when they didn't set well from the central planners at DNC command. The Obama administration has helped nearly every moderate Democrat lose their positions of power by forcing them to support his agenda and messaging.
N.C. Governor Bev Purdue: As she welcomes the convention to her state, an awesome reminder that she is probably the least-liked Governor in the United States, not even running for re-election as a result, and the Governor's mansion will likely go Republican. Welcome to North Carolina!
Jimmy Carter video! Kennedy Family Tribute!: Oh, Camelot. Nothing says "Forward." like Jimmy Carter and the Kennedy's. And also, "Middle Class." On Carter, Mitt Romney noted in his convention speech that only two Presidents couldn't ask "Are you better off now than you were four years ago." Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
Abortion Advocates: Apparently pushing the wonder and greatness of abortion are on the Democratic agenda. A good reminder that President Obama is the extremist on abortion, even opposing life-saving treatments for surviving babies of botched abortions. Not exactly appealing to Independents with moderate views on abortion.
Lincoln Chafee: I'm guessing Chafee was one of the "big gets" for the DNC as a former-Republican-turned-Independent. But unlike, say, Artur Davis, Chafee was never well regarded in the GOP and barely survived a 2006 primary challenge when he ran for re-election to the US Senate. He isn't a moderate who suddenly saw the light. Oh, and "Forward." He has always been considered a RINO (Republican In Name Only) by the Republican faithful.
Former OH Governor Ted Strickland: I'm not sure that featuring a losing sitting Governor from perhaps the most important-swing state, Ohio, is the optics the Obama camp are going for, but there you go. Maybe it will play well in other parts of the country other than Ohio where we experienced Strickland's leadership and witnessed Governor Kasich turn things around?
Rahm Emmanuel: The Chicago Mayor and divisive figure is leading a city with a looming education crisis (teacher walkouts) and escalating gang violence. One of the highest murder rates anywhere......Forward? I keep thinking Rham shouldn't let a good crisis like he faces in Chicago go to waste.
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley: What better way to continue the night than with the guy who, this weekend, noted that no, Americans are not better off than they were four years ago. (Don't worry, like Booker, this was also "walked back" later.)
Julian Castro: The San Antonio Mayor is one of the other highlights for the Democrats, and he gives the keynote before Michelle Obama comes on stage. He's the left's answer to the deep bench of Hispanic-Americans that conservatives are voting for such as Cruz, Martinez, and Rubio. (Unlike within the GOP, the Democratic bench is very empty on statewide elected officials, and loaded with local mayoral talent. Isn't it funny that this was a position of ridicule four years ago?
Michelle Obama: A masterful speech that was "a-political" yet very "political" at the same time. Moving personal stories without answering the lingering questions as to whether she is still proud of America. I watched and couldn't help but wonder, as has been proven with President Obama's books, if the stories were made up to suit the political moment or were they real?
I hope Democrats reviewing this article don't take it personally or as an attack, but with all other media outlets giving glowing reviews and raving about how wonderful the DNC has been so far, I thought a reasonable look at the event from an Independent point of view might shed some light of reality and add some balance. It can be so easy to see things from one side quite differently than the other side. This is an observation from the middle. If President Obama's intent was to present a vision of "Forward", I'd grade Day 1 a failure.......not an Incomplete. But while it was filled with "Red Meat" for the radical base, I haven't heard that phrase used in the media the way it was used during the RNC last week. And I don't expect to see ABC, CBS, NBC, or CNN pick apart every word and detail of the speeches at the DNC the way they did last week at the RNC. It couldn't be more transparent to the Independent viewer, that the majority of the media has already made the decision who they are voting for in 2012 and apparently they feel it is their job to protect and cover up for that side, while attacking the other. I wonder sometimes if they even care about the appearance of fairness or factual reporting anymore?
As one who voted for President Obama in 2008, deep down I was hoping to see something that would justify my vote, but my hope was changed to disappointment after the first day of the DNC. Who knows? Maybe it will get better?
