| Last night I was watching the first day of the Democratic National Convention and I was amused by the confusion it caused for the commentators on both MSNBC and CNN. Everyone agreed that the two main events for the evening, Michelle Obama and Teddy Kennedy, were memorable. What seemed to bother the commentators, however, was the lack of a message.
I was nervously chuckling under my breath. On one hand I thought it funny that these commentators were viewing this convention through the eyes of the politics of the past. Where is the Ann Richards "George Bush (Senior) was born with a silver foot in his mouth!" attack dogs of the past? The Democrats should be bashing George Junior and tying McCain to him like they were joined at the hip. I expect that they will be doing some of that as the week rolls out, but it's not going to be like 1968 or 1972.
The nervousness in my chuckle came from my worry that if these experienced political minds didn't catch what was going on, perhaps the viewer won't either. I worry that the viewer might get the impression from these commentators who were chomping at the bit for some fresh meat for tomorrow's broadcasts that this convention will resemble John Kerry's "Hands-Off" approach of 2004's convention. John Kerry lost the election; well, let's not get crazy here, George Bush became the president, whether John Kerry lost is another matter.
It was clear to me that the commentators on both networks wanted something that they didn't get last night. They want a big fight that would begin here and continue into the Republican National Convention and give them lots of compelling, juicy, tantalizing dirt to repeat over and over to their viewers for close to a month. That would be wonderful for their ad revenue. They want to stir up some do-do so badly they can just taste it! (EEEWWW! Sorry about that!) These broadcasters have a vested financial interest in this convention getting down and dirty and the more disgustingly mean spirited it gets, the happier they're going to be.
I think they're missing the point of the Obama Movement and may succeed in recruiting viewers to missing the point as well. That would be tragic. I think it was a fitting opener, and a strong message that the DNC and the Obama Campaign was sending last night by lining up Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama like they did. I got it, and if you've been reading my columns for a while, you've pretty much figured out that I'm no rocket scientist!
I was alive and just barely old enough to understand what was happening with the Kennedy Administration in 1960. Granted, I campaigned for him at the ripe age of 9 because he was considerably better looking and more articulate than Richard Nixon, but at least I got it right, albeit for the wrong reason.
There are parallels between the 60's and the new millennium. We faced a formidable threat then from a, then, Soviet Union. Nuclear bombs were a relatively new concept. The Soviets had them and The United States of America was NOT on their Christmas Card List! I remember being taught to hide under my desk at school to protect myself from a nuclear attack. We were scared out of our wits!
We wanted our government to be more representative of what be believed in and strived for as Americans. What we "Believed In"! Along came Jack Kennedy to remind us of who we really are and to inspire us to greater dedication, sacrifice and accomplishment. He coaxed us out from under our desks by reminding us that we are Americans and have no cause to fear anyone or anything including the big bad Russian bear!
He reminded us that faith in ourselves and hope for a better future is a much more fitting place for an American than hiding under a desk! The Kennedy Family is a political icon for a very American reason. Those folks, with all of their gaping flaws, understand the soul of America and have always been adept at giving it voice. They know our better angels better than anyone has since,,, until now!
Teddy Kennedy has been the torchbearer of the Kennedy legacy for over 4 decades and I'm betting there's a celebration at Hyannis Port MA tonight that there is a worthy American family to which they can pass that torch. A family, like them, that believes in something greater than themselves and shows a conscientious dedication and ability to work hard and achieve it.
That was the message I got watching the Democratic National Convention's opening statement. What is confusing these commentators is that they are watching a new politic unfolding before their very eyes and it doesn't fall in line with what they've come to know. That, dear reader is the whole point. The Obama Family is about changing the way politics happens in America to a model that can achieve things that aren't possible under the politics of destruction.
Bashing John McCain, or even George Bush, has never been the intention of the Obama Movement. Granted, they'll have to do some mudslinging to survive, but they're demonstrating what a NEW politic can look like; a NEW Politic where you win elections because your ideas are better and not because you're better at destroying opponents and scaring the electorate into voting for you.
If you want to be driven back under the desk, watch the Republican National Convention. That will be YOUR night!
Much Love,
Gregory
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