I just watched the first night of the Democratic Convention on PBS, Jim Lehrer from the NewsHour moderating. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, led the speeches with a typical political speech, what one might expect from Nancy Pelosi, whom I've never found very inspiring. I was hoping for a speech to really engage and energize the delegates. Jesse Jackson, Jr., did a good job at that, the speech of Missouri's Senator Clair McClaskill was delivered well, and Ted Kennedy's appearance was a highlight. A video tribute had long been planned for Kennedy, but his being able to appear in person despite his illness was an unexpected pleasure for many. However, I think the evening goes to Michelle Obama. She was poised, humorous, articulate, and set just the right balance between personal anecdote and political awareness--despite what David Brooks said afterward during the brief "talking heads" follow-up to Michelle Obama's speech.
David Brooks thinks that Michelle Obama missed her opportunity to help the American people see who Barack Obama really is, who the man is. I was surprised by his analysis. As an avid reader of online news, a daily viewer of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, a reader of political blogs, and a subscriber to news magazines, I've read a lot about Barack Obama. Yet Michelle Obama's speech helped me see more of the man, of his ideals, his hopes, his dreams, his family. What did David Brooks want? Something that the political noise machine can turn against the candidate's wife?
David Brooks' sour analysis was in the minority, however. Two of the historian panelists, Richard Norton Smith and Michael Beschloss began their comments by disagreeing with Brooks. I've listened to David Brooks a lot over the years and read his columns in The New York Times occasionally, and sometimes I just don't understand where that man is coming from.
Michelle Obama rocks!
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