Did you see Bill Clinton’s speech last night? It was, in a word, phenomenal. Quite possibly the best political speech I’ve ever seen. The guy is just uncannily good at weaving a sophisticated policy argument, complete with wonky numbers, together with passion and excitement that few speakers can match, all delivered in a straightforward and approachable way that makes everyone feel like he’s addressing them directly. He is an extraordinary political talent.
Here’s another remarkable thing: Clinton’s speech was not aimed at the party’s base. It was aimed at the people, many of them independents, who voted for him back in the 1990s, but who have now drifted away from the Democrats for any of a number of reasons, or are at least up for grabs in this election. Clinton spoke directly to those people, explaining to them in detail why Obama is the best man to carry on the legacy of balanced budgets and a burgeoning economy over which Clinton presided, and explaining (more convincingly than anyone I’ve yet heard, including Obama himself) why the Republican attacks on Obama’s record are so weak. Of course, few of those independents and disillusioned Democrats were in the room – the room was packed with the base. And yet the room went nuts for it! So a speech not targeted at the base gets the base up on its feet, screaming with excitement. A genuine tour de force.
If Barack Obama wins reelection, Bill Clinton may turn out to be a big part of the reason why.
SomervilleTom says
It is a tragic shame that, because of the GOP-driven 22nd amendment, America was allowed only two terms of this absolutely stellar President. The forced retirement of Bill Clinton is exhibit A against any term limit legislation.
This was the best speech of my lifetime, given by the best politician of my lifetime.
jconway says
Great speech that passed the Austin test. Austin is a good friend of mine from college, now a Methodist minister in Kansas, who is well versed in Greco-Roman (in the original languages of course) and American rhetoric and I knew he would love this intelligent, populist and soaring speech in the great tradition of Webster, Bryan, and Truman. Great, great speech. Sure enough he did, and if Obama can summon the courage to go beyond the pale platitudes of his 2004 speech and the laundry lists of his Denver and SOTU speeches and make a simple and concise robust defense of his administration with clear second term goals he can get it done. Michelle and Bill made me believe we can get a bounce-I hope the President builds on their sturdy foundations.