Day Three Democratic National Convention

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Filed at 1:30 p.m. on August 28th

This will probably be my shortest entry. (But I kept writing and it got longer.) Last night I had a television taping to promote my upcoming Multicultural Symposium Series when the convention took place. I watched the Biden speech live, and the rest as television replays or on YouTube.

Shift In Convention Tone: National Security Matters
The tone of the convention took on a more sharp turn as many of the featured speakers showcased the military strength of this country. Support of the troops was a common theme yesterday, while objection to the Iraqi War a loud and resounding theme.

One of the most heroic speeches was delivered by Tammy Duckworth, a Purple Heart Veteran badly wounded in the Iraq war. Shot down while piloting her helicopter, Duckworth is a double amputee who also lost the use of her right arm during that fateful mission. Duckworth also narrowly lost an Illinois Congressional race in November 2006.

With courage and conviction, she stood at the podium last night and with unwavering support defended the strategy of Barack Obama, who was against the Iraqi War, yet has called for a troop build up in Afghanistan.

John Kerry Speaks
During his address my Senator John Kerry also voiced complete support for Obama, with special emphasis on not getting swift boated during the General Election. ...A direct reference to his 2004 presidential defeat.

Historic Roll Call Vote

The pomp and circumstance mattered most when the 50 State Roll Call began. Yes, Hillary Clinton's pledged delegates did cast their votes for her. But when New York was called, it was Clinton herself who cast all 282 New York delegate votes for Barack Obama. The rules were suspended, and her pronouncement gave

Barack Hussein Obama enough votes to secure the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States.

Obama became the FIRST African American in the history of this country to represent a major political party in the race for the White House.

...On the eve of the 45th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous I Have A Dream Speech.

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE.

President Clinton Seals The Deal

It was the matter of fact, slam dunk keynote address, delivered by the husband of the candidate who lost her bid to the White House. President Bill Clinton paid tribute to his wife, her warrior-like campaign that generated 18 million supporters, and then acknowledged that victory had not been on the side of Hillary Clinton. Victory had favored her opponent, Barack Obama. President Clinton then in an artfully Clintonesque-way pledged his complete support to Obama, one commander in chief to an emerging one.

The Biden Factor

Just weeks away from being deployed to Iraq Beau Biden lovingly and reverently introduced his father, Senator Joe Biden, to the convention delegates. What a resilient family they are. Joe Biden's first wife and infant daughter killed in an auto accident. Sons Beau and Hunter critically injured but survived. Marries Jill Jacobs in 1977 and welcomes the birth of another daughter. A commuting Joe Biden takes the train from Wilmington Delaware to Washington DC the entire 35 years he's serves in the senate. The love and compassion this son has for his father exudes in every word he utters.

Front and center enters the Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden. In the course of his speech he pays tribute to his mother, Catherine Finnegan Biden who sits in the audience and his late father, a hard working blue collar man who moved the family from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Wilmington Delaware. Joe continued with his message validating his love for his family, his country, and his fellow man. His mother taught him that no-one is better than you. He's practiced that philosophy throughout his life. Even though his Freudian slip mixed up George Bush's name with John McCain, he played out the kitchen table vignette scenes of countless American families who are quietly discussing how to make ends meet in an increasingly softened economy.

And most of all, Biden, in his foreign policy litany and full grasp of domestic issues, pledged his full support and commitment to Barack Obama, his campaign, and his candidacy.

As a surprise at the end of his message, Barack Obama stepped out on the stage to congratulate Biden on his message and his years of service.

What a team they will make. What a team.

See you tomorrow.

If at all possible, listen to tonight's broadcast of the DNC convention.

It will be history in the making.

Barack Obama will no doubt deliver the speech of his life.

-Carole Copeland Thomas