Obama accepts Democratic nomination
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Pledged moral renewal: Barack Obama waves to the crowd (Reuters: Brian Snyder)
Barack Obama has formally accepted the Democratic Party's White House nomination in a wide-ranging and emotional speech at the party's convention in Denver, Colorado.
Senator Obama used the speech to turn his fire on his Republican rival John McCain, pledging to fix the economy and restore America's moral leadership if he took office.
"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States," he told around 75,000 cheering supporters packed into the city's football stadium.
Senator Obama is the first African-American politician to be selected to run for president by a mainstream political party, and his speech was delivered on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.
He pledged a rethink of America's foreign policy and said he would end the country's dependence on foreign oil.
"America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this," he said.
"I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again the last best hope for those who are called to the cause of peace."
Senator Obama also reflected on the unlikely aspects of his historic White House quest.
"I get it, I realise that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office," he said.
"I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
"But I stand before you tonight because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me.
"It's about you."
'Ordinary American'
Senator Obama's credentials as an "ordinary American" were also woven through his lengthy speech, given to a crowd that cheered wildly and waved placards reading "Change", as he strode onto the stage.
He paid tribute to Hillary Clinton - "an inspiration to my daughters and yours" - as well as Bill Clinton, Edward Kennedy and Joe Biden - "the next vice-president of the United States" - his wife, and daughters.
A video biography of Senator Obama stressing his working class credentials and drive to serve had warmed up the crowd, which refused to be silenced at the appearance of their party's latest hero.
Underscoring the themes of change and compassion, he pledged a tough but engaged approach to the world.
It was a speech also littered with classic American campaign references to the stories of individuals who have struggled, driving home the Democratic Party's message that eight years of Republicanism has eroded the American dream.
He referred to a "defining moment" which required that "on November 4, we must stand up and say eight [years] is enough," the crowd taking the cue to begin chanting "eight is enough".
He dismissed "the same old politics", turning the attack on his presumptive Republican opponent Senator McCain.
"Let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee John McCain has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect," he said.
But he went on to discredit Senator McCain's attempts to position himself as a renegade who has often stood against his own party, claiming that he had supported George W Bush 90 per cent of the time.
"I'm not ready to take a 10 per cent chance on change," Senator Obama said.
McCain 'doesn't get it'
Senator McCain had been associated with the discredited conservative "trickle down" approach to the economy, Senator Obama said.
"I don't believe Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans, I just think he doesn't know," he said.
"Why else would he define middle class as someone making under $US5 million a year?" he asked.
"It's not because John McCain doesn't care, its because John McCain doesn't get it," he reiterated.
The speech set the scene for the next stage of the drawn out march to the White House and threw down a gauntlet to John McCain when the Republicans hold their convention next week.
Earlier, former vice-president and environmentalist Al Gore declared his support for Senator Obama, telling the crowd that his rival would only provide four more years like the last eight.
"He's now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them," Mr Gore said.
"The same policies, those policies all over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous."
Yesterday, Senator Obama was nominated by acclamation by former rival Hillary Clinton, while her husband, former president Bill Clinton, strongly endorsed his presidential bid.
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Comments (40)
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Spider Dijon:
29 Aug 2008 12:48:57pm
Well done. Can't wait for him to win the presidency too.
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Ford:
29 Aug 2008 1:27:04pm
And I can't wait for Britney Spears to be declared head of the Commonwealth, I think you'll be waiting longer ;)
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Steve:
29 Aug 2008 1:36:29pm
Why, because he's black? The south has voted solidly Republican since 1968 anyway.
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Tan:
29 Aug 2008 1:57:25pm
I think Obama has a good chance of winning. He is a lot like Bobby Kennedy. I think your comparison to Spears is an insult. I just hope he doesn't get assinated.
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Yawn:
29 Aug 2008 2:18:07pm
And I can't wait for the US election to be over.
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are you serious...:
29 Aug 2008 12:56:08pm
end dependency on foreign oil? look bro, we are reaching (if not already reached) peak oil, peak coal and peak natural gas. there is no honour in lying your way to the white house.
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!Agree (0) Alert moderator
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What...:
29 Aug 2008 1:19:50pm
"look bro, we are reaching (if not already reached) peak oil, peak coal and peak natural gas."
Ok, step away from the computer, pick up some reference materials and do a little reading!
According to ridiculous, factless statements from people like you, we've reached or are reaching peak [insert resource name here] for 50 years now. Despite this, I have great faith that I'll here those statements for the next 50 years ...
I won't go on about the factors affecting resource peaks (that's a great thing to look up yourself if you want to start talking about the subject), but I will say this ...
Don't jump on here with the 5 latest buzz words you just heard and try to make a sensible, logical argument!! That dog just don't hunt. The most sensible thing you stated was "Ron Paul for President", which really says it all ...Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Coal:
29 Aug 2008 1:20:13pm
I work on the project managment for Coal extraction. We only have pans for the next 300yrs worth of coal oh no we are neally out. Give me a break the enviroment needs us to stop being reliant on fossil fuels but coal aint running out.
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toaster:
29 Aug 2008 1:23:10pm
Actually, if you read the latest geological data, their is 3 times more oil than we have extracted in the last 150 years in KNOWN deposits excluding oil sands and shale deposits. Australia has 300 years of coal supplies left at our present (huge) rate of extraction, and the world is awash in gas!
Kind of makes your Ron Paul choice somewhat dubious if they are your qualifications. I would image you also believe in the tooth fairy and global warming?Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg:
29 Aug 2008 1:33:55pm
Peak natural gas? What are you talking about? If you read a little, you'd see that oil and gas are not the same thing (in spite of the americans calling petrol 'gas'), and we still have LOTS of natural gas around. Australia has lots of it too, pity John Howard sold it all to the Chinese for a pittance.
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James Mason:
29 Aug 2008 1:44:11pm
Ron Paul? You mean Ron Paul, the guy who runs the bakery in Dubbo, do you? Ron Paul for president of what? The Dubbo Bowling Club? Yeah, I'd go for that. Goodonyer, Ron, matey!
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geoff:
29 Aug 2008 12:56:16pm
i hope he wins too.
it will be interesting to see if the us is mature enough to elect him.
as for his chances, we must remember that, given the electoral college system, those states that people say 'they won't vote for a black guy' -those states haven't voted democrat for decades.
all he has to do is hang on to what gore and kerry won, and then pick up one reasonable sized state more.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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michael:
29 Aug 2008 12:58:31pm
yeah, whatever. but walking out of a faux- White House is the height of presumption and arrogant.
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Fratelli:
29 Aug 2008 1:02:54pm
Good job. Lets hope the next step is the big white building with the nice lawn out the front.
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pierre:
29 Aug 2008 1:03:08pm
i wish i could vote for him in the US election, rather than the dweebs we have to deal with in the western australian election.
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Jamie Bloomfield:
29 Aug 2008 1:05:12pm
Whilst it would be wonderful to see an African-American as US President (far too long overdue), I don't believe Obama is the man. He is far too cocky and arrogant for someone who is a first term Senator, and thus far too inexperienced. The Democrats kicked an own-goal in choosing him as their candidate - they should have chosen the more experienced Hillary Clinton and given Obama the VP. This would have prepared him for the Presidency after 2 terms of Clinton as President. Instead, the Democrats have opted for all the hoop-la, fizz, froth and bubble surrounding Obama who seems to think he is the next Martin Luther King Jnr (he is not a patch on MLK). At this stage in the election cycle he should be way in front of McCain (just a Bush look and sound-alike), but polls show them in a dead heat. Given that the religious right and the rednecks would not vote for him, and that 30% of Clinton supporters are going to vote for McCain, it does not look too good for Obama. The Democrats seem to have thrown away all the political capital handed to them by that complete and utter failure that is George Dubya. With McCain as President, nothing will change. It will be like Bush has never left the White House, which will be a shame for the US and the rest of the world.
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Cliffy:
29 Aug 2008 1:19:47pm
Alot of people say he's "cocky and arrogant". Is he really, or are people struggling with the notion of a black man with self-confidence and self-belief?
It's nice to make profound-sounding statements like "He's got nothing on MLK", but what do you really mean by that? Can you please define that and give some weight and parameters to such a statement?Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
29 Aug 2008 1:55:28pm
MLK was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Obama's background is obviously very different.
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Greg h:
29 Aug 2008 1:25:59pm
Good point.
It is funny to see Barack Obama comparing himself with MLK when they are probably poles apart with their views on moral issues.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Steve:
29 Aug 2008 1:37:32pm
Hilary Clinton's 'experience' is virtually nonexistant and is mostly based on being Bill Clinton's wife. She's barely been in the Senate any longer than he has.
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Joe :
29 Aug 2008 2:06:52pm
He is a great orator, etc...
But he is also a great thinker. Have a read of his policies. I also read an essay on his pragmatic and somewhat brilliant theroies on economics, that combine the successes of market economics with rational regulation. Nothing and no-one is perfect, but he also surrounds himself with carefully picked thinkers and politicians.
This is a man who could redefine the US and the world at time that a new direction is desperately needed in the world to meet the new challenges of this century - all that is needed is the right leader. I do believe that we might have found our man in Barrack Obama.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Lachlan:
29 Aug 2008 1:11:48pm
Finally a President the US can be proud of and which the rest of the world can look to with respect.
It's exciting to this that under Obama, the US might provide the leadership required on environmental issues (perhaps by "reducing the US's dependence on foreign oil" he means "reducing the US's dependence on oil altogether" i.e. by focusing on green technology).
Obama's election in November, if his positive message is able to drown out the full-fired Republican attack, will be a symbolic and momentous occassion we should all celebrate.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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PenPal:
29 Aug 2008 1:27:35pm
Will we be just as exhuberant when Obama nukes Iran? (Assuming he wins in November that is).
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Second Opinion:
29 Aug 2008 1:38:07pm
Reduce foreign dependency on oil? A country which has basically no public transport and is addicted to cars three times the size of a landcruiser- seems like a tall order to me.
Perhaps he is refering to Alaska - Some in the know believe that Alaska/Gull Is. contains oil reserves equivalent to the whole of Saudi Arabia as well as 1000 years worth of natural gas. If this is true then yes, America will have no foreign dependence on oil.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
29 Aug 2008 1:18:04pm
No amount of grand speeches can hide Obama's inexperience and lack of any real achievements.
Sorry, Obama is applying for a used car salesman job but the Presidency of the United States which is not suited for.
McCain is favourite to win the election, I dont think Americans will vote for a empty suit like Obama.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Steve:
29 Aug 2008 1:39:14pm
I don't know which opinion polls you've been reading, but whatever people think of Obama, they don't thin much better of McCain. The liberals think he's too conservative and the conservatives think he's too liberal.
Oh, and re: experience, as Bill Clinton has said, nobody is qualified to be US president.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
29 Aug 2008 1:49:53pm
Polls have said many Americans put Obama put on the liberal spectrum of American political spectrum and McCain on the conservative, moderate side.
There is a character requirement for a man for the Presidency, Obama does'nt have it, Bill Clinton does'nt even know what is it which is not suprising considering the problems he had with perjury.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Tan:
29 Aug 2008 2:15:04pm
Character? Obama has lots of character and Clinton was a great president even if he was a womaniser. Bush has no character and has damaged his country's reputation with silly wars like iraq. McCain is just another Bush puppet.
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Tan:
29 Aug 2008 1:59:15pm
Well said Steve! Obama will bring good things to America. I think he will be a strong and good president.
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PaddyJ:
29 Aug 2008 2:04:04pm
McCain is very clever, he learned something in the Vietnamese experience, survival... and what better place to be than liberal to one bunch and conservative to the others - which means he is driving down the middle of the road but with a stealth vehicle! Now you see him now you don't. Aw shucks he 'caint be all that bad' then and the hunted becomes the hunter..... he has also learned a lot in Washington.
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Tan:
29 Aug 2008 2:16:35pm
John Kerry ran for president and he had done war service and won medals. Yet the republicans pulled him apart. Let's see McCain survives!
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Second Opinion:
29 Aug 2008 1:21:48pm
There is always a great danger in electing someone on the basis of their stage presence and ability to command stiring speaches. It is substance the Americans need and I don't think people are sure what Obama is all about. JFK became president largely because of his stage presence, not because he was a man of great substance or integrity.
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geoff:
29 Aug 2008 1:24:52pm
here's something else i've thought of for a while:
given what happened in florida in 2000, shouldn't the democracy loving peoples of the world ask the un to send observers to the us in november to supervise and monitor the election process???Agree (1) Alert moderator
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Peter:
29 Aug 2008 1:26:47pm
Unfortunately, like all US elections, the president is elected by 40% of the people bothering to vote. Even then they have continually demonstrated their stupidity and ignorance over the last 8 years. May enough decent minded intelligent people bother to vote this year and make the change the US needs.
Go the O.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Idiot:
29 Aug 2008 1:49:03pm
dosen't it make more sense to only have those people who are intrested in what is happening vote.
Look at australia we make every one vote so using the us statistic that means 60% of people are just taking a stab in the dark. They don't educate themselves on the issues and vote on the hype.
It is dum dum dum.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Barry Skipsey:
29 Aug 2008 1:37:01pm
Via ABC Newsradio , I've just heard a spine tingling and moving speech by a potential American leader. An African American called Barry !. Who would have believed it. Obama is a true orator, with vision and compassion. He has restored my faith in one of the worlds most powerful and influential Nations. That acceptance speech , along with it's delivery, will go down in the record books. The world needs this man to be the next President of the United States. I only hope and pray that the White Supremacists will leave him alone to get on with the bloody job.
SKIP.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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fred:
29 Aug 2008 1:58:43pm
he talks the talk,
SO WHAT
he needs to walk the walk yet. at this point in time he is nothing more then some one who shows a littel promise with a whole lot of charisma and of cousre all the weak minded fools run around blabing he is the saviour.
news for you barry he needs to do something firstAgree (0) Alert moderator
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Simon:
29 Aug 2008 1:48:41pm
Beautiful oratory, magical moment, perfect couple, great family, but much as I would like to think he has the substance, my political instincts say victory of spin over substance.
The Democrats have a history of nominating the wrong people - remember Kerry? Think he should have left his run for after Hillary Clinton. Hilary has the experience and would hit the road running, so why go for the high risk poker play? I think the Democrats have a hankering for the Camelot days of Kennedy... they were not that idyllic but have become the legendary good old days.
I hope I am wrong, but the Democrats could just have lost the unloose-able election. The US is not Australia, and as they go into times of uncertainty.... they are less than likely to go for a guy promising 'Change' and we can fix it yes we can.... they are going to choose security, which I what McCain is supposedly offering.
Finally, remember Hillary won the big states, she would have won Florida but for that farce... yes Florida again...... come back AlGore and Bill Clinton.... we need wisdom not a first term senator, no matter how lovely he is....
hope I am proved wrong.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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insideps:
29 Aug 2008 2:07:21pm
So what's all the fuss about?
All three presidential wannabes intend continuing imperial wars of aggression and occupation to some extent.
All three have studiously ignored the impending financial apocalypse about to engulf us all (but made in America).
All three have pledged unwavering support for, and obedience to, the will of Israel and its genocidal policies.
All three have stated a desire and/or intention to some degree to nuke Iran.
About the only discernable differences between them is that Obama is black and a Madison Avenue-manufactured PR exercise, Hillary is female and comes mired with decades of Clinton financial corruption, and McCain is an ex Vietnam POW who has pretty much pledged to nuke Iraq, North Korea and now Russia as well (so far!!).
Some choice.
I never thought I'd live to say it, but thank the Gods for Russia and China.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Gautam:
29 Aug 2008 2:15:31pm
No matter what side of politics your on - American politics is much more interesting then Australian politics - especially with Howard gone.
Kevin Rudd is boring and has no charisma , he just smiles and asks himself questions. As for Brendan Nelson , he so terrible he doesn't even warrant a comment.Agree (0) Alert moderator
