Obama calls 2012 election "clearest choice" in a generation

(CBS News) CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- President Obama formally accepted the Democratic party's presidential nomination on Thursday night, calling the 2012 election "the clearest choice of any time in a generation."

"On every issue, the choice you face won't be just between two candidates or two parties," the president said on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, in front of a crowd of about 20,000 at the Time Warner Cable Arena. "It will be a choice between two different paths for America. A choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future."

The president appealed to his supporters to keep up faith they showed during the 2008 campaign, even as his promises of "hope" and "change" are tested.

"Know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met," he said. "The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future. I'm asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country - goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and the deficit; a real, achievable plan that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity, and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation."

Mr. Obama noted that in the next four years, Washington would be forced to make critical decisions on all of those issues. He warned that his Republican rival Mitt Romney would revive stale policies that failed in the past and will surely fail again. And while acknowledging that voters may be second-guessing their faith in his leadership, Mr. Obama said his own policies have shown a clear path to progress.

The president made some of the sharpest contrasts between his policies and Romney's proposals on the subject of foreign policy.

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"Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did," he said. "I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. We have. We've blunted the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over. A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al Qaeda is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead."

The president listed off the challenges that remain on the world stage, including terrorist plots, the European debt crisis, Iran's nuclear ambitions and revolution in the Middle East. Then with a bit of a sarcastic tone, he alluded to the foreign policy gaffes Romney made this year.

"My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy, but from all that we've seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly," he said. "After all, you don't call Russia our number one enemy - and not al Qaeda - unless you're still stuck in a Cold War mind warp. You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can't visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally."

Mr. Obama berated Romney for proposing to give the Pentagon funding it hasn't asked for rather than using that money to pay down the debt or invest in infrastructure. "After two wars that have cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, it's time to do some nation-building right here at home," he said.

He touted the investments he's made in areas like the auto industry, energy and education and laid out specific goals he planned to reach if given the chance to keep his strategies in place.

"Today, the United States of America is less dependent on foreign oil than at any time in nearly two decades," Mr. Obama said. "Now you have a choice - between a strategy that reverses this progress, or one that builds on it... If you choose this path, we can cut our oil imports in half by 2020 and support more than 600,000 new jobs in natural gas alone."

The president touted his college loan reforms and policies that have spurred states to set new teaching standards.

"And together, I promise you, we can out-educate and out-compete any country on Earth," he said. "Help me recruit 100,000 math and science teachers in the next ten years, and improve early childhood education. Help give two million workers the chance to learn skills at their community college that will lead directly to a job. Help us work with colleges and universities to cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next ten years."

Mr. Obama railed on Romney for giving few policy details in his speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa last week, charging, "Our friends at the Republican convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America, but they didn't have much to say about how they'd make it right."

The GOP isn't sharing its plan, the president charged, because it hasn't changed in 30 years: "Have a surplus? Try a tax cut. Deficit too high? Try another. Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!"

While he didn't shy away from slamming his opponent in his speech, the president also conceded that voters are wary of the political rhetoric that's washed over the airwaves this year.

"I know that campaigns can seem small, and even silly sometimes," he said. "Trivial things become big distractions. Serious issues become sound bites. The truth gets buried under an avalanche of money and advertising. If you're sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me -- so am I."

He asked voters, however, to think of the stakes in this election and put aside their cynicism.

"If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void," he said. "Lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should make for themselves. Only you can make sure that doesn't happen. Only you have the power to move us forward."

[SaraServalis]

Voting Is A Choice Between A Pink ***** & A Purple *****
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZAmfDWsRwA

[AOCGUY]

by AOCGUY September 7, 2012 3:45 PM EDT
by Bad_Ranger September 7, 2012 3:42 PM EDT
Who the Hell is "Mongo"?


Mortar can explain. Got to go. LOL you crack me up. You really do.
Reply to this comment ..by Bad_Ranger September 7, 2012 3:48 PM EDT
Good -- send money!!
...by Mortarman_1SG29 September 7, 2012 3:49 PM EDT
I dont know who Mongo is either.

You know this is why America is in trouble. No one wants to work anymore. Just gimme gimme gimme. Despite a clear refernce to a film and a character, ranger wants someone else to explain who someone is rather than taking the initiative to look it up. And mortar can't be bothered to help out a pal. Where is the American spirit of independence boys. Get up off your butts and dig a little. Ignorance is not bliss it is just ignorance.

[AOCGUY]

Mongo: Mongo like Sheriff [mortar]
Jim: Uh-oh, [mortar]. I think Mongo here's taken a liking to you. ;)
Mongo: Huh-huh, naw, Mongo straight.

Yeah, right!

[Lindag20]

Guess they never saw Blazing Saddles. LOL

[AOCGUY]

And get rid of all of the parts that take money from one person and hand it to another who did nothing to earn it (SS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc)


SS and Medicare got the money that will utimately be returned to me by taking it out of my paycheck. It is my money and I have absolutely no problem taking it back. What I do have a problem with is anyone suggesting that somehow I'm not deserving of money taken from me with the promise it would be returned later.

[AOCGUY]

Shut my mouth, Slap my grandma!

[TimeToEvolve]

The reason that the Republicon economy is such a failure is that it takes all the purchasing power away from the middle class and put it in the hands of the greedy Top 1%. This is what has caused poverty to skyrocket and our economy to remain in the Bush Recession.

[walkthetalk]

HI!Drumi I'm really strarting to believe it's some kind of Alien poison gas thing. JUS gotta be or maybe it's them DANG! North Koreans at it again, DARNED Little Devils! Always up to sumptum NO GOOD! I'M au gettin REALLY,REALLY SKEERED!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

I gotta get outta here!
Y'all have a good day! Fun day! : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Mortar: I would have to help, and try to cajole, influence, plead for others to help also if I couldnt do it all myself.
-----------

Then you understand why I must talk as many people as I can into voting for Obama, so we can keep the step forward we took for healthcare...because people are out there fighting for their lives, and they don't deserve to have to deal with the insurance company dropping them!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

The community has decided its the right thing to do.

Just like.....Murder, is the wrong thing to do.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

We've been over this before, you still have the right NOT to have insurance!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Hillary/Warren 2016 : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Well get busy and help then Mortar!
I'll expect you to vote for Obama!
And then for Hillary! : )

[Lindag20]

by Dancing-in-the-Streets September 7, 2012 3:49 PM EDT
Oh Hey Mortar - I owe you something! : )

Guess what?

The Healthcare Act...was found to be CONSTITUTIONAL! : )
---------------
Zann that was a low blow. You KNOW how hard Mortar took that decision. He went into a TOTAL funk.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Well I heard! But CBS had me locked out so I never got to CELEBRATE the historic decision with him! : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

What? You let your emotions decide for you Mortar? LOL!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by Mortarman_1SG29 September 7, 2012 3:52 PM EDT
Cindi, everyone tries to demonize the guy on the other side.

Both of these guys are clowns and NEITHER should ever be president. Vote "None of the Above
---------------------
Mortar must be voting for Zann/Ranger! : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

We've already got a Supreme Court Mortar! Thanks for volunteering! LOL!

[Lindag20]

ZANN/RANGER!!!