DENVER, August 26, 2008
Passing The Torch, Over Clinton
CBSNews.com Analysis: The First Night Of The Convention Was About One Thing, And It Wasn't Division, Writes Vaughn Ververs
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Ted Kennedy Thrills DNC
Senator Ted Kennedy is battling brain cancer but made a surprise appearance at the DNC to express his support for Barack Obama.
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'Sweet' Caroline At The DNC
Arriving to the song "Sweet Caroline," Caroline Kennedy paid tribute to her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Sen. Barack Obama. Caroline said that Obama inspires her the way her father inspired many.
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Obama Says 'Hello' At DNC
"CBS News RAW": Barack Obama gave a quick "hello" from Kansas City after his wife, Michelle, spoke at the DNC. Obama said his persevering courtship of Michelle showed that he's a "persistent president."
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Symbolically handing over a mantle that stretches 40 years, Sen. Edward Kennedy said, “This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. So with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.” (AP)
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Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP)
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Photo Essay
Assembling In Denver
The Mile-High City hosts the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
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Campaign 2008
Profiles of the candidates, polls, fund-raising, blogs, video and more.
A Democratic Party that came to Denver with questions of division looming did its best to put forward a show of unity on the first day of its nominating convention. It was a night about defining Barack Obama, and Democrats made sure to stay on message.
The theme of the night was, “One Nation,” but it may as well have been, “One Party.” The focus was stuck on the candidate who will formally accept the nomination on Thursday, and pointedly not on the adversary he fought off and whose presence is still the talk of the convention.
Party leaders past and present paraded across the stage on Monday, interspersed with average Americans, friends and family, all of whom sought to introduce Obama to a nation of voters who still seem unfamiliar with him. There was former President Jimmy Carter, who appeared briefly on stage to wave to the crowd. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the audience as well as Obama’s sister and a parade of Illinois politicians.
Obama's wife, Michelle, delivered a heartfelt speech that focused on her life story and his, delving into hardships and triumphs the couple have faced. She delivered testimony designed to drive home the dominant point the campaign is looking to deliver in Denver - that Barack Obama is just like you. (Michelle Obama's Speech: Video | Text)
“In the end, after all that's happened these past 19 months, the Barack Obama I know today is the same man I fell in love with 19 years ago,” Michelle told a national television audience. “He's the same man who drove me and our new baby daughter home from the hospital ten years ago this summer, inching along at a snail's pace, peering anxiously at us in the rearview mirror, feeling the whole weight of her future in his hands, determined to give her everything he'd struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father's love.”
But if Michelle gave the personal story, it was Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy’s surprise appearance on stage that proved to be the most emotional, and symbolic, moment. Battling brain cancer, Kennedy almost didn’t make it to Denver, let alone the stage. The convention floor broke into thunderous cheers when he appeared, introduced by the last direct link to the days of Camelot, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. (Ted Kennedy's Speech: Video | Text)
Symbolically handing over a mantle that stretches 40 years, Kennedy said, “This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. So with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.”
Conspicuously missing was the politician who narrowly missed making this her convention and whose supporters continue to stoke stories of division. Even on the morning of the convention’s kick-off, the stories that dominated the news were about tensions between Obama and Hillary Clinton’s camp over her role - and that of her husband - in Denver.
The fact that the line of Democratic leadership, from Kennedy to Carter to Pelosi, was paraded across the stage without the Clintons said volumes about what the campaign wanted Monday night. For a year and a half, Obama’s name has been intertwined with Clinton's. Tonight, the separation was clear and purposeful.
The Clintons will have their moments in the spotlight in Denver. Hillary Clinton will speak Tuesday night and former President Bill Clinton appears on Wednesday. There are signs that a protracted roll call vote might be avoided and that a fractious floor demonstration will never happen.
But Monday night was for declaring Obama the new face of the Democratic Party, a party he will now lead, at least into November - if not longer.
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See all 511 CommentsPosted by Trapbreak
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I think it''s past your bedtime.
And this BS about leaving the Clintons out when they are the only success the ******* party has had in decades just make you want to PUKE!
Talk about a bunch of hypocrite bastwards!
They''re more like freaking NAZI''s!
That evil pair is getting what the deserve
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Posted by paris1969
Thats right Bill Clinton NOT HILLARY CLINTON. She is and over rated Bi@ch and everyone knows she is only a senator because Bill cheated on her.
Get over it Billary fans. Your girl is a total moron and wouldn''t be anywhere in life if it wasn''t for her hubbie
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Posted by sincityq
Have a right to be angry about what. Why does she need to stand up and remind everyone about how many votes she got. Like anyone has forgotten. You don''t see John Edwards or Mitt Romney wanting their names called out. Its all just for show and proves that the Clintons are only in this for their own legacy not for the country. If they were for the country they would fall in line and stop acting like good little dems and fall in line
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Posted by sincityq
Have a right to be angry about what. Why does she need to stand up and remind everyone about how many votes she got. Like anyone has forgotten. You don''t see John Edwards or Mitt Romney wanting their names called out. Its all just for show and proves that the Clintons are only in this for their own legacy not for the country. If they were for the country they would fall in line and stop acting like good little dems and fall in line
ummmm it is the DEMONIC-RATS that want to grant amnesty to illegals,,, including HUSSEIN,,,
HUSSEINs solution for illegals is to grant them amnesty and have americans learn SPANISH,,,
words out of his own mouth,,,
Barack Obama: Your Children Should Learn To Speak Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZprtPat1Vk
Obama to America--Learn Spanish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7srmHLclw
Perhaps its time to consider that over time, what has started as a protest over the election will only be the beginning of the end for the Democratic Party.
Some people just don''t set back and take it....
Posted by maramara2 at 12:53 AM : Aug 26, 2008
If you think of Ted Kennedy as a "hero"...it''s no wonder you would support Obama.
Posted by ForeverTru at 04:04 AM : Aug 26, 2008
Some know not how to lose with grace....
Posted by SistaTee at 04:26 AM : Aug 26, 2008
Does Hillary even own a dress?
"... Kennedy used words from his 1968 speech when he was defeated by Carter ..."
In 1968, ROBERT Kennedy ran for President and was assassinated, so Hubert H. Humphrey became the Democratic candidate.
Any other signs of premature senility, paris1969?
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Posted by formrusmcsgt
Heck no she doesn''t own a dress do you think those huge fat legs would ever sport a dress. Her poll numbers drop everytime she laughs, if she ever were to wear a dress or try to look like a women her political carrer would be over
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Posted by AmJoe
Wrong. Hillary will never get elected again. This was her one shot, and she couldn''t beat a one term senator. Don''t forget how polorizing that women is.
Obama''s election was just as much about a dislike for her as it was a liking for him. Not to mention that If Obama loses her and her supporters will be the reason. As an Obama supporter, I would never support a Clinton
PUMA has be debunked. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NlnEFHiOxc4
Neither one is not like me. They%u2019re both scary.
Obama hopes the Americans are sleeping.
So does Michelle.
All of a sudden, Michelle loves this country now that Obama stole the primaries.
Obama is a disgrace. He''s embarrassing.
What is wrong with the media.
What are they afraid of.
Examine and report on Obama. The media should for all presidential candidates.
Obama''s HOPE message is that he can pull this off
He keeps changing his mind........that''s his CHANGE message.
Rezko the criminal.
Ayers the domestic terrorist.
Reverend Wright the racist.
Obama for President?
Wake up Democrats! Wake up America!
Run from any presidential candidate with Obama''s connections.
This is neither new, nor unexpected. They will offer excuses for this - it''s the Clintons, a too close primary race, but none of their excuses can ring true. They are, for the most part, a party of children and became that by choice.
In national political terms, prospective nominee Barack Obama is most certainly the equivalent of a young child. His attractiveness is not so much a gravitas, or an earnest grasp of important domestic or international affairs - it is the wanderlust of the almost always emotionally immature Hollywood star, or starlet.
As if Hillary Clinton speaking from the floor as part of the New York delegation can really resolve the bitter differences of boys and girls accustomed to having their way on the play ground for all too long.
And if there''s anything the vast majority of Americans simply can''t tolerate, it''''s a child who does not know how to behave, especially in public. Don''''t be surprised if Democrats are spanked yet once again this year in their seemingly never ending quest to gain the White House. I''m afraid the National Park Service may need to add a playroom and a playground or two before that even becomes practical for them at this point.
She claims to now support Obama. She claims to strive for unity.
What I see are ego assuaging moves on her part.
She refused to concede.
Wants her name in nomination.
Wants a roll-call.
Says she''s voting for Obama but tells her delegates to vote for whoever they please.
The woman''s ego knows no limits, in my view.
Such sensitive fascists!
If Hillary had been the nominee, they be slinging every bit of mud at her they could. They''d be trying to rip her a new one.
Hillary backers would do well to bear this in mind. If McCain wins, you''re toast. It will be 4 more years of Bushit.
And Cold War John will have us in one war after another, will continue tax cuts for billionaires while trashing the middle class, and will appoint Supreme Court justices who put women back in the traditional role that rich white men like so much--in other words, "shut up ****, I''m in charge."
That''s how Republicans think of you.
CBSNews.com Reports: Democrats To Push Obama%u2019s Similarities With Average Americans
rightttttttttttttt
HUSSEIN puts foreigns ahead of americans,,,
how many non-muslim americans have a syrian born muslim tony rezko helping you buy a multi million dollar house???
how many non-muslim americans travelled to pakistan for spring break???
how many non-muslim americans say the muslim call to prayer is the prettiests sounds on earth at sunset???
how many americans want to have to learn spanish???
how many americans want to give tens of millions of illegals amnesty???
how many americans want open borders???
how many americans want to send one trillion of their taxpayer dollars to kenya???
how many americans want to spend their taxpayer dollars on slavery reparations when they already paid via the civil war with their blood???
hmmmmm manchurian candidate maybe,,, hmmmm
Posted by patriot12436 at 07:51 AM : Aug 26, 2008
Maybe he felt that someone who is such a poor administrator that she ran her campaign $25 million in debt probably means that she isn''t well qualified for the VP slot.....
Or so says John McCain in his wet dreams. If you still have them at that age.
The pathetic, desperate Repugs are grasping at straws. If Hillary HAD been nominated they''ve have every Slime Boat on the sea going to destroy her.
So it''s safe to ignore the fake blubbering of Repug shills like the above.
After all, this shill probably got a toaster from the McCain campaign. You can tell by the overblown screen name--so predictable.
Drop dead, shill.
Well neo cons it will not happen this year because once Obama unleases his treasure chest of money on McSame the neo con party will have to decide suffer a full blown blood bath in congress losing more seats in both house and senate or try to win the President. Either way they are in a no win sitution.
Posted by jmurrieta1
***********
It wouldn''t matter if Jesus Christ himself was running on the Democratic ticket, the Republicans would find something wrong with him. It''s just the way they do their corporate interests business.
What a shame that you think seniors like me and McCain are not capable of thinking for ourselves and have a wonderful history of accomplishments. I learned to respect my elders from the time I was a small child and my children and grandchildren do the same.
You need to go visit some of these wonderful elders and maybe it will soften your heart, just a little.
How can they go from and anti-American, anti-white, anti-Jewish spewing hatred church to pretending to like America so much?
After 20 years of that, you don''''t change all of the sudden.
THIS IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
Someone gave Michelle acting lessons because that was not the Michelle that we have previously been introduced to. Did her bitterness just disapear like that?
They want the power, then look out.
I, and many others, cannot and will not trust them enought to vote for them.
They are fooling the American public big time.
The man is insane! Totally insane! He lives his adult life associating with criminals and anti-American radicals, a group puts out an ad telling people the truth about it, and this freaking NAZI thinks he can use his influence to BLOCK it from being aired on tv!
WELCOME TO YOUR THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, FOLKS! Too bad Saddam''s dead, we could just elect him! Or how about Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, or what the hell, let''s just bring Putin over here for president!
Celerebrity of 1 year / Washington Insider of 36 years.
Let''s all Change for Worse!!!
Neither one is not like me. They%u2019re both scary.
Posted by Alicerea1
And that speaks volumns!! ("Neither one is not like me" could use a little work)
We believe what "others" tell us and we fear what we don''t "know". That''s plain ignorance.
If you want to go spewing hatred--first find out why YOU don''t like these people--not why others hate them---and to be fair, look into your own candidate--but aww that would be objective and to some--they think Faux news, lintball and hannity really know what they''re talking about!
There were no facts in your post, just the same old repetitive jargon.
Posted by kmccliment at 08:41 AM :
BS Prove it!
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