Was Speech Setting Over The Top?

Expert Analyzes Whether Obama Accepting Dem Nod In Packed Stadium Worked, Or Went Too Far

(CBS)  It was considered a risky, perhaps even a daring move by Barack Obama's campaign, having him accept the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night in a football stadium.

The scene shifted from a convention center that holds 20,000 people, where the Democratic convention's first three days were held, to Denver's Ivesco Field, home of the Broncos, which seats 80,000.

The lights, the fireworks, the superstar performers, the packed house -- did it all work? Or was it, as many Republican politicians and operatives were suggesting it would be long before the event was even held Thursday -- too much?

On The Early Show Friday, former FBI agent Joe Navarro, author of "What Every Body Is Saying," says the imagery had its desired effect -- very much so.

It "absolutely" worked, Navarro told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. ”This was democracy at its best. It was open... You look at ... everything -- the people, the surroundings, the colors, the imagery. It reminds you of Athenian democracy."

Rodriguez pointed out that one of the charges made by critics beforehand was the columns on the stage made it look a little bit too much like a temple, like this was meant to worship Obama as a god.

"Not at all," Navarro responded. "This is about that, you know -- we use images of these columns from Athens to tell us about our history of democracy, about openness, about the people. And we have a great example of this where this has been opened up, I think, for the first time and may set a precedent for future conventions. Very powerful."

Navarro added that columns are used in structures throughout Washington: "They're at the White House, they are at the Library of Congress, they are at the largest memorials, and they draw us in, and they remind us, this is about democracy. Extremely powerful images."

One part of the night Navarro says he particularly liked was afterwards, when the Obamas walked off, as a family. He said the setting looked like that of "the White House. And you see them walking off into (it). ... (It showed that), 'Hey, we're normal. Just like you. We are a family.' Very, very powerful images here. We haven't seen these, by the way, since the Kennedys. ... And when you see them walking away, you see that they fit in. They're comfortable here. We're comfortable with them. This is extremely powerful. They're going to be talking about this for a very long time. Very tough to top."

Navarro noted to CBS News that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was criticized for giving his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (45 years to-the-day before Obama's speech Thursday night) at the Lincoln Memorial but, Navarro said, it wouldn't have looked the same if he did it at a concert hall or a hotel conference center.

And Navarro, a body language expert, was impressed with Obama's. Navarro told CBS News Obama spoke with his palms up -- "that is excellent ... It's like saying, 'Take what I present to you.' "

Also, Obama put his hand over his heart with an open, wide palm, as opposed to holding it sort of closed, which is what people do because it looks good, not because they mean it.

[actornaught]

All "MSM" news is biased toward McCain, or else you''d see at least some of the many video clips like those on youtube, that show Addled John support one position, then later supporting the opposite.

[liberty_1776]

CBS news is biased in favor of Obama. We will defeat Obama in November!

[no2zeebas]

Lost cause! if there is one, it is yours

Posted by victor0803 at 05:50 PM : Aug 30, 2008

Didn''t I just see you on TV complaining to the cop that the crack dealer took your 20 bucks and you didn''t get your crack?

[no2zeebas]

The Cops tv show is on right now...I understand it''s loaded with hussein obammy supporters...

[vincan-2009]

McCain and his campaign staff were so worried about the wonderful Democratic Convention that their candidate went crazy and picked for VP a woman that is very attractive to him and very unattractive to his wife. What is McCain thinking? He looks like the worst of old lechers picking a beautiful woman instead of someone very qualified to replace him if he died or was incapacitated. McCain must be wacko. He is 72 years old and no one has another day guaranteed especially when you get to 70.

[victor0803]

Each and everyone of his campaign contributors should have their welfare checks taken from them...They obviously don''''t know that my tax dollars were meant for them to live on...Not donated to a lost cause...


Lost cause! if there is one, it is yours

[coryellco]

Way to go CBS. Make sure you find "experts" to shoot down any criticism of your chosen candidate. I can''''t imagine you could find a single "expert" anywhere in the country who could present the opposing view. Well, at least not anybody in YOUR producer''''s roldexes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by kscislaw at 09:19 PM : Aug 29, 2008
-------------------------------- cbs is in the tank for obama why find opposing views

[no2zeebas]

At least our dried up old raisin knows there are only 50 states and not 57...

[mitch5511]

I laughed at all the Republican comments here. They are so jealous of the Dem candidate while they are left with a dried up old raisin as their candidate.

Obama 08

[no2zeebas]

Each and everyone of his campaign contributors should have their welfare checks taken from them...They obviously don''t know that my tax dollars were meant for them to live on...Not donated to a lost cause...

[kscislaw]

Way to go CBS. Make sure you find "experts" to shoot down any criticism of your chosen candidate. I can''t imagine you could find a single "expert" anywhere in the country who could present the opposing view. Well, at least not anybody in YOUR producer''s roldexes.

[jgg000]

it was the superbowl halftime show without the football game.

[dnsallday]

They must think all Americans think with their gonads or ***
Posted by socon2
******************************************************
Not all Americans just the ones who vote for RepubliCONS.

[seetheway]

When they waste tons of money for the BIG SHOW & his campaign, it shows just how much they''ll waste of you tax dollars.

[libseatsh1t]

Crash and burn, Liberal lap dogs.
McCain smacked you up side the head again with this one.

Unlike Gerald(ine) Ferraro, who was forced upon the Democrats by the whacked-out femanistas, Palin actually stands for Republican values.
Which is why the only thing you Obabma O-Ringers can do is squeal and moan your drivel.

McCain totally whomped on Biden with this. Nobody''''''''s gonna care who Biden is in 12 hours. And that''''''''s the only History Obama''''''''s gonna have as he loses this election big time.

Hillary supporters are already turning out in droves to throw their support to Palin, and therefore McCain.

Read the tea leaves, a$$wipe liberals.


Posted by LibsEatSh1t at 04:36 PM : Aug 29, 2008

"To LibsEatSh1t:

Turning out in droves? Do you mean to say that Hillary supporters are cattle, hogs, and sheep? Be careful of the words you use when referring women. Besides, to vote for McCain and whoever his running mate is, man or women, is to vote against your own economic interests.

Posted by irishmail42 at 05:02 PM : Aug 29, 2008"

irishmail, You need to stick a piece of *** in your mouth before you go putting words into other people%u2019s mouths. Maybe then you%u2019ll learn to shut up and think before you prove your liberal idiocy.

[thisandthat1]

No. It was very classy and appropriate.

[credibility2]

There wasn''t any real need for Obama to grandstand in this manner. I understand the taxpayers and not the party foots the bill for the convention, including this unnecessary display of arrogance. The convention venue would''ve been sufficient, but we all know that the sky''s the limit for the great Obama. His ego requires a large venue like this, otherwise his brains would coming ooozing out because they''d be competing in the tight quarters, which wouldn''t be acceptable to his greatness. The speech wasn''t that scintillating; it was just rehashed stuff and excerpts lifted and modified from other sources. I''m still waiting to hear exactly how much all his braggadocio change is going to cost all taxpayers, you know the ones that actually pay taxes instead of sitting around waiting for more government handouts, which is what his greatness intends on increasing.

[cdfoxtrot2]

"...even though it is abhorrent to God..." Posted by cbullcom

Those who presume to know what "God" finds abhorrent, actually have no "God", and only presume themselves to be "God".

Sad little boy, you''''ve done your penance, now you can go back to jerking off on the porn sites...

Posted by brianbwb

In his case, the "porn" site is probably the Republican party web site.

[brianbwb-2009]

Perhaps I should have said nadir, as it was actually the lowest point that journalism can reach.

[brianbwb-2009]

"They have nothing to say about Obama''''s policies, so all they can do is make petty remarks about the venue where he made his speech." Posted by cdfoxtrot2

The predilection of the mainstream media to become nothing more than a trumpet for the neocons reached it''s zenith with the agitprop for the invasion of Iraq.

We will see if their weak excuse of "we did not question because we wanted to maintain access" holds up when the new day dawns, and we have a progressive Capitol.

Will they then switch allegiance for continued access, or continue to be the last refuge of a failed, obsolete mindset that is in its last days...