On September 11, 2008, Barack Obama and John McCain participated in a candidates forum on service. Host Judy Woodruff of PBS asked about Republican presidents who promoted service initiatives.
Mr. Obama noted that Teddy Roosevelt was his "hero" and that Roosevelt understood how to mobilize citizens.
"And that's why, you know, one of the premises of our campaign from the start has been that change happens from the bottom up. It doesn't happen from the top down. It happens because the American people look up and say, we imagine a world not as it is but as it should be, and we are willing to roll up our sleeves and put in the hard work to change this country, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, state by state," said candidate Obama.
As a candidate and as president, Mr. Obama has consistently and repeatedly made the case that change comes from people who stand up. He returned to the theme (and was mocked by some) in his convention speech last week: "You are the change," he said.
Interestingly, one of the most marked examples of bottom-up change is the development of the Tea Party in the years after Obama's election in 2008. A few people imagined a world as they think it should be, put in the hard work to run for office and get elected, and continue to promote their view of the world.
Showing posts with label conventions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conventions. Show all posts
Tuesday
Thursday
The Bounce
In 2008, the Republican National Convention wrapped up on September 4. Although the Gallup Daily Poll had shown Barack Obama leading John McCain prior to the GOP convention, the McCain-Palin ticket took a 3 to 5 point lead coming out of their convention.
The Obama-Biden ticket regained the Gallup lead in mid-September 2008 and did not relinquish it going into the election.
Today, the Gallup 7-Day Rolling Average shows President Obama leading Mitt Romney 47% to 46%. It appears that Romney received little-to-no poll "bounce" from his convention. Whether or not the Obama-Biden ticket receives a bounce from their convention (which ends today) will become apparent early next week.
The Obama-Biden ticket regained the Gallup lead in mid-September 2008 and did not relinquish it going into the election.
Today, the Gallup 7-Day Rolling Average shows President Obama leading Mitt Romney 47% to 46%. It appears that Romney received little-to-no poll "bounce" from his convention. Whether or not the Obama-Biden ticket receives a bounce from their convention (which ends today) will become apparent early next week.
Wednesday
It's Still the Economy
In 2008, John McCain accepted his party's nomination for president on September 4. The next day, CNN's Bill Schneider lauded McCain's sincere speech, but said, "it did not seem to answer the question, 'What are you going to do about the nation's terrible economic problems?'"
Today, GOP candidate Mitt Romney claims to know what to do about the economy, but has given few specifics.
Former President Bill Clinton speaks tonight at the Democratic National Convention; he is likely to reference his own presidency when the country enjoyed a surplus instead of a deficit, and the nation prospered. President Obama speaks tomorrow and will no doubt reference the economy as well. How specific he will be is the question.
Today, GOP candidate Mitt Romney claims to know what to do about the economy, but has given few specifics.
Former President Bill Clinton speaks tonight at the Democratic National Convention; he is likely to reference his own presidency when the country enjoyed a surplus instead of a deficit, and the nation prospered. President Obama speaks tomorrow and will no doubt reference the economy as well. How specific he will be is the question.
Tuesday
Organizing the Vote
The 2008 Republican National Convention was held the week after Labor Day. In speeches by several participants, Barack Obama was roundly mocked for his experience as a "community organizer."
On September 4, 2008, Barry Crimmins wrote: "Just as Palin wants to turn the entire nation into a paranoid and intolerant small town, Obama must continue his work to turn American voters into a very large, organized community."
Today, President Obama is in a very close reelection race with Mitt Romney, and he will need the votes of a very large, organized community to win.
On September 4, 2008, Barry Crimmins wrote: "Just as Palin wants to turn the entire nation into a paranoid and intolerant small town, Obama must continue his work to turn American voters into a very large, organized community."
Today, President Obama is in a very close reelection race with Mitt Romney, and he will need the votes of a very large, organized community to win.
Monday
BHO Leads Gallup Poll
The Gallup Poll conducted September 2 - 4, 2008 showed Barack Obama leading John McCain, 48% to 44%.
Today, Gallup's 7-day rolling average shows Obama leading Mitt Romney, 47% to 46%.
The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina begins its 3-night run tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
Today, Gallup's 7-day rolling average shows Obama leading Mitt Romney, 47% to 46%.
The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina begins its 3-night run tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
Get Ready to Rumble
On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, Joe Biden spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado and accepted the nomination for Vice President. At the end of Biden's speech, Barack Obama - who until that night had appeared at the convention only via satellite - stepped out on stage to the roar of the crowd.
The 2012 political season begins in earnest this week. The Republican convention - scheduled to begin today - has been delayed for at least one day by Tropical Storm Isaac. The Democratic convention begins next week. The first Presidential Debate will be held on October 3, 2012 in Denver.
The 2012 political season begins in earnest this week. The Republican convention - scheduled to begin today - has been delayed for at least one day by Tropical Storm Isaac. The Democratic convention begins next week. The first Presidential Debate will be held on October 3, 2012 in Denver.
Sunday
Team of Rivals
Hillary Clinton addressed the Democratic Convention on Tuesday night, August 26, 2008. Though she and Barack Obama had been fierce rivals during the lengthy primary campaign, she declared Obama to be "my candidate and he must be our president." The convention floor became a sea of white "Hillary" signs, soon replaced by signs reading "Unity."
In her speech, she noted that her mother was born before women could vote. "But in this election, my daughter got to vote for her mother for President."
Clinton went on to become President Obama's widely admired Secretary of State. Federal regulations and the State department's ethics rules prevent her from attending the 2012 Democratic Convention.
In her speech, she noted that her mother was born before women could vote. "But in this election, my daughter got to vote for her mother for President."
Clinton went on to become President Obama's widely admired Secretary of State. Federal regulations and the State department's ethics rules prevent her from attending the 2012 Democratic Convention.
Saturday
A New Start
On Monday, August 25, 2008, the Democratic National Convention opened in Denver, Colorado. Michelle Obama and the Obama daughters wowed the crowd. Barack was beamed in by satellite from Missouri.
Meanwhile on that day, Karl Rove was interviewed by Fox News and said that Senator Obama's legislation to secure loose nuclear weapons was a "minor housekeeping issue." Republican Senator Dick Lugar, who co-sponsored the legislation, disagreed.
In 2012, President Obama was successful in bringing about the New START Treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.
Meanwhile on that day, Karl Rove was interviewed by Fox News and said that Senator Obama's legislation to secure loose nuclear weapons was a "minor housekeeping issue." Republican Senator Dick Lugar, who co-sponsored the legislation, disagreed.
In 2012, President Obama was successful in bringing about the New START Treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.
Thursday
Biden's the One
In the wee hours of Saturday, August 23, 2008, the Barack Obama campaign sent a text message to supporters announcing that Joe Biden would be the VP nominee. A rally had already been scheduled for the same day, with Obama and Biden appearing outside the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
In 2008, use of a text message for an important political announcement was innovative for its time. In 2012, the Romney campaign used a smartphone app to make the VP announcement.
Smartphone and social media applications were in their infancy in 2008 compared to 2012. Today, apps like Twitter, Facebook, and others are changing the political landscape. An article in USA Today notes the impact of social media on the upcoming GOP and Democratic conventions.
In 2008, use of a text message for an important political announcement was innovative for its time. In 2012, the Romney campaign used a smartphone app to make the VP announcement.
Smartphone and social media applications were in their infancy in 2008 compared to 2012. Today, apps like Twitter, Facebook, and others are changing the political landscape. An article in USA Today notes the impact of social media on the upcoming GOP and Democratic conventions.
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