Republicans have long mocked President Obama for "that hopey-changey stuff," but the president may have reclaimed those ideas tonight. And in doing so, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow suggested, he struck a crucial blow against cynicism.
"Since Obama has been elected, something you're supposed to be embarrassed about is that you might be moved by politics," said Maddow after Obama's speech accepting the nomination of the Democratic party. "That the idea of hope and change are a punchline. And that the idea that you would think you would be able to expect anything, but also able to feel anything about politics is some sort of weakness, some sort of sign of naivete. And I was moved by this speech. I find it moving and I am happy to be moved. And I think it's a sort of cynicism eraser."
Maddow quoted a particularly strong passage in the President's speech:
"If you turn away now—if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible … well, change will not happen. If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: 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."
"The addressing of the issue of hope, transferring it away from himself as a political celebrity and putting it on the people ... that is what I find moving as a civics dork," Maddow said.
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President Obama's speech was positive; it was about the people, and it was about the future of our country. In President Obama's speech, he spoke about and honored the troops. Romney said nothing about them.
Romney was full of doom and gloom, given the people no hope or plan for the future of our country.
Thank you, Mr. President. Even though my brother has passed. Our family is grateful for his service in the Vietnam War.
I loved the speech and MSNBC dis a hell of a great job!
President Obama gave a very good speech tonight about the challenges our country faces. He also defined that hope and change in the future means lots of hard work, patience, and even sacrifice. Hope and change are not sugar pills but terms for hard work, self improvement, and continued work of taking care of ourselves, our country, and giving something back to our society rather than bitching about how big our tax cut should be like so many on the hard right wing do. The President's overall tone tonight represented a belief that America will face a renewal under his leadership.
I think we can have a bright future but it will not be easy. We have to push green energy. We have to fully implement the Affordable Care Act. This may mean that in his second term President Obama may have to expand a Medicare for all public option at the exchanges. We have to invest money in our deteriorating infrastructure. We could quickly get millions of Americans working again if we rebuilt our infrastructure that requires $2.2 trillion. We also need to look at substantial increases for public education and creating an American Job Corps for public service for teachers, teacher aids, social workers, police, and case workers who work with the elderly and Seniors. We could get lots of young people employed this way and help them pay down their student loan debts. We also need to close down those overseas tax shelters and reform our tax code so that mature corporations don't get subsidies. We should encourage multinationals to bring money home and buy bonds that are tax fee for investment in green energy, infrastructure, and mass transit like bullet trains. We have lots of things to do to keep our country from deteriorating. If we elect Romney/Ryan it will be almost like committing national suicide because the Chinese and Indians will kick our ass in business and economics. Vote for President Obama/Biden 2012 and a straight Democratic ticket in November because we have to compete in the global economy of the 21st century.
Please read this article:
Then go to to see if you feel the same.
I agree with Rachel. I was moved too, and surprised at how moving the speech and the whole tone of the evening was. Joe Biden was OUTSTANDING.
Great scene in the movie American President,
"This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I *am* the President."
Tonight President Obama declared,
"I *am* the president."
And put Mr. Romney on notice:
Mr. Romney, your fifteen minutes are up.
Thank God--Good Bye Mr. Romney Good Bye!
x
That's EXACTLY what I was thinking of at the time. I AM the President. So, Romney, quit playing around and acting like you know something,....you don't know SQUAT!
And all Romney wants is the prize. He wouldn't have a clue what to do if he won it.
Great Speech Mr. President--Love You and and Your Family!---Did you remember to take my Lemon Water drink with you.?
we just have to hope that enough people vote for the right man for the job, other wise we are all in trouble.. great speech Mr. President, four more yrs will do this country good...
Good morning!
This is off topic but google "Eric Cantor labor day" this so called republican"young gun" is unbeleivable
Also google tod akin (aken) homosexual cure
The American Citizen is a tax serf/slave to feed the out of control spending and waste by the government. Add up all the tax you pay for one month then multiply by 12 months. That's your real taxes. But it's worse because most of the tax you pay is with your after tax dollars from your pay check. Tax on: water, electric, phone, gas/oil heat, TV, cell phone bill, gas for your car, real estate tax or rent which is real estate tax passed down by the landlord, THEN tax on everything you buy (even your morning coffee and bagel) and on all services like the plumber, electrician, roofer, etc, etc etc. AND when you die they take 45% of all the after tax money you manage to save for your family. Obama AND Democrats want more for the government. By the way, the government is extremely wasteful and inefficient because it's not their money AND they have an endless supply. Pay tax or go to jail. King George would be very jealous, our Founding Fathers would be stupefied how this got out of control.
IF you are paying 45% of your estate to the government, then I hope your heirs enjoy the first 5 million that you left them which is exempt from those taxes.
Nobody should be embarrassed to be moved by humanity. More people need to succumb to "feeling" for one another instead of issues that keep us divided. Obama's convention did just that. It brought people to the point of "caring" for one another. It brought us to the point of seeing and feeling for one another which is what the human race is supposed to be about anyway. People at that convention got it and showed that they got it and it was all good. Likewise, Obama's speech just sealed the convention and congealed every aspect of it into one big fest of "love thy neighbor as they self" and that's what everyone should have taken away from the whole week.
Doctor Maddow has recently admitted that she suffers from sometimes debilitating depression. It's just part of who she is.
Four years ago, in a local television interview I invited the community to come on out to the Obama Campaign Office on San Antonio's Westside to learn more about this extraordinary candidate for president, saying: "To know him is to love him." I knew he was the right person for the time and the job of correcting our course out of Iraq, and leading our country out of the fear that the Republican leadership used to intimidate us into cowering before their policies, both foreign and domestic. I believed then, and know now, that President Barack Obama is the leader that puts this country on a more sure footing both here with our economy and abroad to create a more secure world. There are extremists on both sides who are absolutists in their beliefs about what they expect the U.S. President to do, but the reality of the responsibilities of his office prevent absolute solutions and results. This president does not avoid this pressure, but does not bend to it out of fear or political self promotion. His primary concern is empowering us so that we can know that we have the power to choose the country we live in and to influence the world that will help all people.President Obama: "If you turn away now -- if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn't possible -- well, change will not happen," said Obama. "If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: 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 be making for themselves.
"Only you can make sure that doesn’t happen," he urged. "Only you have the power to move us forward."
I don't expect anything else from MSNBC they always are slobbering over Obama.
But for all its worth, if you break apart the speech not listening but reading it you are left with a lot of "we can do this" attitude... here's my question to all of you...Why haven't you done it yet? What was it he said in 2009.... " if I can't get this done in 3 1/2 years it is a ONE TERM proposition".... he knew then what all of you should know now and by his own words... Obama has spoken a lot in the last four years the problem is that all of you are in such "ahhh" that you are not hearing it.
Since the House Repiblicans refused to meet him even half way from the start and were committed to obstruction from day one, it is inspiring that he was able to lead our country to so many positive new positions. You obviously have choosen not to join "us" in moving the country forward.
DEMOCRATS---------IT IS NOT OVER!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE BALL!!! listen and watch!!! The right wing nut jobs will do anything to steal this election--ANYTHING!!!!------Watch newt and carl rove and the rest! DO NOT RELAX----------VOTE!!!!!!!!!
Good for you Rachael, but it did not take Morning Joe, or Chuck Todd long to talk about the disappointing job report as a way to throw water on the Dem's very inspiring Convention. Shame on the press for their love of conflict and negativity, when the country wants to hear words of encouragement, like we heard the past three days. I just turn them off. Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan will beat the job report drum for days. The spokesman for Moody said that the number may be revised, and that job losses was a result of loss of Government jobs. Guess who is responsible for Gov jobs being lost. Most states have raided employee pensions so they have to fire people because they have taken money from the workers. I think msnbc with Rachael hosting should do an investigation of State legislators where voter IDs are occurring, and how anyone who relies on Government money is an easy target. Look at what Romney/Ryan wan to do to SS, Medicare and Medicaid . Do they have a job's plan? The people unemployed now lack skills, or are older, or lack College degrees in the right subjects for modern jobs. No President can turn that around in 3 years.
Obama is the man for the times and understands the global world economy we now are facing. You heard the Mass Governor, Deval Patrick say what shape Romney left the state in, and Romney is bragging about leaving a surplus which is not true. He repeats numerous lies hoping people will believe him. Some will so Rachael, Ed, Chris, keep the heat on these guys and call out their lies.
OMG EXACTLY! I love this! Everytime someone makes fun of me for believing in "hope and change," I have to remember that this is a person making fun of me for believing in "hope and change."
I too am feeling full of hope this morning, and it's not a naive hope! I think he did an excellent job last night of letting us know he hasn't given up and neither should we. I'm holding onto the feeling as long as I can!
Rachel Maddow, I just love the way you put things.
Truly amazing how the republicans says President Obama has no record to stand on. However all anyone has to do is look at what Mitt Romney said in the past should have happened when the economy took its nose dive. If Romney were President, he would have allowed GM and Chrysler to liquidate and go bankrupt. If that happened what would this country look like today? Secondly, Mitt Romney says it was not worth any money or effort to hunt down and get rid of Bin Laden. If Bin Laden were alive today plotting, planning and actually carried out another terrorist attack on America, what would this country look like today? Mitt Romney has the passion to want to lead this great country and make it better, but if he would have been President and had the ability to carry out his proposals, we would be much worse off today, then we were 4 years ago. Thank you President Obama, for not only showing you have the passion to lead, but the willingness to make tough decisions with the "people" in mind and not "politics" 4 More Years!
Doctor Maddow's cynicism gave way for at least a few lingering moments to trust and respect and hopefulness. That's cool. That Obama has a way about him. Doctor Maddow doesn't really speak for many folks, imo, and she is projecting to a large extent. It is nonetheless affirming that even amongst the professional pundits of the catbird society of eternal cynicists, that President Obama may strike a resonant and harmonious chord. President Obama has momentarily lifted at least one of the professionally cynical from their enduring travail. .