Wednesday, July 28, 2004
BARACK OBAMA: More on Obama in a bit, but it appears the hype surrounding this new face in the Democratic Party is fully justified, something not a surprise to us here in Chicago. Unquestionably the best speech of the convention so far.

THE CANDIDATE'S WIFE: Tom's post from yesterday on Teresa'a Troubles makes for an interesting read in light of her prime-time speech last night in Boston.

I've always felt Teresa was going to be a liability, if for no other reason than she is just not the average American's vision of what a First Lady should be like. Whether that is fair or unfair is another issue - and largely irrelevant to the discussion of her political impact. The bottom line is that together the accent, the money, and the attitude produce a package that isn't always flattering to middle America.

Personally, I've always found Teresa Heinz Kerry to be interesting not only because she is so opinionated and outspoken, but because in some ways she doesn't seem too self-absorbed by the importance of the campaign. That attitude can be refreshing in a primary campaign with multiple candidates. It's nice to have someone who is a little different. At some point, however, you would expect her to understand the gravity and importance of the situation that potentially awaits her should John Kerry win.

Last night was an opportunity for her to shed the impression that she feels she is more important than her husband and let the country see that she appreciates the magnitude of what it means to be President of the Untied States. She blew it. Last night's speech was all about Teresa. The more you read, apparently, Teresa is all about Teresa. Coincidentally it is eerily similar to the rap Kerry has in Massachusetts where people always say his famous initials stand for 'Just For Kerry.'

Putting aside the psychoanalysis, it would have been nice to hear a little more about the man who wants the country to elect him president and a little less about Teresa's struggles on her farm in Africa. I was struck by her comment that the Peace Corps represents "one of the best faces America has ever projected."

To me, one of the best faces America has ever projected is the face of a Peace Corps volunteer. That face symbolizes this country: young, curious, brimming with idealism and hope, and a real, honest compassion. Those young people convey an idea of America that is all about heart, creativity, generosity and confidence, a practical, can-do sense, and a big, big smile. For many generations of people around this globe, that is what America has represented: a symbol of hope, a beacon brightly lit by the optimism of its people, people coming from all over the world.

Don't get me wrong, the Peace Corps is great. But I thought this was a telling difference between where the heart and soul of the Republican and Democratic parties are today. To the activists in that hall last night and around the country, the vision of young, idealistic Jimmy Carter protégés building huts in impoverished villages around the world is exactly what they think America's role in the world should be.

But while Teresa and the Democrats were dreaming of the young peace Corps volunteer I was thinking of our servicemen overseas putting their lives on the line every day. I was thinking of the hundreds of millions of people in the world today over the last century who owe their freedom to the blood,sweat and toil of the United States military.

To be fair, the Peace Corps and the U.S. military are both important faces of what is the ultimate strength of this great country, but it is very telling that in a time of war, when we have over 150,000 young men and women on the field of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan the prime-time speaker at the Democratic convention chooses to emphasis the smiling Peace Corps student in Ecuador or Mozambique rather than the gritty Marine in Fallujah.

Back to Teresa Heinz Kerry. I don't think people vote for President because of the candidates spouse, but after last night's speech it seems clear that Kerry's wife is going to be a liability for him. The real question is how much and will it matter. I'm not suggesting this is a big vote mover, but in a race that could be extremely close, even 0.3% in states like Ohio and Wisconsin could make all the difference the world.

STEM CELLS: James Pinkerton touched on this subject on Monday and George Stephanopoulos on ABC's Good Morning America said that Republican strategists felt it was the most politically damaging speech to President Bush. Now I suspect when they say the most damaging speech, that is in the context of a night of speeches that did almost no damage to the President. However, given the way the press covers the stem cell issue it does have the real potential to be a wedge issue for the Democrats that might be useful in moving some of that critically important undecided 10%. J. McIntyre 8:10 am Link | Email | Send to a Friend