Listening to all these speeches this week I have wondered aloud "is anyone really listening?" I have also doubted the real effect of the message and whether anyone would be persuaded in to changing a vote or how they really feel about the candidate.
My faith was restored last night while watching with a Hillary supporting democrat leaning friend who had decided that McCain was right because Obama, though smart and inspiring, was not ready for the job.
My take on the speech was different than my friends. I thought it was brilliant in substance and style. I loved how he could hold the covention center with that stretched arm and finger.
But to me, President Clinton was simply reinforcing what I already knew: Barack Obama is ready to be president.
Clinton then stated:
My fellow Democrats, 16 years ago, you gave me the profound honor to lead our party to victory and to lead our nation to a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity.
Together, we prevailed in a campaign in which the Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief. Sound familiar? It didn't work in 1992, because we were on the right side of history. And it won't work in 2008, because Barack Obama is on the right side of history.
"Wow" my friend said of this quote, "I voted for Clinton and remember everyone saying he was to young and inexperienced. Of course I was 16 years younger myself and would not have thought age and experience matter because when you are young and full of hope and optimism you can do anything."
We laughed as he realized he just bought into the Hope argument that the Republicans have mocked. "OK" he said, "I may cross my fingers hoping for the best when I vote for him, but I will not let the fact I'm sixteen years older change what I used to be inspired by. It worked for Clinton, it can work for Obama"
He left and I sat thinking to myself "Well Ill be damned---Bill's still got it and speeches do matter as much today as they did 16 years ago when I too was inspired to vote for that young Governor from Arkansas.