Holy crap. Obama was incredible on the floor of the CA Dem convention. He had this crowd at hello and riled them up like nothing I've ever seen. His supporters are definitely the most organized and the most visible. And perhaps most telling, he by far wins the handmade sign primary.
He has a new line that I don’t love: "It’s time to turn the page" but it served as a good organizing mechanism to address his stances on various issues from healthcare to energy to Iraq without doing what Hillary did: make a laundry list.
So over the fold are my impressions as he spoke as I liveblogged over at ATM Watch. Also check in at Calitics for live coverage.
Barack Obama has just taken the stage to an uproarious reception of standing sign-waving delegates.
He spoke of being surrounded by strong women and so he was proud to receive endorsements of statewide strong women: State Senator Gloria Romero and Assembly majority leader Karen Bass.
After law school, he said he left with a law degree and a "lifetime of debt."He turned down the corporate jobs to open a civil rights practice.
When he agreed to run for state senate, he was asked "why would you want to get into such a dirty profession." He said he understood the cynicism, because politics has become more about who's winning rather than who's helping the American people.
He's ripping on Bush and got a huge applause from his "a war that never should have been waged" line.
He's on fire:
"We're divided into red states and blue states and told to point the finger at everyone else. The rest of us have become cynics. We know what's filled the void. They write the checks, they get the access. Our government is not for sale! We want it back! People tell me I haven't spent the time to learn the ways of Washington but I've been there long enough to know the ays of Washington must change."
That was definitely the best line of his Oakland speech and here it's just as powerful. He's making his so-called inexperience an asset.
He's now talking about changing the way Washington works..."we must find a way to come together in this country."
His "Turn the page" line is new. An interesting way to frame the speech but feels a bit speechwriting 101 to me.
Healthcare:
"Democrats of California, it is time to turn the page on politics...turn the page on healthcare. I will pass a universal healthcare plan by the end of my first term."
He says Americans should be able to buy in to the same healthcare plan that members of Congress enjoys. This plan will save an average family $1000 a year. "It's not just people without healthcare who are suffering." He's getting a little more specific, which is good and I like that he's addressing the concerned of the underinsured, not just the uninsured.
Education:
He said he's going to launch a campaign to recruit teachers.
"It is time to treat the teaching profession as they deserve to be treated. Paying them what they deserve...it is time to turn the page on education."
Global warming:
"I'll put in place a low carbon fuel standard just like you have here in California. And I'll raise fuel efficiency standards because we know we can afford it, we just need to do it."
Iraq:
He said he is proud that he stood up in 2002 "when it was not popular to stand up" he then said "just like those of you in this room who stood up when it wasn't popular...We knew back then there was no link between Iraq and al qaeda...we knew back then that this war was a bad idea...we knew back then that this war would have horrible consequences." I love how he's counting the people in the room among those who like him opposed the war from the start. Very nice.
Ah, there's the line:
"We are one signature away from ending this war! It's time to turn the page on this war!"
Holy crap, this guy is on fire. The place is on their feet. This is intense.
"This president may occupy the White House but for the last six years, the position of leader of the free world has been left open."
That is a GREAT line.
"This campaign is not about me, it's about you."
"That's how change has happened, not from the top down, but from the bottom up."
Ahh, very nice, people-power, baby, people-power.