Okay, I admit that I usually groan and roll my eyes when I see a diarist proclaim to know what Obama's Next Big Speech should be. I mean, I'm certain that Obama and his team have a pretty good idea about how they should campaign and when and where it's appropriate and neccessary to speak out about something.
That said, would Daily Kos be the thriving, buzzing community that it is, without its bevy of backseat drivers and Monday quarterbacks? Therefore, swallowing my own elitist attitude towards those who think they know more than the candidate about what he or she should do, I throw this, my own two-cents version of "What Obama Should Do Now" into the abyss. Intrigued? Read on.
In the past weeks, I've seen lots of suggestions on these boards that Obama should make THE speech on class in America. I've also seen nearly as many folk saying that it was time for him to make THE speech on sexism and women's equality. I counter those suggestions with this one:
It is time for him to make a significant speech about (drumroll, please):
American Values.
It would, the way I invision it (wavy lines wavy lines wavy lines, as I gaze upwards at a non-specific point above my computer monitor) be a speech that could combine the issues of domestic policy with the American values of equality, opportunity, and freedom. About how these American values create the core of democratic (party) principles.
Think about it: he could talk about women's and minority rights, equal opportunity and the American dream. He could talk about workers and blue color opportunities and investment in America's job force. He could talk about immigration, and the proud American melting-pot tradition. He could talk about health care, education, and jobs as core American values. He could talk about the patriotism that he believes in -- the patriotism of large-mindedness, inclusion, equality, and opportunity.
Think of all of the wonderful examples he could draw from. Think of how he could integrate his extensive knowledge of the US Constitution.
And, after the dust settles from this historic bringing together of the American people, by uniting the bigger and better angels of our chararacters, he can then go on to deliver his Next Momentous Speech:
Our Place in The World: America's Foreign Policy.
Maybe not much to comment on here, but I'd still be interested in your input, ideas, suggestions, dissention, whatever you've got.