English
Obama: This is our chance to keep American promise alive
 Sen. Barack Obama accepted his party’s nomination for presidential candidate Thursday night. |
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is laying out his plan to lead the country into an era of change after what he called eight years of failed policies.
“America, we are better than these last eight years,” he told supporters at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night in Denver Colorado. “This moment, this election, is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.”
Obama was greeted by tens of thousands of cheering supporters chanting “yes we can.”
He emphasized his humble roots and the example of his grandparents’ service to the nation and their family. Watch the speech live on CNN.com
“I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine,” he said. “These are my heroes. Theirs are the stories that shaped me. And it is on their behalf that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as president of the United States.”
He brushed aside critiques from his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, accusing him of being out of touch.
“It’s not because John McCain doesn’t care. it’s because John McCain doesn’t get it,” he said of economic problems facing the country.
Point by point, he addressed McCain’s policies on the Iraq war, the economy, offshore drilling and health care, accusing him of pursuing the same policies as the Bush administration.
He also said his judgment was better on foreign affairs, accusing McCain of turning his sights to Iraq days after the September 11 attacks when resources and attention should have been on Afghanistan.
“John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell — but he won’t even go to the cave where he lives,” he said to cheers.
Obama, who is the first African-American to lead a major party ticket, is accepting his party’s nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech.
Earlier in the evening, other Democrats attacked McCain’s policies. iReport.com: Watch and share your thoughts on the speeches
Former Vice President Al Gore urged Americans to “seize the opportunity” to change course by voting for Barack Obama as president.
He reminded the audience at the Democratic National Convention of his failed bid to become president in 2000 when, he said, some believed there was so little difference between Republicans and Democrats that it did not matter who won the White House.
“Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them,” Gore said.
“Hey, I believe in recycling, but that’s ridiculous,” he joked.
Gore suggested the election was close because people feared the change the Obama represents, and compared him and his promise to fellow Illinoisan Abraham Lincoln.
“In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning. And once again, we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition,” Gore said.
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico greeted the crowd in English and Spanish before criticizing McCain for changing his views.
“Let’s be honest America, McCain may pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes but we are the ones who will pay for his flip-flops,” Richardson the crowd at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado.
He outlined differences between economic and foreign policies of the two candidates, saying Obama had the better ideas.
“That’s the change America needs,” he said.
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a veteran of the civil rights movement, called Obama’s nomination “a testament” to King’s vision.
“We are making a down payment on the fulfillment of that dream,” said Lewis. “We proved that a dream still burns in the heart of every American.”
King’s son, Martin Luther King III, described “the majesty” of his father’s dream.
“On this day, exactly 45 years ago, my father stood on the National Mall in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln and proclaimed, ‘I have a dream that one day, this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,’ ” the younger King said.
“Let us give our nation a leader who has heard this clarion call and will help us achieve the change,” he urged the crowd.
Democratic Party chair Howard Dean compared the candidates’ plans for Iraq.
“Like George Bush, John McCain suggests spending $10 million in Iraq. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we ought to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end,” Dean said. Video Watch Dean’s speech »
“Barack Obama and Joe Biden know that this is not just about turning red states blue, it’s about turning our country around,” he said.
Tens of thousands of people, including celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Farrah Fawcett, packed into the football field Thursday night, with millions more expected to watch on television as Obama delivers what could be the biggest speech of his presidential campaign.
The campaign said it planned to put the attendees to work — encouraging them sign up to volunteer and get involved in Obama’s campaign.
In between the speeches, performers including Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and will.i.am performed songs and declared their support for Obama.
To prepare for his big night, the Democratic candidate studied previous acceptance speeches from John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, campaign officials said.
Thursday marks the end of the four-day Democratic convention in Denver, which included rousing speeches by Democratic heavyweights Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Hillary Clinton.
The theme for Thursday is “Change You Can Believe In,” a slogan borrowed from Obama’s successful quest for the Democratic nomination.
On Wednesday night, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware formally accepted the vice presidential nomination and praised Obama as a leader who had been right on a wide range of issues, including Afghanistan.
Also on Wednesday, former President Bill Clinton declared Obama “ready to be president of the United States” after months of attacks from his wife’s supporters on the Democratic nominee’s lack of experience.
The Republican National Convention is scheduled to start Monday in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Subscribe=>
Source: CNN More Top News
Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reunited on the red carpet in New York Wednesday night for the premiere of their new crime thriller “Righteous Kill” — their first film together since making 1995’s “Heat.”
The movie also stars
The Pakistani Army has been given orders to retaliate against any unilateral strike by the Afghanistan-based US troops inside the country.
Army Spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed the orders in a brief interview with Geo News on late Thursday night.
The
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he will not accept military action or new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.
“We should not take any unilateral steps. It is not acceptable to opt for a military scenario. It would be dangerous,”
As the world marks the seventh anniversary of 9/11, some European experts say security improvements in the US have been undercut by fairly basic mistakes. Among the remedies is more trust in America’s laws and allies.
Seven years after the attacks
David Miliband has allegedly come in for a rather undiplomatic tongue-lashing from his Russian counterpart.
The Foreign Secretary was apparently given a furious dressing down by Sergei Lavrov over the telephone.
Mr Miliband’s criticism of Russia’s recent incursion into Georgia is believed
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa - A South African judge ruled Friday that prosecutors were wrong to charge ANC President Jacob Zuma with corruption, effectively clearing way for the 66-year-old former freedom fighter to become the country’s next president.
Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling
Thailand’s political turmoil deepened Friday when the ruling coalition failed to turn up to parliament to reelect leader Samak Sundaravej as prime minister.
Lawmakers from the six-party coalition did not attend an emergency session of parliament called to choose a prime minister, three days after a court stripped Samak of power for accepting payments for hosting