Obama renews an old theme
President is funny, gracious and cutting in speech offering positive view of U.S.
In a cutting, funny, gracious speech, he still sees hope.
He was serious. He was funny. He was sarcastic.
And he was definitely having a good time.
Wednesday night in Philadelphia, President Obama proved once again that he is one of the best orators to take the political stage, as he extolled his accomplishments, accused Donald Trump of being unfit for the presidency and argued that Hillary Clinton — “not me, not Bill, nobody” — is the most qualified person ever to seek the White House.
“I hope you don’t mind, Bill,” Obama said, looking up at former President Clinton in the audience, “but I’m just telling the truth, man.”
Obama came to Philadelphia to praise his former secretary of State, whom he described as tough and resilient, as someone who “never, ever quits ... no matter how much people try to knock her down,” as someone who, like Ginger Rogers, did everything Fred Astaire did, “but backwards and in heels” when they ran against each other in 2008.
Keeping with perhaps his most enduring theme, Obama offered a relentlessly positive view of America.
“While this nation has been tested by war and recession,” he said, “I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your president, to tell you I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before.”
This, of course, was the perfect way to tee up his critique of Trump.
Like former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who endorsed Clinton earlier in the evening, Obama seemed to be having tremendous fun at Trump’s expense.
“I have to say this,” the president said, “people outside the United States do not understand what’s going on in this election, they really don’t.”
He challenged the vow Trump made last week in Cleveland, “I alone can fix it,” implying that the Republican nominee’s egotism is somehow un-American.
“Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order,” Obama said. “We don’t look to be ruled. Our power comes from those immortal declarations first put to paper right here in Philadelphia all those years ago: We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal; that together, we the people, can form a more perfect union.”
He also took on Trump’s main calling card, his career. “He calls himself a business guy, which is true, but I have to say, I know plenty of businessmen and women who’ve achieved success without leaving a trail of lawsuits, and unpaid workers, and people feeling like they got cheated.”
The president gave a nod to both the partisan criticism that has dogged his former rival and her legitimate failings.
“Look, Hillary’s got her share of critics,” he said. “She’s been caricatured by the right and by some folks on the left; accused of everything you can imagine — and some things you cannot. But she knows that’s what happens when you’re under a microscope for 40 years. She knows she’s made mistakes, just like I have, just like we all do. That’s what happens when we try.”
Obama made a point of appealing to the supporters of Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s tough primary competitor, telling them, “If you’re serious about our democracy, you can’t afford to stay home just because she might not align with you on every issue. You’ve got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn’t a spectator sport.”
“That’s right,” he adlibbed, “feel the Bern.”
His speech had the feel, as well, of a presidential swan song and echoed the early themes of his political ascent.
“Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me. Because you’re who I was talking about 12 years ago, when I talked about hope — it’s been you who’ve fueled my dogged faith in our future, even when the odds are great, even when the road is long. Hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; the audacity of hope!”