Obama's speech to the VFW

The Speech
Obama gave a good speech yesterday. News reports said that he had spent a lot of time revising it on the plane from New Mexico, and it showed. The speech forcefully countered McCain’s attacks from the day before, which came as a relief to democrats every where

The Crowd
The national media outlets have provided more insightful commentary than I can, so I want to focus on the crowd’s reaction. Four years ago, the crowd was less then gracious in receiving John Kerry. I was told that some stood up and turned their backs while others left the hall in protest. While I was working on Kerry’s campaign at the time and fully supported him, I also understood the deep wounds that still existed over Vietnam. Someone told me that most people simply chose not to go to see Obama’s speech as opposed to putting on a demonstration like they had four years ago.

The introduction that the VFW commander gave was short and to the point- nothing like the intro he gave McCain on Monday and Bush today. When Obama took the stage, many stood up and applauded, but not the whole room. I was seated next to some African American Veterans from Alexandria, La who are big Obama supporters. I made sure to note when Obama received the most applause and they were at the following lines:
“But understand what the essential argument was about. Before the surge, I argued that the long-term solution in Iraq is political – the Iraqi government must reconcile its differences and take responsibility for its future.”

“We should not keep sending our troops to fight tour after tour of duty while our military is overstretched. We should not keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while Americans struggle in a sluggish economy.”

To my surprise, the part of the speech that got the most applause was the following:
“These are the judgments I’ve made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election. But one of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other’s character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America’s national interest. Now, it’s time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.”

To me, this was the most important part of the speech and it was the most covered. I am glad to see that it was also the part of the speech that the crowd most approved of. Does this indicate some unwillingness to put up with the old Bush/Cheney playbook? I’m not sure. I had a conversation with a Vietnam Veteran from New Iberia on Monday night where I asked him what he thought of the presidential election. He told me that he was going to base his vote on the person “who loves America the most” and told me that he thought McCain was that man. I told him that both John McCain and Barack Obama had gotten a lot from this country and how could you really measure one man’s love of country over another? How could he say that Obama didn’t love America after all he had gotten from it? For a moment I thought I had at least gotten him to think about it and then he said “but he doesn’t wear an American flag on his lapel or say the pledge of allegiance.” Just because Obama is willing to fight back the republican charges doesn’t mean that they’re going to stop their whisper campaign. How does the expression go – patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel?

In talking to veterans after the speech, many sad that they were glad that Obama came. Many said that the speech showed a command of national security issues and that they didn't necessarily disagree with this policy (which was confirmed by the reception some of the key points of his Iraq policy received). In a room where there were probably few undecided voters, I think he at least succeeded in showing that he is neither the hapless neophyte or Islamic jihadist that the repubs make him out to be, which is a victory in itself. When his speech was over, the whole room did rise to applaud him. But the 3,000 people in the room were not necessarily the intended audience. I think the greater purpose was to show Americans that hew won't shy from McCain's attacks and I think that he accomplished that goal.

On a last note, I got to go back stage and briefly meet with Obama. I went back there with two Afghanistan vets, one of whom had been badly injured. Obama spent most of his time talking to the injured vet who is a McCain supporter, which was the right thing to do. I got a picture and I've posted it above (I don't think I'll make it my profile picture on facebook). I kind of wished I had smiled and buttoned my jacket, but it all happened so fast. I'll have to admit, I kind of froze up when I shook his hand, and could only tell him that he was doing a great job. I'm sure he's used to that by now. I think I would have the same reaction to Brittany or Paris.

CDR