The Democratic Nominee: Barack Obama

It is official, Senator Barack Obama is the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, an outstanding triumph, a truly historic moment in American history, words can't do it justice.



Obama is speaking now. I wish I was there!!

I probably won't write much about his speech, because only the real thing does him justice, I'll be posting that as soon as it is available. One thing I can say is that Obama is about a thousand times more eloquent and inspiring than Hillary, and about a billion times more eloquent and inspiring than John McCain. The differences are amazing, and I think that is going to have an important impact on the general election.

One thing to note: Obama actually congratulated her on her victory in South Dakota. He congratulated her even though he is the winner overall, yet she couldn't find it in herself to congratulate him for winning the nomination. There is no doubt who is the bigger person, who has the best character, who is more presidential.



It is also amazing that he so stoic even as he makes history and wins the Democratic nomination, with no sign of self-congratulation, no sign of arrogance, he is the ultimate gracious winner to say the least. He is serious about the challenges ahead, and barely even lets a smile out on one of the biggest days of his life. Contrast that with Hillary's masturbatory "Me Me Me" speech and McCain's "I'm going to smile like a toddler who finally learned how to use the potty every time I think I make a good point" speech. As they say on Sesame Street, one of these is not like the other, and I'll give you one guess at who stands out.

Here is some reaction to Obama's winning of the Democratic nomination:

Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic:

Yes We Did... As we absorb the news that an African-American is now the presumptive nominee for the presidency of the United States, a few words. No one should allow the tortuous end of this primary journey to obscure the passion and insurrection that made it possible. That passion came from a simple place, the way it often does in politics. It came from the gut instinct that we have lost our way, that the United States needs to start again after the debt, depravity, and destruction of the Bush years. It came from hope that the future need not be as bleak as it seemed not too long ago. It came from a sense that the deepest divisions were not as deep as the political class needed them to be and wanted them to be. And it came from the astonishing nostrum that a liberal, black first-term senator could overturn the biggest machine, the biggest name and the biggest dynasty in Democratic party politics.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.:

Senator Obama personifies a uniquely American story -- born to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya. He affirms the motto included in the Great Seal of the United States: E Pluribus Unum -- Out of Many, One. He also reflects the American Dream -- 'a skinny kid with a funny name' who came to Chicago's South Side with 'no money and no connections' can run to become the President of the United States of America. ...

Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination for President on August 28th -- the 45th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I Have A Dream' Speech. In many ways, Senator Obama's nomination as president is a fulfillment of a dream -- a dream long deferred -- envisioning a country where people would 'not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.'

Rich Lowry, National Review:

Even if we're going to hear it over and over, it's true--this is a historic moment. That an African-American has a better than even chance to be the next president of the United States is an amazing thing--and heartening about this country's capacity for progress. Also, on a more mundane level, Obama out-campaigned, out-fundraised, out-strategized, out-classed, and--yes--out-spun the Clintons. What a campaign. He and his team should be very proud.