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Barack Obama Accepts Nomination: "America, We Are Better than These Last Eight Years"
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 29, 2008
Modified Aug 29, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 29, 2008
Modified Aug 29, 2008
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Barack Obama accepted the Democratic party's presidential nomination in front of a reported crowd of 84,000 at Denver's Invesco Field, saying, "Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land — enough!" He blamed President George W. Bush's "failed policies," and said, “America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.”
Obama emphasized the economic hardships Americans have had to face, making it clear he wasn't standing for John McCain's characterization that he was a celebrity. He pointed out how McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time, "Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush was right more than 90 percent of the time? I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.” Obama also questioned McCain's foreign policies, "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."
Here's a transcript and video is after the jump. Today was also notable for being the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. McCain released an ad congratulating Obama and noting today's significance today, but his campaign has just released a statement criticizing Obama's speech ("Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was so fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama. "). Plus, rumors about McCain supposedly picking a VP reached full boil today; the Republican candidate is expected to make an announcement tomorrow, to minimize any bump in the polls for Obama.
Up next: The Republican National Convention is next week (well, weather-permitting) in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The two candidates will have their first debate on September 26.
Tagged
2008 Election
barack obama
denver
election 2008
john mccain
presidential nomination
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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