Barack Obama Biographical Video - Democratic National Convention, Denver, August 28, 2008 - Video, Commentary

The biographical video shown on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, prior to Senator Obama's nomination acceptance speech.



The Obama team seems to have done an excellent job of building their presentation of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, without undue concern for what others might think of their strategy. While pundits complained that the Convention speakers were not attacking John McCain enough, not angry enough, the team stuck with their strategy.

As a result one may look back at the Convention as having been marked by an overall positive tone. When there were negative comments made about the opposing candidate or party, they were factual statements and arguments. There was little or no nastiness, no bullying, no attacks on the opponent's motives, on his patriotism.

While the public often decries negative (or, more accurately, nasty or unethical) campaigning, the professionals often nod their heads, and return to work on their next "hit piece" against their opponent, on the theory that that's what works -- or because the candidate has little positive to say.

Here, the Obama team has had the courage of their convictions, managing to put together a Convention relatively free of negativity, one which steadily, carefully worked to heal the wounds in the party from a long, tough primary campaign, show the nation that the Obama family is an American family, that the Barack Obama story is an American story, to reminded Americans, often subtley, of the contribution of African Americans to this country over the years, in ways big and small, ordinary and extraordinary.

The Convention then put on the case for the Democratic party -- how the party and its leaders have what it takes to bring America back from heading down the wrong road, an America moving away from being a nation by, for and about the people who made her great, but by, for and about those of great privilege.

And finally, directly, the case is made that not only would a John McCain Presidency be a continuation of most of the wrong-headed policies of the past eight years, but that Barack Obama is prepared to lead this nation, our people, in a time of uncertainty; that he wants for our nation what is in the best interests of our nation - our people.

The case has been made for the election of Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. We'll see where the debate moves from here. Will the debate be one of policies, vision, hopes and plans, or one of personal attacks, innuendo and smear?

Regardless of whether or not Rovian attacks continue to be launched against Barack Obama (as in the McCain "hang" commercial - in which letters are blocked out so that the word"hang" floats behind Obama's head), I look to an Obama campaign which continues to fight the battle on the high road -- waging a tough fight, but a clean fight. Time will tell whether the opposition will follow.