THE SAME MAN

There was a good deal of punditry following Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic convention last night--the vast majority of it praising the First Lady's powerful presentation.  Much of it, though, missed what I thought to be the speech's central point: this is the same man you elected four years ago.  The message was a subtle one, and it addressed those famously "disappointed" voters whose enthusiasm has waned--but is much needed in the final weeks of the campaign.  Given the vast financial resources available to Mitt Romney, it is only the contagious enthusiasm of the work force that will make the difference come election day.

I think the progression of speeches in last night's opening salvo was remarkably well planned--and remarkably successful in building toward this goal.  There was little Romney-bashing, little mockery of the easily-mocked Republican convention of the previous week.  Instead, speaker after speaker stressed the achievements of the past four years, in circumstances that made any achievement difficult, at times impossible.  And speaker after speaker stressed the interconnectedness of our contemporary world, the fact that we do not, cannot succeed alone; that we depend much upon the support that others give along the way.

If I were to compare the speeches at the two conventions, I would draw attention to the inclusiveness and compassion that were evident in last night's--and the angrily accusatory tone of the Republican speeches.  I have my bias: I'm a leftie, a liberal, an old-school socialist.  I hear things differently from those on the other side of the political fence.  Perhaps the participants in the Republican conference were hearing true compassion and concern for the poor, the sick, the needy in those speeches.  I did not.

I have disagreements with friends who express that disappointment with what Obama has been able to achieve.  They came to believe that he was not the man they thought they were voting for.  It's my belief that what we saw in that man is the same man who we see today.  His commitment to the struggle for those less fortunate than himself is unchanged.  He still stands out among politicians as a man of integrity and clarity of vision--and Michelle, I thought, was a fine witness to his perseverance.