Leon D. Young
Most political analysts have now come to conclude that the Democrats hosted a highly successful gathering at their national convention in Charlotte last week. The spectacle was punctuated by a number of stirring addresses and remarks that were offered by the likes of: President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden. But, in retrospect, former president Bill Clinton may have stolen the show.
Mr. Clinton was given the privilege and high honor of placing the president’s name in nomination as the standard bearer of the Democratic Party. He proceeded to stand and deliver – systematically dispelling, dismissing and debunking any (and all) of the scurrilous attacks that the GOP put forth at their very homogeneous convention in Tampa.
The former president touched on a sundry of different themes and issues in making his case for the president. He painted a stark and vivid picture of President Obama’s approach (shared opportunity, shared prosperity and shared responsibility) versus the trickle-down plan of Mitt Romney (more tax cuts for the wealthy, roll back pesky financial regulations designed to prevent another market crash, and to increase defense spending two trillion dollars more than the Pentagon has requested. In other words: “We’re all in this together” is a much better political philosophy than “you’re on your own.”
But, the quintessential Bill was in full display when he succinctly commented:
“In Tampa, the Republican argument against the President’s re-election was pretty simple: we left him a total mess, he hasn’t cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in.”
There should be no question: Bill Clinton is the consummate politician who possesses the unique ability to weave an engaging story around sometime complicated political facts. Bill Clinton when to bat for President Barack Obama and hit the ball completely out of the park.
Anyone who heard the speech and had an open mind should be persuaded to vote to re-elect the president. After all, the veracity of Mr. Clinton’s assertions cannot be challenged by fact checkers. However, the same claim cannot be made for the political lies and blatant distortions of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.