Obama: One America, Edwards: Two Americas

[BigBigBear]

Hell, I don't particularly care, but the high profile speeches by Edwards and Obama have fundamentally differing main theses. In a convention where the corporate media floozies keep prattling on about what % of the delegates were against the Iraq war (contrary to Kerry's vote), someone is bound to pounce on this.

Shouldn't these things have 'rhetoric continuity cops', or something?

[Democat]

1. The Republicans tried to say that Obama's speech proved Bush is a uniter

Maybe Edwards decided to make sure that people didn't get the wrong idea?

[NC_Nurse]

9. Obama was describing the difference

BETWEEN the Repubs and the Dems. Repubs seek to divide, Dems seek to unite.

Bush has only been a divider.

[bigwillq]

20. What in Obama's speech would prove Shrub

was a uniter?

I didn't hear the Repukes rebuttal to Obama's speech. Can you fill me in on what they said?

[NC_Nurse]

2. Obama is referring to diversity and not diviseness

Edwards is referring to economics and justice.

Obama describes the BEST of America.

Edwards describes where work needs to be done.

[kentuck]

11. Nurse, I'm glad someone can see the difference....

They were not talking in black and white terms like Repubs. Of course, Obama was talking about uniting this nation from this divisiveness and Edwards was talking about the economic condittions within this nation. There is nuance in the argument.

[Athletic Grrl]

17. Class war vs. culture war.

I figured that out without a single pundit telling me what to think. :crazy:

[xchrom]

3. why? this is the democratic convention

there are differences there -- not the mindless republican puke fest.
where there are none.

[Catch22Dem]

4. Weren't they really about the same thing?

I mean, I'm gonna have to go back and read both speeches, but wasn't Obama talking about the way America is supposed to be where as Edwards is talking about the way America is? Then they would be consistent with each other.

I'll go read.

[Lex]

16. Yes, the two speeches are consitent with each other.

We shouldn't be divided into 2 Americas (Edwards), but really we should be brought together to be 1 America (Obama) because that makes us stronger.

Totally consistent.

Did someone think Edwards was advocating 2 Americas? If that was the case (which it's not), then they would be inconsistent speeches.

[Raven]

5. Nope. I think

Obama is talking about one America with Kerry and Edwards was talking about two Americas under Bush. I don't see any discontinuity at all.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

6. Thesis: There SHOULD BE One America

Obama's speech focused on the ways in which it already was. Edwards' speech focused on the ways in which it will be.

DTH

[BayouBengal07]

7. Leave it to FOX

Fox News has been all over this little discrepency. Even whats his name on "The Big Story" criticized the line "Hope is on the way" because all Edwards is only offering is more hope, not help. He pointed out that in 2000 Cheney used a similar line- "Help is on the way".

[joefree1]

13. Oh, this is from Faux news

Thank you Fox for parsing reality again. DU should place a warning on post from Fox, New York Post, and Moonie Times.


Download the free bumper art here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[bowens43]

8. I didn't see it that way at all.

I saw it as a single theme. Under the bush administration America is divided. Under Kerry it will be united.

[nyhuskyfan]

10. Not Really

They both were speaking of the goal of a unified America. Obama was speaking in broad teams -- that there are certain fundamental characteristics in all American people that bind us together. Edwards was speaking that the current policies of ths * administration have separated us economically and created two Americas, and that it's his goal to make us one America again.

[sandnsea]

12. They're both calling for One America

Same thing. Tell me you're just being a contentious ass. Otherwise, well, I won't say it.

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. As I explained this to a right wing acquaintance....

...who actually liked Obama's speech, BTW. Edwards speaks of the two Americas which exists now, while Obama speaks of the one America that should exist.

[BigBigBear]

22. But wait a minute

Here's what Obama said:

"Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America-there's the United States of America.

There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States."

That's present tense. Not conditional future tense, not 'if Kerry gets elected.'

I saw both speeches and liked Obama's better - I like the idea he slams the red-vs-blue thing, the gay friends in red states, worshipping God in the blue states, etc. That was great stuff.

I would have preferred if Edwards had framed his theme a little more toward, "The disparities in access to the blessings of freedom and prosperity should be our priority. We are stronger when we are all enfranchised..." The "we live in 2 Americas" stuff turned me off, although I like the guy alot. For me, Obama hit the sweet spot - Edwards didn't.

Sorry if Faux News also mentioned this - in my semi-absence over the last couple of months, I forgot how testy this place can be over dissenting views.

[BigBigBear]

15. Well, fine then

But if you need that many words to reconcile two apparently different views, expressed as broad principle, you're defeating trhe purpose of the broad theme. .

Kind of like having a three-word bumper sticker on your car, then having to explain it to curious drivers alongside you at a red light.

Look, either we're a divided nation or a unified nation - once you have to qualify either theme with an explanation ("we're unified in our hopes and values and American-ness, but also divided in terms of justice and opportunity and access to the blessings of a wealthy nation, like health care"), you might as well look for another theme.

Or ditch the themes altogether, and just call Bush a lying, incurious, disingenuous, incompetant sockpuppet for ideological think-tank dropouts, and get it over with.

[bossfish]

18. I've seen both speeches...

and didn't get confused. Obama was discussing the 'future perfect' and Edwards was discussing disparities that shouldn't exist in a rich country like the US

Here's a three word bumper sticker for you (I hope you get it)

GET A CLUE

[BigBigBear]

21. Thanks for the thoughtful recommendation, son

...you might want to ask Mom where she keeps her Ex-Lax.

[Lex]

19. How's this?

Obama - we need one America
Edwards - two Americas suck