The Democrats tugged on our heartstrings tonight. Even rock-ribbed Republicans might have felt lumps in their throats when Caroline Kennedy gave a warm tribute to her ailing uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. For his part, “Uncle Teddy” did more than make the cameo that Denver Democrats had been hoping for. He delivered, as is his quadrennial custom, a passionate convention speech, riffing off his famous 1980 “the dream will never die” speech with a new signature line.
In his seven minute address, Ted Kennedy invoked his brother’s challenge to send a man to the moon, although his own crusade is not so prosaic: He vowed tonight to return to the Senate in 2009 and see to completion the enactment of federal legislation guaranteeing universal health care for all Americans. “John Kennedy didn’t say it’s too far to get there, we shouldn’t even try,” Senator Kennedy said. “Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge, and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon. Yes, we are Americans. We reach for the moon. I know it. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And we can do it again.”
If this was Ted Kennedy’s last hurrah at a convention, he certainly went out in style, and amid a flood of emotion and goodwill. Maria Shriver, the first lady of
Kennedy's words, which followed a video tribute by Ken Burns, prompted chants from the floor of “Teddy! Teddy!” The biggest applause, however, came near the end of the speech when he used JFK’s imagery about passing the torch of leadership. “This November, the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans,” said the 76-year-old senator. “And so with Barack Obama—for you and for me, for our country and for our cause—the work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on!”
A little while later, emotion of another kind was on display. Michelle Obama spoke evocatively about her mother, father, and brother—and her husband, and two daughters. The energy in the hall wasn’t at the same fever pitch as when Kennedy spoke, but the delegates listened rapturously as a tall, poised, and striking African-American woman spoke matter-of-factly about her husband. Her message was that Barack,despite his unconventional upbringing and exotic-sounding name, possesses the same bedrock values that Americans have always cherished: He took her for ice cream on their first date. He stresses hard work. His word is his bond. He cares about those who are less fortunate. He's a great dad.
They were powerful and carefully chosen words. But it was the visual image of the Obama girls—Sasha and Malia—who joined their mom onstage and then conversed with their father via satellite, that truly put the true emotional touches on Michelle Obama’s speech. Barack, apparently watching the convention from the living room of a hospitable Midwestern family, seemed confused about whether he was in
Tonight's events did not hurt their cause.