Redefining Hope In Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: ALTERNATE CROP) Former U.S. President Bill Clinton stands with Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) on stage during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC that will run through September 7, will nominate U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

President Barack Obama accepted the nomination of the Democratic National Convention Thursday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Sounding like an insurance commercial, the President promised that the country will get to a "better place" once they get through the long and hard process of economic recovery.  But he also said that he is more hopeful of the resiliency of people who have been facing hard times.

It wasn't the speech of sunshine and lollipops Obama gave in 2008, but he did differentiate himself in important ways over his Republican opponent Mitt Romney.  He's had four years' experience as President.  Romney has not.  Obama has detailed what he would do in the next four years.  Romney's been pretty vague about it. 

The President made his nomination speech inside Time Warner Cable Arena instead of Bank of America Stadium because of inclement weather.  That meant stiffing thousands of folks who weren't delegates and other VIP's out of the chance to hear Obama in person, instead of on TV.  Republicans claim the change in venue was less about the weather than it being a cover for Democrats' not being able to fill the stadium.  Next time, repeat after me:  Retractable.  Roof.  Stadium.

In the first two days of the convention, as speaker after speaker sang the praises of Obama and belittled the efforts of Republicans, the Democrats made a slight change in their platform.  Along with acceptance of gay rights, they also put God and their support for Jerusalem in there after the GOP apparently shamed them into doing so.  American politicians of both parties always support Israel, no matter how obnoxious that country sometimes is, because they need the Jewish vote.

Michelle Obama, like her Republican counterpart Ann Romney, did a pretty convincing job of standing by her man.  Former President Bill Clinton took less than an hour, veering from his prepared remarks from time to time, making his case for Obama's re-election.  Even if they're not exactly BFFs four years after wife Hillary lost to Obama in the primaries.

It is now two months until Election Day.  Through debates, campaign appearances and television ads we will be asked to make a choice:  Do you want a man who's had a so-so record over four years to turn the country around, and now wants four more years to improve on that?  Or do you want a man who takes a business-like approach to government, undoing every program the current occupant's been in favor of because his party's vowed to get rid of him from the moment he was elected?

The choice is yours, America.