PoliticalChatter

First let me say the setting for Barack Obama’s acceptance speech last night avoided the Howard Dean scream. Okay so that is off the table, now to the speech.

I have prided myself in saying things other media outlets overlook, hush up or are simply are afraid to address. So with that, let me make one thing clear, Barack Obama’s speech last night was targeted at one very specific group; white males.

From the opening video, Obama offered a branch of connection, reaching out to the white male voter. The opening video spoke of his white grandparents and his admiration of them, attempting to offset the accusations that he is a renegade black power candidate. It noted his grandfather staggered off to war and admirably fought to defend his nation against Adolf Hitler, but more importantly did so with George S. Patton; machismo personified. With that, Obama boasted loudly that he too had a family tradition of patriotism.

During his speech Obama spoke of his mother and her struggles to provide for the family. He pontificated about his mother sacrificing life’s comforts for the future of her children. Exchange the word mother for father and Obama was speaking about the blue collar men, who stagger off each morning or evening to a job they hate, so their children can having something more.

Obama glorified the power and accomplishment of the individual, reaching out to the white male, who holds so much self pride.

Finally, Obama slammed down the iron fist ofAmerica, warning our enemies that we will not be bullied. It was the toughness so many males desire, playing to the natural instinct of protecting the things and people they love.

Make no mistake about Obama’s purpose in this speech. He clearly understands that minorities are in his camp, but without a larger percentage of the white male vote, his collation will fall short. Thursday night he reached out to them, he presented a man that was proud of his family, proud of his country and willing to fight for both. He offered a connection by simply saying; see I might look different than you, but we are really the same.

Only time will tell if this offering is accepted, Obama’s own words of the past offset those spoken Thursday night. But clearly Obama warned John McCain that he is coming after the traditionally strong Republican base.   

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