The contrast between the GOP convention debacle last week and the first night of the Democratic National Convention this week couldn't be more striking.
The RNC was all about fear, anger, and negativity. Not one of the speakers at the RNC in Tampa spoke of a positive vision for America. Not one of the speakers offered actual solutions to the problems that the United States of America faces. It was an anti-Obama, negatively focused squeal-fest. And that's why, at almost every juncture, the Tampa Convention Center was half empty. Not only was there a lot of internecine squabbles (what did you expect from a power struggle between teabaggers, religious fundamentalists, and the few remaining true conservatives?), but nearly every speech was focused on "me" (see: Chris Christie).
There was a vibe at the Dem convention tonight that's not hard to convey. Every speaker was on message - yes, you are better off than you were four years ago, despite the long road ahead for many of us. In the face of historic opposition, leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid did get things accomplished in congress. Could there have been more? Absolutely. But with the headwinds of GOP obstruction at every turn of the political dial, in retrospect, it's almost amazing what has been accomplished. And the DNC highlighted those accomplishments tonight.
I was watching Chris Matthews on MSNBC a few minutes ago, and it was like he was euphorically gobsmacked that Duval Patrick challenged the Democratic Party to grow a backbone. For myself, I'm just glad that Gov. Patrick put the challenge on the table.
Tonight, every speaker at the DNC presented a positive reflection, path forward, and cautionary examples of why the GOP agenda is so at odds with what this country is all about. It was masterful, and quite honestly, I expected it. Why? Because Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Mitt Romney, and Paul Ryan got nuthin'.
Zero. Absolutely nuthin'.
They spent no time talking about the millions of veterans that have served in the Bush wars, from Gulf I to OIF and OEF. The GOP didn't even give the active duty military families and veterans a requisite head nod. The Democratic Party speakers spent literally thousands of words tonight honoring veterans, active duty military, and their families. Actions speak louder than words, and both the Obama and Biden families have made honoring the sacrifices of the military over the past dozen years a centerpiece of this administration. As a veteran myself, I simply don't get how anyone connected with the military could not understand their support of the troops, and strength on national security issues.
But I digress.
What was most clear to me tonight was the positive message from every speaker to take the podium. I am really reluctant to crib from John Edwards' playbook (given that I supported him full throatedly), but there really are two Americas. There is Mitt Romney's billionaire club, and then there's the rest of us.
The speakers on the first night of the Democratic National Convention admirably articulated the difference between the accomplishments of the first four years of the Obama administration and the GOP plutocratic vision for America. All the RNC could do last week was bitch.
Americans, regardless of station in life, don't like whiners. All the GOP was engaging in last week was an extended whine. Tonight, we saw the true difference between the two parties. And it's only day one.
The joy of positivity is infectious. It's the difference between an angry old white man rambling to an empty chair, and a First Lady who was positively radiant. I'm feeling pretty good about that tonight.