Obama, Center Stage

Using Victory Column as his backdrop, Obama’s campaign continued its world tour today in Berlin where tens of thousands gathered to listen.


While I don’t necessarily approve of a U.S. presidential candidate giving a major campaign speech overseas (e.g., McCain in South America earlier this month), Obama definitely didn’t hurt himself today. At center stage in front of a crowd of thousands waving American flags, Obama probably did more to heal any negative views of America in Europe today than No. 43 could have ever done. As a matter of fact, if I were Mark Halperin over at TIME’s The Page, I would definitely give this week (and probably the reset of the month) to Obama and the Dems in the weekly Campaign Scorecard no matter what happens in favor for us Republicans the rest of the month.


But, let’s be honest. Other than the picturesque setting of Berlin, the speech he gave in front of that crowd was the same rainbows and butterflies speech we’ve heard thousands of times. It was his "big picture" speech edited for a world audience that gives great sound bites to the media, but as always, was thin on specifics. How is he going to accomplish this vision of “change” when he doesn’t even share the logistics?


And let’s not even bring up his recent shift to the middle on various issues. To me, those shifts alone should show everyone that Obama really is a pragmatist and a politician after all and not the messiah every liberal would have you believe.


Listen, the biggest problem I’ve always had with Obama is not that he’s a Democrat, but his broad stroke speeches. He fills the naive and gullible with noble dreams of “change”, which is admirable, but useless without specifics. It’s hard to attack someone when they don’t take a stand on something, but on the flip side, it’s easy to attack someone when they openly voice their opinion and give specifics on how to accomplish real change.


Grand images of “change” are not what we need right now in America, but action with realistic solutions. Don’t get me wrong, optimism and hope should definitely be preached on every corner, but fill that sermon with sustenance so we, the people can vote with our head and not with our heart.


McCain can hopefully give us that action, which in turn, will lead to a better tomorrow. He’s a presidential candidate that has a plan with specifics for issues like energy, the economy and Iraq. He’s a candidate that has the potential to accomplish and usher in real change under a Republican platform of lower taxes, smaller government and strong state rights.


Over all, the larger question is this: If elected, will McCain be able to follow through with the agenda he’s laid out to the American people?


That remains to be seen . . . that is, if he can win.


ER