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Acceptance speech
What Obama promised Americans - and the world
Article published on the 2008-08-29 Latest update 2008-09-05 10:57 TU
Spectators watch a live broadcast of Obama in New York's Times Square
(Photo: Reuters)
In accepting the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama employed his well-known rhetorical skills to wow his excited audience but also took time to outline policies he hopes the election will be fought over. He portrayed Republican rival John McCain as out of touch and uncritical of President George Bush and made a bid for blue-collar support. Here is some of what the Democrats' newly-adopted candidate had to say:
John McCain: "The record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 per cent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgement, but really, what does it say about your judgement when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 per cent of the time?"
"Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year?
"How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans?"
Himself: "I get it, I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
"But I stand before you tonight because all across America, something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me, it's been about you."
The economy: "Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
"I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
"I will cut taxes, cut taxes, for 95 per cent of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class."
Energy: "For the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East ...
"As president, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power ... And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy, wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels."
Health care: "Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves."
The armed forces: "As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home."
Foreign policy: "While Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats we face."
"I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression."
