I once read that Arnold Schwarzenegger said he picked the Republican party over the Democratic party because they are winners. This was one of those nights when you were reminded why they often win. After a non-start to the Republican National Convention on Monday, and last night’s sometimes effective, but mostly lukewarm speeches from the odd couple, Joe Lieberman and Fred Thompson, tonight the speakers came out with the gloves off.
Think about how many times the Dems told Americans in Denver that John McCain was a good soldier, a good man, they liked him very much, but he’s wrong. And think about how many times they said his name. Hillary even had a slogan with it, “No way, no how, no McCain.”
But the Republican speakers tonight, which included former presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, as well as VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, didn’t even say the words, “Barack Obama,” once. He was relegated to “my opponent,” and the audience was told that he’s done “nothing,” “zero,” repeatedly.
Mike Huckabee was the only one to actually give the Illinois senator any credit at all. He praised his candidacy for being historic. “I have great respect for Senator Obama’s achievement not because of his color but the indifference to it. As Americans we celebrate this milestone. It elevates us,” he said, but warned: “The Presidency is not a symbolic job.”
Many of the attack themes that Sen. Hillary Clinton raised during the Democratic primary reared their heads. We haven’t heard about Obama’s non-voting record in a while, but Giuliani made sure that was a sticking point. He said:
130 times couldn’t make a decision! He couldn’t vote yes or no! It was too tough! He voted Present.
For a President, it’s not good enough to be present. You have to make a decision.
Giuliani’s speech—the whole thing—was as masterful as Bill Clinton’s speech in Denver.
He was at ease, as comfortable as a stand-up comic in the zone, as he delivered little Republican nuggets to his blood-thirsty audience. “He’s the least experienced candidate for President in at least 100 years. It’s not a personal attack—it’s a statement of fact,” he said of Obama, seemingly softening the blow, but then…not: “Barack Obama has never lead anything! Nothing! Nada!”
Line after line, Giuliani went for the kill, he got laughs and applause. But more importantly, his speech specifically went for Obama’s jugular.
All other speakers were lockstep with the marching orders as well. They made fun of Obama’s experience as a community organizer, a job the Democrats have cast as noble and worthwhile, something he chose instead of Wall Street riches, proof that he really cares about people. The RNC crowd literally snickered in the midst of Giuliani’s semi-serious hypothetical match-up between two men for a job that you have to hire. And when he said, “community organizer,” the crowd giggled so much that he had to pause.