Obama Accepts Nomination for President of the United States

Barack Obama on Thursday accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States, becoming the first African American politician in American history to win the nomination of a major party, and promising before more than 80,000 supporters at Invesco Field in Denver to address the economic difficulties affecting most Americans and to restore the tarnished reputation of the United States in the world.

"With deep gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for President of the United States," Obama said before an ecstatic audience that greeted him with a long applause and chants of "Change!" and "Yes, we can!", the leading slogans of his campaign. In an inspired nearly 50-minute speech, accompanied by the cheers of a full stadium of 84,000 people, Obama blamed "failed policies in Washington and the unsuccessful policies of George W. Bush" for the increasing number of Americans without jobs, or working more for less pay, losing their homes to foreclosures, and being unable to pay for their children’s education or fill their gas tanks.

"Tonight I say to the people of America, Democrats and Republicans across this great land – enough! America is better than these last eight years. We are a better country than that," Obama said. Paying tribute to Republican rival John McCain for the courage shown during his captivity in Vietnam and for his service to the country, Obama asserted that McCain simply is not up to the task of addressing America’s economic and foreign policy problems. He also dismissed the main Republican objections that Democrats cannot guarantee the security of the country, and that he personally lacks experience as Commander in Chief of the military.

"We are the party of Roosevelt and Kennedy. And don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend the country. Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe," Obama asserted passionately. He also promised to end the war in Iraq and the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. He announced plans to apply "direct diplomacy" towards Iran, to prevent the regime in Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons."I will restore our moral standing so that America can once again be the greatest hope for those who seek freedom, who yearn for a life in peace, and who long for a better future," Obama promised.

He also announced a tax cut for 95 percent of all working families in the United States, accessible health insurance for all, the possibility of a top education for all children, equal pay for men and women for the same work, freer union organizing, protection of gay rights, and other measures stemming from the core tenets of the Democratic Party. He promised that in 10 years he would free the United States from dependence on oil from the Middle East, develop alternative energy sources, and lead the fight against climate change.

Obama, a 47-year-old senator from Illinois who was considered an outsider at the beginning of the race for the Democratic nomination, also reflected on the fact that he became the African American candidate for President of the United States exactly on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s famous speech "I Have a Dream" in Washington, August 28, 1963. John McCain’s campaign immediately responded sharply to Obama’s speech, stating that his promises are a deception of the public, as he has not shown a willingness for bipartisan cooperation in the Senate, voted for tax increases on everyone earning more than $42,000 a year, and against funding American forces in the field. (H)