Frameshop: LIVE AT THE DNC (Obama, Clark, Edwards, Kucinich, Clinton)

This "blow by blow" comes courtesy of Jeffrey Feldman at dailykos. I hope there's not a problem with pasting the whole stream. Interesting instant reactions...

Frameshop: LIVE AT THE DNC (Obama, Clark, Edwards, Kucinich, Clinton)
by Jeffrey Feldman
Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 07:46:54 AM PST

Hello, Kossacks. I'm sitting here in the International Ballroom at the DNC winter meeting. The candidates just got started with their short statements to the room. But I wanted to post briefly about Obama's speech and the crowd's response to it.

(OMG)

It almost felt like I was on the Ed Sullivan show when The Beatles played.

My notes to the speech are after the fold, and I will be sitting here for a while--so if you have any questions...fire away.

Jeffrey Feldman's diary :: ::
Notes taken During Obama Speech
(Crowd goes wild...they love this guy--no music, just endless cheers)

Congratulates Dean for victory.

Proved that progressive, "common sense" message is not restricted to one region. It can sell everywhere.
We are going to compete everywhere
Sometimes you feel like you're a part of a "reality TV show" Obama is trying to address the problem of stardom.
Obama has a very distinct way of speaking. I never noticed it until now. The contrast with Dodd is huge. Obama does not sound like a politician so much as a community leader. Very noticeable.
"Campaigns should not be about how we can make each other look bad, but about how we can do some good."
Rivals are not each other or the other party, but "cynicism"
(this is the theme in the final chapter of my book, BTW...and it is a theme from Teddy Roosevelt...)

OK...this is a big statement he is making: laying claim not to issues, but to the nature of politics itself. He is talking at length about "cynicism."

Cynicism makes our politics small.
If we spoke the "truth," we would not be afraid to speak
"We internalize our fears, we edit ourselves, we censor our best instincts."
We have "lost faith" in the political process. "We don't really think we can transform this country."
"We don't have time to be cynical" (the "wasting time" frame--very important)
"This is not a game" (keeps pushing this theme)
"We owe it to the American people to do more than that."
"We owe them an election where votes are inspired."
(this is a great speech)

"We have always been the best when we aim high" (Kennedy's frame)
"Let's have a serious discussion..." (variation on the "conversation" frame)
I am just now noticing that Obama is a mix of bold statements about principles and relatively cautious statements about policy promises. Interesting mix.

The crowd goes wild again, this time about his statements about Iraq.

"Let's have an honest debate about how to end this war in Iraq."
This is a "here are the rules of the game as they should be" speech. He's trying to take on the whole system of doing politics, doing media--he wants to establish ground rules for the whole system. This is what makes this speech distinct--he's framing the entire idea of politics, not just in it, he is saying how it should be.

A campaign against "cynicism." This would be the correlate to the "audacity of hope."

"We've had a lot of plans. What we've had is a shortage of hope."
And he's done.

Oh, boy. I don't know if it's really possible to relay the energy that literally explodes in the room when people cheer for this guy. Like the response to seeing Elvis or The Beatles, maybe? That's close.

I'd hate to have to follow that if I were running in '08. Incredible stuff.

But Clark is next...and I bet he will be fantastic, too.

Wes Clark
Here is Wes Clark.

"Good morning, I'm Wes Clark. I'm a soldier and I'm fighting for our country."
Here are my notes taken listening to Clark:

Clark is also hitting hte "optimism" frame ("We offer optimism")
Like Dodd, Clark is saying nice things about Reid and Pelosi.
Asks the room to take a moment to reflect quietly on the sacrifices of the troops (nice idea, probably not such a great execution)
OK...here comes Wes talking about Iraq:

"I read the papers...I check the names...for me it's personal" ("personal" frame seems new)
Troops in constant danger--Clark is invoking the "competence" frame in a patriotic tone.
President mistakes "slogans for strategy"
Clark is reciting his military resume, pretty much.

"I know what it is to plan and prepare for war."
I think Clark is going hard at a "competence and experience" frame.
"I am the only person who has done the things that need to be done in Iraq."
OK, "experience" seems to be Clark's big frame.

Now he's turning to the frame of "equality and justice."

About the reactions to Clark: The room is not overwhelmed by Clark. He has a statesman-like quality, but he clearly is not hitting the bullseye in terms of tone and presence.

invoked McAurthur
Speaking about about the need to move past the politics of "spin" (channeling 1990s Bill Clinton, here)
Wes finished. Nice response, but not a home run.

(Edwards is up next...)

John Edwards
John Edwards is up.

HUGE roar. Susie Turnbull is introducin him.

I'll pick up Edward's speech from the start...

Edwards walks in to John Cougar Melencamp music.

Edwards acknowledges the death of Molly Ivins
"Why are we here?"
"Somewhere in America an 8-year-old girl is going to bed hungry..."
"Somewhere in America" is Edward's big refrain. This is really Edward's strength--at telling the story of his vision. It is a bit lengthy, but it definitely moves the room.
"It doesn't have to be that way." Edwards is building--setting up his big theme of "change." The frame here is the experience of the American family. The "two Americas" narrative has evolved here a bit, but it is familiar.
Edwards locates every policy issue within these stories of working class Americans who have problems or crises that they cannot solve--"...it doesn't have to be that way...that's why we are here..."
"Will you stand up for that man in the emergency room?"
"WILL YOU STAND UP, WILL YOU STAND UP" (Crowd goes wild"
This is a very good framing--people standing together--unity, protection--crowd is going wild.

Quotes MLK - we cannot stand by quietly while Bush escalates this war
"Silence is a betrayal"
Comes out against "non-binding" resolution
George Bush is not the decider--the American people are (this is more of a one-liner at this stage...)
A word about Edwards' tone: He is sounding tough and strong. No doubt. He has a script, but he's reading it firmly, and connecting with the room.

Edwards has this way of going on a bit after the room erupts with applause.

"This is the time for political courage."
Edwards is now weaving the "silence is betrayal" frame into healthcare, poverty, and other issues. This is a very powerful theme.

Edwards is putting his heart into this. Dare I say it: this man WANTS to be President. It shows.
Big finish, now.

We are not the country of the Superdome after Katrina, we are not the country of Abhu Ghraib, etc.
"The United States of America is better than that."
Here's Edward's big frame of "act now"--this is an interesting idea, the "dont' wait until 2008, do it now" frame
Edwards done. Fascinating speech. Obama and Edwards are great speakers, each in their own way.

Kucinich is next... (time to change laptop batteries)

Dennis Kucinich
Here's Dennis...

He had to quiet down the room to get started. Hmmm..

Kucinich began with a rousing, rallying speech against the war.

Since I changed batteries, he has been telling a story about his trip to Lebanon with his wife--how horrible it is there as a result of the recent war.

His voice has become very quiet. While the story is powerful, it does not quite fit well into this particular venue. It's not entirely clear what he is trying to move us towards.

Here it is: he is painting a picture of compassionate people in the Middle East who like us, but not our government
Actually...I find this particular speech too heavy handed
"I promised the people of Qana that I would bring their message back to America..."
_ "to work for a world where all children are safe.

Kucinich invokes Lincoln, but then turns to a discussion of the "9/10" project
Help discover the "beauty of our nation" to restore the soul of America
Kucinich is reaching for a big finish--invoking an image oof a "shining city on a hill"
"Crown thy good, America. Crown they good."
Kucinich gets a fairly good applause at the end.
Dennis ends with "America the Beautiful" playing in the background.

HRC is next.

Hillary Clinton
Here comes Hillary.

First mention of her name and the room exploded with cheers.

She's the final candidate speaker of this morning session. It should be a big finish.

Here's Hillary.

"I'm Hillary Clinton and I'm running for President. I'm in and I'm in to win." (crowd goes wild...again)
Thanks Dean
A quick aside: Hillary is using an extended military metaphor--"wage" the campaign, "lead the charge." She's framing the election in terms of war. Tuff talk. The room is loving it.

Hilary talks about a two stage process--first work with the Senate, then after she wins: really change the country.
-"Things are not quite right. We know it. We feel it."
-"The basic bargain. If you work hard and did your part" (This is the classic "moral accounting" frame and she's tweaked it a bit since Bill Clinton used it.

Talking about the "promise" of education, now. The promise of American life is an incredibly important category of "super" frame, as it were, for the Democratic party. Actually talking about "vision" "action" "promise"--each of the top candidates is tapping into a big, big frame to structure everything they say.
As an aside: Hillary's speech is clear, but it is short on moments that send the crowd into cheers. It seems she has more substance than Obama or Edwards, albeit less charisma at the podium. Such a fascinating contrast between the candidates. She's definitely in her element up there, but in a different way.

"Renew the promise of America." (there it is again--"promise." I have a whole chapter on "promise" BTW).
Somme anti-war hecklers in the audience
Aside: There are Code Pink folks in the room, and various other people shouting.

Hillary took control with this line, "If I had been President, I would not have started this war."
"IF we in Congress don't end this war...as President I will."
"We need SMART STRONG LEADERSHIP."
Aside: Heck yes! The "smart and strong:" frame has been pushed endlessly in the blogs (ehem...) and it is good to see it make its way into a stump speech.

Another word about Hillary's tone: She takes some time to warm up, but I have to say--she's a good stump speaker. She responds to the crowd, she's quick to respond. She holds the room, I'd say, not as well as Obama, but maybe a bit better than Edwards--close call between the two of them.

Returning to the theme of "fighting" back--TUFF TALK!!
"...I believe we can marshal our faith..." First mention of religion in any of these speeches. Interesting. I didn't even notice that it was missing.
"Join me on this journey!"

Hillary's out with "You ain't seen nothing yet..."

Crowd goes insane again.

End of the Session

MORE HERE ---> http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/2/10432/73668

*****

AND ANOTHER SUMMARY FROM Jerome at --> http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/2/103921/4428

:rofl:

However, her speech was nearly derailed by a handful of guests in attendance shouting "make it binding!" and "how about you bring them home."

Whoa.. and at a DNC gathering??

Your notes were outstanding!
Made me feel I was in the room.

What is also interesting to me is that I have heard Clinton,Obama ,Edwards and Clark speak and I agree with your assessment.

OBAMA is absolutely magical. All he has to do is walk in the room. He has a kinda JFK or Bobby K way about him that is breathtaking.

Hillary is a fantastic STUMP speaker! She reminds me of the politicians of old like FDR and the "good ole boys" type. She is one smart cookie and speaks without notes and has so much self assurance.

Edwards was a real crowd pleaser. Like a rock star! After he finished his speech in Los Angeles in 04, there were people standing behind the rope, begging him to shake their hands. I was lucky enough to get a handshake and a big hello from him! :applause:

I am African American and Edwards seemed to make a sincere effort to speak to me! That meant a lot to goclark!

I attended a classy luncheon for Wes Clark and just as you said, he is more reserved than the others but SMART and SINCERE! He spoke that day by answering questions on a wide range of issues and the breath and depth of his knowledge was impressive.

How I wish I could have heard them all speak at the same event!
Thanks again for your notes.

I am only a simple copier-paster. That being said, the three of us agree in principle on "our guys"...

Cheers!

By the way, cspan.org has just posted the video of the entire 3 hour event if you're interested.

Kucinch was the first person to bring religion into it, not Hillary. He was referring to the bible, I remember well that it turned me off.

Julie

... Because I don't have a clue Who-T-F he is.. but that is one of the WORST reviews I've ever read.

Don't tell Kos... ... but that dude just flat out SUCKED.