By Steven A. Gilley
Stevengilley15@aol.com
For months, the country has known that Senator Barack Obama would be the Democratic nominee for the Presidential election on November 4th after a tough battle with Senator Hillary Clinton during the primaries.
On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech, Obama officially accepted the nomination and became the first black presidential nominee from a major political party in the U.S.
Speaking in front of 85,000 supporters at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Obama exclaimed, "With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States."
Obama spoke about reviving the "American promise" and was very critical of his opponent, Senator John McCain, comparing his policies with President George W. Bush. He urged voters not to allow another four years of the same failed policies during the Bush administration.
"It is that promise that's always set this country apart — that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well. That's why I stand here tonight," he said.
"Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time? I don’t know about you, but I'm not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change," he added.
"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. It’s because John McCain doesn’t get it," he said.
"For over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy — give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else."
Obama also spoke specifically about his plans for America and how he would handle the issues that are most important to the American people, including gas prices, foreign policy, and the economy in the United States.
He said he will invest $150 billion over the next decade in alternative energies — wind and solar power and biofuels; end U.S. dependence on foreign oil in 10 years, rebuild the military and renew direct diplomacy aimed at ending Iran's nuclear ambitions; eliminate capital gains taxes on small businesses that create high-tech, high-pay jobs and cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families.
