Analysis: President Obama's Speech at the DNC Convention

Venice: The Grand Canal from Palazzo Flangini to the Church of San Marcuola by Canaletto

First, I would like to profusely congratulate the geniuses who wrote the speeches delivered at the DNC Convention – they were structurally brilliant and highly effective.  Much has been said about President Obama’s speech; however, I would like to analyse some of the most important passages in his Message:

Change

"So you see, the election four years ago wasn't about me. It was about you. My fellow citizens - you were the change."

Analysis: Barack Obama was misinterpreted. The “Change we can believe in” was and remains being the people. They changed the course of America - a country that merely four years ago was hated all over the globe; a country that was permissive businesswise, a permissiveness that sunk the world into the biggest global economic crisis in Human History (due to its universal synchronisation). By electing Barack Obama they brought about Change, not only to America but also to the whole world.

Second-term Goals

"(..) I'm asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country - goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and the deficit; a real, achievable plan that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity, and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation.”

Analysis: the first four years were about avoiding the economy from sinking even further and, about creating the right business and political (both foreign and domestic) environment so that the US could bring back jobs to its soil and create more in the second term. Now the US is an appealing nation to invest in. Make no mistake: the creation/loss of jobs is intimately related to politics.

Foreign Policy

"My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy, but from all that we've seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly. After all, you don't call Russia our number one enemy - and not al Qaeda - unless you're still stuck in a Cold War time warp. You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can't visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally (..)”

Analysis: presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave us a daunting preview of how his foreign policy will be conducted. It is required from a US president to lead the world – no one in it would respect, let alone follow, Mitt Romney (not after what he showed us). But the globe admires President Obama and most of it respects him and is willing to follow his lead. 4, 8, 10 years ago the world’s hobby was to hate America: today, most of the world IS with America. This is undoubtedly the result of great leadership.

“We (..) stood up to China on behalf of our workers”/"I've worked with business leaders who are bringing jobs back to America (..) Because we work harder and smarter than anyone else. I've signed trade agreements that are helping our companies sell more goods to millions of new customers - goods that are stamped with three proud words: Made in America."

Analysis: a clear message to China – the US is taking its manufacturing hegemony back. American workers are more skilled and produce safe, high quality, goods. President Obama’s foreign policies (through State Secretary Hillary Clinton) have set the proper international environment to receive Made In America products. 

"And so long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known."

Analysis: it is no secret that since 2002, China has increased its military spending by 170%. However, President Obama is warning them not to be fooled by their OSINT because the US is, and always will be, a superpower with the best military might worldwide.

Centrism

"We insist on personal responsibility and we celebrate individual initiative. We're not entitled to success. We have to earn it.(..) We don't want handouts for people who refuse to help themselves, and we don't want bailouts for banks that break the rules. We don't think government can solve all our problems (..).”

Analysis: with these words president Obama positioned himself right at the centre of the political spectrum. I have been saying that president Obama is a centrist since 2008; and last Thursday he confirmed it. He must have disappointed both radical republicans and democrats: he is not a socialist.

Self-Accountability

"And while I'm proud of what we've achieved together, I'm far more mindful of my own failings, knowing exactly what Lincoln meant when he said, ‘I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.’"

Analysis: a politician holding himself accountable for his own failings (perhaps an allusion to the botched negotiations with the Republicans). Self-accountability is the most admirable trait in any human being, but in a politician is even more estimable – Barack Obama embodies the very image of a Politician of the 21^st century.

Analysts say this wasn’t President Obama’s best speech and complained about the lack of specifics. 

First, specifics are for the campaign trail and debates; second, a speech with a direct message is far more valuable than an inspirational one; third, he gave us a preview of how his second term will be (just read in between the lines).