In his In his article at Politico.com, Jeff Greenwald seemed underwhelmed by Hillary’s acceptance speech last night. He characterized it as “a cacophony of cliché on cliché.”
Here were some highlights (comments within are Greenwald’s):
“A country where the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top” (a line I heard three different Clinton operatives offer word for word at panels and briefings before the speech). …“When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit.”…“My primary mission as president will be to create more opportunity and more good jobs with rising wages right here in the United States” (this was a line borrowed from … no less than Michael Dukakis.). In its rhetoric, it was a model of what not to do in so consequential a speech.”
Greenwald went on to say that her speech lacked a central theme. I agree. Where was the vision? Sure, we heard the usual promise to rein in Wall Street; the same promise politicians have been making since at least as far back as the 1930s. But given the fact that she accepted $600,000 from Goldman Sachs in 2015 alone, does anyone expect a draconian overhaul of the financial industry?
However there were a few zingers: her scathing but accurate observations about Trump. But according to Greenwald:
“...one of her best hits on Trump came from Jacqueline Kennedy, reflecting on her husband’s performance during the Cuban Missile Crisis. ‘She said that what worried President Kennedy during that very dangerous time was that a war might be started—not by big men with self-control and restraint, but by little men—the ones moved by fear and pride.’ Again, note the simplicity, the clarity of the words.”
But despite her speech’s lack of a central theme, I have to admire Hillary’s defiance in refusing to stop calculating every possible effect of every word that comes out of her mouth. However, a little more candor now and then might go a long way to winning over Independents and Republican NeverTrumpsters. And let’s hope what Greenwald implied as her “take it or leave it” attitude doesn’t cost her the election.