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I came to Washington
If Obama wants to go on the attack, now is a time to do it. If he were of a mind to, he might give a speech like this...
Thank you, my fellow Americans, for coming together with me here today, and taking time from your busy lives as we decide the course of our nation.
I came to Washington, because I thought that if people worked together, then America could come together and make things work. I came to Washington believing that there was no problem to large for the American people to solve, once they had resolved to fix it. I came to Washington to represent the public interest, and found, in Washington, that wasn't what they were interested in. What I found was a Congress where the worst ideas were promoted, and the best were buried in committee. Where obstruction of justice was tolerated, and obstructionism by the Republican Party became a way of life. We've gone from building bridges to a new century, to building bridges to nowhere. We've gone from all for one and one for all, to a free for all of lobbyist driven corruption.
After the September 11th attacks, Americans were more unified, more resolved, and more willing to put aside minor differences, than at any time in my life time. It was the kind of moment that Norman Rockwell would have painted. We had had our Pearl Harbor.
Now eight years later, it is clear that the good will of the American people was squandered, it is clear that our efforts have been wasted, and hope is mired in the swamps of the Potomac, the sands of Iraq, and the hills of Afghanistan. Washington decided to do what should not have been done, and do to badly what needed to be done. Corruption, waste, mismanagement, misdirection, and a sorry rabble that riots for television cameras, is all that is left of the party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Barry Goldwater.
Our campaign for the White House has been based on change, and change needs to start right here, right now, in this city, and from the moment a new Congress and new President are empowered to do it.
At this moment, I don't know what John McCain stands for, he's been on every side of almost every issue. Sounding like George W. Bush one day, and Jimmy Carter the next. Ducking out of his best known piece of legislation, and promoting tax cuts that he called irresponsible. But a institutions don't have the luxury of throwing away their past, or betraying the fundamental promises.
I came to Washington because I believe in the fundamental promise of Democracy in America, that government must be of the people, by the people, and for the people, and that their government must act, doing what is right as best we know what is right. We've seen a great deal of reaction, and a great deal of speed in passing bail out after bail out, of airline, banks, the stock market, hedge funds, and now mortgage issuers, but glacial immobility in lifting up the American people from what is a growing economic crisis.
You don't need me to tell you that Americans believe our nation to be on the wrong track. You don't need me to tell you that the price of gas going up, while your home is going down, is no way to make progress on the American dream.
I came to Washington to represent the people of a great state, and of the whole nation. I came to Washington ready to work harder than I had ever worked in my life, for anything, because the right law, or the right program, in the right place, at the right time, means everything That was the Washington I hoped to find when I got here. That is the Washington Americans expect and demand. That isn't the Washington we find here now. That isn't the Washington that lurched into an ill thought out war, while leaving the mastermind of 9/11 at large. That isn't the Washington that could find billions to give to drug companies, but has to give food stamps to its soldiers.
When John McCain came to Washington, a dollar bought a gallon of gasoline, rather than a quart. When John McCain came to Washington America was on the road to recovery, not the road to ruin. When John McCain came to Washington we were trying to end a global conflict, not start a new one. When John McCain came to Washington, America's national debt was fraction of what it is now. John McCain has been in Washington too long, and it has gotten into him. Americans know that you can't take Washington out of a politician, but you have to take the politician out of Washington.
It's time for American's to reclaim our city, our heritage, our government, and take charge of how Washington spends our money. And come this election we will. But we can't wait that long. It's time for American to get moving again, and do what we can now while the old rituals of our Republic work themselves out to an inevitable change. That change begins not here, but everywhere. That is why we are going to launch, as part of our campaign, "Save America, Now." Every week, every day when we can, we will put forward things Americans can do, not next year, but now, to save America, and be ready for the change we will bring to Washington. Ways to put Washington on notice that the change is coming, and we are not waiting for it any longer.
We must act to save, America. In ways great and small, in our every day lives, and at work. Washington has forgotten that, and forgotten that Washington isn't about spending money, but investing in the future. It says a lot that John McCain's chief economic advisor managed to almost ruin two of America's great companies. It says a lot when the man who would be his Treasury Secretary, says that Americans are the problem, and not the solution. It says a lot about the man who has been here so long, that he can't seem to find his way out.
It's time to tell George W. Bush, and his anointed successor, and the rest of his Washington, that change is coming, and we are that change. I came to Washington, and have found out one simple thing. A senator is one person, even the President is one person. And all an elected representative can do, is be the leading edge of the will of the people. One person can make a difference. But no one can do so by themselves. We are the ones who must do this, we are the ones who are alive at this moment, and have this cross to bear, this charge to keep, this duty to serve. We are the ones that history has selected to make this change. Because we only have one chance to do it.
It is time for us to come to Washington, and come this November election, we will. And our voice will be so loud that it will be heard, not just here, but in the capitals around the world, in the caves where Al-Qaeda hides, in the back rooms where lobbyists and bankers play dice with people's homes, and in every corner of the world, to every part where the webs of communication reaches. They will know, because we will know, that America is back, and change has arrived.
The follow up is key, have a page and part of the campaign to be about things that Americans can do now to start saving. Things like putting as many of their bills on internet pay as possible, to save mailing. Things like going to bed one hour earlier, and getting up one hour earlier. Things like walking to do one errand a week. Things like gathering all their coins and buying a savings bond. Things like cleaning their basement and recycling everything. Things like setting their air conditioning up one degree.
If he wanted to bite off a bit more, he could say that he, personally, is going to fast one meal every Friday, and use that time for "prayer and reflection". He could then invite Americans to join him in this as a personal testament of faith in America.
Some points:
Don't be afraid of the word Democrat. J. Random Democrat is beating you in polls Senator Obama. By a lot.
Take the bullshit by the bullhorns. Don't let any dog whistle to sound too long.
The way to answer a smear is to kill the messanger.
The time to define is now. You can't call McCain too old, but you can say he's been around too long. You can't call him unpatriotic, but you can call him incompetent. Let his broken record do your work for you.
