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August 28th, 2008 at 11:51 pm

Video & Photos: Barack Obama Acceptance Speech Democratic National Convention 2008 8-28-08

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008 (DNC) at Invesco Field at Mile High August 28, 2008 in Denver, Colorado, officially becoming the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. Senator Barack Obama delivered the historic acceptance speech on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963.

Sen. Barack Obama tonight became the first African American to accept the presidential nomination of a major party with a substance-heavy speech in which he directly challenged Republican John McCain’s wisdom and judgment on matters of foreign policy and national security while drawing deeply on his own personal story to cast himself as the American Dream come true.

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

“Tonight I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough,” said Obama to a crowd at Invesco Field that was estimated at more than 70,000. “This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.”

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

The optics of the event - the first national party convention to be held outdoors since John F. Kennedy accepted the Democratic nomination at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1960 — were breathtaking. Television screens filled with images of Obama supporters dancing in the aisles to the tunes of Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow; a blazing orange sun set on an arid Colorado night as Obama prepared to take the stage.

Obama’s speech was freighted with historic significance, as it falls on the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The Obama campaign, well aware of the symbolism, ran a video featuring King’s remarks and Martin Luther King III, the son of the famous preacher, addressed the masses assembled at Invesco Field.

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

Obama used the speech to draw deeply on his own unique personal background while also challenging McCain on defense and national security — two of the decorated Vietnam War veteran’s strongest campaign issues.

A long line of prominent Democrats spoke in the run up to Obama’s address. Former Vice President Al Gore a few minutes ago referenced his narrow 2000 defeat at the hands of George W. Bush when describing the stakes of the fall election.

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

“Eight years ago some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two parties and it didn’t much matter who became president,” Gore said. “I doubt anyone would argue that now.”

“We are the party of Roosevelt,” Obama said. “We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country. Don’t tell me Democrats won’t keep us safe.”

Obama pledged to end the war in Iraq “responsibly” and to “finish the fight against al Quaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.” He reiterated his call for direct diplomacy with Iran — a point of contention in both the primary election against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and in the general election campaign against McCain.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipsment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home,” he said.

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

Of McCain, Obama will work to link the Arizona senator to the policies of President Bush — using McCain’s 90 percent voting support of the Administration as a cudgel. “I don’t know about you but I’m not ready to take a ten percent chance on change.”

“America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.”

Source: Obama Insists Democrats Can Keep Nation Safe

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia with Joe Biden, Jill Biden, listening as Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia with Joe Biden and Jill Biden

Even in invoking the anniversary of the King speech, Mr. Obama only alluded to race.

“The men and women who gathered there could’ve heard many things,” he said. “They could’ve heard words of anger and discord. They could’ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead — people of every creed and color, from every walk of life — is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.”

Mr. McCain marked the occasion by releasing an advertisement in which, looking into the camera, he paid salute to Mr. Obama and his accomplishment. “How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day,” Mr. McCain said. “Tomorrow, we’ll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done.”

Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

The advertisement stood in stark contrast to a summer of slashing attacks on Mr. Obama by Mr. McCain that apparently contributed to the tightening of this race.

Mr. Obama delivered his speech on a day of considerable political churn. Even as Mr. McCain was paying tribute to Mr. Obama on television, his aides disclosed that he made a choice for vice president and would announce it on Friday, timing designed to draw attention away from Mr. Obama on a day in which he and his running mate, Joseph R. Biden Jr., would be starting a victory lap across the country.

Source: Obama Takes Aim at Bush and McCain

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama after Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and daughters with Joe Biden and Jill Biden after Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 28, 2008