NYT: Obama Speech to Cite Failures of Bush on the Economy

[BeyondGeography]

Some quotes taken from advance copies of the speech:

DENVER — Senator Barack Obama portrayed himself as a candidate able to repair damage from the “broken politics in Washington and the failed presidency of George W. Bush” as he prepared tonight to accept the Democratic presidential nomination before tens of thousands gathered at Invesco Field and millions watching on television.

“America, we are better than these last eight years,” the Illinois Democrat said in excerpts of his remarks distributed in advance of his speech. “We are a better country than this.”

Mr. Obama painted the plight of Americans who have have lost their jobs and homes in the economic slide and said that Democrats measure economic well-being differently than Republicans. “We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president — when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush,” he said.

In an address that his advisers said would be workmanlike but still intended to stir the enthusiastic crowd, Mr.Obama laid out specifics of his proposals on taxes and energy and sought to rebut the Republican argument that Democrats are weaker on national security than Republicans and that Mr. Obama would represent a risk as president.

“We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country,” he said in the prepared remarks.

He added: “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 equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.”

Spelling out his energy plan, Mr. Obama also said as president he would establish a goal of ending American dependence on Middle Eastern oil within a decade.

Eying his Republican rival, Mr. Obama praised Senator John McCain for the “bravery and distinction” of his military service but noted that his opponent has voted with Mr. Bush 90 percent of the time. “Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush was right more than ninety percent of the time?” asks Mr. Obama in his speech. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/us/politics/29dems.html?hp