One-to-Many

From the Transcript of Obama's Speech:
But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things. But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.
Those are a few of the lines that stood out for me tonight that (I hope) finally lower the volume on those who have been demanding Obama "attack!" He has been all along, they just couldn't hear it through the noise.

Comments

I think the effect of the whole Convention is encapsulated in

The bit you quote there. I also appreciated Kerry's masterful turning of the "flip-flop" campaign on its head by contrasting SENATOR McCain to CANDIDATE McCain, showing that each had a set of opposite opinions on major political issues from global warming to Bush's war policy. "But what I will not do is suggest..." is a perfect application of George Lakeoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant" thesis. Once said what else can you think...

carol

Replying to Myself Sort Of

Chris points out that this is an old rhetorical device well known to Cicero. And of course Mark Antony famous speech, when he says of Caesar, "and sure he was an honorable man," {I hope you'll excuse my paraphrase of Shakespeare.

carol

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