Were You Not Listening?

Nothing like lying to the American people. And nothing like doing it before you even get elected!

Barack Obama, after the Republican National Convention stated: "Nobody talked about jobs. Nobody talked about health care, Nobody talked about education."

Look, Barack, if you didn't watch the RNC, just admit it. Don't make stupid false statements about it. You sound like a teenager who told his parent he was going to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" but really went to see "The Hills Have Eyes." "What was the movie about Barack?" "Oh, uh... there were these ... uh... rodents...see, and uh..."

Or if you disagreed with what was said, that's fine. Disagree. But don't act like nothing was said. To use the teenager analogy again. "Barack, I told you to clean your room!" "It doesn't need cleaning!" is different than "Barack, I told you to clean your room!" "No you didn't!"

Personally, I found four portions of McCain's speech exceptional. One was about jobs, one about health care, one about education, and one about compromise.

Or perhaps Senator Obama simply went to the kitchen to get some ice cream. Maybe he had to hit the head. Because here is an uninterrupted segment from Senator McCain's speech: (emphasis added)

My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.

Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second-highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000 will improve the lives of millions of American families. Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit. Opening new markets and preparing workers to compete in the world economy is essential to our future prosperity.

I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy and it often seems your government hasn't even noticed. Government assistance for unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That's going to change on my watch. My opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We're going to help workers who've lost a job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away.

We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower-paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage.

Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.

When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice and their children will have that opportunity. Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I'm president, they will.

Hmm... Not sure what I was listening too, then. McCain must have accidentally skipped this vital portion of his speech because according to Senator Obama nobody talked about jobs, health care, or education.

Oh... maybe he meant at his own convention!

And, for those of you who are interested, here was my favorite part of his speech. I've boldened the absolute greatest line. If McCain wins and keeps his promises, this line will enter the ranks of "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall." And "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This line could potentially change politics as we know it. It's so simple that it's profound and so attainable that it's revolutionary.

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as president. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not.

Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first, let's use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let's try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.

We're going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won't care who gets the credit.

This man is my choice for President. I hope that isn't just my opinion.

wanna read the whole speech? here it is: McCain's Acceptance