How can they defend President Obama's record?
For those of us who've been wondering, the first days of the Democratic convention are very revealing. They can't help themselves.
On the very first day, the Democrats made it clear: The defense is not going to rest.
Obama not only promised hope and change, they believe that he delivered. He remains the protector and savior of the American dream -- the anointed one.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated:
"There was no blueprint or how-to manual for fixing a global financial meltdown, an auto crisis, two wars and a Great Recession, all at the same time. Believe me, if it existed, I would have found it.
"Each crisis was so deep and so dangerous, any one of them would have defined another presidency. We faced a once-in-a-generation moment in American history.
"Fortunately for all of us, we have a once-in-a-generation president."
Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts placed the mantle of hope on the man from Hawaii:
"This is the election of a lifetime. Because more than any one candidate or policy, what's at stake is the American dream. ... Whether that dream endures for another generation depends on you and me. It depends on who leads us, too.
"If we want to earn the privilege to lead, it's time for Democrats to stiffen our backbone and stand up for what we believe."
Patrick, representing the liberal Northeast, declared gay marriage and abortion are core to who he and his party are. But he offered nothing else concrete aside from abortion and gay marriage.
Patrick not only failed to offer much red meat, there was no meat at all on that bone.
Michelle Obama did the best job of painting her husband as her and her country's savior. While Ann Romney extolled mothers, the first lady spoke up for the working fathers in the room, through her own father:
"He was so proud to be sending his kids to college ... and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late. You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man."
President Obama is thinking of those working men and women every day, she promised:
"Thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work. That is why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work. That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet. That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again -- jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.
"When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president. He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically -- that's not how he was raised -- he cared that it was the right thing to do."
She ended on the ultimate Oprah note:
"And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago ... even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met. ... I love that he's never forgotten how he started.
"And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here ... and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.
"But eventually we get there, we always do."
She generously offered to share her hope, her savior, her protector, with other working mothers. If you, like she, want your daughters to have the American dream, she says there's only one thing to do:
"We must work like never before ... and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward: my husband, our president, President Barack Obama."
Single mothers of the world, unite! You have nothing to fear. Her man is here to protect your kids, too.