‘The Day the Democrats Finally Grew Teeth’: Nachrichten of Switzerland

Among the many perceptions emerging across the Atlantic since the end of the Democratic National Convention is that Joe Biden has helped U.S. Democrats get over their traditional hesitance to fight as hard and nastily as they need to, in order to beat the Republicans.

Writing of Senator Biden’s speech, Patrik Etschmayer writes from Switzerland’s Nachrichten:

“On Wednesday Biden was cutting, aggressive and assertive. … Biden has a reputation as a specialist in foreign policy and he used this authority to mount a frontal attack on McCain – and the value of his oft-quoted experience on the issue. Up to that moment, the Democrats had appeared to be suffering from their classic disease of election-campaign uncertainty and reluctance to meet Republican attacks head-on … It looks as though the Democrats have finally grown some teeth. It remains to be seen if they can be relied upon to take a good bite out of their opponents.”

Then mulling over whether Obama went far enough in his speech, Etschmayer writes:

“Yes, he did show his teeth and he bit … but only in such a way that it would still be possible for McCain to lead a respectful campaign. Because above all, Obama merely defined what kind of change he wants and said that McCain was a symbol stagnation that the nation could no longer afford. Obama spoke about the big issues – and it’ll be interesting to see whether McCain will do that as well or continue with the personal attacks.”

Etschmayer also discusses the effectiveness of McCain’s attacks on Obama’s experience. One wonders after the selection of inexperienced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin how credible such attacks will be from hereon out.

By Patrik Etschmayer

Translated By Patrik Etschmayer

August 28, 2008

Switzerland – Nachrichten – Original Article (German)

Wednesday evening, the night that Democrats were most afraid of, was when Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden delivered his acceptance speech. Biden is feared for giving long, drawn out and uninspiring speeches. Or even for copying other politicians.

Twenty years ago when Biden embarked on his fist presidential bid, he rather shamelessly lifted part of a speech by British Labour politician Neill Kinnock. Biden was subsequently the target of much mockery and malice. And curiously, he ended up a good friendship with the Welsh former-party leader.

But on Wednesday Biden was cutting, aggressive and assertive. Of course he wasn’t as spell-binding as the previous speaker, Bill Clinton. Clinton was greeted like a pop-star and could hardly begin his address (which as he admitted himself, was to warm-up the crowd for Biden), and once again proving that he is probably one of the most gifted political orators of our time.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated and English-language foreign press coverage of McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin, the conventions and the U.S. presidential race.