DNC in Philadelphia: President Obama, In Vintage Speech, Implores Divided Nation To Unite, Reject Fear

President Barack Obama gave a rousing speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, tapping into the optimistic orations that launched him into the national spotlight 12 years ago, when he spoke at his party's 2004 party convention, focusing on unity and promise and railing against divisiveness and cynicism.

Wednesday, as a popular president nearing the end of his second term, he hit the same themes, perhaps with even more of a sense of urgency.

Obama, speaking on the third night of the convention in Philadelphia, following an earlier speech by his vice president, Joe Biden, invigorated an enthusiastic crowd, asking them to “reject cynicism and reject fear” and elect Hillary Clinton in November.

“Twelve years ago tonight, I addressed this convention for the very first time,” Obama said. “I was filled with faith; faith in America – the generous, bighearted, hopeful country that made my story – indeed, all of our stories – possible,” he added.

“I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your president, to tell you I am even more optimistic about the future of America,” Obama said.

Touting economic data, national security advances and progress on marriage equality, health care and climate change, Obama said he was “more optimistic about the future of America than ever before.”

He deliberately painted a portrait of America starkly different than the one defined last week at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, which Obama characterized as a “deeply pessimistic” event that he said “fanned the flames of resentment and blame and anger and hate."

America is still a country of optimists, he said.

“That’s what Hillary Clinton understands,” Obama said. “This fighter, this stateswoman, this mother and grandmother, this public servant, this patriot — that’s the America she’s fighting for.”

He reminisced about his own presidency, pointedly outlined the shortcomings of the current GOP candidate and spoke hopefully about the country's future under the steady hand of a Hillary Clinton presidency.

“You can read about it, you can study it, but until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war,” Obama said. “But Hillary’s been in the room; she’s been part of those decisions.

“Even in the midst of crisis, she listens to people, and she keeps her cool, and she treats everybody with respect.”

Obama asked the country to reject that negative assessment of the state of the United States. “The America I know is full of courage, and optimism, and ingenuity. The America I know is decent and generous," the president said.

Donald Trump, he said, has run a campaign void of ideas, offering nothing beyond slogans and fear.

“He’s selling the American people short,” Obama said. “We are not a fragile or frightful people.

“Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order,” he added. “We don’t look to be ruled.”

The most qualified person to carry an optimistic vision of America forward is Clinton, Obama said, while praising her breadth of knowledge and experience, her work ethic and drive to advocate for the disadvantaged.

“There has never been a man or a woman, not me, not Bill [Clinton], nobody, more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America," he said.

Obama weaved his praise for the Democratic nominee with continued sharp rebukes for Trump, who, the president said, “cozies up to Putin” and “praises Saddam Hussein."

Saying the GOP nominee and billionaire businessman lacks real plans for the future of America, Obama suggested Trump is “selling the American people short” with his gloomy assessment of the country’s economy, military and future.

“America has never been about what one person says he’ll do for us," Obama said. "It’s about what can be achieved by us together. That’s what Hillary Clinton understands.”

While traveling the country, the president said, he has been touched by the optimism of people from every region and social standing.

“We get frustrated with political gridlock and worry about racial divisions; we are shocked and saddened by the madness of Orlando or Nice,” Obama said. But he added, “What I have also seen, more than anything, is what is right with America.”

At the conclusion of his speech, the nominee herself came out to the stage to embrace the president to rapturous applause, no hint of the acrimony that tainted the convention's first day.

Obama spoke after vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine and Vice President Joe Biden, who delivered an impassioned speech registering his support for Clinton, noting that "she has always been there" for Americans.

Biden said he could offer his full support for Clinton because he has known her for decades — from before she was first lady to their time in the Senate to their positions in the Obama administration.

Introduced by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, the vice president took the stage on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, under the night's theme of "Working Together."

Biden began by thanking Obama, said that during his nearly eight years working with him, the president has become "the embodiment of honor, resolve and character" and adding that he is "one of the finest presidents we have ever had," before making the case for Clinton as the natural extension of the positives of the Obama administration, saying it is Clinton's "life story" to help those in need.

"We all know what it'll mean to our daughters and granddaughters when Hillary Clinton walks into the Oval Office," Biden said. "It will change their lives."

Biden also drew a stark difference between Clinton and Trump, delivering a blistering attack against the New York businessman, saying he is less prepared to be president than any major party candidate in history.

"He is trying to tell us he cares about the middle class," said Biden. "Give me a break. That is a bunch of malarkey.”

"He has no clue about what makes America great," the vice president said of Trump. "Actually he has no clue, period." The Democratic delegates erupted into a chant, "Not a clue!"

He added: "We cannot elect a man who belittles our closest allies while embracing dictators like Vladimir Putin."

Biden could prove to be an important element to Clinton's campaign, particularly in swing states such as Ohio and Michigan.

In recent poll averages compiled by the Huffington Post, Biden's favorability ratings hover around the 50 percent mark — about the same as Clinton's unfavorable numbers.

Biden chalked up his popularity to his decision to skip the 2016 election cycle.

"The way to become really popular is announce you're not running for president," Biden said Wednesday on MSNBC. "It's amazing what it does for you."

In October 2015, Biden ended months of speculation as to whether he would throw his hat into the 2016 ring by saying his window of opportunity to "mount a winning campaign for the nomination [had] closed."

The struggle with cancer and eventual death of his son Beau in May 2015 kept Biden out of the presidential race.

"I had planned on running for president, and life intervened," Biden told his local paper, the Delaware News Journal, last week. "I made the right decision for my family, for my children. I made the right decision across the board. I have no regrets."

Reporting by Kara Seymour and Allen McDuffee, Patch staff.

Photo credit: DNC videostream