It’s Getting Hot In Here

The second in tonight’s live blogging. Check out the video at www.barackobama.com

6:19 pm PST

“Many have waited for some sign that our country is awakening again,” Gore is saying. “What would it look like if such a change were beginning to build?” And guess what, he’s talking about us again: “Millions of young people getting involved in the political process.”

That sounds a lot like Power Vote. And it demonstrates the incredible opportunity for us this election to “reject the special interest politics of the past” and get behind a common effort. Few coalitions are better positioned to take advantage of this than Energy Action Coalition – Gore’s just setting the stage for us.

That’s it from Gore and now onto Obama. Message: all about hope and positivity. Gore looks like he’s got some of his Southern-preacher fire back.

6:25 pm PST

Now Obama is up on the stand. After a number of thank you’s, Obama is now talking about Gore’s contributions. It’s been a while since Obama has talked about global warming and it’s refreshing (and interesting) to hear what he’s saying about it.

“The debate surrounding climate change is no longer about whether it exists but what we have to do to stop it.” Obama is emphasizing the fact that our country is now behind a green new wave, from companies to kids to families.

It’s the usual big tent stuff: from CEO’s to religious leaders are now working on green issues.

Obama continues: “America and the world are listening now. When I am president I am counting on Al Gore to help me lead the fight for a clean energy future here in America and around the globe.” Maybe as vice president? Unlikely. But it’s pretty clear that Obama would put Gore in some post in the administration if Gore wanted it. And that line about Gore and Obama taking on the fight together got a big cheer from the crowd. Bet the Obama people will be looking at that one closely.

But that’s it for now on global warming from Obama – at least he’s recycling, though. It’s all old material right now from Obama’s past speeches.

6:30 pm PST

“There’s a quiet desperation across the land.” Ominous tones from Mr. Positivity now. Economic decline, workers losing a sense of dignity, children who are losing hope in the future and feeling abandoned and alone.

I think that a lot of this movement tends to shy away from highlighting the despair that many people feel. Certainly avoiding “gloom and doom” messaging was a riff for a long time and still is. But there are amazingly powerful stories out there, stories that should be getting into Obama’s speeches. Like stories about Marsh Fork, and Oakland schools, and Miggs County, OH. Thanks to all the groups that are telling those stories, especially the groups in Appalachia who regularly contribute to this blog.

This more negative riff ends with a call for action, though. And the “Why we can’t wait” routine from Obama that has been effective around the country. It’s a line picked up from Dr. King and one that still resonates today. I think it’s important we keep getting that message in there, as well: we don’t just want green jobs sometime down the road, we can’t wait for them, we want them now.

6:37 pm PST

An Obama shout-out to Clinton and her campaign. He’s doing a bit of house-keeping here, reaching out to Clinton voters. And he’s got some good lines about Clinton breaking down barriers for women everywhere.

What about in the climate movement? Sexism is something that is rarely talked about on this blog but something that is surely a challenge for our generation. From how to support female leaders on our campuses and in our networks, to understanding how climate change will affect women more than men worldwide: there are things to talk about.

6:46 pm PST

It’s back to McCain now. Obama: “Somewhere on the way to this nomination the straight-talk express lost a couple of wheels.”

He’s drawing distinctions between himself and McCain, but nothing yet on global warming. In fact, it’s difficult for Obama to do so. Not because there aren’t differences – you can look at their position papers on each candidates’ websites to get a sense of how they diverge – but because neither candidate does much to go beyond general rhetoric on climate.

Finally something: the money in Iraq could be spent building a clean energy economy in Michigan. But it’s just a line, not a speech. Obama could do better and we need to make sure he does. If climate is going to be in issue in this election, there needs to be a strong distinction between the two candidates or the media won’t discuss it. Youth can do a lot to push Obama on this issue.

Conclusion:

I’ve got to run, so that’s it for me. It looks like Obama is back to his stump speech and I’m not expecting too much more on climate beyond a few more lines.

To wrap it up, hopefully Al Gore’s endorsement will push Obama to refine his platform and speeches on climate and energy issues. There are some good lines and Obama has good policies in general (coal could still use a lot of work) on paper, but he doesn’t seem to quite get it yet. Gore is right: it’s going to take a massive youth movement to get the job done. Here’s to Power Vote, the Summer of Solutions, and all the projects that are planned this summer.