Ted Strickland's demeaning Obama comments

One of the most devastating things for Democrats about Ronald Reagan was that he gave the GOP, for a generation, a perceived monopoly on optimism, hope, and pride in America.  Reagan made it positively GOP to wave the flag, and believe in America - not that us Democrats didn't also hold the same beliefs.  Reagan just made it his own, and through him, his party's.  It still costs us, to this day, both as a party, and as a country, but for Republicans, it was magic.

Barack Obama is about to do for the Democratic Party precisely that, but more positively, and more constructively, than Reagan ever did.  And it is incredibly disappointing to hear some Democratic leaders here in Ohio demean this accomplishment, and the instinct of voters to respond to it, as Ted Strickland did Friday.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Clinton backer, says she'll win the Buckeye State. "I don't think Ohio is going to be taken in by the fluff," Strickland told The News in Cincinnati.

"I think it's a choice between a speech and a plan," he said.

Let's just ignore the very real possibility that Ted's comments might be, just may be, perhaps, yet another veiled attempt to remind the electorate that Obama is black.  (smooth talker,  ain't got no plan, just a bunch of fluff....you've heard it all before)  Let's assume Ted is being sincere.

Stuff it in your ear, Ted.  Americans want to feel good about who they vote for.  They would rather vote FOR someone than AGAINST someone or something.  If Barack Obama can do this for the Democratic nominee for president - i.e. get average independents, leaning Republicans, and every single Democrat, to vote FOR him, proudly, happily, with hope in their hearts and a spring in their step, then you're damn right I'll take the speech over the plan.   

Everybody has a plan, Ted.