WILL FERNANDEZ
Election 2008 Coverage
Posted Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

DENVER — Yes, on Wednesday there was a surprise visit by Barack Obama to cap the evening at the Pepsi Center.

And, yes, Democratic vice presidential nominee and U. S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware did what he needed to do in proving himself a seasoned street fighter whose mother once told him to bloody the nose of a bully who had knocked him down in a schoolyard.

And, yes, Bill Clinton did what he needed to help the Democratic Party put the bitter primary campaign season behind it by endorsing Obama as “ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world.”

And, yes, there was a star-studded cast of Democratic politicians who made their way to the podium, from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, with words carefully scripted for the TelePrompTers to show party unity and present a presidential ticket as strong and ready to serve.

But for this reporter the most powerful words were the least scripted, and the words were not spoken by a politician but by a retired admiral who now runs Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H., and has spent his life as a registered Republican.

It was the third night in a row that the Democrats listened to a speech by a Republican who was endorsing Obama’s presidential bid. On Monday former Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa, and then on Tuesday Mayor Jim Whitaker of Fairbanks, Alaska, let Democrats and the nation know why they were breaking ranks. In some respects, one wonders if this wasn’t a premeditated attempt to preempt the impact of a possible move by Republicans to put U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman on their ticket as John McCain’s vice presidential choice.

The uncharacteristic words spoken by tonight’s Republican endorser of Obama, John Hutson, appeared reasoned and sincere. He had been a good supporter of the Grand Old Party. But in his own words, “It is no longer grand, it’s just old.”

Listening to this, I was struck that all politicians are human, and this one is fed up with the current administration and sees Obama as a true chance to change America. He came to this convention to show his disgust with the Bush administration and then show that he will back Obama and not McCain, seen plainly as “four more years” and “more of the same.”

This night will be more remembered for President Clinton's handing off of the torch, but I will remember John Hutson and his courage to change from the party that he has been in since his boyhood — to know what he thinks is right and to follow his mind and heart.

Remaining Schedule for the Democratic National Convention

Thursday, Aug. 28: Change You Can Believe In

• On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the convention and move from the Pepsi Center to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination

• Additional details of the program preceding Obama’s acceptance speech to be announced