Make it medium rare.
This has become the “red meat” convention as broadcasters consistently measure whether there will be any, and how much of it, in each night’s speeches. You can’t help wonder how much wishful thinking is involved in all that media salivating.
“The Democrats need to get red meat out there tonight,” ABC’s Sam Donaldson said.
Will there be much red meat tonight, Chris Wallace asked on Fox News. (He thought not.)
Afterward, the question was how much red meat had been served.
Red meat politics, or “base baiting” in the terminology of political junkies, is what conventions are all about. Demonize the other party. Find solidarity in hating the other guy. Serve the most devoted partisans, the people who cared enough to get themselves to Denver, a high-protein binge.
Meanwhile, with the nomination by acclamation of the first African-American candidate for president, “a chapter of history was written tonight,” NBC News’ Chuck Todd said. “This is a historical marker. It could be a page that turns into a chapter that turns into a volume.” He quoted the late Tim Russert to underscore the significance of a moment that will be taught in American history classes.
The actual nomination was emotional — not only for delegates but for some of the jaded journalists on the beat, too.
“This has moved everyone,” said CNN’s Candy Crowley. “There’s some real awe, like ‘holy cow.'”
“It really is something to behold,” said CBS’ Katie Couric.
On CBS, Jeff Greenfield pinpointed the contradictory dynamic of the moment: Barack Obama has presented himself as the post-racial candidate, but when he was announced as the nominee, and African-American delegates and others were moved to tears, the cameras focused on the racial breakthrough.
Can one human take on the mantle of Martin Luther King Jr. and be the post-racial candidate at once?
The best prediction for Thursday: “Obama’s gonna pull a Jordan tomorrow night,” Spike Lee told CNN.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
