Democracy Now! Friday, August 29, 2008

Today's Headlines

• Obama Accepts Nomination Before Record 84,000
• Gore Backs Obama, Invokes 2000 Loss
• McCain to Announce VP Candidate
• Pentagon Disputes UN Account of Afghan Civilian Massacre
• “Free Gaza” Boats Begin Return from Historic Mission
• Ex-Marine Acquitted in Killing Iraqi Prisoners
• Gitmo Suicides Came Before News of Pending Release
• Putin Accuses US of Stoking Georgia Conflict
• Hurricane Gustav Kills 59 in Haiti
• Ex-Argentine Junta Generals Sentenced to Life Terms
• Jailed Lobbyist Abramoff Could See Early Release
• Israeli Peace Activist Abie Nathan Dies at 81

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  In Front of Record Convention Crowd, Obama Accepts Democratic Nomination

  Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination last night before a record convention crowd of over 84,000 at Invesco Field in Denver, becoming the first major party African American presidential nominee in US history. Obama’s nomination speech came on the forty-fifth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. We play an excerpt of his address. [includes rush transcript]

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  Rep. John Lewis, Rosey Grier, Wendell Pierce and Many More React to Obama Nomination from Stadium Floor

  Democracy Now! goes to the Mile High Stadium, where Barack Obama addressed more than 84,000 people in the largest crowd at a Democratic convention in US history, surpassing John F. Kennedy’s acceptance in 1960 at the L.A. Coliseum. An estimated 25 million people watched Obama on TV. We get reactions from the endless lines outside to the stands of spectators to the delegates on the stadium floor. [includes rush transcript]

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  Michael Eric Dyson Puts Obama's Address in Historical Context

  We discuss the significance of Barack Obama’s historic presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic convention with Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches theology, English and African American studies. He is also an ordained Baptist minister and the author of sixteen books, including April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America and Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. [includes rush transcript]

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  Obama Launches Sharp Assault on McCain, Bush in Acceptance Speech

  In his historic acceptance speech, Sen. Barack Obama launched a sharp assault on Republican presidential rival John McCain and President Bush. Obama accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination before a record crowd of over 84,000 at Invesco Field in Denver. [includes rush transcript]

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  Reactions to Obama Speech From the Stands of Spectators to Delegates on the Stadium Floor

  Part II of our interviews with spectators and delegates inside Mile High stadium in Denver, where Barack Obama addressed more than 84,000 people in the largest crowd at a Democratic Convention in US history.

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  Hundreds of Denver Residents in Historic African American Five Points Neighborhood Gather to Watch Obama Speech

  While Barack Obama spoke before over 84,000 people at Invesco Field, many residents of Denver gathered elsewhere in the city to watch his speech. Democracy Now! goes to the historic African American neighborhood of Five Points to get reaction from residents who converged to watch a live telecast in a tent set up by the organizers of the Denver Jazz and Blues Festival.