[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Norman Solomon
Elected California Delegate
Sixth California Congressional District

Barack Obama's triumph on May 6 was a victory over a wall that pretends to be a fly on the wall.

For a long time, the nation's body politic has been shoved up against that wall -- known as the news media.

Despite all its cracks and gaps, what cements the wall is mostly a series of repetition compulsion disorders. Whether the media perseveration is on Pastor Wright, the words "bitter" and "cling," or an absent flag lapel-pin, the wall's surfaces are more rigid when they're less relevant to common human needs and shared dreams.

"We've already seen it," Obama said during his victory speech in North Carolina, "the same names and labels they always pin on everyone who doesn't agree with all their ideas, the same efforts to distract us from the issues that affect our lives, by pouncing on every gaffe and association and fake controversy, in the hopes that the media will play along."

And how, they've played along. From the front pages of "quality" dailies to the reportage of NPR's drive-time news to the blather-driven handicapping on cable television, the ways that media structures have functioned in recent weeks tell us -- yet again -- how fleeting any media attention to substance can be.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

[Editor's note: This is another speech you have to see to believe--one of the most inspirational presidential campaign speeches I have seen.]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

I have always been an Obama fan, but after listening to his victory speech this evening, I believe for the first time that he will be our next President. Besting Clinton and Edwards in the Iowa caucuses was impressive. But what blew me away was how he seized the moment -- delivering a powerful, stirring speech that defined the Iowa outcome not just as a campaign victory, but as a truly historic event.  

When you compare Obama’s soaring oratory and message of hope and unity to Hillary’s tired and recycled “ready to be President on Day 1” stump speech -- it all came into focus tonight. Obama inspires, unites, and makes you believe that after 8 years of being embarrassed of this country’s leadership -- we actually have the chance to elect the best and the brightest to the White House. Perhaps this generation’s Kennedy. Obama offers the opportunity to replace a bumbling President whose abilities are a joke but whose actions have been tragic, with a leader who genuinely inspires and can restore respect for America both at home and abroad.

After tonight, unless you have an ambassador appointment waiting for you in a Clinton White House, I don’t see how you choose Hillary over Obama. I predict he wins New Hampshire, wins South Carolina, secures the nomination and goes on to become the next President of the United States.