Art Commentary by Marion Wolberg Weiss

Politics and the Media: "We Are Family"
at the Democratic National Convention

Real life on TV is often more dramatic than fictional enactments; political events have proven the point time and time again, including the national nominating conventions held every four years. Visual images from past conventions have become part of our media legacy: remember when Bill and Hillary Clinton, along with Al and Tipper Gore, broke into spontaneous dancing at the conclusion of Clinton's 1992 acceptance speech? As audience members, we were witnesses to a moving moment of optimism and joy. At the 2000 Democratic Convention, Gore again provided a lasting visual image when he kissed his wife so passionately that even she seemed overwhelmed.

So were we.

At this year's convention, TV cameras caught very few similar emotional and personal moments. Save, perhaps, for the fireworks going off, but we can hardly count that as personal. One exception: Joe Biden embracing his son, Beau, after being introduced. A silent, salient moment passed between them as they looked into each other's eyes: a defining moment between father and son that said more than any speech could. (Another potent exception: one of the few worm's eye-views during the convention was a shot of Joe Biden holding his grandchild.)

The fact that such defining visuals, past and present, had to do with the family is important. So is the fact that a lot of speeches continued this very theme by evoking the parent-child relationship. Consider Obama's frequent homage to his mother and Michelle Obama's commitment to her two dauthers. Even Joe Biden's acceptance speech was filled with references to his father's wisdom.

These allusions in a political discourse, although personal and emotional, serve rhetorical purposes as well. For example, Obama's closeness to his mother gave him humanity. Michelle's love for her daughters softened her image as a tough professional woman. Biden's references to his father evoked his working class roots. Even Hillary Clinton's speech began with, "I'm here as a proud mother" ( followed by "I'm here as a proud Democrat").

The notion of family generally was also powerfully conveyed by Ted Kennedy's homage which reinforced the "passing of the torch" from JFK to Bobby to Ted. Senator Kennedy's closing statement ("the dream lives on") strongly suggested that Obama is now the receipient of the same torch.

The "family" was again emphasized in a different way when Obama appeared after Biden's acceptance speech as the song, "We are Family," rang out.What does this subtle theme of family tell us, if anything, about Obama's run for President? For example, we will probably see more of the same in future TV ads: lots of scenes with Obama, Michelle and their children. This strategy is an effective tactic to humanize Obama, make him less lofty and "intellectual-sounding," turn around his image of being too "distant."

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