“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” Mark Twain

Last night I turned on the Democratic National Convention just in time to hear Michelle Obama’s introduction and speech. I thought it was a good performance of an average speech.

First the good.  Michelle looked fantastic. They were very successful at softening her appearance and image.  The shots of a successful black family with a father, mother and children were great to see considering the culture wars going on the in the African-American community. Michelle delivered the speech well and seemed genuinely moved toward the end of the speech.

But I was disappointed in the content of the speech. The speech seemed to be just a collection of various observations designed to convince us that the Obama’s regular people just like you and me. In the middle there was a short section of boiler-plate liberal agenda points.  But the speech did not truly connect because it had no solid thread of an idea or story line to tie it all together into a single framework.

After the speech, Juan Williams of Fox News was visible moved by the speech. But by his own admission, he was moved primarily by the moment. A vibrant young black woman is speaking to a major party convention as the potential next First Lady of America.  This was indeed a historic moment in the history of our country. It deserved a historic speech that connected the past, the public and the Obama’s in a way that provided the rationale of why Obama should be the future for the country.

I noticed the same issue at Obama’s Germany speech. A hodgepoge of unrelated one-liners with no structure to connect them.  The Obama campaign is absolutely flush with money. Can’t they afford to hire a team of speech-writers to write great speeches? (Think Reagan)  Why didn’t we hear something like the following?

My father grew up in a different world than the America of today. A world where tonight could never happen.  But as I was born into his world, Rev. King led men like my father to dream of a better time. A time when my father would not have to tell my brother and I, “No, you can’t.”  And that’s why my father was able to get up everyday and dress for work, despite the pain of his MS.  He was working to change things for the better for his family. And your families have done the same, fueled by a belief in the greatness of America. Until we have arrived at the America of today, where a white woman and a black man, both of Illinois, can legitimately dream of being the President of the United States.

It has been my privilege to work side by side with Barack as he has carried on in that tradition. I’ve watched as he struggled to make a difference in the lives of others. As he has made improvements in the lives of the citizens of Chicago. I’ve watched as they entrusted him to represent them in the Illinois Senate and United States Senate.

And that’s why I have hope for my daughters, that they will live in a different world than Dr. King and my father.  Because I have seen with my own eyes the changes in lives all over this country. I have been touched by your hopes and dreams for the future. And I sincerely believe that Barack Obama is change YOU can believe in. Because I have known and loved and worked with Barack Obama for 19 years. And when I look at Barack Obama , I SEE A DREAM COME TRUE…”

If Obama really wants to win, he can’t just go to a big stadium full of people that make him look great and do a professional job reading a teleprompter speech. He needs a great speech. One that explains what “change” really means and why Americans should want his kind of change.  Thursday night, the responsibility for winning the nation over will rest on his shoulders.  What kind of speech will he give? A great one? Or an almost great one?