Rock on!

As the first day of the Democratic National Convention drew to a close yesterday, I realized that I was at the political equivalent of a rock concert — or, more aptly, a rock festival. Rather than four days of rock bands, with minor acts during the daytime and headliners at night, it's four days of political speakers. Instead of waggling bare breasts and throwing panties onto the stage or holding up lighters, the screaming throng wave signs, though many are just as creatively dressed as with body paint and glitter.

The parallels go on. At a rock concert, the hot lead singer can make 20,000 people scream by shouting, "Rock and roooooooll!" loudly into the mic. At the DNC, all anyone need do is shout the words "next president" and "Barack Obama" in the mic and the crowd is on its feet.

As far as opening acts go, pretty much everyone prior to Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) received anemic applause, with the exception of Nancy Pelosi, who did a little audience singalong with "Barack Obama is right, and McCain is wrong."

Then Jackson took the stage.

"I'm certain that Dr. King is aware, looking down on us, that this is the first political convention to take place in sight of a mountain top," he said, describing America as a nation "yearning for change and hungry for unity."

He told the now-enthusiastic crowd that Obama represents the idea "that we all have a stake in each other, that the well-being of the 'we' depends on the well-being of the 'he' and the 'she,

that we... rise and fall together as one nation."

"While America may not be perfect," he went on, "our union can always be perfected. We need a leader who can heal the wounds of the lat four years... We need Barack Obama."

And the crowd was on its feet.

Soon, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late John F. Kennedy, was welcomed to the stage to the strains of "Sweet Caroline" — a cheesy touch, really. Her words had a visible impact on the crowd when she invoked the legacy of Camelot, saying, "I've never had anyone to inspire me the way people say my father inspired them. But I do now."

She was referring to Obama, of course.

But she also offered an eloquent tribute to her uncle, Sen. Teddy Kennedy, who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Her speech was followed by a tribute video featuring some of Sen. Kennedy's best moments.

It was the first "lighter" moment of the night, poignant and bittersweet, and was followed by the arrival of Kennedy himself to deafening applause. Even some folks in the press stands forgot they were media and applauded, some of them not even American.

Michelle Obama was the night's main act, her stirring speech about her own life and that of her husband and how the two of them share the beliefs and desires of mainstream Americans capping off the evening with a standing ovation — and a glimpse of the true headliner, Barack Obama.

After four days of frenzied speeches praising him, we'll finally see him in person on Thursday at Mile High Stadium, all of the speakers merely a warm-up for a speech that is almost certain to go down in history for its eloquence. (For, although all men may be created equal, all speakers are not, and Obama is heads above any other political figure in the United States today.)

Of interest is the way the speakers lined up to reveal the Democratic National Committee's strategy. The day started with a lengthy appeal to Latino voters, followed by a focus on women's and children's issues with abortion rights, health care and education in the spotlight, and then a tight focus on family and faith. (It caused eye-rolls in the press stands each time a speaker referred to "faith" or talked about the United States as "one nation, under God," one German reporter noting that no European would link religion and politics in such a way.)

Today, the speakers will feature Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is expected to urge her supporters to put their votes behind Obama. Still very vocal, Clinton fans cheered loudly at any mention of her name. No doubt she'll provide them with a chance or two to lift their lighters tonight.

—Pamela White