The Hiller Instinct: Barack Obama's Speech

His speech was scripted (as all convention speeches are)...performed on an impressive set with an appreciative audience...just like a play. But it was political choreography, not reality.

I suspect you know nothing about the Democratic Convention this week, or the Republican's next week, is truly real...even the so-called spontaneous demonstrations are pre-planned and timed to the minute.

"How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day...," John McCain says in his recent ad.

The congratulatory ad John McCain released today is clever, but it's just another curveball: designed to take attention away from Obama, and get McCain some.

That's why the conventions remind me of the Olympics.

The fireworks at the opening ceremony were spectacular, but some of them were fake.

The setting was beautiful, too...but that doesn't mean the Chinese government is a thing of beauty.

When people ask me who I think the next president will be, I'm not embarrassed to say, "I don't know."

But I'll have a good guess when this campaign gets real--and what will make it real are the debates.

Then, all the stagecraft will be meaningless.

When Obama and McCain meet face-to-face--and face all of us--I bet you won't even remember the conventions.

So, enjoy them, because they're political candy. But save some room, because the real meal is on the way.

I'm Andy Hiller and that's my instinct.

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