PARKERSBURG - Just hours after returning from his first political convention, Paul Miller of Wood County reflected on the experience at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Miller said Friday he thinks the party is ready to work to re-elect President Barack Obama.
"I think President Obama laid out a very important vision for two paths that America will take," he said. "In essence the Democratic Party is energized; we understand our mission."
Miller said the convention showed the choices the country can take are clear.
"There are two visions, one is we are in this together or a vision of take care of yourself you are on your own," he said. "I think the president laid out a compelling case for we are in this together, we are brothers and sisters.
"More importantly he laid the foundation for economic recovery."
Miller said the data speaks for itself showing the economy is headed in the right direction in terms of job creation.
"We had 29 straight months of employment growth in the private sector, returning our faith in the market, banks are lending again. We have avoided a second depression and I don't think we are in as deep of a hole as we were in 2008," he said. "It is clear it will take time to heal from the economic policies of the previous eight years."
Miller said the president's campaign will get a bump from the convention.
"Independent voters understand and respond to the message that we are on right path and we are better off than we were four years ago," he said. "Although we are not where we want to be we are going in the right direction."
"Voters understand that the president's decisions were hard and he ended the war in Iraq and saved General Motors, restored faith in the lending system, averted a run on banks and collapse of markets with bailing out AIG and Lehman Brothers," Miller said. "His first legislation to pass was the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and he ended don't ask don't tell."
Miller said the atmosphere was upbeat at the convention.
"I think it was a joyous celebration of what we've achieved in four years," he said. "We have to understand we are still hurting; there are still four applicants for every job, housing prices are hedging up but people are struggling to pay mortgages.
"We are celebrating achievements but we recognize we have a much longer road to go."
