A little late, but a little tribute to mark the 2nd anniversary of Obama's 2008 acceptance speech

[quiet.american]

This first video - a quiet gem amidst all of Obama's speeches to gathered crowds of hundreds of thousands - is what cemented for me that "this brother is for real" and that my support of him for President was well-founded. Grateful to the DU'er who originally posted it - this is one of my all-time favorites. (Click the images for videos)

Barack Speaks to HQ Staff and Volunteers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnhmByYxEIo">


Another favorite - Obama at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner - 'nuff said!
Barack Obama's Speech at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc">


And of course -- have to include that gorgeous Denver night on August 28, 2008:
Barack Obama at the 2008 DNC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCrIeRkMhA">


And just want to add this speech as well, post-election, it was given to Congressional Democrats on the eve of the healthcare reform vote, and harkens back to the principles of the talk Obama gave to his campaign staff (first video in this post):
"I Am Bound to be True"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35962986#35962986">

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Re-watching these moments gives me a renewed sense of the man, a sense of the man that cannot be explained through the shouting to those who, on one side, prostrate themselves at the feet of Limbaugh and show up at Beck rallies, armed with fevered indignation born of willful ignorance, and who on the other, insist that somehow this man who grew up between a single mom and his grandparents; who made it into the best schools while knowing what it was like to buy groceries with food stamps; who was not only editor of the Harvard Law Review (a BFD), but also the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review (another BFD), but who went back to the South Side of Chicago to put that incredible education to work as a community organizer -- that somehow this is the kind of man that suposedly wants to starve the elderly and perpetrate all other kinds of equally ridiculous nonsense on the country.

When I see stuff like that, from both right and left, I think to myself, there is no sense of the man there. I am still as inspired by Obama as I was two years ago on August 28, 2008. He still has my respect. That's why, if I'm in disagreement with Obama, it doesn't prompt me to attack his character, because he seriously earned my respect. There was a time during the primaries, before it came down to him and Hillary, that (I'm embarrassed to say now) I bought into what others here were saying about him, and my support wavered. But once I started spending more time looking directly at what Obama had to say for himself, he earned my respect and support and he's never lost it. These videos are just a few touchstones along the way of how I came to respect the man.

Hope you'll take some time and enjoy them again, too. :dem:

[Cha]

1. It's never too late for this, q.a..thanks

for the tribute..it's actually a BFD. :)

We could be dealing with mcpalin righ now if not for this..and I'm appreciative for every day we have the President we helped elect.

[quiet.american]

2. Thanks, Cha. "We could be dealing with McPalin right now..."

I am so glad that is not what it came to. Can you imagine. McCain wanted to immediately freeze all spending, except for military and entitlement. We see what's happened to the economy as the stimulus programs have expired, and what's happened to consumer spending as the GOP successfully held up unemployment benefits for a couple months. Palin would be out there whipping up into a frenzy the ugliness we witnessed at their rallies... the combat mission in Iraq most likely would not have yet ended, with no end in sight... McCain would still think "muddling through" in Afghanistan would be the way to go.... :scared:

Thank goodness we have a Democratic President.

GObama! :kick: