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">

---------------

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:

[Scurrilous]

1. Thanks.

K & R :thumbsup:

[quiet.american]

3. Cheers, and thanks for reading, Scurrilous. nt

[Cha]

2. Thanks for putting this together q.american..it

is a wonderful tribute in appreciation for the reality of the progress we have actually made as a country and the basis for more postitive accomplishments to come. :fistbump:

[quiet.american]

4. Cha, I hope it's as much fun to check out as it was to put together.

Brought up a lot of memories.

[Hekate]

5. Bookmarked for a rainy day. Very enjoyable walk down memory lane & into the future

For putting this together, QA: :hug:

Dem Rockettes for President Barack Obama

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[quiet.american]

14. Love those Dem Rockettes, Hekate! :) nt

:fistbump: :hug:

[pnorman]

6. K & R

THANKS

[quiet.american]

16. Thank you, for checking this out, Pnorman. nt

[lillypaddle]

7. K&R

Thanks.

[quiet.american]

17. Cheers, Lillypaddle. nt

[jaxx]

8. Thank you so much for the memories.

Who will ever forget those moments...... Yes We Did!!

and Yes We Can!

[quiet.american]

15. Cheers. You're right -- we need to remember more than ever, Yes We Can!

[yowzayowzayowza]

9. Thx Q.A, hadn't seen that first one!!!

K&R

[quiet.american]

18. Cheers, Yowza. That one, to me, sums up Obama. Glad you checked it out. nt

[firedupdem]

10. K&R

Thanks for these!

[quiet.american]

19. Cheers, FiredUpDem. Thanks for stopping in! nt

[flamingdem]

11. August 28th was a beautiful night at the headquarters party here

Not an eye was dry ..

[quiet.american]

13. Wish I were there! You lucky flamingdem, you!

With "lucky" meaning "hard-working" -- I know you had to have put in some hours on the campaign to have been at the headquarters that night! Thank you!

[flamingdem]

24. take that to the bank, phone bank that is!

:party: :party: :party:

[Blue_Tires]

12. ttt

[quiet.american]

20. Thanks, Blue_Tires. nt

[Bobbie Jo]

21. K&R!

:kick:

[quiet.american]

30. 'Preciate it, Bobbie Jo. :) nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. Thanks for the memories q.a. If we could only stop for a moment and

realize just how bad things were before, we might appreciate how far we've come in such a short time. I, for one, am not anxious to return to the crazy hazy days of Repuke control of Washington. :hi:

[quiet.american]

28. Cheers, Tarheel_Dem -we've got to get fired up and ready to go again!

The Republicans are banking on winning back power after a year-and-a-half of openly trying to plan "Waterloo" after "Waterloo" for Obama, and after a year of saying "tough shit" to working people.

Something is seriously WRONG with that picture.

[SoxFan]

23. K&R!

[quiet.american]

31. Thanks, SoxFan. Cheers. :) nt

[Number23]

25. Kick and Rec. Love ya, qa!

[quiet.american]

27. Love ya right back, Number23! Thanks! nt

[jefferson_dem]

26. Thanks!

OP of the day. :thumbsup:

I must say...watching these videos makes me nostalgic and also quite sad that, over the past two years, we've become so divided as a nation. After such great promise, it's clear that we have a long, long way to go as a nation.

[quiet.american]

29. Jefferson_Dem, cheers -- and what gets me is that --

-- Obama is often blamed by the MSM for that division, even though as President, I've watched him do his level best to hear all points of view.

I often wonder HOW this country is supposed to come together ever again, as long as Fox News operates unchallenged, as long as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are made millionaires over and over again, year in and year out, for the filth they put out, and as long as every city in this country has its own local right-wing echo chamber of hate. I know the Constitution protects these mofos, but how is this country supposed to come together when this deliberate wedge is being driven through it every minute of every day?

Pre-Bush, and pre-FAUX, it seemed for a time to me that we had come so far as a nation - but sometimes I don't know anymore. I hold out hope that the vision that Obama holds of this country - not "red states and blue states, but the United States of America" ultimately prevails. And I know that in that spirit, I shouldn't be referring to Republicans as "mofos" but since I'm not running for office, I'm just going to go for it at the moment. :)

[Pirate Smile]

32. K & R

:yourock:

[otohara]

33. That Gorgeous Denver Night

a highlight in my life - the entire day was delightful.

[great white snark]

34. Monday Kick.

Thanks quiet.american, I still get chills watching....