Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land—enough! …And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight…”
--Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama
--Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama
Throughout the primary campaign, often Barack Obama would say that since he first began running for president 18 months ago, babies have been born and are now walking and talking.
On some levels, the same can be said for Senator Barack Obama—who, over the past eighteen months has learned, grown, gleaned and matured into the man we saw tonight.
Barack Obama was a different man tonight. He was a bigger man, a tougher man, an incensed man who made it clear why he desires to serve as President of the United States. For a man who has won over many with his generous, unarming smile, tonight, Obama smiled little as he hammered away at the failed polices of George Bush and John McCain.
Best-selling author, John Maxwell describes true leadership as the ability to influence others. Leadership is more than a policy position, a title, or years in public office. Leadership is the ability to offer a compelling vision, and communicate and live out that vision in a way that persuades others to follow and join in.
Barack Obama has ideas, solutions and the ability to listen and learn from the wisdom of others. He knows where he’s weak and works to become stronger. In the primary campaign, he began as a poor debater, and he grew to become a strong one.
Barack Obama doesn’t pretend to possess all the answers, but knows that together, we Americans have the answers, and together we can produce the change we need. One of his favorite sayings is that “I’m asking you to believe. Not just about my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
Barack Obama is an intelligent man with keen insight and the ability to grasp and process information quickly and thoroughly and make an informed decision. Obama will not blindly nor stubbornly “lead” the American people into harm’s way.
As a well-trained lawyer, he will do his due diligence, take action, change direction when necessary, and willingly admit his mistakes when they occur. This is the tradition of Barack Obama. This is the man he is. This is the president he will be.
Disciplined, diplomatic and determined, Barack Obama will continue to grow, to learn, to glean and to mature. It’s called being teachable. And it’s something each of us must be—even the president of the United States.
This week we saw the Democratic party come together to heal the wounds from the primary season. This week we saw an incredibly well orchestrated event with incredible talent, music and inspiring speakers. This week we saw an astoundingly enthusiastic crowd, culminating in over 80,000 in Denver’s mile high stadium proudly nominate the first African American as the presidential nominee of a major party.
Tonight, on the 45th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Barack Obama was firm, forceful and formidable. He carries with him the struggles of each of the families with whom he’s had the privilege of listening while sitting at kitchen tables across the country. It’s these faces that Obama sees. It’s these faces that cause a righteous indignation to rise up in Barack Obama. It’s the stories behind these faces that give Barack Obama the moral authority to demand change in Washington.
I believe that Barack Obama understands the weight of the responsibility he’s seeking. Never have I seen him tear up—until tonight. Never have I seen him visibly nervous—until tonight. And I have never seen him angry—until tonight.
It was just a matter of time before Barack Obama the candidate would evolve into Barack Obama the president. Many may have wanted this moment to come sooner, but it came at precisely the right moment.
On some levels, the same can be said for Senator Barack Obama—who, over the past eighteen months has learned, grown, gleaned and matured into the man we saw tonight.
Barack Obama was a different man tonight. He was a bigger man, a tougher man, an incensed man who made it clear why he desires to serve as President of the United States. For a man who has won over many with his generous, unarming smile, tonight, Obama smiled little as he hammered away at the failed polices of George Bush and John McCain.
Best-selling author, John Maxwell describes true leadership as the ability to influence others. Leadership is more than a policy position, a title, or years in public office. Leadership is the ability to offer a compelling vision, and communicate and live out that vision in a way that persuades others to follow and join in.
Barack Obama has ideas, solutions and the ability to listen and learn from the wisdom of others. He knows where he’s weak and works to become stronger. In the primary campaign, he began as a poor debater, and he grew to become a strong one.
Barack Obama doesn’t pretend to possess all the answers, but knows that together, we Americans have the answers, and together we can produce the change we need. One of his favorite sayings is that “I’m asking you to believe. Not just about my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
Barack Obama is an intelligent man with keen insight and the ability to grasp and process information quickly and thoroughly and make an informed decision. Obama will not blindly nor stubbornly “lead” the American people into harm’s way.
As a well-trained lawyer, he will do his due diligence, take action, change direction when necessary, and willingly admit his mistakes when they occur. This is the tradition of Barack Obama. This is the man he is. This is the president he will be.
Disciplined, diplomatic and determined, Barack Obama will continue to grow, to learn, to glean and to mature. It’s called being teachable. And it’s something each of us must be—even the president of the United States.
This week we saw the Democratic party come together to heal the wounds from the primary season. This week we saw an incredibly well orchestrated event with incredible talent, music and inspiring speakers. This week we saw an astoundingly enthusiastic crowd, culminating in over 80,000 in Denver’s mile high stadium proudly nominate the first African American as the presidential nominee of a major party.
Tonight, on the 45th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Barack Obama was firm, forceful and formidable. He carries with him the struggles of each of the families with whom he’s had the privilege of listening while sitting at kitchen tables across the country. It’s these faces that Obama sees. It’s these faces that cause a righteous indignation to rise up in Barack Obama. It’s the stories behind these faces that give Barack Obama the moral authority to demand change in Washington.
I believe that Barack Obama understands the weight of the responsibility he’s seeking. Never have I seen him tear up—until tonight. Never have I seen him visibly nervous—until tonight. And I have never seen him angry—until tonight.
It was just a matter of time before Barack Obama the candidate would evolve into Barack Obama the president. Many may have wanted this moment to come sooner, but it came at precisely the right moment.
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