I am, as usual, late to this story. But wow. Watch this:
...and then his excellent response:
That first clip got a million views because everyone was so surprised he was educated on the issues. Sadness in that statement apart, this is an excellent, impassioned but reasoned, defense of why the Obama inspiration has caught - and why many educated young people take strong offense to the idea that we're caught up in a celebrity moment.
ETA: Holy wow.
This was a huge, important speech if only because it showed just how intricate and sophisticated Obama's understanding of these issues is. The Clinton campaign tries to dismiss Obama's superior speechgiving skills as an unworthy bar of his merits as a leader, but I am sorry, anyone who can communicate so thoughtfully, so powerfully, so inspirationally on such a hot button and emotional subject deserves a vote of confidence. Communication like this isn't only words and cadences, it's the product of long thought, mental readiness, and, yes, wisdom. This is the guy I want leading my country. I don't care if he's black, white, or fuschia. This is the guy. I've gone from tentative and on the fence (a few months ago) to full-hearted, full-throated, every-chance I get support. It is not the act of a blind, young, latte-sipping person who doesn't know better. It is the act of a young, educated, critical mind who thinks this world has such huge problems that we have to look to someone who never tries to call himself bigger than anyone of them. He only calls himself part of a solution. We need this kind of inspiration, and if it was coming from Sen. Clinton's camp I'd be all over her YouTube links too.
Several hours after this groundbreaking speech, btw, Sen. Clinton said she hadn't read it or seen it. I find that incredibly hard to believe when it has been dominating the news cycle all day. I do know, though, that dismissing this as just a good speech will be her tactic later. This wasn't a good speech; this was a seminal shift in the way politicians address race, and one that did it while maintaining grace, composure, and the ideals of the people he wishes to lead. I want this man to lead our country.
Wow, that was incredible. Thank you so much for sharing that.
This is the first federal election I've been old enough to vote in, and on February 5th, I voted for Barack Obama. I was really torn between him and Clinton - actually, a year ago, I was fully in the Clinton camp. In November, I went over all the policy nuances between the two of them, and basically found two differences on policy: health care (and both plans have huge numbers of experts supporting them) and that Obama says he would talk to Ahmadinejad, Castro, etc. without preconditions.
Originally, I felt like Clinton being in the Washington Business, so to speak, would help, and I sort of trusted her more. However, since I've thought about it, the thing about the experience she claims is that the reason people want experience is because it theoretically breeds wisdom and judgment. Now, in 2002, when it counted, when wisdom and judgment were needed, Obama, with hardly any experience, had more wisdom than Clinton with all of her experience. He already has the wisdom. She does not.
So then I was leaning towards Obama, but still split. Then, the night before the New Hampshire primaries, a few friends and I drove up to Concord to see him speak in a high school gym. It is one of the nights I will remember for the rest of my life. The ability to speak like that is not unimportant. The ability to inspire, lead, and motivate is very important, even crucial.
And yes, I'm young, and yes, I'm idealistic, and yes, I like lattes, and yes, I'm in college. But, as Obama says at the end of his stump speech, hope and idealism is not sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Hope is the impetus for change, and rarely has this country so needed change, inspiration, confidence, and yes, hope. Hope that this country can be great again.
Oops, that was long. Sorry.
Communication like this isn't only words and cadences, it's the product of long thought, mental readiness, and, yes, wisdom. This is the guy I want leading my country.
Exactly! And I've never sipped a latte in my life.
While I have not been a supporter of either side, I have usually had leanings towards the R side. After I saw Obama's speech on the news, I could tell he actually meant what he was saying. That impressed the Hell out of me.
There is such an intense message of hope found in this piece. It hearkens back to what we believed in as children, when we were young and idealistic. In many ways, we need that now. Our nation has become so debauched and mired down by the he-said-she-said, no one does anything politics, that we forget that this really an amazing place and that we are so blessed to live here. Obama deftly appealed to every part of america in this speech and reminds us to hope. I agree, Mel, this is what we need right now. The passion and conviction of his words bleeds through and in this we see the universiality of what it means to be more than americans, but people, citizens. I may not be 100% sold on him just yet, but goodness, this is something that everyone should see. This level of passion and conviction is something every person should want to have in a leader. And quite honestly, we can use all the hope we can get right now.
Having made my way to your blog as a PotterCast fan, I keep reading it because you will sometimes post unexpected, amazing items like these. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to Potter fans and for your passionate endorsement of true democratic, thoughtful, and rational ideals.
GB
Springfield, MO
P.S. I pre-ordered your book. Can't wait.