I’ll be the first to admit I almost missed the Obama Express. When it comes to the presidential election, I’ve been a hopeful supporter of Al Gore and an avid defender of Hillary Clinton.
All that changed on Thursday night, and not because Barack Obama won 38% of the Iowa caucuses. I was shocked, concerned and maybe even a little disappointed in the win that was almost certainly bad news for Hillary.
Then he gave a speech–a speech which was more impassioned, and more genuine, than anything I’ve heard in a long time. All I could think was, “Is he for real?”
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” The words sound cliché when repeated in news articles or quoted by T.V. anchors, but when delivered by the man himself, there is an unbridled, unparalleled passion behind them.
It’s a universally accepted truth that our system is corrupt; that politicians are responsible to lobbies and corporations; that the best interests of our country always take a back seat to the political game. Sure, we all hope that after the election, the situation will improve. But until I listened to Senator Obama speak, it never occurred to me that the kind of change he talks about is even possible.
In an effort to run an entirely grass roots campaign, the Senator has arranged for each donation made to his campaign in the coming weeks to be matched by another generous supporter of his somewhere else in the country. Whether it will work remains to be seen, but it’s a move that demonstrates that the Senator’s actions are as bold as his words.
What if we really did elect a president who, for the first time in modern history, entered office owing his victory to no one but the American people? What if there was no favor-trading or lobbying or earmarking? What if he really means what he says and intends to change politics as we know it?
It’s idealistic, I realize, but isn’t that the mark of a great leader? Someone who can make believers out of cynics? A week ago, I thought Barack Obama was inexperienced and, quite frankly, full-of-it. But the way he speaks about the future and his ability to captivate and move his audience is nothing short of inspiring.
“Years from now when we’ve made the changes we believe in, when the world sees America differently, and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united you’ll be able to look back and say that this was the moment when it all began.”
Maybe he won’t even win the nomination, let alone the general election, and maybe those words will end up being just another speech by another politician. Or maybe, just maybe, we are witnessing the beginning of something great.
Since his win on Thursday, his campaign has picked up tremendous momentum, as well as hundreds, if not thousands, of new supporters. It’s all in the hands of New Hampshire residents for now, but I’m holding out hope that the Obama Express is going non-stop to Denver.
This is the part where you say to yourself, “That sounds exciting. What can I do to be part of it?” You can start by watching the speech at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoFwZUp5vc. Then get on board at www.barackobama.com and cross your fingers for Tuesday.
dude totally. when we were in italy, i read his autobiography (at the end of which was another speech, possibly from his senate induction?) and i felt the same you feel about his caucus speech.
plus he looks really good in a bathing suit.