I've never seen a politician lead, until today.

[Autonomy]

Barack Obama led today. I've never seen such a speech, that risked so much by speaking so much truth. He is the candidate for our time, not because he is both black and white, but because we, now more than ever, need a real leader, who has the best, most insightful policy positions, and is willing to risk all to see them to fruition.

I now believe Barack Obama is the only candidate in a long time who has the guts to do what is needed to tackle the problems of the U.S. and the world.

I have an inkling that I have seen history when I saw this speech.

PS I am not "an Obama supporter". I'm just some guy who saw a speech on TV. :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I read the speech here

and I must say I was impressed. Like you, I'm not an Obama supporter, but his speech hit home. I could see him rallying our country to make the sacrifices that will need to be made in the future so that we can survive as a nation.

[1776Forever]

11. There is video on MSNBC if you want to watch it - Transcript on Huffington Post

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23690824#23690824

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html

:hi:

[nashville_brook]

2. i felt the same way. this was not a "politician's" speech. this was REAL LEADERSHIP.

[Autonomy]

7. I voted for Hillary in my state's primary

but I would certainly not be upset if Obama gets our nomination. He has a zeitgeist neither she, nor anyone else I've seen, has. I don't know if he will be the best president; I don't believe anyone can know that; but he will certainly tackle things from a different angle than any politician I've seen in my adult life.

[nashville_brook]

10. when i first saw his Audacity of Hope book i dismissed it as more political manipulation...

and the last thing i want is to have what little hope i have left to be manipulated.

but, what i've learned since is that his message isn't manipulative. it's real, and instead of diminishing my dying sense of hope, it's breathing life into it.

[Autonomy]

18. I should really read that book

[calico1]

3. You must be very young. n/t

[tyne]

4. If we don't elect this man

then we don't deserve the right to call ourselves the land of opportunity.

[Autonomy]

5. 39

[FrenchieCat]

6. or insightful enough to hear the truth, with its warts and all

when it is spoken.

It is a revisitation of our past and an aim into our unlimited future. A path that I pray Barack Obama is chosen to lead.

It is a contineum of leadership that has comes in ripples of waves throughout our nation's history.

[frazzled]

13. Well, I am not young ...

Today, this very day, is my 58th birthday, and that is not , alas, young.

But what the OP said is exactly what struck me so deeply about this speech today: its courage; its preference for the hard realities of authenticity and problematic truth than the exigencies of politics. I saw a different kind of leader today, too: one who did not bend to the media's thirst for the politically expedient soundbite (he would never satisfy them on this issue) that might salvage a campaign but who stood up and took the bull by the horn and told us about the hard realities--for both black and white america--that we pretend we don't have. I think it was historic. I have never really heard anything like this come out of a politician's mouth.

edited for horrendous grammatical gaffe that I don't want on my permanent record (it's for its).

[calico1]

14. My point..and the reason I thought the OP was

very young is that I am old enough to remember MLK and RFK. I am too young to remember JFK speak though I was alive when he was assasinated (5). And along the way numerous other people in politics that have moved me or at least made a speech or two that I found moving.

I have not seen Obama's speech yet since I am at work but I guess my point is even if I see it and think he hit it out of the park, it would not be the first time I felt that way about a politician and their ability to lead.

Happy Birthday!!

:party:

:hi:

[Autonomy]

20. EXACTLY!

i was wondering what you meant by "young". MLK died less than 3 months before i was born, and Bobby died 23 days before i was born. There have been others since who have made courageous speeches, for sure, but none who were so viable for such a high office. Even McGovern's stance on Vietnam was not the type and degree of leadership I saw today from Barack. RFK is a great comparison. That's saying a lot.

[tbyg52]

16. Also not young

Also sitting here blubbering into my keyboard. No, we have not seen anything like this in a long time.

[Autonomy]

22. all right, fine

I admit it. I shed ONE tear when he told that Ashley and the Old Black Man story. It was an awesome story bc he didn't try to summarize or tell us the moral of the story; he let us come to our own conclusion. Excellent storytelling. Also lends itself to my overall impression of leadership from the speech.

[tbyg52]

24. That was a perfect way to end the speech, wasn't it.

Darn it, you made me cry again....! :hug:

[Autonomy]

25. LMAO

should I apologize? Hmm, I think I will watch the speech again and see if I find it equally moving a second time.

[Autonomy]

21. Happy birthday!

:party: :toast:

[theoldman]

8. Obama says the things I would say.

Obama is much more eloquent, younger, better looking and I hope he becomes our president.

[KittyWampus]

9. wish he'd called out the "Media" way more.

[1776Forever]

12. I have to say that I have never heard the media called out like he did it though!

It was truly refreshing! About darn time!

[Bullet1987]

17. He couldn't come off too strongly against the media

But he did just enough for them to get the message. And make them look petty in the process.

[Autonomy]

23. My perspective

is that he was talking mostly to and directly to the people. I think bashing the media more would have been a distraction from his message. JMO.

[Bullet1987]

15. Obama didn't just hit it out of the park...he broke the bat and ran around

the diamond twice before it even left the park.

[Umbram]

19. Excellent post. He will be a great leader of our country. (nt)