Obama’s Acceptance Speech: Part 1
Obama’s Acceptance Speech: Part 2
Barack Obama‘s acceptance speech text, from AmericaBlog
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
raincoaster 
I flipped over to the networks just in time to see Obama give this speech. The words as written are inspiring, but hearing him speak them was thrilling. Gods save our gracious President.
I felt a heavy particle in my throat when I heard/saw Obama deliver the above speech. I could not tell what I was going through but am sure it was a joy beyond limits.
America, your President is God Given- Give him the support that he needs and for sure you are going places with the stewardship of this wonderful guy.
He has learned his rhetoric well. He is masterful at (decieveing?) the masses with abstract language and emotional appeal. His entire speech is right out of the book…this makes me nervous…and isn’t the world situation so convenient for a president like him to unite us all…unity at the expense of what i wonder…there is a communist flavor here i can’t deny
As a reward to the first black becoming President, Scope shall award Mr Obama the honor to comment in his blog. LOL~
No need to thank me, ya welcomed. LOL~
vinogradski, it’s funny you’d make that remark on the blog of an anarchal communist. Planning to move to a cabin in Idaho by any chance?
Vinogradski is more perceptive than the glossy-eyed sheeple who voted for B.O.
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Oh dear, Bunk. The unthinking use of a rather foolish catch-word puts your comment in the light-weight, sour grapes category. Hey, even if the Dems do raise taxes, they will be taxes on NOTHING! Your beloved Republicans have seen to that. Two wars you cannot afford and suddenly there are trillions of dollars to bail out the criminal CEO’s who have raped the world economy. The American dollar is worthless. Welfare and no taxes for the mega rich, Yeah, right! But no welfare for the poor. Look, you lost! Cut out the fearmongering and come back to the real world!
OH NOES! HERE COMES THE NEENER-NEENER-NEENER CROWD!
Bunk, do you not recall the last US election? There was a certain amount of neener-neener from another quarter entirely.
I’d be the first to agree that Barack Obama is a consumate politician. And your country desperately needs one. Can you honestly look at the conflict-driven demagoguery and hidebound ideological rigour of the past eight years and say “Now there’s a great president–we need another just like him”?
Unless you feel that the current situation in the US is excellent, or even optimal, then Obama was the only real hope for improvement. McCain/Palin were certainly less credible, and none of the other party candidates had a chance.
There’s nothing communist, or even socialist in any real sense, about Obama, unless you deliberately and grotesquely distort the meaning of those words.
And whether you agree with the choice or not, it’s certainly lifted the place a couple of notches in world opinion at a time when that lift was desperately needed.
The only dark note is the foaming racism, hate, and craziness coming from places like the Freepers, LGF, et al. But I think even a number of them will come around eventually.
@ Metro, the place I visit to check the insanity of the wingnuts is a place called “Cao’s Blog” – I wont soil Rain’s place with a link but googling it will take you to a cesspit!
Note that the “wingnuts” didn’t riot upon the election results. Note also that I’m not going to edumacate y’all on local or global economics or foreign affairs. I didn’t vote for a black guy and I didn’t vote for a white guy.
My vote for the president was moot anyway, as I live in the state of kalifornia where it’s given that all the electoral votes go to the democrats by default. What I think doesn’t matter here.
Archie ignores the cesspit of the HuffPo, whose readers are so vicious and full of hate that the site has to shut off comments on a regular basis due to the vile content.
To label me and other conservatives as racists is just ignorant name calling. Who fought AGAINST abolition of slavery? Democrats. Who fought AGAINST the civil rights movement? Democrats. Who fights today against equal rights? Democrats. Who gets vilified by the American Press? EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
Am I bitter about the eel-lection? Of course not. I accept the outcome, and I’ve moved on. But beware… y’all got what you wished for! I’m already laughing, believe it or not!
All in fun, Bunk
Really? The Democrats were behind the passing of Prop 8? Whodathunkit?
Bunk:
You get a few things right. Simply accusing Republicans of racism ignores the subtleties. But your argument is fallacious.
The Democrats favoured slavery–along with the majority of their constituents, and possibly the majority of the US population including not a few members of Lincoln’s own party. And are you going to tell me that the Republicans of 1865 are ideologically identical to the ones of 2008?
The people who fought the civil rights movement of the sixties in the Democratic Party jumped ship, and I’m sure you know where they are now. “Mr. Thurmond–White courtesy phone …”
I assume your “against equal rights” remark is something directed toward affirmative action. And the system has its flaws. So tell me, who do you think might stand a better chance of ending it? A white Texan or an urban black man?
And yeah, it wasn’t Democrats who pushed Prop 8.
“Who gets vilified by the American press? EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.”
–You’re joking, right? I assume you’ve never read The Washington Times or The New York Post, the Human Events letter or site, the National Review Online, or watched FOX news, or listened to any of the truly awful chat shows on radio?
Oddly enough, when it comes to hate speech, it’s not Air America leading the charge.
One at a time, folks! First of all, unless I am mistaken, the folks arguing the loudest aren’t even U.S. citizens, therefore can’t vote, and their opinions are just opinions. Archie is from down under. Rain and Metro are Canucks. But, hey, it’s a forum.
Rain– Prop 8 has nothing to do with this discussion. OT. You like flamewars huh? =)
Metro–
You(?)and many others appear to be making the wrong argument that the electorate who voted against B.O. are racists. Almost half of this country voted against the “savior” because of his policies, both stated and inferred. Obama himself injected race into the debate, not McCain or the Republicans. McCain himself shut down the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s anti-American racist rants by declaring him as an untouchable. Whoa.
Do you wish to discuss your revisionist history of slavery, or Obama’s proposed economic policies?
Honest question.
If you’re going to continue to insist that England abolished slavery later than 1865 then we should probably continue to agree to disagree and leave it there.
Proposition 8, like the similar measures passed elsewhere, has everything to do with equality, thus is legit fodder here.
I don’t believe that everyone who voted against Obama is a racist, but you’d have to be crazy to claim racism by whites against blacks played no part. I’d guess that about a fifth of the fifty percent you mention were motivated by the colour of his skin, alongside other factors both legitimate and not. You’ve seen it online and so have I.
I haven’t really paid any attention to Jeremiah Wright. I think that the characterization of him as somehow un-American is silly. It would be like characterizing as un-American those soreheads currently posting messages to bulletin boards like “This is the day America died,” and “We voted ourselves a commie,” and “The American people will get what they deserve,” variants of the which aren’t hard to find, as I’m sure you know.
Regarding Obama’s economic policies, most of them seem entirely benign–What bits do you particularly object to? The tax cuts?
Not for nothing did the McCain campaign admit that “If we keep talking about the economy, we’re gonna get creamed.”
Metro–
Please pick a topic. You’re all over the floor, my friend. Do you wish to discuss perceived racism, the history of slavery, gay rights, basic economics, or taxation?
I’ll respond to one of your statements by rephrasing it: “You’d have to be crazy to claim racism by blacks against whites played no part.” I agree with your premise as well. Race did play a part, but it’s a moot point. Next?
Bunk, your point was that you live in California, where the Republicans are downtrodden by the implacable, unbeatable machine which is the Democratic party. My point is that this claim is bullshit. Hence my reference to Prop 8.
I thought you would have noticed: I was responding to the topics of your earlier comment.
I don’t really think there’s much point in discussing things with someone who denies, citation free, fundamental and agreed-upon facts of history such as the end of slavery.
And as I’m sure you’d agree, from your own viewpoint, to what purpose would we be having a discussion?
Glad you agree that racism played a part. Though I disagree that the point is moot.
For all the rest, I think Raincoaster put it well enough.
Rain– When I said that my vote didn’t count, I was referring to the Presidential election, not local ballot measures.
Metro– I agree that we’re not going to see eye-eye, and neither one of us will be able to convince the other. Besides, I was on my period last week. We can keep it civil and let it drop.
Metro & Bunk flamewar FAIL.
Cool, man. Makes me wonder if we don’t have more common ground than either of us would suspect. But I don’t want to upset our hostess.
Metro–
Regarding the M&B Flamewar FAIL,let’s consider it detente instead (kinda like Armistice Day) so that the Queen of the NW Precipitation may hope for another unearned spike in traffic, and we can collect our dead and re-arm.
BTW, on the topic of the moot point, Obama was elected, making the race issue null and void in terms of the election. Wasn’t Bill Clinton the first black president anyway?
congratulations america. i hope we can follow suit one day.