Official: Obama’s in; Update: Video added
posted at 11:48 am on February 10, 2007 by Ian
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Democrat Barack Obama declared himself a candidate Saturday for the White House in 2008, evoking Abraham Lincoln’s ability to unite a nation and promising to lead a new generation as the country’s first black president.
The first-term senator announced his candidacy from the state capital where he began his elective career just 10 years ago, and in front of the building where in another century, Lincoln served eight years in the Illinois Legislature.
“We can build a more hopeful America,” Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery. “And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States.”
Obama will be appearing on 60 Minutes tomorrow night. I’m sure either Allah or myself will be posting video.
Update (AP): Hotline has rolling updates. The crowd exceeds 15,000.
Update (AP): Comparing himself to Jesus wouldn’t have gone over well, so Obama did the next best thing.
“We can build a more hopeful America,” Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery. “And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States.”…
He repeatedly referred to Lincoln and his success in moving a nation. He said it is because of Lincoln that Americans of every race face the challenges of the 21st century together.
“The life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible,” Obama said. “He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there is power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that there is power in hope.”
Politico quotes him as saying this, too: “Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth.” Tell me, fellow Lincolnphiles: to which two famous passages from Uncle Abe’s writing does that single sentence allude?
Update (AP): Video of the speech is now available at Obama’s website. Click the image to watch.
Update (AP): From Anwyn, more messiah magic!
Rosalee, 9, a third-grader at North Ward Elementary School, and Isabel, 8, a second-grader at the school, met the senator twice in 2004 and once in 2005.
“He was really nice, and I remembered thinking when I shook his hand what a warm hand he had,” said Rosalee.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Wow, color me shocked. I had no idea he was going to run. Anyone else expect this?
Squid Vicious on February 10, 2007 at 11:51 AM
The first part of his speech was good when he implied that all of government was going wrong and needed a change… then I realized he was trying to lump Hillary in with the Republicans and grab the leftist vote. Things that are wrong with the country? Lobbyists, political insiders, the Iraq war, Katrina and Global Warming.
The solution? People. People who need people. Are the happiest people, in the world.
Ick, color me unimpressed.
Skywise on February 10, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Allahpundit-
Not to nitpick, but the sub-script for this image should be “Mahdi” not “Messiah“, since Obama is a de facto Muslim apostate.
Which should make this an interesting campaign as the MSM studiously avoiding asking this fundamental question:
“Mr. Obama, don’t you think that you candidacy, during a War against militant Islamic Imperialists… who has attacked us, radically complicates our foreign policy aims, since the Muslim world will consider you, a man with a Muslim father, to be a natural-born Muslim, and, who, because of your conversion to Christianity, will demain your death as an apostate to Islam, according to Sharia Law?”
(Any reporter who wishes may crib this query at will.)
profitsbeard on February 10, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Grammar glitch above:
“…have attacked…” not “…has…”
(as I changed of “Imperialism” to “Imperialists”, to make it more personal, I missed this .. mea culpable…)
profitsbeard on February 10, 2007 at 12:05 PM
I’ll save Allah the hustle. Please check where it says “by” at the top to see who the author of entries are.
Ian on February 10, 2007 at 12:08 PM
The single most unimpressive presidential hopeful since Paul E. Tsongas. A severe superiority complex. He literally believes he’s smarter than you or I or us and them. Sad. I do believe he’ll be good for conservatives as his leftist views become well known.
Griz on February 10, 2007 at 12:10 PM
(Working on a new laptop, and obviously not getting the keyboard down yet as “…you candidacy…” -above- should be “your“, “studiously” should be “studious” and “demain” should be “demand“… mea maxi culpa…)
I wish this site had a preview function… like the Gates of Vienna blogspot, perhaps?
profitsbeard on February 10, 2007 at 12:13 PM
As soon as he gets into the White House, He will announce he has always been a muslim and will push for Sharia
Here come the burkas
abinitioadinfinitum on February 10, 2007 at 12:17 PM
“Not to nitpick, but the sub-script for this image should be “Mahdi” not “Messiah“, since Obama is a de facto Muslim apostate.
Which should make this an interesting campaign as the MSM studiously avoiding asking this fundamental question:
profitsbeard on February 10, 2007 at 12:03 PM”
Not sure which is worse. Obama’s church:
http://www.tucc.org/about.htm
Connie on February 10, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Yep, he done climbed out of the well. “Mahdi” indeed.
HerrMorgenholz on February 10, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Well, this ought to be gooood. As Charles johnson said regarding Amanda what’s-her-name and John-presidential-candidate-what’s-his-name, I need to stock up on some popcorn. Heheheh.
Bob's Kid on February 10, 2007 at 12:28 PM
That doesn’t even make any sense… either he’s the Mahdi, or he’s an apostate. How can he be both?
But it is a valid question to ask just what kind of Christian he is… I mean, he does attend a church that seems pretty obsessed with blackness.
Watcher on February 10, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Jesse Jackson must be furious:
“How come this guy is so popular so soon – ‘Keep Hope Alive!’ – That’s mine and I never made his numbers…”
eeyore on February 10, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Grow up.
I changed the tagline on the front page and added a different photo since that head shot of Obama was posted yesterday.
Allahpundit on February 10, 2007 at 12:39 PM
I guess he’s saying he deserves to be President because he’s black, and it’s just time. Maybe he’s right that it’s time, but he’s not The One.
It’s startling to hear his vapid rhetoric even as he announces, and it’s telling to hear the snipers for his Dem rivals saying off-the-record what we have all been saying since The Speech, which is that “the audacity to hope is not a Presidential candidacy platform”.
Jaibones on February 10, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Not sure about the other one but one is obviously the Gettysburg Address.
JackStraw on February 10, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Frankly, I think the guy has peaked, but if it gets ANS off the TV for a couple days, I have no problem with it. But now that he’s in, he better look out for The Pantsuit and her persons of hench.
JammieWearingFool on February 10, 2007 at 12:46 PM
The antichrist cometh… Besides, I though he is the third black president, behind Bill Clinton and, uh, John Kerry.
John on February 10, 2007 at 12:46 PM
How many times is he going to announce his candidacy?
Capitalist Infidel on February 10, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Q: If I don’t vote for him, am I a racist?
harrison on February 10, 2007 at 12:53 PM
“persons of hench”
Heh.
Jaibones on February 10, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Seriously the expectations are too high for him I see him crashing and burning fast.
He is the same old crap wrapped up in a new package and marketed by the MSM as “Bigger and better than before !”
I predict a serious fall for this guy and the inevitible “Is America not ready for a black president ?’
Whining is always the in thing in the MSM.
William Amos on February 10, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Tremors of 68. The anti-war crowd will be all over the streets on this guy. Hold onto your hats. RFK would have clobbered Humphrey in Chicago. Yep…the Jane Fonda Red Brigade is on the move. He is everything they want…Smart, good looking, anti-war, green, pro-choice, pro-amnesty, social welfare, you name it…Bama is IT.
The Reps need to sit on the sidelines for awhile. Let the settle down into their foxholes and start throwing rocks first.
Anyone got extra popcorn?
Limerick on February 10, 2007 at 1:00 PM
My second guess would be the House Dived Speech.
What do I win if I’m right?
JackStraw on February 10, 2007 at 1:09 PM
“finish the work that needs to be done”–BO
“finish the work that we are in”–Second Inagural, A. Lincoln
All I can say is that if Obama thinks the work of maintaining a democracy will ever be “finished” … he’s wrong.
Anwyn on February 10, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Ugh. “Inaugural.”
Anwyn on February 10, 2007 at 1:17 PM
Which is why Don Goreleone will step in and make the peace. Mark my words, it’s Gore/Obama ‘08.
Kid from Brooklyn on February 10, 2007 at 1:23 PM
If you are not black, then you are automatically a racist whether you vote for him or not… but voting for him is at least a way for you to make reparations.
Watcher on February 10, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Not if you’re black – if you’re black and you don’t vote for him then you are an Uncle Tom. Don’t worry, the left has it covered.
wowbagger on February 10, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Damn their doing it again. And the mush brains are bying into it as usual. But whataya spect’ from the dumbed down gerations(s). they were given their LIberal food in public ’scrool’ as Rush says, and weined on all the Leftie commandments and talking points.
I think Osoma-bama in a way is to the Dem’s what Perot was to the Repubs: a way to psiphon votes from the ’swingers’.
Does anyone really think Osama-boma really has any snowball’chance in he** of wining? The Hilldabeast will eat him up for breakfast! Besides the fact that he has NO qualifications to be President of this country. NONE. He’s a puppet of the Lib press and a useful tool for the Dems. Among guys like him and Turban Durban, Kennedy, Levin, Leaky Lehey and that whole cadre its like the amiercan politcal Taliban! Bwhahahahahahhaahhahaha.
He** they use the same tactics as Hitler and Stalin.
auspatriotman on February 10, 2007 at 2:09 PM
Did anyone else notice that the crowd there was almost all white people? They panned around several times, but I only saw one or two black people. What’s up with that? No black people in Springfield or what?
Ron_S on February 10, 2007 at 2:37 PM
Oh, and about being racist for not voting for Obama… You aren’t racist if you’re a democrat. You’re a racist if you’re pulling for a republican. A vote for Hilary instead of Obama is okay.
Ron_S on February 10, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Wait until the lefties realize that he identifies himself with the first president from the Republican party…
Entelechy on February 10, 2007 at 2:44 PM
You have a great point. Someone needs to ask him if he has renounced Islam. In a recent Examiner article by Bill Sammon, Obama actually said we were a “Christian nation, a Muslim nation. . .” In the same article even Juan Williams found his ties to Islam troubling while we are engaged in a War on Terror.
Someone also needs to question whether Obama actually is a Christian who believes that Christ was God. . .not some Che Guevara-type social revolutionary that comes across whenever Obama articulates how he is “Christian.” He has the same understanding of Christianity that a Marxist or even a Muslim would have.
Can you imagine having someone this close to Islam ruling our country with a Democratic Senate and House? It’s frightening. Americans have gone nuts; would we have even contemplated back in 2001 after September 11 a candidate with Muslim parents, brothers, and grandparents who attended a Muslim school in a Muslim country and who had an illegal Pakistani roommate while living in New York?
januarius on February 10, 2007 at 4:13 PM
“Mr. Obama, don’t you think that you candidacy, during a War against militant Islamic Imperialists… who has attacked us, radically complicates our foreign policy aims, since the Muslim world will consider you, a man with a Muslim father, to be a natural-born Muslim, and, who, because of your conversion to Christianity, will demain your death as an apostate to Islam, according to Sharia Law?”
According to my father, a countryman and drinking buddy of Obama senior, the latter was no Muslim. Not that it would matter to the jihadis, but let’s keep our information straight.
(Excuse some of the ideas expressed in the link by my progenitor. I do not share them.)
baldilocks on February 10, 2007 at 4:17 PM
from LA Times:
Al Qaeda & the Mahdi Army must have been salivating at that – they only have to hang on for another year and Obama will bring the troops home.
I’ve some bad news for them. The thing is, even if the American people are stupid enough to vote for Big Ears, he won’t be President in March 2008.
So what’s he doing making promises he can’t logically keep? Courting the Lib-bots.
Is there a decent Democrat candidate? That rather hinges on the wider question: is there a decent Democrat?
uptight on February 10, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Speaking of lightweight candidates for President, PowerLine ran a post about the astonishing talent gap between the three leading GOP candidates, and the three leading Dems. It went something like this:
GOP
McCain, war hero, several term Senator
Giuliani, mayor of NYC, turned around our largest city, great leader in our most trying time
Romney, governed important state controlled by opposing party with great success
Dems
Clinton, wife of former President, marginal Senator
Edwards, personal injury lawyer, one term Senator
Obama, leftist state Senator from Illinois, recently elected Senator, went to Harvard
Heh.
Jaibones on February 10, 2007 at 5:44 PM
In all seriousness, did he address radical Islamists? Or is that not a problem anymore?
Pam on February 10, 2007 at 5:53 PM
At least he already knows:
From an interview with Steve Kroft Sun, Feb 11 (via Drudge)
“…If I don’t win this race it will be because…I have not shown to the American people a vision for where the country needs to go…that they can embrace.”
Well, duh.
eeyore on February 10, 2007 at 5:59 PM
OK, define “work”, do you mean the war on Islamofacists?
Define “finish”, do you mean surrender or victory?
Define “new birth of freedom”, does that mean the freedom we enjoy under our representative republic, or does it mean freedom only if you believe in a certain religion, or else it is OK to kill you.
Awaiting answers……
PinkyBigglesworth on February 10, 2007 at 7:00 PM
Next month he will really, really announce his super official candidacy …. standing in the front of a boat while crossing the Delaware River.
fogw on February 10, 2007 at 8:35 PM
ROFLMAO! AP’s eagle-eye for sardonic minutiae strikes again!
zb42 on February 10, 2007 at 10:39 PM
harrison: “If I don’t vote for him, am I a racist?”
You guessed it. When Obama The Empty Suit eventually is marginalized by the Democrats and pushed aside at their convention, it will be the fault of Irredeemable Racist White Republicans like you who simply could not accept a black man for President. At least, that’s how it will play on TV and the print media, which will dress you up in Klan robes to explain it.
Tantor on February 11, 2007 at 3:16 AM
I read Osama’s church site(TUCC)twice and I can’t find one word about bringing people back to God, which is a Christian’s JOB. This muslim is scary. Very scary.
PoliticallyIncorrectSandy on February 11, 2007 at 9:37 AM
Sorry but he just didn’t come across as confident on what he’s doing. He’s doesn’t appear strong at all.
johnnyU on February 11, 2007 at 12:55 PM
..and if he wins, what do you think about a victory speech at Yorktown?
Emmett J. on February 11, 2007 at 1:51 PM
It’s interesting seeing these comments now that he’s *shudder* President-Elect Obama. The voters can’t be stupid enough to vote for this guy? Yes, we can!
VanPalin on November 17, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Comment pages: