# Barack Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 28, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207 "2004-07-28T02:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/1 "2004-07-28T02:15:07Z")
Was that speech something, or what? You think Clinton was good last night, you shoulda heard this kid. I think we were just watching the ~46th President of the United States. Wow. Anybody got a transcript yet? Here’s a quote ganked from Atrios: > [@](#): > > We worship an awesome God in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/2 "2004-07-28T02:18:26Z")
The guy’s 42 years old. He looks to be in his late 20s. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/3 "2004-07-28T02:19:30Z")
Awesome, awesome speaker. The Dems sure do have a nice large pool of orators to choose from. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/4 "2004-07-28T02:36:27Z")
[Transcript](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/27/politics/campaign/27TEXT-OBAMA.html?pagewanted=print&position=) It’s at the NY Times, so you may need to register if you haven’t. > [@](#): > > This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. > > And fellow Americans – Democrats; Republicans; Independents – I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. > > More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that’s moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. > > More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. > > More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn’t have the money to go to college. > > Don’t get me wrong. > > The people I meet – in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks – they don’t expect government to solve all their problems. > > They know they have to work hard to get ahead – and they want to. > > Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don’t want their tax money wasted, by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. > > Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can’t teach kids to learn – they know that parents have to parent, that children can’t achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. > > No, people don’t expect government to solve all their problems. > > But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. > > They know we can do better. > > And they want that choice. ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/5 "2004-07-28T03:09:35Z")
He was awesome, as was Ron Reagan. However, I think tonight’s crown goes to Teresa Heinz. What an incredible person. She is exactly the sort of woman I want in Washington. If only she could run for president herself! Wow. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/6 "2004-07-28T03:25:08Z")
I remained choked up for almost the entire latter half of Obama’s speech. That man is phenomenal. I will certainly be voting for him if he decides to run in oh, 8 years or so. Is there a way to purchase the Convention on DVD (after it’s over, obviously)? I would love to add Obama, Clinton and Teresa Heinz Kerry’s speeches to my DVD collection. Man, oh man. Can’t WAIT to vote. Hurry up, November! ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/7 "2004-07-28T04:47:58Z")
I, too, have to chime in on how impressive [Senator?] Obama’s speech was. I think my mouth went agape after the first couple of minutes… > [@RTFirefly](#): > > I think we were just watching the ~46th President of the United States. The thought had entered my mind as well. LilShieste (and maybe this is something more for Cafe Society) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/8 "2004-07-28T05:07:03Z")
I had only the most vague awareness of who Obama was before tonight. Mostly I just knew him from the soap opera that is the current Illinois senatorial election. I was totally blown away by this guy. I got the same feeling from watching him tonight as I got when I first saw Michael Jordan playing for North Carolina. A sense, that I was seeing a major superstar in the making. I actually got chills down my spine and that’s not something that’s ever happened to me from listening to a politician, not even Clinton. With Clinton I always felt like it was a performance- an extremely _skillful_ performance- but a performance nonetheless. There was a sincerity of passion in Obama tonight that was radiant. He also projected a genuine depth of intellect. Even though I had never seen him speak before, halfway through the speech, the thought…no, not a thought, more like the _realization_ went through my head that this guy’s going to be president. I don’t know when, but he’s going to be president. It was a good feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/9 "2004-07-28T05:08:01Z")
Man, I’m regretting I wasn’t home to watch tonight. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/10 "2004-07-28T05:37:02Z")
I want to know if all of you would have felt the same way if Barack Obama were a white man named, say, Ben Jones. I think people are raving about him in part because he’s an African-American with an exotic name. If he was a bland WASP who had given the exact same speech I have no doubt that this fervor over Mr. Obama would be about 1/3 less than it is now. I know everyone is going to get defensive and call me a racist. Before you do so please think about what I’m saying. And I agree with Obama and I would have no reservations about supporting him politically. I just think part of this has to do with the fact that we are used to the African-American community being represented in politics by blubbering clowns like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. If they had more leaders like Obama I think they’d get far more political respect. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/11 "2004-07-28T05:43:59Z")
I was impressed by Obama’s _words_ not his fucking skin, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/12 "2004-07-28T05:44:54Z")
You’re welcome very much. See, I told you you’d get defensive! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/13 "2004-07-28T05:48:24Z")
BTW, what is this impulse by so many to refer to black politcal activists as “black leaders?” What do you mean “if _they_ had more leaders like Obama…?” Does anyone ever talk about what kind of leaders _white_ people need? Does anyone call GWB a “white leader?” Does anyone make patronizing assertions about who white people should follow? I didn’t think of Barack Obama as anything but a leader. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/14 "2004-07-28T05:55:54Z")
African-American politicians like Sharpton and Jackson fashion _themselves_ as leaders for the black community. The “white community” has no analagous situation because there’s no such thing as the “white community.” White people in America are made up of East Coast Democratic WASPS, Southern and Midwestern farmers, ethnic Catholics in Boston and New York, Jews all over the country, Yuppies, rust-belt blue-collar Democrats, and politically independent and apathetic youth in college campuses all over the country. Blacks in America are much more unified in their support of the Democratic party and their political interest in issues relevant to their communities: unemployment, crime, and education, all issues on which the Democratic party is far more appealing. Thus they have indeed rallied en masse under leaders like Sharpton and Jackson (who won the overwhelming support of the African-American community when they ran, respectively, for Mayor and President.) However strong their intentions are I personally do not care for Jesse Jackson and even less so for Sharpron; I would rather have someone like Obama speak for me were I myself black. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/15 "2004-07-28T06:54:55Z")
Well, goddamned. I knew Clinton was gonna be on fire, but I wish I’d heard more of this. Speeches like this, and Reagan’s, are makin’ me hope that a lot of the petty bickering is leaving politics. This election year may be a wasteland, but hey, maybe ‘08 will be a time when most people actually respect both the guys runnin’… Or maybe I’m too optimistic. But whatever. Good stuff, time to find a full transcript… ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/16 "2004-07-28T06:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > This election year may be a wasteland, but hey, maybe ‘08 will be a time when most people actually respect both the guys runnin’… I think Jeb Bush is going to be a serious Republican candidate in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/17 "2004-07-28T07:12:17Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > I remained choked up for almost the entire latter half of Obama’s speech. That man is phenomenal. I will certainly be voting for him if he decides to run in oh, 8 years or so. > > Is there a way to purchase the Convention on DVD (after it’s over, obviously)? I would love to add Obama, Clinton and Teresa Heinz Kerry’s speeches to my DVD collection. C-span offers thousands of programs available on VHS and DVD. They have convention speeches which go back to 1988. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/18 "2004-07-28T07:15:36Z")
I’m just curious about that name, “Barack”. Where is it from? I’ve never even heard of an American with that name before. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/19 "2004-07-28T07:18:00Z")
It means Blessed in Arabic. It is almost the same as the Hebrew ‘Baruch,’ meaning the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207/20 "2004-07-28T07:19:18Z")
(Obama’s father was a Kenyan [African] Muslim.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama/257207.md?page=2)