"Tomorrow, we'll come to the end of a ten-month journey. You've heard from all of us, and read our plans; you've been bombarded with mailings and phone calls, and you'll be glad to know this is one of the last times you'll hear me say, 'I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.'"But the question you have to ask yourself when you walk into that caucus tomorrow is this – who can take us in a fundamentally new direction? I'm running to finally solve problems we talk about year after year after year. To end the division, the obscene influence of lobbyists, and the politics that values scoring points over making progress. We can't afford more of that, not this year, not now.
"I've spent my life working for change that's made a real difference in the lives of real people.
"That's why I passed up a job on Wall Street to fight joblessness and poverty on the streets of Chicago when the local steel plant closed.
"That's why I turned down the corporate law firms to work as a civil rights lawyer; to fight for those who had been denied opportunity.
"That's why I fought for tough new ethics laws in Illinois and Washington to cut the power of lobbyists. And I won.
"That's why I brought Democrats and Republicans together to provide health care and tax relief to working families.
"And that's why I opposed this war in Iraq from the start. It wasn't popular, but it was right.
"This country's ready for a leader who will bring us together: that's the only way we're gonna win this election and that's actually how we'll actually fix health care and make college affordable, become energy independent and end this war.
"I'm reminded every day that I am not a perfect man. And I won't be a perfect President. But I can promise you this – I will always tell you where I stand and what I think. I will listen to you when we disagree. I will carry your voices to the White House and I will fight for you everyday I'm there. So I ask you to caucus tomorrow, not just for me, but for your hopes; for your dreams; for the America you believe is possible."
« Biden Won't Make Second-Choice Deals | Main | Democratic Fundraising Update » Here's Barack Obama's 2 Minute Commercial02 Jan 2008 07:08 pm Comments (20)
great ending to a great campaign run. c'mon Iowa - this is your chance to be known as the state that propelled our next great leader to the presidency!! 
Beautifully written, convincingly delivered. Simple, direct, and heartfelt. And now it's up to 200,000 Iowans to make the right decision for 299,800,000 of your fellow Americans. C'mon; the rest of us are counting on you.
Is being humble a bad thing? I admire humility and this particular trait in others often inspires me to do the right thing or be a better person in my own life. America is definitely standing at a crossroads between the old way of politics and the new "roll of the dice" way of politics. I've said all year that the youth of this country can make or break this election for the Dems! It's their turn to shine the light in the direction our country will travel. They have a real chance to have their voices heard! I hope they seize this opportunity and show out in numbers never imagined. To Iowa and New Hampshire, if you really want CHANGE, if you feel it in your heart as much as I and many others do, than I BELIEVE that tomorrow night will be the beginning of the most positive CHANGE America has seen in a really long time. Good luck, stand tall and stand proud. The whole world is watching! Vote Obama 2008!
Obama is a liar. On one hand he says doesn't like lobbyists, he won't hire them, he won't let them set the agenda. On the other hand he hires them and lets them help set the agenda. His latest hire of Jim Hodges is just another example of this. Good 'olew boy Jim is a registered lobbyist and owns a lobbying firm. More details: http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/1/2/181938/6203
...He's sooooooo dreamy... But seriously, this is really what Barack does best. I wish all of his ads were this simple - he is genuine, incredibly likable and damn convincing. He's gonna win tomorrow. And I really think he'll win BIG. (compare this ad to Hillary's 2 minute appeal.. ZZZZZZ)
Dickie, what part of being co-chair means he is going to be setting an agenda? I believe it's just a figure head position and an endorsement of a former governor meant to strengthen his support in a crucial primary state.
Dickie knows that the most salient feature of former SC Gov. Hodges is that he was elected with the votes of SC Democrats, but he, like the media, is trying to say but..but..he's a LOBBYIST! Indeed, and the governor thing is secondary, right?
I was ambivalent and couldn't put my finger on Hillary's last minute message. I thought Obama was much more natural and presidential. PS. It also dawned on me that the champion of the poor Edwards made millions as a lawyer and a hedge fund manager, but the Harvard graduate passed a lucrative job in Wall Street and worked as a community organizer.
Dickie knows that the most salient feature of former SC Gov. Hodges is that he was elected with the votes of SC Democrats, but he, like the media, is trying to say but..but..he's a LOBBYIST! Indeed, and the governor thing is secondary, right?
Dickie knows that the most salient feature of former SC Gov. Hodges is that he was elected with the votes of SC Democrats, but he, like the media, is trying to say but..but..he's a LOBBYIST! Indeed, and the governor thing is secondary, right?
Michael: please teach your mom how to use the internets. You only need to post your message once...
It's a great message. Much better than Hillary's ad. Change is something that a lot of people seem to embrace. But is Obama really "change"? http://www.political-buzz.com/
His willingness to admit that he is imperfect is impressive. It's truthful, he's not going to completely change the face of American politics, but his style is a start.
A recent NYTimes story suggests that Bloomberg would enter an Obama- Huckabee match up. I doubt it. Suppose Obama wins the democratic ticket. Since Obama's support comes partly from independents and moderate republicans (more here), Bloomberg would be facing a very tough contest against someone who would have the organization and momentum from the primaries (although beating the Clintons could take a crippling toll on Obama). Idealogically, Obama and Blomberg are pretty close (which has been driving many on the far left crazy). If Bloomberg is really running to win (rather than the entertain his ego), an Obama democratic ticket would prevent him from running since Obama's message would leave little room for Bloomberg's pitch for a bi-partisan pragmatic approach to pressing problems. ------------------------------------------------
America is a Democracy - Not a Monarchy. The spin machine whipped together a machine candidate for a the past several years.
I must say that to see the first black president sworn in would be an experience I would like, but I fear that Mr.Obama would make the same grave mistake as Mr.Clinton. I fear that Mr.Obama would downplay our military directly after pulling our troops out of Iraq. This is not a "pride" issue, as many may claim. This is a survival issue. By pulling the plug on our military, we leave ourselves open to an attack similar to that which happened on 9/11. Sorry, Mr.Obama, my vote goes elsewhere.
Perhaps I'm missing something? Why is everyone convinced Obama is so "different" than any other candidate? He speaks to strangers with politeness and a 'I'm just like you' familiarity? He has a pleasing camera persona and can read a speech with the appropriate emphasis? He illustrates his humility so that you have reason to trust him? He says things frustrated folks want to hear? I have nothing against him personally, as a candidate, as a man, as a member of my own race or as a potential history making President (how exciting is THAT by the way!)...I'm just wondering what folks are seeing (or missing?) that I haven't? I mean...he IS a politician right? Don't they all have to do the same kinds of things to get to this stage in the game? Don't they ALL avail themselves of stylists, psychologists, behaviorists, acting coaches, voice coaches, dialogue coaches, tailors and other such worthy people to make this very impression of being "truthful", "presidential", "likeable" and their message appear "heartfelt?" Pres. Bush did not come across as a morally bankrupt, lying, greedy, selfish, egomaniac without a conscience when he was in Obama's shoes, did he?
Puzzled: I do remember thinking Bush was a " a morally bankrupt, lying, greedy, selfish, egomaniac without a conscience" but i might have been too quiet about that at the time. I'll be a little louder this time. What I see in obama is... well i wish it was more about his record, but in reality I want to defuse this war fomented by religious fundamentalists. Bush and Bin laden are cut from the same cloth if you ask me. Both have all the answers and neither met a question they ever liked. They simply can't find a way to live with people that aren't like them. Instead of raising a fence though, to keep those others out, they raise armies. Barack Hussein Obama. President. A black man and a community organizer. that would go some way towards changing the global conversation don't you think? Someone who is able to mix his religious passion with a skeptical, sharp and curious mind. He has decent enough policies. But more importantly to me, he isn't another baby boomer so worried about smoking a doobie 40 years ago that he incarcerates thousands of people for having a stash of their own today. God, what I wouldn't do to put behind us the days of boomers angst playing out over the entire country. ON a policy level, he is simply the only person who voted against the war because he knew what would happen. That will carry some weight in Europe, and help us return to the comapny of countries that don't smash the china at dinner parties. And for Kucinich supporters out there, I am not convinced Kucinich really understood. I think he is reflexively against the use of force. Obama isn't. As Obama said "I'm against dumb wars." It's a low bar, but boy would that have come in handy a few years ago. And he isn't mean. And his wife is whip smart and independent, and isn't some political accessory or bimbo and as far as I know there are no clintonian marriage dynamics that i'll have to hear about for 8 years. Puzzled, in many ways my support for Barack Obama is less about his message (I am by nature an economic populist and should be an Edwards voter) but i just would like to see someone in the presidency who wasn't born rich, or white, or in the south. Someone like me. I want a president to shift the conversation in america to the present and the future, not the 1960s. Hillary drags us back. McCain, Romney, Giuliani. God help us. And not Bush or Bin Laden's god. The real one. The one that created doubt along with faith, love as well as strength and character and dignity. Go Obama.
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A little too humble at the end, I think. But I like the specifics.
Posted by lampwick | January 2, 2008 7:22 PM