Obama's Moment

"Look. I think it’s easy to be cynical and say it can'’t be gone because Washington has been designed to resist change, but there have been periods of the American history where presidents have inspired American people to do better, and I think we’re in one of those moments right now."

More: "Words do inspire. Words do help people get involved. Don’t’ discount that power. When the American people are determined that something is going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

Comments

And that's the moment that will matter tonight. Obama just made the case (correctly) that the whole point is to create a movement, not just attain the office. None of the others on that stage tonight, in either half of the debate, stand the chance of delivering a movement that can chance the nature of American government the way that Obama does.

Game over.

Posted by Sean | January 5, 2008 10:24 PM

obama never mentioned that hillary voted for the war, did he? i thought he was too passive and let hillary seem like she was connected more to "real" people and "real" issues

Posted by josh | January 5, 2008 10:39 PM

Thanks for reminding us of that moment, Mark... especially for me the part where he said, "words do inspire." This brings up an important point for me about Obama, one that makes me like him more and more; One can not be a master orator, the way I believe he is, without having an intelligent and informed opinion... words without substance mean nothing. I feel like even when under attack, he responded respectfully and with a level head. And the, "words DO inspire," comment felt like Obama-ese for, "how dare you fault me for being optimistic," without coming across as defensive.

It was indeed his moment, in so many ways.

Posted by Glen | January 6, 2008 12:24 AM