Brand New Funky President - Barack Obama DNC Acceptance Speech

August 31, 2008 7:22 am Chris Stout Funky Events, I Know You Got Soul

Now is the time America. A forward-thinking presidential candidate is ready to steer this country into a brighter, more focused future. From pledges to end our reliance on Middle East oil in the next 10 years to guarantees of investments in education and promises of healthcare reform, Barack Obama stated his case for a new America on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention. While accepting his party’s nomination, Obama delivered a stirring speech that outlined the need for individual responsibility, a break from outmoded political ideals and a transformation of this nation’s broken foreign policy agendas.

Articulate, Brilliant and Inspiring — America, Meet Your Brand New Funky President

Simply stated, Obama has the ability to change America’s imprint on the 21st Century. Here him out:

“The times are too serious. The stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America. They have served the United States of America.”

Friggin’ brilliant. This isn’t lip-service folks. This guy speaks with the conviction of a true believer. Obama believes in the fundamental promise of this country. He believes that the practices of the past don’t apply to the present, and that if we want to prepare for the future, we need a create a new understanding today. This understanding must be forged from a sense of commonality — a shared belief that we Americans are more similar than we are different.

The identities that divide us into fringe groups — from gays, to immigrants to anti-war activists — these divisive identities do not serve our collective interests. We can achieve more together than we can apart. And the time is right for someone to bring to the table “the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.”

The logic just kept on pouring out. This brand new funky president is as articulate as he is passionate. Listen to this stuff:

“Now I know there are those that dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that’s to be expected. Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone who people should run from.”

“You make a big election about small things.”

“And you know what? It’s worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping and settle for what you already know.”

“I get it. I realize that I’m not the most likeliest of candidates for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.”

“But I stand before you tonight because all across America, something is stirring. What the naysayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s about you. It’s about you.”

“For 18 long months, you have stood up one by one and said enough with the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics, with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us. That in defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn’t come from Washington. The change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it. Because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership — a new politics for a new time.”

“America, this is one of those moments.”

Wow. Simply unbelievable. Never in my life have I felt such a genuine emotional connection to someone running for political office. I can’t believe it. I really can’t. This guy was bringing me to tears man. The inspirational force behind his words rests in the fact that you can believe — I mean really believe — that this man can back his words up with actions.

I thought it was a brilliant speech. Pat Buchanan and Bill Kristol did too. I’m proud to be an American tonight, and I’ll be even prouder when Barack Obama becomes the next President of the United States. With his speech on Thursday, Obama ensured that this big election will not be about small things. The stage is now set for this election to be one of the most historic turning points in the history of this country.

I can’t wait.

Barack Obama - DNC Speech - Part 1 Video