Illinois DUer's - You were right!

[dmr]

Barack Obama will be our first black president!

I first learned about Barack in GD a few weeks ago when Bush* was taken aback when someone wore an Obama pin in the White House. When that thread was posted, so many of you jumped in that thread and spoke so well of him. So many of you said he will one day be the first black president of the United States. I wanted to learn more about him and I couldn't wait to hear him speak tonight.

Well, I did learn more about him, and tonight I got to hear him speak, so naturally and so passionately.

I want to tell you, that this young man is awesome! He is inspiring! He is a natural. I cannot tell you how many chills went up and down my spine as he spoke.

I can see why the Republicans are afraid of him.

He has my support. I will donate to his campaign. I want to do what I can to assure he makes it to the Senate floor. When he's ready, he will have my vote for president.

Thank you, Illinois for Barack Obama! Take good care of him.

[never cry wolf]

1. Thanks, dmr

Although he is running in Illinois, I see him more as a citizen of the planet. Dad from Kenya, born in Kansas, grew up in Hawaii and Thailand. He is a precursor of the future of the human race, IF we survive! As a resident of Illinois I feel proud to be able to claim him, in a way, but we ALL have a claim.

[dmr]

4. He is diverse and walks the talk

Reading about his formative years he not only understands diversity, he has lived it!

Reading about his educational and professional background, he not only speaks of the issues I hold dear, he has lived it and has walked the talk!

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2004/07/23/in_depth_politics/whoswho631596_0_11_person.shtml

Barack Obama - Keynote Speaker

Barack Obama currently represents Illinois' 13th Senate District on Chicago's South Side, and is a candidate for the Senate. Obama was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Hawaii. Obama was raised by his mother, a white international development specialist originally from Kansas. Obama’s father, a black Kenyan, left Hawaii for graduate school when Obama was two years old and eventually returned to Kenya alone to work as a government economist. When Obama was 6, his mother remarried and the new family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. At that point, Obama was a Protestant attending a Catholic school in a Muslim country, an experience that his 1995 book, “Dreams from My Father,” makes clear was challenging. At age 10, Obama returned to Hawaii, where he was raised by his grandparents.

- snip -

Obama graduated in 1991 and returned to Chicago to practice civil rights law. During the 1992 presidential campaign, he served as Illinois Executive Director of Project Vote!, which added over 100,000 newly registered voters to the rolls. In 1993, Obama was named by Crain's Chicago Business as one of "40 under 40" outstanding young leaders in the city of Chicago. Obama’s legal practice in the 1990s consisted of housing and employment discrimination and voting-rights legislation. His work in that area earned him the 1995 Legal Eagle Award from IVI-IPO for bringing Illinois into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (Motor Vote). During this period he also began teaching at University of Chicago Law School, where he still lectures part-time.

In 1997, Obama ran for and won election to the state senate, a seat he still holds. During his time in Springfield, Obama championed death-penalty reforms that require all capital crime interrogations to be videotaped, and has worked on a variety of education and health care initiatives targeted at poor families and neighborhoods. Obama also worked with former U.S. Senator Paul Simon to draft new state campaign finance reform laws.

more ...
Edited for html goofs

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Thank you!!

Your thought about him being the first black president were my thoughts tonight exactly as well. From what I'm seeing on another board with 2 or 3 republicans/conservatives they were impressed (and scared shitless about it). The worst they could do was say he's slicker than Bill Clinton. *shakes head*

I do fear that the Republicans are going to start "slipping up" with his name (on purpose). Assholes that they are. There will be unimaginable backlash for it if they do though.

[dmr]

5. I told my son tonight

that we have found ourselves another Bill Clinton. Someone who knows how to inspire the world around them. A friend of mine sent me an email telling me her husband said the same thing. I have been wishing, hoping and praying that a truly good person would come along. He just may prove to be a better leader than President Clinton, and those are mighty big shoes to fill!

Yea, if they slip up on his name, it will be curtains for them because that is not a name to use in in this country in jest or in partisan insult. There is no joke when it comes to 9-11-2001.

[mopinko]

3. freakin amazing

the whole planet is buzzing-

[dmr]

6. That cartoon is right on target!

Obama is dangerous to the Republicans. We all need to watch his back, and keep him safe. We've got plans for him! :)

[madrchsod]

7. he`s going to be in Ronny's home town Monday

i`ve been bitching about him not coming out to the corn fields-now he`s coming to the heart of hastert`s district..far fucking out...pictures next week

[chicagojoe]

8. Ruben K. Zamora for Congress--- 14th District in Illinois

[lil-petunia]

9. didja see the reaction on CNN and Faux

It was though they were surprised that a BLACK (!) man could speak so well.

what a stick in their eye. Yes, there are some talented people around. Even from Illinois.

[chiburb]

10. Nope. But the three old white guys on PBS....

Were wetting their pants after his speech. Even Babbling Brooks was having an orgasm over Barak! And as you observed about CNN and the Network That Won't Be Named, the PBS guys couldn't get over how ARTICULATE and WELL-SPOKEN Barak was in his post-speech interview with Gwen Ifullofit.
Maybe next time Lehrer should wear 2 pairs of Depends...

[Robbien]

11. Back when we had the debates for Illinois primaries

It was obvious that Obama had something special. Each candidate deferred to Obama on every political issue. The debates were fasinating to watch.

He is going to be very good for our state and for the Senate.