Obama's stump speech: A "thing of beauty," leaving audiences "thunderstruck"

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Obama Finds His Address
By David S. Broder
Sunday, December 23, 2007; Page B07

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Barack Obama has become a one-trick pony. But what a trick it is! The stump speech he has developed in the closing stages of the pre-Christmas campaign is a thing of beauty, a 40-minute oration delivered without notes that is powering his gains for the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 and the first primary here in New Hampshire five days later. The speech was introduced at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Des Moines more than a month ago, when Obama was still struggling for leverage against Clinton and Edwards in Iowa. It drew rave reviews from that big audience and from Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen, and Obama knew he had a winner....

***

It is a helluva speech. Like some Beethoven symphonies, it starts on a rather calm and even lighthearted note....He segues to a standard riff about the importance of the coming election, quickly converting it into a pointed attack on Hillary Clinton, although he does not name her....Then Obama pays his respect to Edwards-style populism, ragging on a Washington where health care and energy legislation have been stymied for years by corporate lobbyists -- none of whom, he promises, will get the time of day from an Obama administration. Then he quickens the pulses of various Democratic constituencies, promising labor to raise the minimum wage each and every year; promising teachers generous salaries; and promising college students new help in paying tuition.

And finally, comes the peroration, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. on the "fierce urgency of now," in explaining why he can't patiently wait his turn to run for president....The closing anecdote is based on an incident at a rally in Greenwood, S.C., where, on a miserable morning, with a meager crowd, a single black woman in the audience first revived Obama's spirit by shouting out encouragement and then got everyone chanting, responsively, "Fired up!" "Ready to go!" As he tells the familiar story, Obama segues from a conversational tone to a shout and explains that the chant has now become his trademark and slogan. So, he tells his listeners, "I've got one thing to ask you. Are you FIRED UP? Are you READY TO GO? FIRED UP! READY TO GO!"

And then, as the shouting becomes almost too loud to bear, he adds the five words that capsulize his whole message and sends the voters scrambling back into their winter coats and streaming out the door: "Let's go change the world," Obama says. And it sounds as if he means it.

In every audience I have seen, there is a jolt of pure electric energy at those closing words. Tears stain some cheeks -- and some people look a little thunderstruck.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122101923.html?nav%3Dmost_emailed&sub=AR

[elizm]

1. I've been there...and it is indeed a thing of beauty...

I have been thunderstruck and teary eyed on more than one occasion. There is no other candidate out there that can do that.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Thanks for your eyewitness testimonial, elizm! nt

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Yes, let's go change the world

but is Obama the guy to do it?

[Yuugal]

4. love this part:

"Then Obama pays his respect to Edwards-style populism, ragging on a Washington where health care and energy legislation have been stymied for years by corporate lobbyists -- none of whom, he promises, will get the time of day from an Obama administration. Then he quickens the pulses of various Democratic constituencies, promising labor to raise the minimum wage each and every year; promising teachers generous salaries; and promising college students new help in paying tuition. "

Candidates who talk about populist issues have a chance at my support. Gobama! You didn't mention the part where he talks about "inviting all interested parties involved to sit at the table". Did he finally drop that lame bit of corporatist crap? Dick Cheney had an energy meeting with all "interested parties involved" early on and gas went from 1.19 to 3.59 on my block since hes been in. No more of those please.

Still, credit given for the tuition mention and the minimum wage hike.

[earthlover]

11. I saw Obama's speech on CSPAN....he made the point that the corporations

would get a SEAT at the table but they would not be able to buy all the chairs. He made a point that more people would be represented.

[Bitwit1234]

5. Gee some segment of the population

think all you have to do to be president is give a good speech.

Then should all the candidates go out and write terrific speechwriters. Seems like it turns a certain candidate American Idolers on.

[earthlover]

6. Hillary had a speech where she spoke from the heart too...she said "I'm in it to win"

Not exactly as idealistic. No mention of changing the world. Just electing her to power.

I like Obama's speech better. And I also like where it is coming from.

[SoxFan]

8. Others want more

They want a leader who speaks with passion and conviction.

They want a leader who has worked tirelessly to reduce the threat posed by unsecured nuclear, biological and chemical weapons stockpiles, who has addressed the sleeper issue of loose conventional arms caches.

They want a leader who has actually brought greater transparency to the broken budget process.

They want a leader who understands that government is supposed to serve the American people, not the usual old political cliques.

They want a leader who will move past the divisiveness, the game-playing, and the character assasination and unite this country.

They want Barack Obama.

[alteredstate]

7. I've heard Senator Obama speak five times

and he just keeps getting better and better.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. I hope people choose a president based on more than he gives good speeches.

[Name removed]

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[maxanne]

12. it's a pretty speech

but it's like Chinese food. An hour later you're rummaging through the candidates, looking for some real substance.