Before he became the US president, Barack Obama was a Senator from Illinois who came into the spotlight from his 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech. This was the speech that was to properly introduce the American public to him.
As a speaker, Barack Obama has to be one of the most elegant and eloquent speakers since Martin Luther King and John F Kennedy. Here is the speech he gave along with some comments and reviews:
Great speech next to Gettysburg address & Martin Luther king I have a dream.
President Obama was a great speaker even then, full of hope and promise. Unfortunately, this presidency has aged him 30 years in 8. Tough job carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
I remember that night. We was like Who is that? But by the time he was finished, I knew that wasn’t the last we heard from him. My only sadness is that my father who watched this that night didn’t live long enough to see him become President.
I’m in tears. Like others I came to watch this after listening to “Becoming” and am so moved by his words. And in tears at how far our country has fallen by the actions of current occupant of the White House who is the absolute antithesis of this great man.
I was reading Becoming and got to the part where Barack was asked to give the Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and I said to myself, let me go to Youtube and see what I missed back then!
Reading Michelle Obama’s book…..she speaks about this pivotal speech, so I am watching to remind myself of that marvelous day when Barack Obama was introduced to America. Remembering the pride I felt listening to his striking and meaningful words. He really was a president in the making.
When I watched this speech live, I told my wife – “This guy is good enough to become the first black President. I don’t know when, but I think he will run, and I think he could have a real shot.” I should have started taking bets – I could probably buy and sell Donald Trump.
I had many issues with Obama (how many times did he promise to close Gitmo?), but every day since he left office I’ve missed him more and more. He was preceded by George W. Bush and was followed by Donald J. Trump. History is going to be super nice to him.
You can NOT make this up. You can NOT say it if you don’t believe it! You can’t deliver it in this manner, if you don’t mean it. How AMAZING a man he is. To imagine this was 14 years ago….. He has IT in him.
I wondered here in 2018 authentically looking for a voice of hope and positivity. Something that he haven’t had for a while now. I never realized how much I missed looking up to the President of the United States.
Not sure why so many did not like what Obama did during his presidency. He worked on many things that affect the day-to-day person and certainly pushed us forward as a society. For example his presidency helped America recover from the Great Recession, worked on healthcare, fought for equal rights for LGBT, and fought against global climate change and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the US.
The book ‘Becoming’ has truly influenced me in the right way. How can I say that? ‘coz am here. My takeaway from the book? – Marriage or no marriage, black or white, man or woman whatever that is- you can achieve your dreams if you are determined, hard working and confident.
He always spoke to UNITY, across all possible demographics that we can think of. He always spoke about bringing people together, he always spoke about progression and moving forward. And look what the world has come to now. Everyone is so angry. People arguing, fighting, call each other names, and worse. So much division as a nightmare has come to life, created by people making a very bad decision and electing a person who has nobody’s interests at heart and who has no desire to lead and set good examples
First Lady’s Michelle Obama’s speech brought me here again and Pres Obama’s speech still gives me goosebumps. Well said sir, truly one of the greatest Presidents this country has ever had.
Obama understood the power of unity, and he had the passion, the determination, and the oratory skill to articulate his vision to the world on this night. I look forward to his address at the 2020 DNC, you never disappoint, Mr. President
He could have been so much more. Not just America but the entire developed world would remember him and love him. His name would have been written in the history books of several countries around the world.
We miss you even in Europe. I wish you much luck love health and spirit to keep inspiring people. I think its your calling. Your charisma poise graze that your family has. Is so bright it reaches across the oceans and inspires people here to be better.
The full portrayal of great and true leadership,, the speech itself is a sign of hope for all that hard lost hope in the importance of good governance. I respect the great leader and leaders should view him as an example of the worthwhile leadership that should be embraced by them.
I wonder if he dreamed when he climbed onto the podium that at the next election he would be president, i wonder also when he went home and slipped into bed he had a nightmare his successor would be Trump, politics is so difficult to predict these days.