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Full text: Obama's victory speech 2008 CHANGE HAS COME If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer . It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numb ers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this ti me must be different; that their voices could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been ju st a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America. It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be c ynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on t he arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, i n this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. PARTNERS IN THE JOURNEY A little bit earlier this evening I received an extraordinarily gracious call fr om Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought eve n longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for Amer ica that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service r endered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him, I congratulate Governor Palin, for all they have achieved, a nd I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the mon ths ahead. I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and r ode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support st friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my e nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you e than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming to the White House. of my be life, th both mor with us

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure. To my sister Maya, my sister Auma, all my other brother s and sisters - thank you so much for all the support you have given me. I am gr ateful to them. To my campaign manager David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who buil t the best political campaign in the history of the United States of America. My chief strategist David Axelrod, who has been a partner with me every step of th e way, and to the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics -

you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to g et it done. VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belong s to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much m oney or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washingt on - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation 's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; it grew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organised, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory. THE TASK AHEAD I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it fo r me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead . For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will br ing are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst fi nancial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in th e deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall aslee p and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child's college education. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances t o repair. REMAKING THE NATION The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in on e year or even in one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there . There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with eve ry decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't sol ve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we f ace. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the on ly way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand. ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night . This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of s acrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselv es, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anyt hing, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people. Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Par ty to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individu al liberty, and national unity. Those are values that we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a gre at victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to hea l the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: "We are not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won you r vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your pre sident too. AMERICA IN THE WORLD And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and p alaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the wo rld - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of Ame rican leadership is at hand. To those who would tear the world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek p eace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - t onight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from t he might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope. For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can an d must achieve tomorrow. A HISTORY OF STRUGGLE This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations . But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atla nta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voi ce heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years o ld. She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on t he road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reason s - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America

- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can. At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can. When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can. When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was the re to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can. She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "we shall overcome". Y es, we can. A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connecte d by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touch ed her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America , through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can. THIS IS OUR MOMENT America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the n ext century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Coo per, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim t he American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and dou bt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless cree d that sums up the spirit of a people: yes, we can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Barack Obama ========================================================================== Barack Obama's victory speech full text

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. (Sustained cheers, applause.) Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine it s own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. (Cheers, applause .) It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spi rit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American fami ly, and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people. (Cheers, appla

use.) Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up , we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United Sta tes of America, the best is yet to come. (Cheers, applause.) I want to thank every American who participated in this elec tion. (Cheers, applause.) Whether you voted for the very first time (cheers) or waited in line for a very long time (cheers) by the way, we have to fix that (ch eers, applause) whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone (cheers, applause), whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference. (Cheers, applause.) I just spoke with Governor Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a har d-fought campaign. (Cheers, applause.) We may have battled fiercely, but it's on ly because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give b ack to America through public service. And that is a legacy that we honour and a pplaud tonight. (Cheers, applause.) In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to s itting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to mov e this country forward. (Cheers, applause.) I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America's happy wa rrior, the best vice-president anybody could ever hope for, Joe Biden. (Cheers, applause.) And I wouldn't be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago. (Cheers, applause.) Let me say this publicly. Michelle, I have never loved you more. (Cheers, applause.) I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you too as our nation's first lady. (Cheers, appla use.) Sasha and Malia (cheers, applause) before our very eyes, you're growing up to be come two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom. (Cheers, appl ause.) And I am so proud of you guys. But I will say that, for now, one dog's pr obably enough. (Laughter.) To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics (cheers, app lause) the best the best ever (cheers, applause) some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning. (Cheers, applause.) But all of you are family. No matter what you do or where yo u go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together. (Chee rs, applause.) And you will have the lifelong appreciation of a grateful preside nt. Thank you for believing all the way (cheers, applause) to every hill, to eve ry valley. (Cheers, applause.) You lifted me up the whole day, and I will always be grateful for everything that you've done and all the incredible work that yo u've put in. (Cheers, applause.) I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that p rovides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us that politics is nothing mor e than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies and crowded along a r ope line in a high school gym or or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else. You'll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organiser who's work

ing his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opp ortunity. (Cheers, applause.) You'll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who's going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local au to plant added another shift. (Cheers, applause.) You'll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who's working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ev er has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home. (Cheers , applause.) That's why we do this. That's what politics can be. That's why elections matter. It's not small, it's big. It's important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decis ions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy. That won 't change after tonight. And it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nation s are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter (cheers, applause) the chance to cast their ballots like we did toda y. But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's fu ture. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best scho ols and the best teachers (cheers, applause) a country that lives up to its lega cy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation (scattered ch eers, applause) with all of the good jobs and new businesses that follow. We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn 't weakened up by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. (Cheers, applause.) We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the wo rld, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on Earth and the best t roops this this world has ever known (cheers, applause) but also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being. We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant Amer ica open to the dreams of an immigrant's daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag (cheers, applause) to the young boy on the south side of Ch icago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner (cheers, applause) to the furniture worker's child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a sc ientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president. That's the (cheers, applause) that's the future we hope for. forwa

(Cheers, applause.) That's the vision we share. That's where we need to go rd. (Cheers, applause.) That's where we need to go. (Cheers, applause.)

Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock, resolve all our pro blems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making th e difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin. Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. (Cheers, applause.) A long campaign is now over. (Cheers, app

lause.) And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you. I have le arned from you. And you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired t han ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead. (Cheers, applause.) Tonight you voted for action, not politics as usual. (Cheers, applause.) You ele cted us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and wor king with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve toget her reducing our deficit, reforming our tax code, fixing our immigration system, freeing ourselves from foreign oil. We've got more work to do. (Cheers, applaus e.) But that doesn't mean your work is done. The role of citizens in our democracy d oes not end with your vote. America's never been about what can be done for us; it's about what can be done by us together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. (Cheers, applause.) That's the principle we were founded on. This country has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military in history, but that's not what makes us str ong. Our university, our culture are all the envy of the world, but that's not w hat keeps the world coming to our shores. What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on Earth, the belief that our destiny is shared (cheers, applause) that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations, so that the freed om which so many Americans have fought for and died for come with responsibiliti es as well as rights, and among those are love and charity and duty and patrioti sm. That's what makes America great. (Cheers, applause.) I am hopeful tonight because I have seen this spirit at work in America. I've se en it in the family business whose owners would rather cut their own pay than la y off their neighbours and in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see a friend lose a job. I've seen it in the soldiers who re-enlist after l osing a limb and in those Seals who charged up the stairs into darkness and dang er because they knew there was a buddy behind them watching their back. (Cheers, applause.) I've seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York, where leaders from every party and level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from the wreckage of a terrible storm. (Cheers, applaus e.) And I saw it just the other day in Mentor, Ohio, where a father told the story o f his eight-year-old daughter whose long battle with leukaemia nearly cost their family everything had it not been for healthcare reform passing just a few mont hs before the insurance company was about to stop paying for her care. (Cheers, applause.) I had an opportunity to not just talk to the father but meet this inc redible daughter of his. And when he spoke to the crowd, listening to that fathe r's story, every parent in that room had tears in their eyes because we knew tha t little girl could be our own. And I know that every American wants her future to be just as bright. That's who we are. That's the country I'm so proud to lead as your president. (Cheers, app lause.) And tonight, despite all the hardship we've been through, despite all the frustr ations of Washington, I've never been more hopeful about our future. (Cheers, ap plause.) I have never been more hopeful about America. And I ask you to sustain that hope.

[Audience member: "We got your back, Mr President!"] I'm not talking about blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the eno rmity of the tasks ahead or the road blocks that stand in our path. I'm not talk ing about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or sh irk from a fight. I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something bette r awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. (Cheers, applause.) America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunities and new security for the middle class. I bel ieve we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you loo k like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or His panic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabl ed, gay or straight. (Cheers, applause.) You can make it here in America if you' re willing to try. (Cheers, applause.) I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of A merica. (Cheers, applause.) And together, with your help and God's grace, we will continue our journey forwa rd and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on ea rth. (Cheers, applause.) Thank you, America. (Cheers, applause.) God bless you. God bless these United States. (Cheers, applause.) Barack Obama November 7th 2012

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