Obama in his own words

Quotes from Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee-in-waiting.

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In his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, on July 27, 2004:

"The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue states, red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too: We worship an awesome God in the blue states and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

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In announcing his bid for the White House in Springfield, Ill., on Feb. 10, 2007:

"The genius of our founders is that they designed a system of government that can be changed. And we should take heart, because we've changed this country before. ... Today we are called once more, and it is time for our generation to answer that call."

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In a speech marking his victory in the leadoff Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3:

"You know, they said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned, to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night — at this defining moment in history — you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this New Year, 2008. In lines that stretched around schools and churches; in small towns and big cities; you came together as Democrats, Republicans and independents to stand up and say that we are one nation, we are one people, and our time for change has come."

"This was the moment when we tore down barriers that have divided us for too long, when we rallied people of all parties and ages to a common cause, when we finally gave Americans who'd never participated in politics a reason to stand up and to do so. This was the moment when we finally beat back the politics of fear, and doubt, and cynicism; the politics where we tear each other down instead of lifting this country up. This was the moment."

"Years from now, you'll look back and you'll say that this was the moment — this was the place — where America remembered what it means to hope."

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In a speech on race at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on March 18:

"I chose to run for president at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together, unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction: toward a better future for our children and our grandchildren.

"And this belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own story."

"Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now."

"America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope — the audacity to hope — for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

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In claiming the Democratic presidential nomination in St. Paul, Minn., on June 3.

"Because of you, tonight I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America."

"What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge and patriotism as a bludgeon. What you won't see from this campaign or this party is a politics that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge but enemies to polarize, because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, but we are Americans first. We are always Americans first."

"America, this is our moment. This is our time — our time to turn the page on the policies of the past, our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face — our time to offer a new direction for this country that we love.

"The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people."

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