Live Blog Barack Obama

Live from Spartanburg…We’ll give a update @ 8:45

It is 9am, they finally let the media set up. We had to get searched and I was informed that folding chairs are a weapon. What is this world coming to?

• 09:20
  • The auditorium is beginning to fill up.
• 09:35
  • People are still filing in. Very diverse crowd.
• 09:36
  • Working on a new method to provide video. Hope to have the videos up quicker after today’s event
• 09:50
  • The auditorium is 3/4 full. Empty seats are in the balcony and press box. Several empty seats scattered through the bottom floor
• 10:05
  • Awaiting Barack Obama
• 10:20
  • Sen. Glenn Reese takes the stage to introduce Barack Obama
  • It’s important to register to vote, my first race I won by 4 votes.
  • I was amazed at how Obama won in Chicago, he is not a phone, he is for real and he is genuine.
  • We’re going to say RACK
• 10:25
  • I’ve even practiced this in the bathroom at home
  • Here is “‘Rack Obama”
  • What a wonderful gathering
  • I am very grateful for all of you being here
  • By the way, free Krispy Kreme for everybody, just come on over to the store
  • I want to thank President Flemming (President Converse College)
  • Acknowledge Carrol Fowler (SC Democratic Chair)
  • A year from today, you will get to vote
  • Good news, the name George Bush will not appear on the ballot
  • And my cousin Dick Cheney won’t be on it either.
  • We’ve been trying to hide that for a while, we all have a black sheep
  • Crazy uncle in the attic
  • Era of Scooter Libby Justice and Rove politics of fear and cynicism will be over
• 10:30
  • I’m running because we find ourselves in a moment of great challenge
  • America is less safe and respect
  • And closer to the day climate change becomes climate disaster
  • Most Americans are working hard for less money
  • George Bush said whatever the politics of the moment allowed to get elected
  • And resulted in less faith in the government
  • Promised conservatism and got Katrina and wiretaps
  • Promised unity and got a divider
  • Promised kinder Washington, and got a bitter town
  • Only mission accomplished was fear
  • War should have never been waged
  • Not just democrats are listening, but independents and republicans are listening
  • I know this b/c Republicans tell me they are supporting me
  • And I whisper…thank you, but why are we whispering
• 10:35
  • We need to offer the people a different choice in 2008
  • A chance to solve the challenges that were made worse by Bush
  • But they existed a lot longer before he took office
  • Healthcare, Education….
  • But it’s not all Bush’s fault, they existed before he took office
  • The System in Washington has failed the American People
  • This is what the debate is in the Democratic Party
  • All Democratics candidates would be vastly superior in comparison to the incumbent
  • Much has been said between Sen. Clinton and myself
  • She is a collegue and a friend and has run a text book campaign
  • The problem is with the textbook itself (generous applause)
  • Says very little about uniting the country
  • Sen Clinton is not the only one who has played this game
  • I understand the concept, and the game ususally gets politicians where they need to go
  • But it doesn’t get America there
  • When it comes to issues like war, diplomacy, energy, and healthcare; the people deserve more than the textbook
  • When we led by principal, we have helped this country more
• 10:40
  • When I’m running for President, it is because the leadership that I provide is what America needs (LOUD APPLAUSE)
  • I’m reminded daily not by events, but my wife, that I am not a perfect man
  • We cannot keep telling different people what they want to hear, we need to be honest and tell them what they need to know
  • When I told them we need to change fuel standards, I told it to the Detroit automakers, not the environmentalist
  • I listened to my gut, and said Iraq was the wrong war at the wrong time and Congress should stand up and say something
  • You deserve a President who is willing to fight for you everyday for the next 8 years
  • That is the change we can offer in 2008, not as a slogan, but what we can believe in
  • In a year, we can tell the corporate lobbyist that there reign is no more
  • I don’t take a dime of my money, and they won’t find a job in my White House (Loud applause)
• 10:45
  • I will quit the tax breaks for corps that send jobs overseas
  • I will raise the minimum wage that reflects the economy
  • Workers deserve to know that someone is standing with them, I’ll picket with you
  • I helped reform healthcare in Illinois
  • We provided 150K people get healthcare
  • I will ensure that every individual get the same healthcare as Congress
  • And I will sign it by the end of my first term as POTUS of America
  • We will stop passing bills called No Child Left Behind with no funding
  • Recruit an army of new teachers and paying them better
  • So they are teaching to teach, not to a test
  • So college is in reach for every American child
  • One year from now, we can stop sending millions of dollars to foreign dictators for oil
  • Tell polluters they’ll have to pay for it
  • And use the money to invest in renewable energies
  • And that is the Change we can offer in 2008
  • Republican nominee will not be able to say i have flip flopped on war
  • I will close down Guantonomo and restore Habeas Corpus
  • We are not a nation who tortures, or wiretaps without warrants, and that is a change we can offer in 2008
  • Are you fired up? (Cheers)
  • When I’m President, I will end this war in Iraq
  • I will bring our troops home within 16 months
  • I will finish the fight against Al Qaueda in Afghanistan
  • I will lead the world against the common threats
  • That is what democrats stand for, and America should
  • I will send the message around the world
  • Your future is our future and the moment is now
• 10:50
  • I want to lead the United States of America, not the red and the blue
  • This election is too important to settle for what we already know
  • I’m not running to fulfill plans,
  • It is unlikely that I was going to stand here today
  • I’m running for what Dr. King called the “fierce urgency of now”
  • I believe there is a thing that is “too late”
  • I don’t want to see the oceans rise
  • I don’t want to risk more American lives b/c we didn’t investigate
  • I don’t want to see veterans living on the streets
  • I run for the Presidency for the same reason I drove across America 2 years ago
  • I am standing here because someone stood up when it was unpopular….then everyone stood up

The end