Here's a collection of videos, with brief commentary, representing
what I think are some of the most significant and influential events
from the Obama campaign, tracing it's history from it's beginnings
until days before the election.
It's in five parts:
1. It Begins
2. The Iowa Caucus and Leadup
3. The Primaries
4. The Race for the White House
5. The Final Push
PART I. IT BEGINS
Obama's Iraq Speech (October 2002)
No video was ever taken, so our history in videos must begin without
one.
Here are the money lines from Obama's anti Iraq war speech. His
speech, and these lines in particular, gave him 'street cred' in 2007
on the biggest issue of the time.
"I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US
occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with
undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a
clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan
the flames of the middle east, and encourage the worst, rather than
best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm
of Al Queda.
I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."
http://usliberals.about.com/...
2004 Convention speech highight (August 2004)
The speech that brought the house down, and brought him to the
nation's attention. Can you listen to it yet without choking up?
http://www.youtube.com/...
Obama Girl (June 2007)
"Obama Girl was recently named by MNSBC one of the top 10 Influential
Women of 2007."
http://www.youtube.com/...
Fired up, Ready to Go, One Voice (Fall 2007)
The story of the campaign's first nation-grabbing slogan.
http://www.youtube.com/...
II. THE IOWA CAUCUS AND ITS LEADUP
Saturday Night Live (November 2007)
Call me crazy, but when Obama announced 'Live from New York, it's
Saturday Night' I thought to myself 'Wow, he's really got a chance!'.
http://www.nbc.com/...
http://www.youtube.com/...
Iowa Jefferson-Jackson dinner (November 10th, 2007)
The speech that is widely credited with changing the course of the
race in Iowa.
http://www.youtube.com/...
That'S What Hope Is
This one never fails to bring tears to my eyes...
http://www.youtube.com/...
Obama Girl Returns ('The Eye of the Donkey') (Before Iowa)
http://www.youtube.com/...
They Said This Day Would Never Come (Iowa, January 2008)
But it did. Obama 38%, Edwards 30%, Clinton 29%
http://www.youtube.com/...
III. THE PRIMARIES
Yes We Can (New Hampshire, January 2008)
Based on Obama's speech after the New Hampshire primary, this video
is often listed as the most influential video of the race.
http://www.youtube.com/...
http://www.youtube.com/...
Caroline Kennedy Endorses Obama (Washington DC, late January, 2008)
Nothing could compare symbolically with the daughter of John F.
Kennedy endorsing Obama. Probably the most important endorsement of
the campaign, it propelled Obama to a narrow victory on Super Tuesday.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Just Words (Wisconsin, February 2008)
The speech that delivered a crushing victory in Wisconsin for Obama.
This was the culmination of a 13 contest winning streak that put Obama
into a pledged delegate lead that was mathematically unassailable.
http://www.youtube.com/...
A More Pefect Union (March 2008)
The speech that nailed a stake into the Reverend Wright controvery and
effectively sealed his nomination.
http://www.youtube.com/...
IV. The Race for the White House
The Bush Factor (August 2008)
An effective ad not produced by the Obama campaign itself.
http://www.youtube.com/...
2008 Democratic Convention -- Barney Smith (August 2008)
And this was before the economic meltdown!
http://www.youtube.com/...
2008 Debates -- You Were Wrong (October 2008)
The best zinger from the debates.
http://www.youtube.com/...
V. The Final Push
Great Depression
Echoes from a past age.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Colin Powell endorsement (October 19, 2008)
No damning with faint praise. Tell us what you really think, General, Sir!
http://www.youtube.com/...
Closing Argument
One week to go.
http://www.youtube.com/...
Final Ad
"This is our moment. This is our time. Let's go change the world!"
http://www.youtube.com/...
Thank you
You're welcome.
http://www.youtube.com/...