I Supported Obama's Goals in 2008, and Support Bernie in 2016.
Last edited Fri Mar 25, 2016, 09:10 AM - Edit history (1)
Several states have yet to vote, and they still need support. The issues that face our country are too great to pretend that this is over. Obama was right in 2008. Change doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't happen by giving up and going backwards, and it happens from the bottom up. We have to continue moving forward, no matter how difficult the challenge, or what the cynics are saying. We don't have to be a house divided, unless we want to be. And we don't have to give in to the same old politics that has taken the future from far too many in our country, we can stand up together and say enough, but it takes a grassroots effort to do this. One that Sanders is promoting.
No one ever said that this would be easy. But I don't believe we can even maintain Obama's current policies, let alone improve anything in this country if we elect a politician that is part and parcel with special interest groups instead of the people. Obama was right to point it out then, and the problem has only multiplied with Clinton. She isn't the candidate for our future, rather she represents politics of the past that we desperately need to move beyond. That isn't throwing a tantrum, that's calling it out, out and being honest.
This is the speech that made me believe we could really change things. I've always been a voter, but with this, I became more active than ever before to change this not just at this level but locally. i encourage everyone to read or watch below. The full speech is also at the link.
Entire Speech at link (excerpts below and emphasis mine)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/us/politics/05text-obama.html?_r=0
Nothing changes because lobbyists just write another check or politicians start worrying about how to win the next election instead of why they should -- (cheers, applause) -- or because they focus on who's up and who's down instead of who matters.
And while Washington is consumed with the same drama and divisions and distractions, another family puts up a "For sale" sign in their front yard, another factory shuts its doors, another soldier waves goodbye as he leaves on another tour of duty in a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged -- (cheers, applause) -- that goes on and on and on. (Cheers, applause.)
But in this election, at this moment, you are standing up all across this country to say, "Not this time" -- (cheers) -- "not this year."
The stakes are too high and the challenges too great to play the same Washington game with the same Washington players and somehow expect a different result. This time must be different. This time we have to turn the page. This time we have to write a new chapter in American history. (Cheers, applause.) This time we have to seize the moment. (Cheers, applause.)
Now, this isn't about me and it's not about Senator Clinton. As I've said before, she was a friend before this campaign. She'll be a friend after it's over. (Cheers.) I respect her. I respect her as a colleague. I congratulate her on her victories tonight. She's been running an outstanding race.
But this fall, this fall we owe the American people a real choice. (Cheers, applause.) We have to choose between change and more of the same. We have to choose between looking backwards and looking forward. (Cheers, applause.) We have to choose between our future and our past.
It's a choice between going into this election with Republicans and independents already united against us or going against their nominee with a campaign that has united Americans of all parties, from all backgrounds, from all races, from all religions, around a common purpose. (Cheers, applause.)
It's a choice between having a debate with the other party about who has the most experience in Washington or having one about who's most likely to change Washington -- (cheers, applause) -- because that's a debate that we can win. (Cheers, applause.)
It's a choice between a candidate who's taken more money from Washington lobbyists than either Republican in this race and a campaign that has not taken a dime of their money because we have been funded by you. You have funded this campaign. (Cheers, applause.)
-snip-
But it will not be easy. It will require struggle and it will require sacrifice. There will be setbacks, and we will make mistakes. And that is why we need all the help we can get. (Cheers, applause.)
So tonight I want to speak directly to all those Americans who have yet to join this movement but still hunger for change. They know it in their gut. They know we can do better than we're doing. They know that we can take our politics to a higher level. But they're afraid. They've been taught to be cynical. They're doubtful that it can be done.
But I'm here to say tonight to all of you who still harbor those doubts, we need you. (Cheers, applause.) We need you to stand with us. (Cheers, applause.) We need you to work with us. (Cheers, applause.) We need you to help us prove that together, ordinary people can still do extraordinary things in the United States of America. (Cheers, applause.)
-snip-
You see, the challenges we face will not be solved with one meeting in one night. It will not be resolved on even a Super Duper Tuesday. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. (Cheers, applause.) We are the change that we seek.
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