Barack Obama is currently 12 delegates away from officially becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for the president of the United States. Obama need 2118 delegates to secure the nomination. Thanks to a carefully choreographed rollout of super delegates, he will go over the top when primary results come out in the last two primaries of South Dakota and Montana tonight.
Today the Democratic party will have as its nominee an African American candidate. And in November we may have America’s first African American president. That in itself is history. Today also resumes a journey that was interrupted nearly 40 years ago to the day when, in the early morning hours of June 6 1968, Bobby Kennedy was taken away from America and the world.
Barack Obama carries on his shoulders the aspirations of not only the African American community of America, but of a generation who were denied their dreams four decades ago, and a new generation which now dares to dream some of those same dreams again. It is a tremendous burden on Obama’s shoulders, but it is one that we the citizenry can help him carry. The challenges lie ahead – from here to the general election in November, and beyond.
For Barack Obama and for all of us who are walking this historic journey with him, Bobby Kennedy’s words are worth remembering:
It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
That is my hope today, on the cusp of history.
7 short as of now (as per CNN)
It’s time to celebrate…and sharpen our knives for John McCain. 🙂
well, I guess ‘now’ it’s too bad I don’t have cable.. but only for this situation. Wow..that said, my head will be spinning IF Hillary Clinton becomes VP. My logic says, hell no.. that she even would consider it or even solely for ‘positioning’ to go out feeling like she offered to help out.. instead of being humbled by the waste of energy and hatefulness she injected into this whole campaign. She needs to leave the country her and that ridiculous husband of hers.. they are a disgrace.
ooh Robbie, I love it when you talk TOUGH!! [g]
Ingrid
MSNBC just declared Obama the presumptive nominee for President.
Ingrid, I’m not sure if you heard yet (not having the cable) that Hillary Clinton still did not officially concede. That woman is delusional. She even reminded people to visit her website.
mash:
you & many others must be happy tonight! thanks for all the posts-videos…kbw
zm..well hallelujah! Finally after MSNBC announced it the regular tv stations followed suit. ABC started to show Obama’s acceptance speech (or what would you call it) and just as he was about to talk about John McCain..floop.. the ‘analysts’ (like Stepanopoulos oh dear it’s late sorry, you know who I mean) had to do his schtick and schpiel. Just let me watch the whole thing already! However, I am thrilled. I had told my friend and neighbours on the street (mostly Obama supporters) that if he’d win the Presidency, I’d apply for citizenship. Well.. it looks to be closer..
zm, thanks for thinking of me..
Ingrid
Mash, pls upload his St Paul speech.
The video link to the speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHHVUk9WSGI
OK! OK! Mash bhai, don’t get carried away, let’s wait and see if Obama does become the first known multi-racial president of the USA. 🙂 You Americans you are alike!
Hey Muhammed,
whatever happened to your signature “pbum”?
Obama has a very good chance and Mash will be here to help. Right Mash?
Muhamad, I guess I have Obama fever 🙂
I will have no problem making a case for Obama this election. In case you are thinking I am overstating the historic nature of what happened last night, check out the headlines in all major US and world newspapers today.
Jyoti, I will post the video from zm’s link.
zm you like my signature? I feel obliged to say ‘peace be upon me’. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of a wannabe mullah. 🙂 Well, I hope it pleases you.
Well, Mash bhai, it seems like Obama is halfway there now that the primary is over but there’s still the worrying thing of who to pick for his sidekick. In the UK, we’ve been discussing the merits and demerits of Obama picking Clinton. The man is in something of a quandary.
Yes, I agree with on this being historic but very different from Kennedy’s time. I’m so tempted to say revolutionary…in some respects.
md, I think the Clinton VP talk will fade. The last thing a VP candidate wants to do is demand the job – which she had her people doing earlier this week. I think Obama will end up picking someone from Virginia (my guess is former governor Mark Warner). There are many alternatives to Hillary that have many or all of the pluses with none of the negatives (and Hillary comes with a LOT of baggage).
… and, definitely, you gotta watch out for those wannabe mullahs 🙂
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