political

Bill Clinton commenting on Barack Obama's South Carolina primary win

“That’s just bait, too. Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice, in '84 and '88. And he ran a good campaign. Senator Obama's run a good campaign here, he’s run a good campaign everywhere.”

— Former President Bill Clinton quoted on MSNBC’s First Read on Jan. 26, 2008, commenting on Sen. Barack Obama’s, D-Ill., victory in the South Carolina primaries.

Submitted by Bill Clinton on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

McCain: I've been sleeping like a baby since the election

"I've been sleeping like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry." -- John McCain

— Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain pokes fun at himself during an interview with Jay Leno of The Tonight Show, Nov. 11., 2008.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Obama: I've only talked to living presidents

"I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances." -- Barack Obama

— In the kind of gaffe almost completely absent from his presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama says he has no intention of speaking with former president Ronald Reagan from beyond the grave. He later apologized for the remark.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/07/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Jackson explains those election night tears

"Well, on the one hand, I saw President Barack Obama standing there looking so majestic. And I knew that people in the villages of Kenya and Haiti, and mansions and palaces in Europe and China, were all watching this young African-American male assume the leadership to take our nation out of a pit to a higher place. And then, I thought of who was not there. Medgar Evers, the husband of Sister Myrlie. So the martyrs and murdered whose blood made last night possible. I could not help think that this was their night. And if I had one wish: If Medgar, or if Dr. King could have just been there for a second in time, would have made my heart rejoice. And so it was kind of duo-fold -- his ascension into leadership and the price that was paid to get him there." -- Jesse Jackson

— The Rev. Jesse Jackson tells NPR about the tears he shed on election night in Chicago after a black man was elected president for the first time.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/05/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Lewis hails Obama's win as a revolution

"This is nothing short of a non-violent revolution in American politics," -- John Lewis

— Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and a towering figure of the civil rights movement, puts Barack Obama's historic election win into perspective, Nov. 4, 2008.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

The dream of our founders is alive and well says jubilant Obama

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." -- Barack Obama

— In his victory speech to more than 100,000 supporters in Chicago, President-elect Barack Obama says his win proves the power of democracy.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Obama: road will be long and hard but we will get there

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there." -- Barack Obama

— In his victory speech to more than a hundred thousand supporters in Chicago Tuesday night, President-elect Barack Obama says America will get there.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

McCain laments loss, praises former rival

"In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving." -- John McCain

— Republican presidential candidate John McCain pays tribute to President-elect Barack Obama in a classy concession speech before suporters in Phoenix, Ariz.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Change has come to America

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America." -- Barack Obama

— President-elect Barack Obama, in a moving victory speech, reflects on the change his win has brought.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]

Obama praises supporters for overcoming, doubt, cycnicism

"...This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can." -- Barack Obama

— President-elect Barack Obama invokes his message of "Yes, we can" before supporters at his victory rally in Chicago.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 08:00. categories [ ]