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Obama's Victory Speech Live Blog

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:33:19 PM EST
Tags: Barack Obama, 2008 (all tags)
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We will live blog President Elect Barack Obama's victory speech.

The live blog is below the fold so it can be bigger. You can comment below as usual or send us messages.

Update: Transcript of Obama's speech is here.

Update: Video of speech is below:

< President Barack Obama | A Few More Election Results >

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    Obama's Victory Speech Live Blog | 86 comments (86 topical)

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    For tomorrow (5.00 / 5) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:51:43 PM EST
    the emergED Democratic Majority

    "White voters continue to support the Republican presidential candidate, as they have for many years. In the exit polls reported thus far tonight, 53 percent of whites say they voted for McCain while 43 percent of whites voted for Obama.

    Obama, however, has a dramatic edge among African-Americans (96 percent), Latinos (67 percent ) and Asians (63 percent). Significantly, America's non-white vote is increasing as a proportion of the entire electorate. In the 1992 presidential election, whites made up 87 percent of all voters. This proportion fell to 83 percent in 1996; to 81 percent in 2000 and 77 percent in 2004. So far in today's exit polling, whites make up 75 percent of the electorate. Projected demographic trends indicate that the proportion of non-white voters, particularly Hispanics, will increase further in the future."

    An impressive victory speech... (none / 0) (#88)
    by dantolee on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 12:25:45 AM EST
    maybe its just me but did anyone notice that this president elect for once did not once look down to read what he said but still unbelievably moved the masses.....that's what they call "speaking from the heart..."
    that is a sure first sign of competence and responsibility right there...he knows what he's saying, and what we all should do. I am proud that we have such a president come January 20.

    Parent
    From the teleprompter (5.00 / 3) (#96)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 12:42:44 AM EST
    No competent politician looks down anymore.  The speech rolls on transparent teleprompters.

    Parent
    I've watched the speech twice (none / 0) (#130)
    by andrys on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:34:44 AM EST
    I wondered why the delivery (not the words) seemed so remote to me, but knew  from the beginning that he was reading it from two teleprompters on the side, as usual, even the line in which he talked to his daughters to tell them a puppy would be coming.  If you taped it, watch that again.

      He has come to rely (overly) on the teleprompters or on notes.  

      But I also felt that he was making an effort to contain his emotions and I saw, after the speech, that his face was mildly contorting in much the way it did when he tried not to cry when hearing and talking about his grandmother.  I think he wanted to avoid emotions overcoming him.  Could be something he's done since a difficult childhood.  It can come across as brusque sometimes.  And he could not have helped but have mixed feelings last night, realizing that she couldn't see it.  

      McCain did better than he has during the campaign (but how could he do worse?), but it, also, was spoiled for me by the obvious teleprompter reading.  I long for the days when they did just speak spontaneously from the heart, at least in concession speeches.  Gore and Kerry were both so much more human in those than they had been in the campaign, where they both were stiffer and rehearsed.

     

    Parent

    I know it's been a long race when (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:59:21 PM EST
    I think to myself, 'My, how Malia has grown!'

    LOL!!! (5.00 / 0) (#7)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:00:19 PM EST


    Parent
    lol!~ and she was tall when this started! (5.00 / 0) (#8)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:00:45 PM EST


    Parent
    funny (5.00 / 0) (#11)
    by Lil on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:01:37 PM EST


    Parent
    Is Biden not there? (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:03:32 PM EST


    I was just thinking about that - (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:06:53 PM EST
    remembering in 1992 when the Gores and Clintons were dancing on the patio (?) of the Arkansas Governor's house to "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow."

    Isn't it kind of odd that the VP-elect and family are not there tonight?

    Parent

    The two couples dancing (5.00 / 0) (#132)
    by andrys on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:41:34 AM EST
    Holding hands up and then dancing, in 1992.  I loved it.

       The post-speech stuff last night was very moving, I thought.  Loved, as they left the stage, Michelle turning to look at him with a huge smile, which made him, finally break out in a broad, super-happy grin.  I think that earlier he was somewhat overcome with the awesome responsibility of it all and finding it hard to take in, maybe, and of course also aware that neither his mother and grandmother could see this, accentuated when Biden's dear mom came on stage with him.

    Parent

    he was there (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:39:27 PM EST
    and Obama introduced him as his partner. Biden's whole family was onstage too at the end.

    Parent
    The faces in the crowd (5.00 / 0) (#40)
    by byteb on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:25:23 PM EST
    listening to Obama. I'm in tears

    Well, but give the GOP an inch and (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:26:33 PM EST
    they'll eat you alive.

    meant to reply to tigercourse upthread nt (none / 0) (#53)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:29:27 PM EST


    Parent
    Insight and more tomorrow (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:26:49 PM EST
    I sm just overwhelmed - Franken in a nailbiter. Go Al!

    tomorrow more.

     

    It's really something. (5.00 / 0) (#70)
    by coigue on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:47:03 PM EST


    Parent
    BTD<, dude, you are so subdued tonight. (none / 0) (#58)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:32:11 PM EST
    What gives? Really?

    Parent
    Well, even (none / 0) (#133)
    by andrys on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:57:41 AM EST
    for a non-Obama supporter in the primaries and not enthusiastic about him for many reasons, I got teary-eyed too at the pre- and post-speech stuff.  And I found myself with a big grin throughout that - so, happy tears.  Some won't be wanting to say much during times like that.

      The emotion in the crowd when they heard the news and then when they were able to hear Obama speak as President-Elect was very moving.  Especially, early on, that gal in the green sweater who was seated but was bent over, head down, because she couldn't stop sobbing over the fact it had really happened.

     The words in the speech were fine; as I've explained I felt he was intentionally suppressing some heavy emotions and delivered it in a cooler way.  But the non-verbal part of the event was what got to me.  Family, audience, Obama working to control his emotions...

    Parent

    Don't forget the Kilroy/Stivers race. (none / 0) (#124)
    by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:22:35 AM EST
    Those results may not be official until next week, depending.

    Parent
    ya (5.00 / 0) (#48)
    by connecticut yankee on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:27:11 PM EST
    It was a modified stump speech until the final 25%.  The end I liked.  Solid speech.  Imagine Bush trying to give it.

    Gimmee a break! (none / 0) (#129)
    by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:33:18 AM EST
    Someday we'll have to compare end of term Reagan and Bush to see which one seems most impaired.

    Parent
    I like how he icludes all Americans (5.00 / 0) (#50)
    by coigue on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:27:27 PM EST
    even the ones who voted against him

    That is fairly typical (none / 0) (#134)
    by andrys on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:13:35 AM EST
    and I hope he can do it.

      Ironically, remembering his 2004 speech, which I DVR'd, in which he spoke of no red America / blue America but a united one, we are currently still stuck in that mode of two co-existing cultures.

      http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html

      The geographic quality of the division is startling.

    They talk of 'middle America' ... It'll take awhile but I think he can improve that, but he'll face unhappiness from both sides when he does take steps in that direction.

    Parent

    What a night, what an election, what a country! (5.00 / 0) (#79)
    by barryluda on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:58:32 PM EST
    An amazing ride.  I'm so proud to be an American, a democrat, a Chicagoan, and a TL reader.

    Thanks J, BTD, TChris, and TLkid.  You all helped make the entire process much more interesting and enjoyable.

    While I'll miss all of your insightful posts about the election, I'm very glad it's all over and the good guys won.

    OMG (5.00 / 0) (#102)
    by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 12:55:00 AM EST
    this is amazing -

    "'Awesome Night,' Bush Tells Obama."

    (CNN) - White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says President Bush called Sen. Barack Obama at 11:12 p.m. to congratulate him on his victory, and that the President extended an invitation for the President-elect and his family to visit the White House soon, at their convenience.

    Perino provided these quotes by President Bush from his conversation with Sen. Obama:

    "Mr. President-elect, congratulations to you. What an awesome night for you, your family and your supporters. Laura and I called to congratulate you and your good bride."

    "I promise to make this a smooth transition. You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations and go enjoy yourself."

    Perino said the President also plans to talk to Sen. John McCain after McCain's speech.

    "I promise to make this a smooth transition."  Oops, did I sign that?

    Maybe we can smooth the transition up to (none / 0) (#111)
    by robrecht on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 01:06:58 AM EST
    Nov 20th.

    Parent
    Tonight has been overwhelming for me. (5.00 / 2) (#112)
    by Joelarama on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 01:10:23 AM EST
    I walked back from an election party at my friends' house, to mine, through a majority black neighborhood in DC, and felt elated.  I passed people of all races, and at every encounter smiled and said "Obama," and they answered "Obama," and vice-versa.  Everyone gathering in front of their townhouses.  I felt no fear or threat on sometimes dangerous streets.  I live near a Howard University dorm, where students had poured into the streets cheering, and people in passing cars answered with honks and congratulations.  I high-fived the students as I walked by -- and I am not a high-five person.

    Then, I got home and read online that Prop 8 may very well pass in California.  And I read that, according to exit polls, the one group that overwhelmingly voted to strip gay people of their rights happened to be African Americans.

    I am glad tonight, but the elation will not last, because the problems we seek to solve through politics will not be solved even through we have seen a truly barrier-breaking election.  

    I hope Obama is the real deal.    

    CRY BABY CRY (2.00 / 0) (#135)
    by nchz5q on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:11:18 AM EST
    EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT Christian Taliban (and your imams including Dr. James Dobson), Muslim Taliban (and your imams), homophobes, racists, and elitist republicans in general. You are in the minority. Even manipulating the vote-counting machines was not enough to deny real Americans their voice. YOUR OX HAS DONE BEEN GORED!! CRY BABY CRY!

    Do we have any popular vote numbers? (none / 0) (#1)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:41:37 PM EST


    Obama up by about 3 million (none / 0) (#2)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:44:23 PM EST
    with about 65% of the vote in, if I remember what I just saw on CNN

    Parent
    I hope this number grows exponentially (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:03:33 PM EST
    otherwise no landslide and no mandate.

    Parent
    Bush claimed a mandate. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Lil on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:07:12 PM EST
    we have a mandate imo.

    Parent
    I thought Bush was an arrogant jerk (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:11:57 PM EST
    for claiming a mandate when nearly half the electorate voted against him, so I'd like to see a better majority for Obama than he had....

    You know how loudly the Repubs will yell that it was a small victory, barely over half. I'd just like to have them shut up by the numbers.

    Parent

    who cares what they say (5.00 / 0) (#60)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:37:43 PM EST
    they have been marginalized.

    Parent
    That's what the Dems thought (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by oldpro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 01:46:22 AM EST
    in '92.  Arrogance.

    Then they overreached, screwed up and were thrown out of the majority, House and Senate.  Only Bill Clinton was left to fight on with the few tools he had, keeping the worst of the Republican legislation and budgets at bay.  More vetoes than all previous presidents put together!

    Notice the difference when he left office?  He was all that stood between what we had then and what we have now.

    I hope to Hell the Democrats learned a few things from that experience.  Time will tell.

    Parent

    Well, maybe, but it's still nearly half (none / 0) (#65)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:39:33 PM EST
    of the electorate. Can we snub them like Bush snubbed us, or how do we respond?

    Parent
    I think Obama's speech (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Lil on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:42:56 PM EST
    signalled his intent to try to bring them into the tent.

    Parent
    yes, he did (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:52:36 PM EST
    a few times. He was very gracious and humble.

    Parent
    I'm all for Obama extending a hand to (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 12:27:13 AM EST
    the Republican voters who voted for McCain.

    However, the GOP establishment will bi