How many of you heard Obama speak at the 2004 DNC and KNEW he would be POTUS someday?

[bushisanidiot]

I know I did! It's a dream come true!!!!! :) :) :) :)

[slinkerwink]

1. I did! I remember calling my mom and saying, "I think that's going to be our first black President."

I thought he was going to run in 2012, but I've been very pleased, with some minor exceptions, at how his campaign has come to this point.

[blm]

Yep - and if McAuliffe secured election process after 2000s theft, Edwards-Obama would've been 2012

certainty. And I highly doubt Edwards would have found occasion to be distracted from the task of VP.

But.....since past stolen elections are a reality, and Chairman Dean has strengthened party infrastructure state by state during his stewardship....Obama/Biden will be a great administration.

[hisownpetard]

2. I did - and was amazed to learn later on how many thousands of other people who heard him that night

and didn't know a thing about him said the very same words.

[donco6]

3. I did. He impressed me from that point. n/t

[many a good man]

4. Wathching his speech, my wife and I turned to each other and said at the same time

"That guy's going to be President some day!"

[bushisanidiot]

14. That gave me a good chill. Same thing happened at my house!

:)

[BklynChick]

5. I was cautiously OPTIMISTIC

[Beregond2]

6. For me, it was an "appearance"

(can one appear on the radio)on some NPR game show. I thought: this is the smartest, wittiest politician I've ever heard. I didn't even know he was black.

[WeDidIt]

7. I knew when I first heard him speak in October 2002

HE was speaking in Federal Plaza. I actually told the guy who told me his name, "he should be president."

[liberalmuse]

8. I'd heard about him many years ago...

before the 2004 Convention, probably from people at DU, and had a feeling he'd be our first black President. The only problem I had with him was his 'unity' message, and the fact that he isn't a militant liberal like 1% of the population. I wasn't in the mood for unity in 2003/2004, and truth be told, I'm not in the mood for unity now. However, I'm sure having a President Obama in the White House will change my mind. :)

[darius15]

9. I was't sure about President

but I do remember thinking that he was going to have a big role in the Democratic Party in the years to come.

[City Lights]

10. Me, me, me!!!

:bounce:

[Midlodemocrat]

11. I did.

[jaxx]

12. Count me in.

I met him in July of 2004 and walked away saying he's going to be the president one day. Sweeeeeet! The speech was icing on the cake.

[Waya]

13. I did.....

.........however, I didn't think it would be this quick. 2016 would have been more my guess.......

[monmouth]

15. From the moment he opened his mouth that night, I knew he

was a winner. So young to be so classy and polished...

[MiniMe]

16. I thought it, but I didn't think it would be this soon

I thought it would be at least 4 more years.

[IDemo]

17. Links for those who missed it ->

Barack Obama 2004 DNC Speech

Part 1

Part 2

[ebdarcy]

18. Yep, I just didn't think it would be this soon.

But I'm quite happy it is.

[rurallib]

19. Had the TV on in the background. As I heard him start his speech

I stopped what I was doing and hollered at my wife to get in here, now. And we listened. Afterwards I looked at he and said "If kerry doesn't win this year, that guy may be the next president.
Called my daughter in Illinois right after that and told her she'd better vote for Obama. This guy is on his way!

[Mrs. Overall]

20. Yes. I said aloud, "He will be president." I just didn't think it would be this soon!!

[JohnnyLib2]

21. Me, too.

[petersjo02]

22. I tuned into the convention one evening in '04

and just happened on Obama's speech. I'd never heard of him before that night. I sat there abolutely mesmerized by his message and thoughtful, intelligent views. When it was over, I turned to my husband and said "There is a future star in the Democratic Party." I didn't think it would happen this soon, but we'll happily take it. Obama/Biden '08!

[progdog]

23. I did !

:)

[GoesTo11]

24. My wife said first black president, I replied next president

Although I didn't really believe the next president part.

[SalviaBlue]

25. I did... He had me in tears, wishing for his vision of America. nt

[eshfemme]

26. I basically turned to my sister and said, "I want him to be President."

[polichick]

27. I did - called my husband in to see our president-to-be. We're ALMOST there!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

28. Got chills when I heard him speak. Looked at Chimpy McSmirkers

and was like, "Dayum."

[cindyw]

29. My father called me during the speech and said we were watching americas

First African American president.

[bushisanidiot]

38. Damn right! And it's about FRIGGIN' TIME!

:)

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

30. I watched the speech with my elderly mother

and at its conclusion, I turned to her and said "Mom, that man is going to be President one day." And she agreed with me.

[NYC_SKP]

31. I did, and I knew that Hillary was going to go for it this year....

That much was clear when she carpet-bagged it over to New York state.

Sorry kids, I've been dreading her run at the presidency since then and, like it or not, she and Bill represented all that was wrong with the right party.

So it has been a most exciting, nail-biting, teeth-gnashing season.

But we've won every battle, so far, and against some CRAZY odds!!!

:hide:

[VolcanoJen]

32. As much as I loved John Kerry...

... I remember clearly watching Obama, and thinking "Gosh, I wish it were that guy!" :-)

[davsand]

33. Spring of 03 he was at our local Dem dinner.

He was newly announced in that Senate Primary.

I talked to Obama's campaign guy over cocktails and was impressed with him. I told him before I made any promises I wanted to talk to Obama. We decided to chat more after the dinner if he had time.

I was sitting at a Labor table for dinner and most of those guys were there because their BA told them to go. We all had a good time yucking it up over dinner and lined up the cocktails prior to the speeches.

Blair Hull spoke (big rich dude from Chicago and a non-contender in that Primary.) It was ho-hum stuff. Dan Hynes (Illinois Comptroller and candidate against Obama in that Primary) spoke and it was pretty much a Dan Hynes speech--hit the high points but not terribly exciting stuff. (Dan is a great guy but just NOT the most vivid speaker.) The Labor guys all love Dan because he's excellent with Labor in Illinois, so they were paying attention but not sitting on the edge of their seats.

Then Obama spoke.

About 20 minutes of stump speech and he dared to talk about the Middle East. He dared to talk about Universal Health Care--and how people are dying because we don't have it. He DARED to talk about the fact that we ALL need to be involved and we have GOT to become a part of the process.

I watched an entire room full of people fall in love. I saw people who are usually pretty hard core political types moved to the point they stood and cheered. He got a standing ovation and I told my husband that I would march to the gates of hell for that man--that he was gonna be a President one day.

After the dinner, his campaign guy brought him over and I stood and talked with him for a few minutes. I have met a few national level politicians in my times, and I have got to say that Obama impressed me more than any other I've ever met. He IS the real deal, and he is very VERY good.

I signed up with his campaign that night, and have never wavered.

Obama's speech at the convention was an amazing moment for us all, no doubt. It moved me to tears--but then again--many of his speeches have. I'm afraid, however, I'd lost my heart to him long before that.



Laura

[bushisanidiot]

35. Good post!

thanks for sharing. :)

[loyalsister]

34. I thought so

I had taped the convention because I was not going to be home to watch it. I passed it along with my thoughts on that along to some non political friends. They remember, so it's kind of fun.

[AwakeAtLast]

36. Yup, sure did

:)

[ClayZ]

37. We said, during the speech,

"Now THERE is a President!!!"

K and R

[yardwork]

39. My mom - a 70-something white woman from the midwest - did.

She called me up and told me that she'd just heard the most remarkable speech given by this guy Obama and I should pay attention because he was going to be president one day.

[bushisanidiot]

42. We Illinoisans couldn't be more proud of our man!!

:) :)

[progressiveforever]

40. I did- but didn't think it would be 2008

I am pleasantly surprised.

[DCBob]

41. Yep. Me too.

I remember saying to my wife, "Where have they been hiding this guy?"