Obama's speech at the CBC was very much Obama's "Inch by Inch" speech.

joshcryer

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Sun Sep-25-11 06:47 AM
Original message

Obama's speech at the CBC was very much Obama's "Inch by Inch" speech.

Edited on Sun Sep-25-11 07:00 AM by joshcryer

First, Obama http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4k8PHiY35VE#t=23s">comment that cracked me up. "They used to love to build some roads ... huh." Got a big laugh out of the crowd.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2011/06/gop_lawmakers_w_1.shtml">GOP lawmakers want special session to fund road work
The chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Finance Committees are calling on Gov. Dayton to call a special session so the Legislature can pass a funding bill that would keep MnDOT workers on the job and ensure that road construction projects continue.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_8568281c-8d81-11e0-abcf-001cc4c03286.html">Senate president thrashes fellow Republicans over 'stupid' road-building budget provisions
"The only ones who seem to benefit are the road builders," Ellis said, referring to private construction contractors as "friends" of the Republicans who control the Legislature.

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/gov_snyder_signs_construction.html">Gov. Snyder signs construction contract legislation
The bill approved by the Republican governor on Tuesday prevents governments from either requiring or prohibiting collective bargaining agreements for companies that bid on construction projects.

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/108064274.html">Road builders' donations swung heavily to Walker
For Governor-elect Scott Walker, there are more than 128,000 reasons to favor using tax dollars on roads instead of rail.

Yeah, Republicans loves them some road projects (I admit I work on government funded construction work and 90% of my coworkers are asshole conservatives), I know it first hand, but those links just underscore it. Anyway, on to the speech!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4k8PHiY35VE#t=542s">End of Obama's Speech to CBC
Throughout our history, change has often come slowly. Progress often takes time. We take a step forward, sometimes we take two steps back. Sometimes we get two steps forward and one step back. But it�s never a straight line. It�s never easy. And I never promised easy. Easy has never been promised to us. But we�ve had faith. We have had faith. We�ve had that good kind of crazy that says, you can�t stop marching. (Applause.)

Even when folks are hitting you over the head, you can�t stop marching. Even when they�re turning the hoses on you, you can�t stop. (Applause.) Even when somebody fires you for speaking out, you can�t stop. (Applause.) Even when it looks like there�s no way, you find a way � you can�t stop. (Applause.) Through the mud and the muck and the driving rain, we don�t stop. Because we know the rightness of our cause � widening the circle of opportunity, standing up for everybody�s opportunities, increasing each other�s prosperity. We know our cause is just. It�s a righteous cause.

So in the face of troopers and teargas, folks stood unafraid. Led somebody like John Lewis to wake up after getting beaten within an inch of his life on Sunday � he wakes up on Monday: We�re going to go march. (Applause.)

Dr. King once said: �Before we reach the majestic shores of the Promised Land, there is a frustrating and bewildering wilderness ahead. We must still face prodigious hilltops of opposition and gigantic mountains of resistance. But with patient and firm determination we will press on.� (Applause.)

So I don�t know about you, CBC, but the future rewards those who press on. (Applause.) With patient and firm determination, I am going to press on for jobs. (Applause.) I�m going to press on for equality. (Applause.) I�m going to press on for the sake of our children. (Applause.) I�m going to press on for the sake of all those families who are struggling right now. I don�t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don�t have time to complain. I am going to press on. (Applause.)

I expect all of you to march with me and press on. (Applause.) Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes. Shake it off. (Applause.) Stop complaining, stop grumbling, stop crying. We are going to press on. We�ve got work to do, CBC. (Applause.)

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

If you're wondering, there's a famous speech done by Al Pachino in a sports movie (football) called "Any Given Sunday," and it's known in vernacular as the "Inch by Inch" speech. You can http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyWXKeBsNk">watch that speech here.