Team Coverage: On Barack Obama's speech at the Kohl Center (w/photos)

Submitted by Jason Dean on Wed, 2008-02-13 12:35. Current | Politics | Election 2008

Photos by Emily Mills. See her take on the event at The Lost Albatross. View larger versions of the photos below by clicking on them.

He stood in front of a sea of faces, delivering a positive and inspiring message; his words echoing through the gym. As the crowd that packed the Kohl Center Tuesday night erupted, he moved closer to the microphone. Emphasizing each word, he spoke louder to make his final point. “Our future will not be denied, and our time for change has come.”

Barack Obama claims he is not a hope-monger, saying there is “never anything false about hope.” However, for those in attendance the politics of hope was the main message.

“[Americans] need to know that politics can make a difference in their life, that it’s not too late to reclaim the American dream.”

The speech came on the heels of victories in the Maryland, Virginia and District of Colombia primaries. “Although we won in Washington D.C., this movement won’t stop until there’s change in Washington D.C.”

Obama preached a message of unity, saying his goal was to reverse the polarizing party system in the country. He cited support of independents and republicans or “Obamacans”

As John McCain appears poised to win the republican nomination for president, Obama addressed his potential rival; saying McCain’s “priorities don’t address real problems of American people, because they are bound to the failed policies of the past.”

Obama criticized McCain’s link to President Bush, and his continued involvement in the war, saying the election was “the past versus the future; about weather we looking backwards or we’re marching forward.”

“McCain won’t be able to say I ever supported this war in Iraq, because I opposed it from the start,” said Obama.

Obama also addressed the top issues in the election, touching on health care, national security, and the economy.

“I know how hard it will be to change America. I know it won’t be easy to provide health care for all Americans,” says Obama. “If it was easy, it would have already been done.”

He presented his position as a Washington outsider as an asset rather than a hindrance. Citing his past as an activist in Chicago, Obama says he is ready for the battles that lie ahead.

“Politics of hope does not mean hoping that things come easy. But I also understand that nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless somebody, somewhere is willing to hope.”

The 25-minute speech offered little in the way of proposals for how he plans to achieve his goals. Still, judging by the reaction of the crowd, most attending believed Obama is a candidate that can foster the change they desire.

“The cynics can no longer say our hope is false,” says Obama. “This is our time”

Next up on dane101, Katjusa Cisar with the after buzz.