On the Road to Change with Barack Obama

Arizona Republic

A young, idealistic, enthusiastic crowd alternated between rapt and raucous as a youthful-looking, idealistic, enthusiastic Barack Obama spoke of his vision for America at Arizona State University Friday.

“Obama is for change and for peace, and that’s what this country needs,” said Randi Stevenson, 18, as she waited to hear the democratic presidential candidate. “He knows we have to change our health care system and we have to pull our troops out of Iraq. That’s what we want to hear.”

  Sylvia Lopez, 33,  an education major, called Obama, “a man like John F. Kennedy.”

“He is young and fresh and has new ideas for the country, and this country is ready for that kind of person again,” she said. “He wants to change things.”

Not everyone in the crowd was an ASU student. United States Navy boson’s mate Counsil Griffin, 30, stationed in Phoenix, said he was there to see history.

  “I’m here to be part of this, a part of the history that this man is making, a man with different and fresh ideas,” he said.

  When Obama finally strode out onto the stage set up on Hayden Lawn, the crowd shouted, cheered, laughed and applauded wildly.

He said he stood for reinvigorating America, for creating a system in which every American is guaranteed health care, in which every child is guaranteed a first-rate education and where America is no longer an energy-dependent nation.

He closed by telling a story about speaking to a group in the South where a woman stood behind him and led the crowd in enthusiastic chants. He said the woman would call out, “Are you fired up?” and the crowd would shout back the chant. Then she’d say, “Are you ready to go?” and the crowd would shout it right back.

Obama shouted to the young, idealistic, happy, enthusiastic ASU audience, “Are you fired up?” and the buildings in the ASU mall echoed with 5,800 voices shouting back. Then the young candidate shouted, “Are you ready to go?” and thousands of voice shouted that they were.

  “Then let’s go change the world!” Obama said, stepped off the stage and began to shake hands.

Arizona Daily Star 

Obama…made use of his 45 minutes in front of thousands of captive listeners Friday, intertwining self-deprecating humor with a blistering attack on Bush administration policies, subtle criticisms of Hillary Clinton and a recipe for change.

Obama brought his stump speech to Arizona — telling a mostly college-aged crowd he’s the best-qualified candidate to bring a divided country together, as illustrated through the diverse crowds attending his events. 

“You’ve got Democrats, independents, and yes, you even have some Republicans,” he said…”I know this because when I shake hands afterwards some people will whisper to me, ‘Barack, I’m a Republican, but I support you.’ And I say, ‘Thank you very much, but why are we whispering?’ “

 

…”To bring about the big change we want … it’s not going to be enough just to get rid of the party in the White House — we’re going to have to do more than that,” he said. “We’re going to have to change our politics more fundamentally.”   

Barack Obama greeted 7,000 supporters, packed into the heart of Arizona State University’s Tempe campus at yesterday’s Arizona Rally for Change.

(AP Photo/Matt York)