President Barack Obama - Cairo, Egypt - June 4, 2009

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world — tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights ... more

by Giselle Fernandez

As Barack Obama stood to lay his hand on that gorgeous red Lincoln Bible, I was reminded of something he said long ago during a fund raiser before the uncertain primaries in California. He said, 'The day I become President is the day the world will see America differently.' Those words echoed back to me as he took the oath of office. He was surely right -- all watching from across the mall, the nation, the world, felt the seismic shift in the soul of humanity as he stepped into his destiny and ours. Has anything seemed so 'meant to be' in our history as his story at this very moment in time when we need him most. Every word spoken on that inaugural platform emanated the essence of humanity, of decency, service, honesty, compassion and respect -- a return to the core values that are American values, the values that define character and courage, of not just some people, but of all people.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, yes, the soul co... more

Barack Obama - Washington, DC - January 20, 2009

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, agai... more

by Giselle Fernandez

Wow, we did it. We won! The people won. We have our America back again. The United States of America united in force to elect a brilliant man to lead our whole nation into a new day. It was awesome and a monumental soul healing and cleansing for a nation and its people.

Barack Obama did it, we did it, and I have never been more proud to be an American! I cried with so many millions of people when the news flashed across CNN. It is the victory of the people, by the people and for the people again.

He made us believe and 'Yes We Can' at last became real. We have made history. We lived to see the day and now have a chance to live the dream with the same hard work, self reliance and responsibility it took to get us here and Barack to the White House.

Yes, he is the first African-American President, and that is a huge leap for America -- a soul correction for this nation. That cannot be underscored. It is glorious and profound. But O... more

Barack Obama - Chicago, IL - November 4, 2008


Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, ... more

by Giselle Fernandez

The Palin saga took yet another shocking turn on the stump and by all accounts, she seems to have succumbed to the Pinocchio effect -- with just a week out before election day, she's cutting her strings from the RNC under the delusion that she is real. Truly, she is like a Disney movie gone wrong. If McCain is her Gepetto, he must be looking for another hot match to fire things up, but this time he's a bit too late and this fire is out of control -- his smouldering creation beat him to the punch and she is taking him down in a towering inferno.

McCain's perfectly perky and pretty production has twisted from precious puppet show into a classic horror movie; she's morphed into the Bride of Frankenstein -- with just one week to go, the once popular, propped up, programmed and poorly vetted pin-up of a VP choice, has gone from supposed maverick maven to monster who cannot be controlled.

Palin, out on the stump has shown she's drunk the Kool ... more

by Giselle Fernandez

I don't know if I'm projecting; entirely possible, and it could just be the constant enthusiasm and always spirited conversations regarding our hope for Obama, but our little two year old loves to shout out Obama whenever he splashes across the screen of our television set. She follows always with a smile as if knowing something beyond understanding. Now granted, Obama is so easy for a toddler to roll off her tongue. It's like BA BA BA BA BARACK OBAMA... and I do often pride myself in her company by saying, 'I'm an Obama mama.' But I do sense it's something more than that.

I know it sounds crazy, but I've had many friends who have kids of all ages tell me the same thing. So many say that kids in elementary school all the way to high school are so taken with this new leader and all he hopes for, they have come home talking about it at the dinner table for nearly two years now. It's the cool candidate that the young generation wants their folks to ... more

'Meet the Press' transcript excerpt

MR. BROKAW:  General Powell, actually you gave a campaign contribution to Senator McCain.  You have met twice at least with Barack Obama.  Are you prepared to make a public declaration of which of these two candidates that you’re prepared to support?

GEN. POWELL:  Yes, but let me lead into it this way.  I know both of these individuals very well now.  I’ve known John for 25 years as your setup said. And I’ve gotten to know Mr. Obama quite well over the past two years.  Both of them are distinguished Americans who are patriotic, who are dedicated to the welfare of our country.  Either one of them, I think, would be a good president.  I have said to Mr. McCain that I admire all he has done.  I have some concerns about the direction that the party has taken in recent years. It has moved more to the right than I would like to see it, but ... more

by Giselle Fernandez



Round two of the presidential debates unleashed a clearly resentful John McCain, more robotic and unlikeable  than
ever in his much sought after town hall meeting where he stepped up attacks against Barack Obama and stomped around like an angry man
annoyed by a bad smell in the room.

I couldn't keep up with accusations and arrows slung by McCain all night.  It was good television
but grasping the message and meaning of the blows eluded me and most. As there were no follow ups
even by the seasoned Tom Brokow to give us context or accountability, the humble voter and viewer at home watched mad McCain's attempt at a slug fest and came off
looking more like a shadow boxer fighting more himself than Obama.

It was left to  the viewer to keep up with the 'he said, he said,'  which unless you are a savant or a Washington insider, is completely impossible.


May... more

by Giselle Fernandez

The stepped up attacks by painful Palin against Barack Obama are offensive and shameful. Sadly, she's just too darn dumb to be embarrassed by being used as the dim witted mouth piece by McCain's desperate spinsters.

It's assaulting, not just because of their desperate grasping for any blight or stain they can conger up at this eleventh hour, but unseemly in the obvious attempt to tear down Obama with blatant distortions and lies at all costs, to slow his ascent, instead of banging hard on issues and ideas of their own to dig out of their hole.

Senator Obama said it best, these are the desperate attempts by those who are out of touch, out of ideas, and out of time.

The only saving grace is that the tactics are so desperate, there is no way even the dumbest of the electorate will buy into Palin's mudslinging, even when she delivers the dirt with that, now trademark, smug smirk. I loved that she was able to muster up reading the New... more