What a night! That kiss! These headlines! Is anyone else a little awed after being caught in the wake of the tidal wave of goddamn history? Barack Obama, 47, is the first African-American President of the United States! Obama gave his victory speech during a rally of over 240,000 people (including a teary-eyed Oprah Winfrey and Rev. Jesse Jackson) in Chicago's Grant Park last night. "Change has come to America," he said.
"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there," our new President Elect said. He's the 44th president, and will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
On the other side, Obama's opponent during the long campaign, Republican Senator John McCain, gave his concession speech in Phoenix yesterday.
"We have come to an end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," a gracious McCain said.
And now we begin. Don't worry, though. There's going to be a big party first. Oprah Winfrey reportedly told a Chicago radio station yesterday that she's already had her inauguration gown picked out for awhile. Girlfriend can pick the winners. Well, not James Frey.
Click for 22 more pictures of all of today's front pages and more from last night's rally in Grant Park in Chicago.
Photo Credit: WENN
Website: www.photo.wenn.com
green cardigan says:
Congrats to you all in America. It's only 40 years since he Civil Rights Movement, as Fat Boy Slim said 'you've come a long way baby'!!.
I thought John McCain was very gracious to Obama in his concession speech. All credit to him.
joan durtz says:
Yay! We did it. I am proud to be an American again. I think that President Obama will not just lead the country, but also the world.
Congratulations Mr. President!
say what? says:
green, if mccain's campaign had been half as good as his speech, and run with as much class, he might have had a chance.
so many have said it, but I'll say it again. The McCain of 2000 got lost in this campaign...if his campaign managers had just let him be himself, I think it would have been much closer than it was.
T-Bone says:
Well....a couple of "glass is half full" comments for my more conservative friends:
We don't have to listen to the liberals whine for at least another 4 years.
No more excuses for minority groups claiming "no opportunity for advancement" in this country.
If nothing changes economically, well....pretty much the Dems are in charge of everything, so no pointing fingers at Republicans.
The rest of the world can stop calling us racists.
The light shined on Wall Street greed and corruption and hopefully more ethical standards become the norm.
There's my attempt at the bright side...;)
say what? says:
yeah, now we just have to listen to the republicans whine for the next 4-8 years.
green cardigan says:
T-Bone - good that you are going with the glass half full attitude, it's the only way forward. It'll be interesting to see how Obama does as President. I don't think you've seen the end of Sarah Palin yet.
T-Bone says:
Sarah Palin, the Wall Street crash, and the housing fiasco basically handed the election to Barack Obama. All things were tied up until that point. Frustrating. But unlike many of my liberal counterparts, I will not slam this President. He is now the leader of this country and I'm going to hope and pray he does what's best for the nation. He has one tough road to hoe.
Xicana says:
I have never been more proud of being an American as I am today.
I just say have to say that even though 51% of the population can now be called not racists, or at least not racist enough to vote for their economic interests, there are still plenty of racists in this country (as a person of color living in this country, I know). Having a Black President will change the attitudes of many, thank God, but it will not change them all.
And Bush was slammed not because he was Republican, but because he was the WORST PRESIDENT OF OUR LIFETIME. PERIOD.
T-Bone says:
Who's racist Xicana -- the white people who voted issues and not race (since 50% of them voted for Obama) or the 95% of minorities who voted for Obama and said race had something to do with it?
joan durtz says:
T-Bone - Even if Blacks did vote for Obama because of race who cares. Many black people in this country have not ever believed their votes would count during elections, period! Because of race.
Look what happened in Florida when your lame president Bush was running for office...many blacks were turned away at he polls with BS lies by whites. Also, there were many blacks who were threatened with violence and warnings if they voted.
You are clueless, and it is apparent that you are one of the very homogenous McCain voters.
The racist mob mentality that that idiot Sarah Palin was provoking made me sick. May she spontaneously combust.
menocu says:
I was there at the rally and had so much fun. i was so glad to spend it with my fellow chi-townians in peace (we behaved ourselves on t.v.). it was an awesome moment to see him speak, and have those moments. Please help michelle she cannot be left to pick out clothes by herself.. when she came out we all we like Oh, that's awful.
grumpyoldman says:
So a baby-killing socialist is going to be our next leader.....
guessagain says:
Hes not our next leader... hes the next puppet in the grand charade called the American presidency.