Obama speaks to spirited crowd at Washington High School

by Troy Kehoe (tkehoe@wsbt.com)

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Sen. Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of thousands at Washington High School in South Bend

Sen. Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of thousands at Washington High School in South Bend on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

SOUTH BEND — An excited crowd of more than 3,500 greeted presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama at Washington High School Wednesday night.

It was a late night, made just a little bit later by the fact that Obama didn't take the stage until around 10:40 p.m.

First there were spirited introductions from former South Bend Congressman Tim Roemer and South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke, who endorsed the senator. Both called him the right candidate to bring change to Washington and the American people.

"We need to change Indiana to a blue state," the mayor said. "I am here tonight to endorse Barack Obama."

The crowd chanted "Yes, we can!" over and over at times throughout the night.

When Obama finally took the stage, they welcomed him with a roar. But despite the raucous welcome, Obama was all business Wednesday night, thanking a short list of supporters, including Washington High School staff for allowing him to speak there, then launching into his key campaign topics.

They included the war in Iraq, and what he called "the fierce urgency" to develop a plan to bring U.S. troops home. He also spoke about the future of education, and the U.S. economy, from mortgages and foreclosures to gas prices — which he called "a crisis" without a solution from the Bush administration.

All, he said, are the real reasons he was in South Bend Wednesday night.

"We can't afford to wait. We can't wait to fix our schools. We can't wait to fix our health care system. We cannot wait to provide good jobs and good wages to Americans. We can't wait to free ourselves from our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot wait to bring this war in Iraq to a close. We cannot wait. And that's why I'm running for President of the United States of America," he said as the crowd cheered.

Stay with WSBT.com for the latest on Sen. Obama's visit to South Bend.

Friday, Apr 11 at 11:49 AM Anonymous wrote ...

We can't wait...We're going to change...We can't say how...We can't even say it will be better, but it's going to chance.

Friday, Apr 11 at 2:32 AM say what you mean, mean what you say wrote ...

"To James",I DON'T KNOW IF OBAMA WILL UNITE THE USA, BUT IF THAT IS HIS MAIN GOAL & HIS MOTIVATION,THEN HOW WILL HE DO THAT IF HIS BELIEFS AND MORALS ARE LIKE THE REV. WRIGHT, BLACK AGAINST WHITE, OBAMA WANTS TO MAKE HISTORY,THIS CAN'T BECOME A MORE DIVIDED NATION THAT WE ARE ALREADY ARE. OBAMAS MINDSET IS THAT OF "BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY" AND SO TO ME THATS A SLAP TO HIS OWN WHITE HERITAGE, DON'T UNDERSTAND HIS MENTALITY. HE SAYS ONE THING BUT DOES THE OTHER.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 7:14 PM A Dummy... I guess... wrote ...

Dear PM Politics, Dumbed down for the masses eh? So if he threw out scripted lines and used $10,000 words, explained in detail the processes necessary to bring about these changes, and only communicated to a portion of the audience, that would have been more productive? What an insult to Sen. Obama. He was genuine, and honest about his ideals. "The masses" know it's not that simple. How sad to be so cynical.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:22 PM james wrote ...

A VERY GOOD ARTICLE FROM FACTCHECK.ORG ABOUT THE RACIST THEOLOGY OF OBAMA''S CHURCH: The “theology” that Wright teaches at his church is nothing like Christianity as most people understand it. The brand of theology which Wright has been teaching Obama and the others at his church is called “black liberation theology.” Wright admits this and it is stated on the church's website. Black theology is based upon the premise of the white oppressor against the black oppressed. This is why, for example,

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:17 PM vet wrote ...

To VOTE HILLARY, Not my Father. Your real name must be Monica, if they are no disgrace to you.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:28 PM either/or wrote ...

You can call her Hillary, or you can call her Billary, just don't call her late to the Presidency.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:58 PM VOTE HILLARY... wrote ...

To vet. Your father. No disgrace to me. HILLARY for PRESIDENT.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:19 AM vet wrote ...

To VOTE HILLARY!!!, You want another Clinton in the White House? Who will be under her desk? You? What a disgrace....

Thursday, Apr 10 at 9:38 AM VOTE HILLARY!!! wrote ...

HILLARY CLINTON for PRESIDENT!!!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:26 AM LaPorte County Obama booster wrote ...

Barack Obama's the real deal. He's authentic and exactly what this country desperately needs at this point in our history. Hats off to both Congressman Tim Roemer and to Mayor Luecke for endorsing him and giving great introductions. They're doing everything they can to try to help get him to the White House. We need Obama's vision, his courage and his power to inspire.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:42 AM Where was this story on WSBT? wrote ...

Gee, I wish I could have been there so I could ask Mr. Wonderful what his wife was implying when she made the statement, 'That for the first time in my adult life I am proud to be an American.' Wow! You pull down over quarter million a year, your husband is running for the highest office in the land and it's taken you this long to find something that can make you proud to be an American? I kinda hope he does win now, the first quote out of the next 1st ladies mouth should be a doozy! Get a life!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:40 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Absolutely blown away. The chances of wide-scale change like that actually happening are so slim, but even nominating Obama would be a powerful symbol.

Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...

its a sad day for sb i was voting obama i will not vote now we want to hear whit miss clinton had to say

Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:29 PM fan of Obama wrote ...

Great Speech......I can't wait until you are President of the United States. Go Obama!!!!!!

Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:28 PM politics wrote ...

dumbed down for the masses.

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