Barack Obama. Not "Alabama." Not "yo' momma." Buh-ROCK oh-BOM-uh.

On Saturday, October 7, Obama clarified his name onstage to an audience of excited fans at a rally to support Claire McCaskill in her campaign for Senate. "Fans" is the right word to describe the crowd: since his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention attracted attention from all corners of the nation, the junior senator from Illinois has become a political celebrity.

The event began with a moment of silence in tribute to Buck O'Neil, followed by a performance by a gospel quartet. Then a series of sign-wielding McCaskill supporters filed onto the stage, where they remained for the rest of the rally.

Barack Obama

Several Congressional representatives stood on the stage as well, but McCaskill, Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, and special guest Obama were the only ones to speak. Cleaver addressed the crowd first, telling them, "This nation, this world, needs Claire McCaskill. By your presence here today, you are declaring to Republicans and independents and everyone that we are going to take our nation back."

McCaskill followed Cleaver, echoing his sentiments: "This is about you. We have to decide that we can change the agenda, that we can change priorities, that we can make a difference. We are better than this. We, as a country, are better than this."

Obama spoke last. At the beginning of his speech, he jigged along to the music and lightheartedly referred to his wife as a "higher power," but he soon became serious.

"We all feel a certain cynicism about politics these days," Obama said. "But there's always been this other idea of politics. This idea that we're connected… We feel mutual responsibilities to each other… This idea has been the core of what we are as a party."

"That's what this election is about. It's about Claire [McCaskill], but it's also about us and our values," Obama declared. "We are the first generation in a long, long time where our children are doing worse than we are. That's unacceptable."

Obama then encouraged his supporters to take action, quoting Newt Gingrich's "Had Enough" campaign slogan. "I think old Newt is on to something. I've had enough!" said Obama. "The time for complaining is over. If they care about their values more than we care about ours, we deserve to lose."

Obama is considered by many to be presidential material. His speech was interrupted at one point by an enthusiastic supporter, who yelled, "Obama for President!" to thunderous applause. Obama has not yet announced whether or not he will be running in 2008. If he runs, and is elected, he will be the first African-American president in the history of the country.

Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College