In speech, Obama aims to fill in details

[Kire]

In speech, Obama aims to fill in details
By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY

DENVER — Barack Obama has written speeches on notepads, paper scraps and computer screens, in settings that include planes, cars and a men's room at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield.
For the speech he'll give Thursday to accept the Democratic nomination for president, Obama wrote into the night last weekend in a hotel room 15 minutes from his Chicago home. There were no distractions there. And in 2004 he had holed up at a hotel to draft the wildly successful convention speech that catapulted him into national politics.

"Superstition," he says.

Introspective, inspirational, by turns pointed or biblical, and always tailored to the political moment, Obama's speeches have been a defining feature of his historic ascent. This week, with the eyes of millions upon him, the Illinois senator says he won't attempt a reprise of his exhilarating debut four years ago.

"I don't think you can duplicate that kind of moment," Obama said this week.

More: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-26-obama-cover_N.htm

Personally, I would like to know if he ever made a mistake that he was responsible for and how he fixed it. He was picked on for having a funny name. How did that affect him? Did he always just brush it off his chest and rise and rise and rise and now he's almost President? Has he ever stumbled once?

[FrenchieCat]

1. He lost his race to the US House....so yes, he stumbles.....

which is why he often spells out that he's not a perfect man....and he isn't....but he's as good as they come.

[sandnsea]

2. Using cocaine in his teen years

was a mistake and if memory serves, he fixed it when he decided he could help other people have a better shot than he and his mother did, and those who don't even have that much of a shot.

[Kire]

3. thank you

that's fine

[TahitiNut]

4. Read both his books. I find them very revelatory.

I can certainly find points of disagreement but the quality of the thought and candor of the writing is exemplary.