Change Has Come to America

Change Has Come to America

November 04， 2008 Barack Obama

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 very first time in their lives， because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference。

It’s the answer spoken by young and old， rich and poor， Democrat and Republican， black， white， Latino， Asian， Native American， gay， straight， disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are， and always will be， the United States of America。 forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done。

But above all， I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you。

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office。 We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements。 Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston。

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause。 It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered， and organized， and proved that more than two centuries later， a government of the people， by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth。 This is your victory。

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me。 You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead。 For even as we celebrate tonight， we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars， a planet in peril， the worst financial crisis in a century。 Even as we stand here tonight， we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us。 There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage， or pay their doctor’s bills， or save enough for college。 There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair。

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。

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There will be setbacks and false starts。 There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President， and we know that government can’t solve every problem。 But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face。 I will listen to you， especially when we disagree。 And above all， I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block， brick by brick， calloused hand by calloused hand。

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night。 This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change。 And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were。 It cannot happen without you。

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves， but each other。 Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything， it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country， we rise or fall as one nation; as one people。

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long。 Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance， individual liberty， and national unity。 Those are values we all share， and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight， we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress。 As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours， "We are not enemies， but friends。。。though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection。" And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote， but I hear your voices， I need your help， and I will be your President too。