One Person Stood Up

[Ed. Note: This was originally posted on the blog in 2016. We love this story and we encourage everyone to engage in their communities and to vote in our next election.]

January 12, 2016

Among the guests in the First Lady’s box last night at the State of the Union address was Edith Childs*, a county council member from South Carolina.

Mrs. Childs has a distinct connection to President Obama, one that will no doubt go down in history.

In 2007, the beginning of his first presidential campaign, then-Senator Obama was a long-shot candidate in a crowded field. He took his retail politics to big cities and small towns - meeting and greeting people, bringing his message of hope and change.

On one rain-soaked June night, a road-weary Mr. Obama arrived at the civic center in the small town of Greenwood, South Carolina. He was dismayed to see a very small crowd of supporters.

As the story goes, Mrs. Childs noticed disappointment on the candidate’s face at the small turnout. She yelled out, “Fired Up.” In classic call-and-response fashion, the supporters answered, “Fired Up.” Mrs. Childs then yelled, “Ready to go,” and the crowd responded, “Ready to go.”

Senator Obama and his staff were infused with new energy and a campaign chant was born. As he has told supporters many times, one person stood up. One person changed a room. And by extension, one person can change the world.

Right before heading over to Congress to give his final State of the Union address, President Obama emailed his supporters, saying:

“We've done some big things together over these past seven years. And we're not finished. Tonight I'll lay out a vision for an economy that's even stronger, a country that's safer, and a union that's more perfect. Because with one year left in my presidency, I'm still fired up and ready to go.”

* Noted in the White House Archive of President Barack Obama

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

What We Know Now (part 1)

Today, for the 11th time in his presidency, President Barack Obama travels to an American city to offer words of comfort after unspeakable tragedy.

The fatal shootings by police of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, followed by the deliberate killing of 5 police officers in Dallas, Texas - events that occurred within days of each other, set off what may become a long, hot summer of protest.

Television, print, and social media bristle with a gamut of talk ranging from reasonable discussion to literal screaming matches. Whether or not guns kill people or people kill people, there are a lot of guns and a lot of killings, and everyone whose life matters is - or should be, looking for change.

Having worked as a community organizer after law school and before politics, then-Senator Obama brought his knowledge of how to effect change to his 2008 campaign for the presidency.

In January of that year, he told supporters:

“The reason our campaign has always been different, the reason we began this improbable journey almost a year ago is because it’s not just about what I will do as president. It is also about what you, the people who love this country, the citizens of the United States of America, can do to change it.”

By early February 2008, then-Senator Obama had already built a movement for change from the bottom up and was surging in all the primary polls. His campaign itself had become an example of the way change works - “bottom up.”

In March 2008, in his noteworthy Speech on Race, he insisted that America can, and has, changed:

“The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country - a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old - is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know - what we have seen - is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope - the audacity to hope - for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”

Others saw that then-Senator Obama’s campaign for the presidency was more than that:

“What we are witnessing is not just a candidate but a profound, massive public movement for change. My endorsement is more for Obama The Movement than it is for Obama the candidate. That is not to take anything away from this exceptional man. But what’s going on is bigger than him at this point, and that’s a good thing for the country. Because, when he wins in November, that Obama Movement is going to have to stay alert and active. Corporate America is not going to give up their hold on our government just because we say so."  -Michael Moore

In September 2008, then-Senator Obama talked about change in a candidates forum:

 “It doesn't happen from the top down. It happens because the American people look up and they say, we imagine a world not as it is but as it should be, and we are willing to roll up our sleeves and put in the hard work to change this country, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, state by state. And that, I think, is the kind of president I would like to be is one that inspires more of that feeling and provides the avenues to express it." 

Today in Dallas, President Obama will speak words of comfort, he will encourage people to “listen to each other,” and surely he will hope and pray that change can progress in a peaceful manner.

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

February 10, 2007: Nine Years Later

"On a frigid Springfield day in February 2007, Barack Obama stood before 17,000 supporters 'in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together,' and announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

"It had been less than three years since he became a national figure and he'd spent much of that time building an organization that would spread his message and raise money through cutting edge technology and smart analysis of what it would take to win..."

Excerpt from "Kings's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America"

Today, exactly nine years later, President Obama returns to Springfield to address the Illinois General Assembly to talk about “what we can do, together, to build a better politics - one that reflects our better selves.”

We can't help but appreciate the values displayed by Mr. Obama and his family throughout the past nine years. Especially at a time when the current election is chock full of bombast, dirty tricks, racism and sexism, the contrast between our president and the 'wannabees' is striking.

And we applaud the classiness shown by David Brooks of the New York Times, an opponent of many of the president's policies, in praising Mr. Obama's character and leadership:

"Obama radiates an ethos of integrity, humanity, good manners and elegance that I'm beginning to miss, and that I suspect we will all miss a bit, regardless of who replaces him."

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

The Artful Smear

In November 2008, when Barack Obama was elected president, the nation’s economy was in shambles, unemployment was high, and two unpopular wars in the Middle East raged. The Onion, a satirical news group proclaimed, “Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job.”

President Obama has done that job while facing a long list of personal challenges. He has continually faced allegations that he was not born in the U.S. (He was in fact born in Hawaii), is secretly a Muslim (He is in fact Christian), and that he is not a patriot. (Seriously.) The volatile question of Race has consistently dogged him in both overt and insidious ways.

Hillary Clinton’s political campaigns have repeatedly brought Sexism out of hiding. T-Shirts proclaiming “Bros before Hos,” and products like the “Hillary Nutcracker,” spawned humorous media stories and were widely sold on the Internet in 2008. Female politicians “cannot be unkempt…they have to be carefully coifed and scripted at all times…they can’t be too quiet or too loud, too emotional or too cold, too meek or too aggressive.” They should “be pretty, but not too pretty.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Clinton’s opponent in the 2016 presidential contest enjoys labels like “sincere” and “authentic” in spite of or because of his unkempt hair, ill-fitting suits, and unpolished accent. Everybody’s crazy grandpa Bernie Sanders, is drawing large crowds and calling for “political revolution.”

In 1968, The Beatles’ John Lennon wrote Revolution, a song that the “political left” viewed as a betrayal of their cause. But Lennon was alarmed by anti-war protests that had become extreme (“count me out”) and expressed doubt about destructive political tactics of the time.

In the days before the recent Iowa caucuses, Mr. Sanders’ supporters became extremely vocal with derogatory and misogynistic messages aimed at Mrs. Clinton. And on caucus night the Sanders rally took a “darker turn” with ugly chants of “she’s a liar” and loud boos when her image appeared on the room’s large screens. Indeed, the Sanders staff had to turn off the televisions. And they’ve cautioned the “Bernie Bros” to tone it down.

This week, President Obama made his first visit to a mosque in America, seeking to rebut “inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans" from Republican presidential candidates. As a man who spent his childhood partly in Asia among Muslims, Mr. Obama wants to change the world by countering a “warped image of Islam.” As one of his young Muslim-American advisors said, “you can make it if you try in America - no matter who you are or how you pray.”

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On January 23, 2008: Don’t Be Fooled

Days before the South Carolina primary in 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama told a crowd gathered in Sumter to be wary of others’ remarks that Mr. Obama could not win the election. He spoke in a style he knew his audience would understand:

“Don’t be confused when you start hearing a whole bunch of this negative stuff. Those are the same old tricks. They’re trying to bamboozle you. It’s the same old okey doke……Don't let people turn you around, because they're just making stuff up! That's what they do. They try to bamboozle you…. to hoodwink you!"

Eight years later, on January 20, 2016, President Obama visited the Detroit Auto Show. He wanted to shine a light on Detroit and the recovery of the automobile industry, but the water crisis in nearby Flint, Michigan - a largely poor, African American community - dominated the news.

When Flint officials changed the water supply source two years ago, residents almost immediately began complaining about the color and smell of the water. Their concerns were repeatedly ignored until it became a full blown crisis featuring lead poisoning and resignations from the governor’s office. Authorities had tried to bamboozle the people, but the people pressed on.

People have been rising up against other “okey dokes” too.

Police mistreatment and killing of African Americans in cities around the country, and the recent outrage at the all-white list of Oscar nominees, have spotlighted ongoing wrongs that people apparently aren’t letting go anymore.

Recently, Tavis Smiley - no friend of President Obama - wrote a book showing how Black Americans have lost ground on every leading economic issue over the past 10 years. And GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted: “President Obama, an African-American, has done a terrible job for African-Americans.”

Those charges will get sorted out over time. But for now, we see people fired up against injustices, calling out the “okey dokes,” and getting results.

The day after President Obama told the people of Flint he ‘had their back,’ one of the prisoners freed in the recent Iran Deal arrived home. In an ironic twist, Amir Hekmati came home to Flint, Michigan.

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

A Surge in Diplomacy

In the Spring of 2008, David Harsanyl of the Denver Post wrote a scathing article about then-Senator Barack Obama’s interest in diplomacy with Iran.

“Either Obama believes his awe-inspiring personality can win over theocratic bigots or, worse, that theocratic bigots are reasonable men. Hubris or clueless, it spells trouble.”

A cup of tea with a thug; David Harsanyi; Denver Post

Early today, Iran announced the release of four American citizens, including a Washington Post reporter, in a prisoner swap. Later, the release of another American citizen was announced. This many-faceted story is lighting up all of the “airwaves” and details are still emerging.

The Prisoner Swap comes after the recent Nuclear Deal with Iran, which came after Severe Economic Sanctions imposed by the U.S. and others almost devastated the country.

As expected, the current Republican presidential candidates are weighing in with negative reactions. In particular, Marco Rubio’s immature and inflammatory comments may eventually embarrass him.

While Rubio and other congressional Republicans were melting down over the Nuclear Deal, Germany and other European countries were rushing to do business deals with Iran.

After years of crippling economic sanctions, Iran is ripe for trade and investment. It is probably true that American investors will soon benefit greatly from this softening of relations with Iran.

President Obama has been opposed to “dumb wars” for a long time. He seems to realize that it is mostly government leaders and rebels who want war; but ordinary people long for lives of peace and prosperity, and yearn for a better future.

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

Getting Some Jabs In

In November 2008, when then-Senator Barack Obama was elected president, the state of the union was not strong.

The economy was in shambles, unemployment was rising, two ongoing wars in the Middle East were unpopular, and plenty of social issues clamored for attention.

In his inaugural address, the new president called for change to come from the bottom up, “For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.”

Tomorrow night, when President Obama gives his final State of the Union Address, he’ll stake claim to a surging economy, a 5 percent unemployment rate, and a host of domestic and foreign policy accomplishments since he took office.

Most recently he’s stirred up the gun issue and spoken of his hope to close the Guantanamo Bay prison before he leaves office.

Congressional Republicans have warned the president to leave contentious issues out of his SOTU address.

Some GOP supporters have already complained about the president’s plan to leave an empty seat in the first lady’s box to honor gun violence victims.

For all it’s honorable intent, the empty chair is no doubt a bit of a dig at an infamous incident during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Clint Eastwood brought an empty chair onstage and spoke to it as though it were an imaginary Mr. Obama. His rambling speech was critical of the president and his policies.

Four years later, the president is not shying away from getting some jabs in at his opponents before he leaves office.

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On January 8, 2008: The Power of Millions of Voices

Despite predictions to the contrary, both Hillary Clinton and John McCain won their New Hampshire primary votes in 2008. And also despite predictions to the contrary, then-Senator Barack Obama lost that primary vote.

The people spoke. Just when you thought they were doing one thing, they zagged and went another way. Regardless of the outcome of that election, the point is that the people have the power to do what they want.

During tonight’s town hall on the subject of gun control, CNN announced their newest poll showing that 67% of Americans support President Obama’s recent actions to strengthen gun sale background checks.

Although the chorus of cynics is loud and dissonant, and the odds seem impossible, 67% of Americans are ready for change.

When he lost the New Hampshire primary in 2008, Mr. Obama told the disappointed crowd that he was “still fired up and ready to go.” “We know the battle ahead will be long,” he said.

“But always remember that, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change…When we’ve been told we’re not ready or that we shouldn’t try or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed…Yes, we can.”

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On January 7, 2008: Hillary’s Emotional Moment

The day before the New Hampshire primary in 2008, pollster John Zogby reported that Barack Obama had “rocketed” to a 10-point lead over Hillary Clinton in that state.

That same day, Mrs. Clinton showed a rare emotional side while speaking to a group of 15 women in a Portsmouth cafe. “It’s not easy,” she said, beginning to tear up. “I just believe so strongly in who we are as a nation so I’m going to do everything I can to make my case and leave it to the voters to decide.”

If that Zogby poll was correct, it seems that more than 15 voters changed their minds about Mrs. Clinton that day. She won the 2008 New Hampshire primary the very next day.

Yesterday, President Obama teared up while talking about gun violence. Pew research from last July shows the public’s broad support for expanded background checks, so the president knew he was speaking to an agreeing audience. But his emotional moment may have changed even more hearts and minds.

The public likes its politicians and presidents to be human and often rewards them for it.


Tonight, President Obama will appear on CNN television for a one-hour live town hall on the subject of gun control. The program begins at 8pm ET. It is titled “Guns in America.”

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For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

Ch-ch-Changes

In case anyone thought otherwise, President Obama is no lame duck just chilling until he is out of office. Yesterday, he met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss executive action to combat gun violence in America. This will no doubt cause explosive reactions from his opponents.

Back in 2008, during the New Hampshire Democratic Debate on January 5th, reference was made to a survey showing that voters saw Hillary Clinton as the most experienced and most electable candidate. But they “liked” Senator Obama more and saw him as an agent of change.

When New Hampshire voted for Mrs. Clinton that year, they must have known that “likability” really isn’t an important factor in the race for the presidency.

And after 7 years in office, President Obama surely knows that likability and change is a dicey combo. He’s opting for change.

Watch the president’s weekly address from January 1: Making America Safer for Our Children.


For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On January 4, 2008: Hope Over Fear

The day after the 2008 Iowa caucuses, then-Chicago-Tribune reporter Michael Tackett wrote about the win by then-Senator Barack Obama.

“In the end, Iowans voted for a smile,” wrote Tackett, “They chose conciliation over combat, personality over pedigree, hope over fear.”

Tackett noted that voters were “intrigued by a different kind of politics,” and that despite repeated advice pushing Obama to attack his opponent Hillary Clinton, Obama refused.

Throughout his presidency, Mr. Obama has mostly kept smiling - despite a cacophony of despicable words and deeds unleashed by his opponents. Haters gonna hate…

Only time will reveal the true legacy of the Obama Presidency. But after 7 years in office, the president can point to hundreds of accomplishments. And in this his last year, he has pledged to keep working for the American people, and to “leave it out all on the field.”


For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On January 1, 2008: Milestone Money - The Race is On

As revelers rang in the new year of 2008, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had each surpassed the $100 million fundraising mark in their presidential campaigns. According to the Washington Post, this was the first time two candidates had eclipsed that milestone before a single primary/caucus vote was cast.

Today, as the 2016 campaign begins in earnest, no single candidate - Democrat or Republican - has raised $100 million*. Due to the "Citizen's United" ruling in 2010, half of the reported money so far has come from donations to groups like "Super PACs" (that are not subject to limits) rather than to individuals.

Republican Jeb Bush and his PACs have raised the most money so far ($133 million) but he is polling at only 4% in the latest National Quinnipiac Poll. The unlikeliest candidate, Donald Trump, tops the poll at 28%, but has been personally financing his campaign. On the Democratic side, Mrs. Clinton leads rival Bernie Sanders in both money raised ($98 million vs. $42 million) and the latest poll numbers (61% vs. 30%).

Compared to the current presidential campaign, the 2008 election seems almost quaint. Today's dollars are mind-boggling (over $560 million for 23 candidates so far). And although the concept of politics-on-social-media got its start at the turn of the century, today's campaigns live there. Tweets fly and the nightly news is made.

For the rest of this year, we plan to post interesting contrasts and comparisons between this election and 2008. We hope you will follow along.


*Source: Candidate reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on finances through September 30. "Which Presidential Candidates are Winning the Money Race," New York Times, October 15, 2015.

For a compelling history of the 2008 campaign, as told by news media, politicians, and ordinary people, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America.

On Saturday, August 23, 2008: Obama Chooses Biden for Veep

Then-Senator Barack Obama announced his selection of Joe Biden to be his running mate via a smartphone text message on August 23, 2008.

The announcement capped months of speculation, including a tip from New York Times reporter David Brooks that "Biden's the one."

And use of the text message foretold the incredible role of social media in politics that we see today.

For a captivating history of the 2008 presidential election, see King's Dream: Barack Obama Becomes President of the United States of America, the dynamic story of the campaign as told by both professionals and ordinary people.

On January 3, 2008: Iowa Rewards Obama

Then Senator Barack Obama won the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2008.

While many urged him to go on the attack against Hillary Clinton, he did not. Iowa rewarded him, and with a record turnout. Mr. Obama took 37.6% of the delegates' votes, While Mrs. Clinton had 27.5%. Compared to 2004, nearly twice as many Democrats turned out and they outnumbered Republican caucus voters by more than two to one.

After his win, Mr. Obama spoke at a packed Des Moines, Iowa rally:

"They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do."

Mike Huckabee scored Iowa's GOP victory, carried largely by evangelical voters.

After receiving only very small percentages of the Iowa votes, Senators Biden and Dodd dropped out of the presidential race.

Dixville Notch

In 2008, New Hampshire's Dixville Notch delivered a landslide for Barack Obama. With 100% of registered voters casting ballots, they delivered 15 of 21 votes for the Senator from Illinois.

It was the first time since 1968 the village had gone with the Democratic candidate.

On November 6 2012, just after midnight, CNN reported live as they counted their 10 votes. It was a tie between President Obama and Mitt Romney. The village voter registrations revealed 2 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 5 Independent or Others.

Obama Announces Grandmother Dunham's Death

The day before the 2008 election, his voice cracking, Barack Obama told the crowd gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina that Madeline Dunham had died.

"Some of you heard that my grandmother, who helped raise me, passed away early this morning. And look, she is going home. And she died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side, and so there is great joy as well as tears."

I’m not going to talk about it too long, because it’s hard a little to talk about."

Hi described his grandmother as a humble, plainspoken women who lived through the Depression and two World Wars. She raised her baby and worked on the bomber assembly line while her husband was off to war. She was one of America's quiet heroes who worked hard and sacrificed so her child and grandchildren could have a better life.

Mr. Obama also thanked John McCain for his gracious condolences and praised his continuous honorable service to his country.

Last Visit with Grandmother Dunham

Senator Barack Obama left the campaign trail October 23 and 24, 2008 to spend time with his grandmother Madelyn Dunham. Mrs. Dunham was reported to be gravely ill and not expected to live until election day.

Madelyn and Stanley Dunham raised grandson Barack Obama during the many periods Mr. Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was working overseas. She died in 1995.

The news media followed Mr. Obama during that trip. When asked about his decsion to halt his campaign, Sen. Obama told CBS: "My grandmother's the last one left. She has really been the rock of the family, the foundation of the family."

Hey Joe

In 2008, the third presidential debate was held on October 15. It was fast-paced and sometimes heated. Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher was in the audience and John McCain took advantage of the opportunity to speak to him directly: "Hey Joe, you're rich. Congratulations."

McCain was referring to the encounter Wurzelbacher had had with Barack Obama regarding Obama's tax plan which called for tax hikes on those making more than $250,000 per year.

During all of the debates with McCain, Obama remained "cool under pressure, smiling through the attacks. That's the demeanor Obama's had throughout the three debates that has served him well," as noted by George Stephanopoulis of ABC News.

After the first presidential debate of 2012, Obama was widely criticized for his lack of energy and his demeanor. The second debate is tomorrow night, where most expect Obama to be back on his game.

Talking Loudly

During the second presidential debate on October 7, 2008, Barack Obama stated: "If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think we have to act and we will take them out. We will kill bin Laden; we will crush Al Qaida. That has to be our biggest national security priority."

John McCain responded that his hero Teddy Roosevelt used to say talk softly but carry a big stick. "Senator Obama likes to talk loudly," said McCain.

As it turned out, President Obama also carried a big stick. The president did indeed make the hunt for bin Laden a national security priority, and the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by a U.S. special forces unit on May 2, 2011.

Politics of Fear

In an October 10, 2008 campaign event now thought to depict John McCain in a good light, a woman in the audience said she could not vote for Barack Obama because "he's an Arab." McCain shook his head and said, "No ma'am, he's a decent family man, a citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about." Later, however, McCain brought up Obama's alleged association with William Ayers, a 1960's radical. So much for Mr. Nice Guy.

Yesterday, in a column for Huffington Post, Robert Reich says "The biggest motivator in this election isn't enthusiasm about either of the candidates. The Republican base has never particularly liked Romney, and many Democrats have been disappointed in Obama. The biggest motivator is fear of the other guy."

Reich goes on to say, "Republicans are well-practiced in the politics of fear and the logistics of the big lie. The challenge for Obama and Biden and for the rest of us over the next four weeks is to counter their fearsome lies with the truth."