Obama Ipsum

I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage; whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation - not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well. It is that promise that has always set this country apart - that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well. We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes. But it should be their choice. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio.

I have a plan that would have already begun redeploying our troops with the goal of bringing all our combat brigades home by March 31st of next year. So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America.

I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organized for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina.

If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own. That's why I stand here tonight. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors.

Thank you very much everybody.