Obama’s political history told through YouTube

This is not intended to be an exhaustive journey through Barack Obama’s career, but instead to end the series on Politics via YouTube by bringing blog readers access to a step by step tour of some key points in the story of an individual with the kind of charisma and oratorical skill that comes around perhaps only once in several generations.

I have tried wherever possible to link to versions with the best combination of audio visual quality.

Put some time aside, and enjoy…

Obama first penetrates the national consciousness as Illinois Senator at the 2004 Democratic Convention. His so called red states, blue states speech

Before we get into looking at the speeches that defined the 2008 campaign, what was noteworthy about this election cycle was the way the internet’s influence had grown since 2004. Take Obama Girl, for instance

Speech following his stunning victory over Hillary Clinton at the Iowa caucus 2008

Obama finishes second as Clinton bounces back at the New Hampshire primary. But the “Yes We Can” message is still clear

Going back to an earlier point about the power of YouTube, a former Black Eyed Peas group member put together this collage video reinforcing the Yes We Can message following New Hampshire

Obama’s association with a controversial black pastor led to him giving what some see as his most powerful speech, where he tackled the issue of race in America head on

Obama’s Berlin speech in 10 mins, underlining his popularity outside the USA, summer 2008

Acceptance speech at the 2008 convention. Some thought he was a little flat. Well, it’s all relative

Victory night speech in Chicago. Quite electric

Another impressive speech on the day of Obama’s inauguration

Obama’s Nobel Prize speech. Some good foreign policy here

Obama Sep 2011 to Congress on jobs: but too little too late?