The text of Barack Obama's victory speech in full
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.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am 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.
（中文）
美國是否暗藏一切皆有可能的巨大潛力？美國是否已經實現開國者鍛造的美國夢？民主信仰是否具有強大力量？如果還有人對此報以懷疑，那麽今晚這裏發生的一切就是答案。
學校旁、教堂邊，無數人都在排隊投票，這一情景我們已經多年未見；3個小時、4個小時，他們為此而等候良久，這是很多同胞有生以來的第一次。因為他們相信，這一次，將不同以往；這一次，因為他們的呼聲而有所不同。
無論老少貧富，無論共和黨抑或民主黨，不管是黑皮膚、白種人、拉丁後裔、亞裔子孫還是本土美國人；無論性向如何，不管健康抑或殘疾，所有的美國人民都向全世界傳遞出這樣一條信息：我們從來都不是紅藍陣營的政治堆砌，我們是，而且永遠是，美利堅合眾國。
長期以來，很多人缺乏信心，對自己所能取得的成就畏首畏尾、疑心重重。如今，我們走在曆史的長河裏，挺起胸膛，勾勒出美好明天的光輝畫卷。
此情此景，等待尤長。然而，就在今晚，在這個大選的日子，在這個具有曆史性意義的時刻，由於你們的付出，美國終於迎來了變革。
剛剛，我接到了麥凱恩參議員禮貌得體的祝賀電話。為了此次競選，他奮戰良久、竭盡所能；為了他所深愛的美國，他曾作出了更長久、更努力的奉獻。麥凱恩參議員為美國所作出的犧牲是大部分人難以想象的，他這種英勇無私的奉獻改善了我們的生活。對於麥凱恩參議員和佩林州長所取得的成就，我對他們致以祝賀。在接下來的幾個月裏，以重振美國為目標，我期待著與他們的合作。
在此，我想感謝一路陪伴我的競選搭檔，他就是我們即將上任的副總統，喬·拜登。為了讓美國廣大的工人階層發出自己的聲音，他毫無私心地全身心投入競選，因為他和那些賓夕法尼亞州斯克蘭頓城街頭的人們一樣，出生平凡，一切白手起家。
如果沒有米歇爾·奧巴馬，這一準美國第一夫人的堅定支持，今晚，我就不會站在這兒了。我們相伴走過了16個春秋，她是我們整個家庭的頂梁柱，我一生的摯愛。還有，薩沙和瑪利亞，我愛你們，你們姊妹倆終於可以帶著你們的新寵物狗入主白宮了。我知道，就像我的其他已故親屬一樣，外祖母一定也在某處注視著我，雖然她已經不在人世。是他們造就了今天的我。今晚我很想念他們，我對他們的虧欠無以計量。
我想對我的競選經理大衛·普勞夫、首席戰略師大衛·阿克塞爾羅德以及我們這個史上最佳的競選團隊說，是你們讓這一切成為了現實，對於你們為此所做的犧牲和付出我永遠感懷在心。
然而，有一點是最重要的，那就是我永遠都不會忘記，真正擁有這個勝利的是你們，你們所有人！對於入主白宮，我從來都不是最熱候選人。競選伊始，我們的資金並不充裕，獲得的支持也不多。我們的競選班子並非始於華府，而是一路從艾奧瓦州的得梅因酒店後院、輾轉北卡羅萊納州的康克酒店客房，後來會首在西弗吉尼亞州查爾斯頓酒店的主廳……
我們的勝利來自於廣大工薪階級，正是他們從僅有的微薄存款裏掏出5美元、10美元或者20美元來支持我們的競選。我們的力量來自於摘下冷漠麵罩的年輕一代，來自於夜以繼日奮力工作以維持生計的下層百姓，來自於冒著嚴寒酷暑、戶戶敲門宣傳的團隊中流砥柱，更來自於成千上萬的大選誌願者。他們用出色的奉獻精神和組織能力證明了一個民有、民治、民享的政府在兩百年後仍然保持著生命力。這就是你們的勝利！
我明白，你們所做的這些，並不僅僅是為了贏得這次競選，也不單單隻是為了我本人。你們之所以這麽做，是因為你們懂得前方任務的艱巨。即使我們今晚沉浸於慶祝的喜悅之中，我們也深知明天將會麵臨的將是我們這輩子最為艱巨的挑戰：兩場戰爭、瀕臨危險的地球和百年一遇的金融危機；即使今晚我們安然站在此處，我們也深知那些深陷伊拉克沙漠和阿富汗山區的英勇美國戰士，是為了我們而冒著生命危險。還有那些孩子早已熟睡、自己卻輾轉反側的人父人母，他們夜不能寐，想著如何還清房貸、如何支付醫藥費以及給孩子存下大學經費。我們要掌握新能源，創造就業崗位，建造新校舍，正視存在的威脅，並修複與盟友的關係。
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.
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.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
前方的道路很漫長，我們將步履維艱。我們也許無法在一年內，甚至是（我的）一個任期內，達成我們的目標。但是，今晚，我比任何時候都對此更有信心。我承諾，我們所有人將作為一個整體順利的到達目的地。
我們將不可避免地遭遇許多挫折，也許開頭並不會一帆風順。我們需要弄明白一點，那就是政府無法解決所有的問題，也許有很多人不會同意我上台執政後製定的政策。不過，我將坦誠地接受各方的批評，直麵我們的挑戰。我將傾聽你們的意見，尤其是不同的政見。總之，我邀請各位一同投入到國家的建設中來，用我們勤勞的雙手堆砌建設這個國家所需的磚瓦。正是這一方式，使美國在221年的建國道路上不斷前行。
我在21個月前的深冬開始為競選做出的努力並不會在今晚畫上句號。我們所追求的並不是這場選舉的勝利，這僅僅是為我們提供了一個做出變革的機會。如果回到過去的老路，我們將無法做出任何改變。當然，如果沒有你們，一切都無法發生。
所以，讓我們一同喚醒自己的愛國心，喚醒為國效力的責任感，我們將一道披星戴月，披荊斬棘向前行進，我們需要照顧的不再隻有我們自己，而是每一個人。這次的金融危機讓我們認識到一個事實，如果大眾受苦受難，華爾街就不可能繁華似錦。我們必須攜手與共、共同經曆這個國家的榮辱興衰。
長期以來，兩黨隔閡以及不成熟的狹隘主義造成了我們現在的失敗政策，所以讓我們一同抵製住這種傾向，避免回到那條老路。請記住，這個國家有一個民主黨人將第一次手扛民主和共和兩黨旗幟邁向白宮。充滿自信，崇尚個人自由，維護國家團結將是我們共同追求的價值觀。盡管民主黨在今晚取得了壓倒性的勝利，但是我們將繼續帶著謙卑前行，愈合這個國家因分裂受到的創傷。社會的分裂曾經阻礙我們國家前行的腳步。正如林肯總統在1861年的反國家分裂的演說中說到，“我們不是敵人，而是朋友。我們決不能成為敵人。盡管目前的情緒有些緊張，但決不能容許它使我們之間的親密情感紐帶破裂。”我要告訴那些沒有將選票投給我的朋友，也許我沒有贏得你們的選票，但我將聆聽你們的聲音，我需要你們的幫助，因為我同樣將成為你們的總統。
我要告訴那些在美國大陸以外關注今晚選舉的人們，也許你們在一個被世界遺忘的角落通過收音機了解今晚的選舉，盡管我們的國情不一樣，但是我們的命運是緊緊聯係在一起的。一個全新的美國領導層即將呼之欲出。我要告訴那些試圖破壞這個世界的人們，我們將打敗你們！我要告訴那些追求和平和安全的人們，我們將全力支持你們！我要告訴那些對美國的未來持懷疑態度的人們，今晚，我們再次證明了一個事實，那就是這個國家擁有強大的力量，這並不是因為我們擁有眾多的武器和財富。民主、自由、機遇、堅定不屈的希望才是這個國家保持強大的持久力量！
美國強大的真諦在於它能夠做出改變，我們的國家可以變得更加完美。我們過去所達到的成就讓我們看到了前進的希望。
本屆選舉創造了多項曆史之最，有許多故事將代代相傳。但此時此刻，我腦海中想起的是一名來自亞特蘭大的選民，這位名叫安妮·尼克鬆·庫珀的女性和千千萬萬的選民一樣，靜靜地站在投票隊伍之中，投出自己的選票，表達自己的聲音。不過，與眾不同的是，她已經106歲高齡了。在她出生的年代，公路上沒有汽車，天空中沒有飛機。像她一樣的人僅僅因為膚色和性別就被擋在參與投票的大門之外。
今晚，我由此聯想到了她一個世紀以來，在美國見證的一切：困苦與希望，奮鬥與進步，那是一個讓人無能為力的年代，但人們必須不斷告訴自己美國的偉大信條：“是的，我們可以！”曾經，女性無法表達自己的意見，她們的希望成為幻影。如今，她終於見證了這一幕，和她一樣有著悲慘遭遇的人們成功地投出了自己的選票。是的，我們可以！
當整個美國大陸都籠罩在經濟大蕭條的絕望之中時，她見證了一個國家戰勝自身恐懼，重新崛起，羅斯福總統推行的“新政”不僅給美國帶來了新的就業機會，更給美國人民帶來了共同的價值觀。是的，我們可以！
當敵人的炮彈投向我們的港口，當世界被暴政所威脅，她見證了一個崛起的民族，民主重獲新生。是的，我們可以！
她目睹了發生在蒙哥馬利巴士上、伯明翰的高壓水龍頭下、塞爾瑪大橋上的種族歧視暴行……而後，來自亞特蘭大的民權先驅告訴人們，“我們可以戰勝這一切”。是的，我們可以！
而後，人類登月，柏林牆倒塌，世界重新集結在科學和想象力的號角下。現在，在這場選舉中，她終於用自己的指尖觸碰到投票屏幕，鄭重地投下選票。飽經106年的滄桑變化，穿越歲月的風雲變遷，她知道美國能做出怎樣的改變。是的，我們可以！
美國，我們風雨兼程，一路走來。我們經曆了太多，但前方仍有許多夢想等待著我們去實現。今晚，讓我們大聲地問自己，我們的孩子是否還能看到下一個世紀；我可愛的女兒是否能和安妮·尼克鬆·庫珀一樣幸運，享受漫長的人生。他們將看到怎樣的變革？我們將取得怎樣的進步？
這是我們給出答案的機會。這是屬於我們的時刻。這是我們的時代：讓人們有事可做；為我們的孩子打開機遇之門；推動世界和平與繁榮；再次鍛造美國夢，重申這一不可動搖的事實——雖然我們每個人不盡相同，但我們是一個整體，隻要我們呼吸尚存，希望就永不磨滅。我們將用那曆經時間考驗的不朽信條擲地有聲地直麵質疑：“是的，我們可以！”
謝謝！上帝保佑你們，保佑美利堅合眾國！
