Obama Says Nation’s ‘Sense of Unity’ Is Best Tribute

[Newsbot]

Feb. 12 -- President Barack Obama, marking 200 years since Abraham Lincoln’s birth, paid homage to his “immortal” predecessor’s leadership, calling him a “singular figure who in so many ways made my own story possible.”

Obama highlighted Lincoln’s calls for shared sacrifice during a time of great division, saying following that example is “the most fitting tribute we can pay.”

When debating the critical issues of the day, “let us remember that we are doing so as servants to the same flag, as representatives of the same people, and as stakeholders in a common future,â€

Lincoln, the president who ended slavery in the U.S. and brought the country through the Civil War, is being celebrated across the nation. This evening, Obama will travel to Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois, to speak at a banquet.

Obama, the country’s first black president, has expressed an affinity with the man known as The Great Emancipator. Both gained national prominence as skilled orators and rose from the Illinois state legislature to the White House. Obama launched his presidential campaign at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where Lincoln once served, and he used a bible that belonged to Lincoln to take the oath of office.

“I can say that I feel a special gratitude to this singular figure who in so many ways made my own story possible, and who in so many ways made America’s story possible,” Obama said.

Capitol as Symbol

The president noted that the Capitol that was built by “artisans and craftsmen, immigrants and slaves,â€

It is this sense of unity, this ability to plan for a shared future even at a moment our nation was torn apart, that I reflect on today,â€

Last night, the new president paid tribute to his predecessor at the reopening of Washington's Ford's Theatre, the site of Lincoln's assassination in 1865.

“Despite all that divided us -- North and South, black and white -- he had an unyielding belief that we were, at heart, one nation, and one people,” said Obama, 47. “And because of Abraham Lincoln, and all who carried on his work in the generations since, that is what we remain today.”

Before heading to Springfield tonight, Obama will travel to Peoria, Illinois, the home of Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest maker of bulldozers and excavators. The president is pushing Congress to finish work on a $789 billion economic stimulus package that would put money into infrastructure and construction projects throughout the country.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Yes, yes. I was so popular someone shot me in the back of the head with a .45. Then I was put on coin that is so worthless, people leave them on the counter at Seven-Eleven. Thank you, America.

[Senor JabbaJohnL]

But without you, we could never really truly appreciate Subway's $5 footlong.

[Sleazer]

or mabudong's $5(CAN) foot long

[anarky]

They're metric. I believe you meant "$5(CAN) decimeterlong."

(I know that's on the small side at about 3.93", but the next increment is a meterlong, which is about 3' 3.75", and I know you ain't that well-hung.)

[mabudong]

Code: Select all

ANALYZING...
CALCULATING CANADIAN-AMERICAN EXCHANGE RATE...
MABUDONG IS 8.53 INCHES
MABUDONG WILL PROVE IT IF YOU LIKE. 
WELCOME TO MY WORLD.
...END TRANSMISSION