December 10th, 2007
08:15 AM ET
11 years ago
Oprah rocks crowd in South Carolina
Watch the entire 20 minute address by Oprah Winfrey to a packed stadium in South Carolina.
(CNN) - Talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey told a crowd of nearly 30,000 gathered in Columbia, South Carolina Sunday that she was “stepping out” of her normal setting because she’d been “inspired” by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois.
"I've never done this before," Winfrey told the crowd, as she introduced the Democratic White House hopeful. "I've never done it before because in the past I've been disappointed by politicians."
Watch Winfrey's entire 20-minute stadium address.
Earlier: Oprah and Obama hit South Carolina football stadium
Related video: Obama: 'We're doing it'
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WE MUST NOT LOOSE FOCUS, WE ARE NOT VOTING, TO GET ON OPRAH SHOW FOR A CAR OR A XMAS SHOW. WE ARE VOTING FOR THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT. SHE GAVE HIM A BOAST. NOW LETS GET TO THE ISSUES. I FEEL VERY BLANK ABOUT OBAMA. HE NEEDS TO SHOW ME WHY, I SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM IF HE CAN'T DO THAT THAN OPRAH FAME IS HER NOT HIS. HILLARY CLINTON IS MY CHOICE. GO HILLARY.
Oprah must take care in her support of Barach. She is entitled to support him but we do not want to get silly about showbiz people replacing experienced political figures. Crosby and Hope, Martin and Lewis ? We must seek people experienced in government who have character, judgment, and a good record. The Country is already split up over Iraq. We don't need to start a black v. white, or a rellgious battle to confuse the issues. The adoration of sports and showbix figures is already out of hand. Let's show some maturity.
You know what really scares me about Obama? It's that he does have a moslem origin and that the Islamic radicals have made and set a goal to have their people elected to our government offices in local and state positions. Their ultimate goal is to have a muslim elected to the position and office of the president of the United States. I have seen the pictures where and heard the different reasons why he would not wear the US flag pin and place his hand over his heart like a true american during the playing of the Star Spangle Banner. Do you think he will ever pray in public and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior and denounce Islam and make people aware of what Islam actually teaches?
It would be a nightmare if Obama was elected into the office of the President of the United States and once there he would turn out to be what Chavis did in Venezulea or worst yet claim that he really is a Muslim and a supporter of what we all fear at this time.
Who's REALLY running for President?
Oprah or Obama? Either way, I can't imagine official State dinners at the White House with KFC as the entree and a rap group for entertainment.
I think that Obama and Oprah are pathetic. Why can we vote on who can run the country better instead of who can get the most rich people to support them? Even better – Why can we vote for the people who are really running our country????
I think Oprah's support will hurt more than help him. Her speech was 100x better than his, the guy talks, talks, talks but does not say anything interesting. I think Oprah is helping Obama because she wants to run and became herself the first female president of this great country. Wake up democrats a Obama nomination will be a victory for the Republicans. OBAMA WILL NOT BEAT ANY OF THE REPUBLICANS NOMINEES. THE ONLY THAT MAY HAVE A CHANCE IS HILLARY. BEING A REPUBLICAN ALL I CAN SAY IS "GO OPRAH AND OBAMA" AND MAKE DEMOCRATS SHOOT THEIR OWN FEET.
Eyz,
Did my research BEFORE I wrote my note... it is not an emotional note, it is a question. You did not answer it, instead just like the hypocritical Republicans, you just threw it back at me and could not answer why he has chosen to miss or not vote on 70-80% of the issues that have come to vote during his time as a politician (not just two weeks or two months... because you guys are the only saying he has 8+ years of experience so I am quoting from that time period). And on issues that matter, as I said....not the trivial issues that Congress must vote on....so my research was already done and my question still stands.....like I said, have not heard an answer to that yet... and campaigning is not the answer... Hillary *(and in fact, all other Democratic candidates)has missed far less votes than Obama and has campaigned as much if not more than he has....and remember it is not just the vote that is his job... it is his responsibility to be petitioning his fellow congressmen/women to vote his way if he really is an agent of change and hope.... so he is not showing his capabilities to do that either.... or is he in your mind?
I think Americans are very blindsided when it comes to politics. this is not about a black man , it is more of the change that we need,Clintons were in power for 8 years, if she was not able to make any changes ,Why should we give her another chance.
People the year to have your voice heard is now. and for those black people who claim that voting for Obama is a waste of their vote, they need to wake up, Martin Luther king had a dream , lets make his dream a reality.
Oprah comes from a humble background, and understands the plights of the ordinary people, as well as having ties to people in the higher echelon. Given these circumstances, I do believe she would be an impartial representative our country. In addition, I am of the opinion that she has done an excellent job with her present empire, so her experience would be a great asset in these trying times in our nation’s history.
Surely – the same woman who publicly backs a lying drug addict-turned author and the plastic surgeon who has been accused of repeated mishaps including the death of Kanye's mother – surely this same woman would be a great moniker for showing us the best candidate for pres.
Genius move Obama. What's even more sad is that now all the desperate housewives out there who have nothing better to do than watch the trash that is her show will now flock to the polls like zombies to put in her vote because 'Oprah said so'.
i dont get it opra's not backing a woman strange.so shes not backing a woman,or a republican. so what does that say. shame on you opra.
Posted By Tommy Long Maxwell, texas : December 10, 2007 9:02 am
she is not a sexsiet , my dear sure not racist either.
As an American and as a Black American, I am offended that the media or anyone else for that matter would dare to think that Oprah's support of Obama would affect my vote in any way. Americans believe it or not are far more intelligent than the media gives us credit to be. Oprah is not the be all to end all and my vote is my choice, not Oprah's.
Well, nice to see Oprah completely discrediting herself. Has she ever actually come out and said what it is, exactly, that inspires her so darn much about Obama? Obama is like every other politician, he's just younger, black, and knows how to work an audience over. I dare any Obama supporter to talk to me about this man's positions off the top of their head – I bet they can't, because they have no idea.
He's the nicer, cleaner Giuliani – all inspiring rhetoric, very little substance.
Wow..only a democrat would think Oprah Winfrey is qualified to run for the second highest office in the land.
You realize of course that if this had been a rally for Hillary Clinton, the CNN headline would have been "Clinton Fails to Fill 80,000 Seat Stadium at Rally" or "Stadium Less than Half Full at Clinton Rally." Funny how CNN spins this stuff.
I love Obama but I'm so sick and tired of hearing about Oprah that I would vote for Kucinich right now. Can the media fawn anymore over her? I just heard one of these moronic anchors actually ask Candy Crowley if Oprah might run for Vice-President. CNN should fire a person for asking that stupid a question. By the way, hasn't Oprah had a few problems with vetting her choices for authors as to their veracity?
Have you people gone insane? (addressing the current 14% that think Oprah should run with Obama as VP) This is the political arena, not a spot for her opinions on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality... Wow, I was dismayed when 'W' was re-elected, i swear if this happens i'm moving to Europe...
This would be another example of black-on-black violence; I can see the headlines now: "Oprah Kills Obama's Presidential Bid"
OW is an ENTERTAINER and should not waste her time promoting someone who is clearly not up to the job of president.
Oprah's influence will be limited to the empty women who follow her glitzy TV show. She really does nothing to help blacks except make a whole lot of noise that amounts to a whole lot of nothing. She doesn't care about Obama - she just wants to see a black man get ahead. The people who really care about who runs this country will NOT vote for Obama - not because he is black, but because he is simply not presidential material.
Sarah, San Diego, CA – Actually, there's plenty of examples listed here of Obama supporters talking about his positions off of the top of their head if you cared to read them. Don't let your anger sway you in to making baseless accusations or mean-spirited statements. As far as Oprah, again, if you cared to read or listen to clips online, Oprah has spelled out rather clearly why she's inspired by Obama... his truthfulness, conviction, statemanship, empathy, etc., and not once did she mention his being "Black" as a reason. Surrogates, celebrity or otherwise, afford attention to a candidate that attracts attention and allows those paying attention to decide if they want to vote for that candidate. Surrogates don't tell you who to vote for, just to think about their candidates' qualifications and if you could vote for them based upon that information. That's all Oprah is doing, so don't hate the messenger and if you don't like the message, just switch the channel.
One of the last people Oprah got behind was James Frey. How did that turn out? He is as qualified to be an author as Obama is to be President of the United States
Jim Garza from Houston Texas:
Stop spreading lies about Obama. If you would take five minutes to look at his website, you'd see that he's a committed Christian and that the hand over heart thing was during the Pledge of Allegiance. You could see videos of him with his hand over his heart during the national anthem as well.
Not that any of these things should be issues, but it only takes a couple of minutes of your time to find out the truth. Do you really believe anonymously forwarded emails are true? Maybe you're still waiting for that check from Microsoft for all the emails you forwarded?
Sarah, you wrote: "[Barack] is the nicer, cleaner Giuliani – all inspiring rhetoric, very little substance."
Please, please, do some research. The more informed our electorate is, the better president we will have. Sarah, and any other people who think Barack has "no substance" – go to barackobama.com/issues. He has detailed plans for how to provide Universal Healthcare (without a socialist mandate), get us out of Iraq responsibly, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Accusing Senator Obama of having no substance simply reveals that you haven't looked into the issue.
My fellow Democrats, in as much as I like to see Obama become the first black president of the United States as a black man, I know that a vote for him is a wasted vote. Republicans are very excited about what is going on in the Democratic party right now. They are waiting around, hoping that Obama would win the nomination so that they could rip him apart as soon as the nomination is over. Fellow Democrats, we need to wisen up here. The only true chance we have in 08 is in Hilarry Clinton.
Posted By Ike Woodbridge , VA. : December 10, 2007 8:49 am
This Comment is pure speculation. YOU need to wisen up a bit. The republicans have been getting ready to destroy hillary clinton for eight years. You also seem to be making the assertion that Barack Obama's entire candidacy is based upon being the first black president. INCORRECT.
Barack Obama has more experience than hillary clinton, and he has the Judgement and Credibility we can believe in.