Obama gets emotional talking to campaign staff
(CNN) - Video of President Barack Obama's visit Wednesday to his campaign headquarters in Chicago shows the newly re-elected commander in chief becoming emotional while heralding the hard work of his young staffers.
"I am absolutely confident that all of you are going to do amazing things in your lives," Obama says in the video, which was posted on his campaign's official Youtube page Thursday.
In his brief speech to the young crowd, Obama drew parallels to the work his team had just finished and the community organizing post he took up when he first moved to the Windy City at 25, saying his campaign team was "so much better than I was" at accomplishing their goals.
Toward the end of his five-minute-long remarks, Obama got choked up telling the staffers how proud he was of their hard work.
"Even before last night's results, I felt that the work I had done in running for office had come full circle. Because what you guys have done means that the work I am doing is important. And I'm really proud of that. I'm really proud of you," Obama said, wiping away tears.
The show of emotion - extremely rare for Obama - was met with loud applause.
"What you guys have accomplished will go in the annals of history," Obama said.
At his final campaign rally Monday in Iowa, a few tears rolled down Obama's cheek as he delivered his last stump speech.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, speaking on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," said he found Obama's emotional display in the campaign video "incredibly moving."
"Putting aside whose side you're on, who you voted for, to see a president of the United States being that raw, that emotional with his campaign volunteers and to see Barack Obama openly weeping at one stage, very unusual, very moving," said Patrick, a Democrat.
Dan Rather, the former CBS anchor, said the moment was "unique in the history of the American presidency."
"I'm not sure there has ever been any American president, perhaps no world leader that I know of in my lifetime, who has come out with that raw emotion in a very attractive way," Rather said on CNN. "Again, whether you like his politics or not, for a lot of people this is going to be a case of ‘the ice man cracketh’ because he had this image of President Barack Obama as cool, ice water in his veins kind of person, and he can be that way."
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Why is he acting now? He won re-election. Or is he sincerely so shocked he won, he's overjoyed with happiness?
obama has a knack of being able to use people and manipulate them for his personal advantage.
Nice to see. Truly heartwarming and obviously authentic, and this is from a cynical Independent.
good man.
It is good to see Barack Obama showed the human side of him. After all he is human and his supporters are all human. His supporters who worked so hard don't belong to the 47% of Americans that Mitt Romney was talking about. Mr. Obama wanted to make a difference to the lives of his fellow Americans. His supporters who are young look up to him as a model and as a mentor. I hope when he is done governing that he will continue to mentor Americas youth. He is a great example. He is the first since JFK and the country greatly need someone like him.
Mitt Romney, Donald Trump, et al, wants to be U.S. President because they treat the presidency as a trophy that they want to add to their financial success. Although I believed the motive behind Donald Trump aspiring to become a U.S. president is more sinister than Mitt Romney. The American people are not fooled Mr. Trump.
You have a remarkable man for a President. Embrace him. Andrew from Canada.
We are so blessed as a country to have such a genuine, intelligent, hard-working, and yes, very human, person as our president!
Keep up the good work, Mr. President, and thank you again for all you have done and will continue to do for these United States!
Our President has a vision for our country and our future far unmatched by those of McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012. His passion for this country and trust in us Americans and the next generation, as captured in this video, is inspiring.
Smilin' with tears in my eyes. We are grateful for this President and for all he has done and wants to do for our country. So many of us said "Thank you, we're with you" on Election Day.
I did not vote for him this time around, but I cannot help but admire his genuine warmth and humanity.
Is that make him any less of a man? Or does it make him more human, genuine, and honest? REALL MAN CRY! Even Jesus cried! This is one of the greatest achievements anyone could have. It deserves cry!
Love this video – glad he was re-elected...he is not afraid to shed a tear and be tough at the same time. He displays humility without caution for the people who supported him throughout the campaign. We are supporting you- praying that God guides your step.
Obama is genuine. We love you ' Bronco Bamma' very much. All the children do love you.
Is that make him any less of a man? Or does it make him more human, genuine, and honest? REALL MAN CRY! Even Jesus cried! This is one of the greatest achievements anyone could have. It deserves cry!
Obama is clearly someone of great intelligence, heart and character... I am grateful he was re-elected.
Who ever says What ever to him I just do not care. We have a president who has real emotions and can cry!
There is nothing wrong at all with the president showing his emotion to his hard working and successful campaign staff. It shows that he has heart, that he is truly very passionate about wanting to help the people of our country. He wasn't expecting such a successful victory by winning all of the swing states. He is a president that is proud of his people and it shows.
We love you Mr. President.
Obama is the real deal. No matter if you don't like his policies his love of country is difficult to match. No hidden agenda he wants to better the country for everyone!
Mad respect Obama! Forget your haters!
Good he won. Now Barack talk to your Democratic Congressmen and tell them to shake hands with theier Republican
counterparts and work with them to cleanse the Health bill so it is a workable mandate and to work out a system to
greatly Curtail immigration so we can get Costing controlled
Congratulations President Obama!
President Obama is so authentic. This election cycle reminds me of how they treated Jesus. Crucify him! Crucify Him! But what is his crime? Like Jesus, who did not fit the profile of King, it seems like President Obama does not fit the profile of President in the mind of those crazies. The President, for the past four years worked relentlessly for the American people and the world. This work, in spite of hateful thoughts, words and deeds being thrown at him unfairly every minute of the day. Like Jesus, he also have people who understand his pain and who will support him for another four years with a better understanding of the pain and strain that he unfairly endured during his first term.
The President has shown a human side during this election that I'm not sure Romney possesses.
Why does this section still have outdated comment formatting?
Oh yeah, look for the video of this. It's more compelling that way, the audio really matters. I'm surprised there's no link of any kind.
Those people may very well move on to doing amazing things, but they can also take pride and satisfaction in already accomplishing something truly great: working so hard to help elect an amazingly decent, kind, intelligent and loving human being to the Presidency.
I'm so grateful to President Obama and his staff, for working tirelessly to help us move forward from the mess we were in a few short years ago; I'm stunned that they have been able to perservere in the face of incredible vilification and obstruction; I'm thankful that this nation had the good sense to elect Barack Hussein Obama–twice.
Once again, I feel blessed to have this remarkable man as my President.