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."
From CNN Politics
- These 5 states will be the first to kick residents off Medicaid starting in April
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Inside the long and winding road to Trump's historic indictment
- Listen: After negotiating a peace deal, Jimmy Carter taught this Bible class
- Abortion foes take aim at ballot initiatives in next phase of post-Dobbs political fights
- Untitled
Touching! The guys has to be exhausted!! He has been through sos very much these last 4 years and fought a hard campaign. I'd like to see him take a vacation - it is WELL deserved!
So very proud of our President.May God be with him.I am so pleased to have seen him elected twice in my lifetime.I wa
Congratulations Mr. President, the tears show what words can't.
I would never thought he will come out with this emotion. I feel very proud of our president. The president for all the people and not for the very few. May all the blessing goes to Obama and his family.
Awwwwww.....We are with you Mr.President. Real men cry and you proved it – as Mommy said, you are indeed a one man army.
Were those tears of joy or shame at winning with sleeze. Oh well no plan for the fiscal cliff so off to Asia.
I respect President Obama for really showing how he feels for the women and men who worked hard and long on all our behalf. Shed a tear for me, Mr. President.
Even four years in arguably the most stressful job in the world didn't suck the humanity from him.
We did it to move Forward!! si se puede
It means for all of us that we are humans, our feelings can never ever be compromised!
celebrate good obama come on it's obamabama
Everyone have professional side and private side. At final stage of long, hard battle it is easily understand that Mr. Obama got emotional and showed his private side. I liked him even more. Congratulations President Obama. And a big thank you for the hard working volunteers.
Call me old fashioned, but I kind of wish he'd man up and stop running around crying. At least don't do it in front of cameras. Geesh-I love you but buck up Barry!
This shows how sincere he is. Its tears of joy to him and his campaign folks
I am a Canadian who has been caught up in the whole US election process for what seems like forever. I was hoping for Mr. Obama to win re-election. Seeing this kind of humility and raw sensitivity is refreshing for it shows his true passion to bring America back from implosion.
Though I am from Alberta and our Keystone pipeline may end up kyboshed for good, I am still hopeful our countries can do business together. Your neighbours to the North have your back and would rather sell you our energy than sell it to China. We appreciate you having our back as well so lets strengthen our ties and increase trade without penalty.
That is adorable NOBAMA
truly human
Oh my God a weeping American president!
Bravo! It's good to see the human side of our leaders in ways like this.
Now it is time to heal the wounds and do what is good for the country.
Bless his heart!
Is there something that is not genuine in this president? The autentic display of raw emotions by a leader recognizing and thanking his team's efforts and right after having achieved together a magnificent triumph, is an undisputable mark of self-confidence, character and strengh. Happy to have Obama for 4 more years.
I am so proud that President Obama is our President the sentiments were seen all over the world and what was most impressive were the amount of young people who worked so hard and voted for him. He is the only one that spoke out for them and visited the shows that catered to young people and was criticised for it.
I wish him the best and it is time for the country and the republican party to realize that this country is not run by one race it was evident with a mix of the races that voted for the President they looked liked a flower garden of different colors.
I hope that we can all get along and move this country forward.
I think when one puts their heart and soul into what they believe in, and when that effort pays off, it's got to come across someway. President Obama has had a lot of problems getting to where he is...and I am proud to call him my President!!!
Crocodile tears