The Gospel According to Apostle Barack: In Search of a More Perfect Political Union as “Heaven Here on Earth”

© 2012 by Barbara A. Thompson. All rights reserved.

No part of the book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Author, except for brief quotations contained in critical articles and reviews.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/20/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-8702-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-8700-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-8701-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012907142

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The information contained in this manuscript was taken from speeches Barack Obama made, between February 10, 2007 and January 20, 2009, when he was a candidate for President of the United States. The speeches were found on AskSam.com.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Privacy Statement

Contents

SECTION I

THE INTRODUCTION

SECTION II

APOSTLE BARACK’S SPEECHES

Speech 1

NOT A NATIVE… .

Speech 2

HOLY LAND… . .

Speech 3

BLACK MAN… . 

Speech 4

MAGICAL PLACE… .

Speech 5

FUNNY NAME… .

Speech 6

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS… .

Speech 7

POWERFUL METAPHOR… .

Speech 8

Speech 9

BAND TOGETHER… .

Speech 10

PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS… .

Speech 11

JESUS CHRIST… .

Speech 12

TALENT AND VIRTUE… .

Speech 13

SEPARATE DREAMS… .

Speech 14

TURN AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS… .

Speech 15

SEARS TOWER… .

Speech 16

AMERICA’S COMMITMENT… .

Speech 17

HOPE PEDDLER… .

Speech 18

SHARED SACRIFICE… .

Speech 19

INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY… .

Speech 20

NEW CHAPTER… .

Speech 21

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE… .

Speech 22

FOREIGN POLICY… .

Speech 23

AMERICAN DREAM… .

Speech 24

UNITED STATES… .

Speech 25

SIMPLE DREAMS… .

Speech 26

RACE FOR PRESIDENT… .

Speech 27

ENTIRE NATION… .

Speech 28

THESE KIDS SYNDROME… .

Speech 29

INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS… .

Speech 30

PIVOTAL MOMENT… .

Speech 31

CORE VALUES… .

Speech 32

STORIES OF STRUGGLE… .

Speech 33

DEFINING MOMENT… .

Speech 34

NEW MAJORITY… .

Speech 35

SINGLE GARMENT… .

Speech 36

PUBLIC SERVICE… .

Speech 37

JOIN TOGETHER… .

Speech 38

VILLAGE IN KENYA… .

Speech 39

SEIZE THE MOMENT… .

Speech 40

EL DORADO… .

Speech 41

DEMOCRATIC PARTY… .

Speech 42

WHISPER IN SPRINGFIELD… .

Speech 43

AMERICA’S HEARTLAND… .

Speech 44

STANDING UP… .

Speech 45

CHANGE IN WASHINGTON… .

Speech 46

PROSPERITY ENJOYED… .

Speech 47

AMERICAN ECONOMY… .

Speech 48

WINNING THE NOMINATION… .

Speech 49

NATION’S SECURITY… .

Speech 50

WE THE PEOPLE… .

Speech 51

PAIN OF 9/11… .

Speech 52

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY… .

Speech 53

MOMENT TO REFLECT… .

Speech 54

TRADE UNION MOVEMENT… .

Speech 55

KING’S LIFE… .

Speech 56

THINK ABOUT THAT… .

Speech 57

POOR WORD CHOICES… .

Speech 58

UNITE THIS COUNTRY… .

Speech 59

CHALLENGING TIME… .

Speech 60

SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN… .

Speech 61

CLOSED THE GAP… .

Speech 62

BORDERING ON A CRISIS… .

Speech 63

MOST BASIC VALUES… .

Speech 64

PERFECT THIS UNION… .

Speech 65

GREAT COUNTRY… .

Speech 66

TOUR AFTER TOUR… .

Speech 67

AUTOMAKERS AND AUTOWORKERS… .

Speech 68

DIFFERENT FUTURE… .

Speech 69

SYMBOL OF HOPE… .

Speech 70

SERVICE OF OTHERS… .

Speech 71

UNBROKEN LINE… .

Speech 72

IMPETUS FOR CHANGE… .

Speech 73

HISTORIC JOURNEY… .

Speech 74

COMMON CHALLENGES… .

Speech 75

GRASSROOTS OF ACTIVISTS… .

Speech 76

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM… .

Speech 77

NATIONAL SERVICE… .

Speech 78

ROCK OF JESUS… .

Speech 79

AMERICAN PROMISE… .

Speech 80

MAYOR’S OFFICE… .

Speech 81

WORKING WOMEN… .

Speech 82

INNOVATION AND INITIATION… .

Speech 83

GLOBAL ECONOMY… .

Speech 84

FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN NOMINEE… .

Speech 85

MEANING OF PATRIOTISM… .

Speech 86

FAITH BASED GROUPS… .

Speech 87

TROOPS AND VETERANS… .

Speech 88

SHAPE A GENERATION… .

Speech 89

RISE AND FALL… .

Speech 90

WOMEN HE LOVED… .

Speech 91

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES… .

Speech 92

CHALLENGE WAS CLEAR… .

Speech 93

AFT STOOD UP… .

Speech 94

POWERFUL REMINDER… .

Speech 95

GENERATION OF AMERICANS… .

Speech 96

EMERGING THREATS… .

Speech 97

CITIZENS OF BERLIN… .

Speech 98

PROMISE OF AMERICA… .

Speech 99

FIRM COMMITMENT… .

Speech 100

THAT DREAM… .

Speech 101

REVOLUTIONS IN TECHNOLOGY… .

Speech 102

OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REACH… .

Speech 103

PLANET IN PERIL… .

Speech 104

AMERICANS FACED A CHOICE… .

Speech 105

NEXT DECADE… .

Speech 106

SAME PROUD FLAG… .

Speech 107

FINISH THIS JOURNEY… .

Speech 108

DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION… .

Speech 109

SIMPLE PROMISE… .

Speech 110

EDUCATED WORKFORCE… .

Speech 111

FIRST HISPANIC PRESIDENT

Speech 112

WRONG TRACK… .

Speech 113

ECONOMIC PHILOSOHPY… .

Speech 114

ECONOMIC NEWS… .

Speech 115

FINANCIAL MARKETS… .

Speech 116

STABILIZE MARKETS… .

Speech 117

IMPORTANT WOMEN… .

Speech 118

BIPARTISAN FASHION… .

Speech 119

JOBS AND LIFE SAVINGS… .

Speech 120

VALUES OF FAIRNESS… .

Speech 121

TOUGH GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Speech 122

MIDDLE CLASS… .

Speech 123

CUT TAXES… .

Speech 124

ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE… .

Speech 125

FAMILY’S FUTURE… .

Speech 126

RESTORE ACCOUNTABILITY… .

Speech 127

MEANING AND PURPOSE… .

Speech 128

PREEXISTING CONDITION… .

Speech 129

BRINK OF DISASTER… .

Speech 130

SWIFT ACTION… .

Speech 131

MANAGE THIS RECOVERY… .

Speech 132

POLITICS OF PRAGMATISM… .

Speech 133

MOUNTAINTOP… .

Speech 134

TWO MILLION JOBS… .

Speech 135

ATTACK STRATEGY… .

Speech 136

THIS COUNTRY… .

Speech 137

OFFERING TAX CUTS… .

Speech 138

GREAT STATESMAN… .

Speech 139

REBUILD AMERICA… .

Speech 140

UNPRECEDENTED ACTION… .

Speech 141

MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS… .

Speech 142

AMERICAN DREAM AT RISK… .

Speech 143

CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS… .

Speech 144

NATION’S HEROES… .

Speech 145

INCH OF DAYLIGHT… .

Speech 146

IN ONE WEEK… .

Speech 147

THIS JOURNEY… .

Speech 148

SIX DAYS… .

Speech 149

FIVE DAYS… .

Speech 150

FOUR DAYS… .

Speech 151

TWO DAYS… .

Speech 152

LAST RALLY… .

Speech 153

HELD IN COMMON… .

Speech 154

ALL THINGS WERE POSSIBLE

Speech 155

FELLOW CITIZENS… .

SECTION III

POWERFUL LEARNED LESSONS

Acknowledgements

My sincerest appreciation is extended to Dr. Deidre Powell, my consultant, editor and friend; Drs. Janet Sermon and Gaynell Sherrod, my colleagues and friends; and Dr. and Mrs. William and Patricia Tucker, my mentors who provided technological assistance, suggestions, comments, and encouragement throughout the completion of the project. The patience, love, support, guidance, and understanding of my husband, Willie and son, Gibran made the completion of this project possible. This manuscript is dedicated to my husband, son, brother, Benjamin F. Pye and Bishop Willie J. Mathis, El Bethel ministries.

The definitions of the following terms were crucial in understanding their use in this manuscript:

1.   Apostle—one who leads or advocates a new cause.

2.   Apostle Barack—a leader and President of the United States who advocates for a new cause.

3.   Disciple—a person who subscribes to or agrees with the teachings of a leader.

4.   Excerpts—a summary of meaningful statements extracted from speeches, placed in quotation marks and merged into paragraphs.

5.   Gospel—the teachings or speaking of good news about living a middle class way of life.

6.   Heaven Here On Earth—a concept grounded in the political notion that The New Majority through their VOTE, held the key to living a middle class lifestyle that was so economically and ethically sound that it appears that they were living in The Abode of God.

7.   More Perfect Political Union—a twenty-first century notion of bringing together The New Majority—a diverse group of people—who shares the same goal of electing politicians who VOTE on behalf of the interests and needs of middle class and working poor people.

8.   Numbered Speeches and Excerpts—a guide for the ease of citing or locating specific information within the manuscript.

9.   Speeches (Teachings)—the powerful information contained in Barack’s written words that were spoken or delivered, before live audiences, from February 10, 2007 to January 20, 2009.

10.   The Spirit or God’s (His) Spirit—a subconscious spiritual messenger that appears at night through dreams to advocate for the re-election of Barack Obama, Jr., President of the United States.

SECTION I

THE INTRODUCTION

My interest in politics began on February 10, 2007, in Springfield, Illinois when a young man by the name of Barack Obama, Jr., uttered the words, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States. During Barack’s presidential announcement, he spoke of the journey that brought him to Springfield, Illinois on February 10th and the hope that the thousands of people who traveled far and wide to brave the cold to join him on that day were there for the same reason. Barack believed that people from all walks of life—farmers, teachers, businessmen, and laborers—came to Springfield that day not just for him, but because they believed that in the face of war and despair, there could be peace and hope. They also believed that in the face of a politics that had shut many out, had told others to settle or had divided America for far too long, there could be a more perfect union.

Even though my vote in 2008, for Barack as President of the United States, was more of a history making event, it was based largely on his ethnic origin rather than his ideas and vision of America as a more perfect union. Since the election, however, I had often heard Barack speak of his vision of America relative to the promises he made during his first campaign and the promises he kept after the election. He promised and delivered on matters involving the military and veteran affairs, equal rights, health care, education and disaster response. He also attacked federal initiatives, ethics, national security, taxes, the economy and budget, to name a few. His accomplishments, I learned, thus far, were small parts of a larger patchwork. Those accomplishments and others yet achieved, were crucial because with them being combined, they completed his vision of America as a more perfect political union or Heaven Here on Earth. Yes, Barack had worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people, especially those who elected him in 2008. His followers needed to re-elect him to a second term, so that he could continue to accomplish the promises he made, thus, realizing his vision of America as a more perfect political union or Heaven Here on Earth.

Then, as I began to contemplate ways to assist Barack in his 2012 re-election bid something miraculous happened. I felt God’s Spirit beckoning me in my dreams at night. Listening, cautiously, I learned that Jesus walked the earth to create a more civilized society and that Martin Luther King walked the earth to create a more justified society, but, Apostle Barack, the name he was called by in my dreams, would walk the earth to create a more equalized society, for the middle class and working poor. Apostle Barack, the next young leader with a new cause, had been taken to the mountaintop and allowed to see over the other side. He had the answers to unlock the kingdom of Heaven Here on Earth for his followers. The answers were repeated—over and over—in speeches Barack had made from his presidential announcement to his inaugural address.

Apostle Barack’s speeches or his teachings contained the answers to the middle class and working poor living in a Heaven Here on Earth. For when the answers were unlocked and enacted, his vision of America would be realized. The Spirit informed me that my service as a Disciple would take me on a journey of extracting the answers from Apostle Barack’s speeches and preparing them as Excerpts for the ease of his followers. Those Excerpts would, then, be used as a means of teaching Apostle Barack’s followers about him and guiding them towards understanding politics as religion and religion as politics. Additionally, his followers must accept the fact that it would be through politics that the middle class and working poor would be able to find the answers to creating for themselves a Heaven Here on Earth. Once the Excerpts were done, they would serve as a guide for his followers—to unlock the answers—to creating and living in the reality of Heaven Here on Earth. I submitted to The Spirit’s will and dedicated myself to the task of discovering His truth and carrying out His words. So, during the spring of 2010, I took a political journey back-in-time through a selection of Apostle Barack’s speeches. On my journey, I learned about Apostle Barack. Those lessons assisted me in providing for his followers the answers that were locked away in his speeches, and in his vision of America as a more perfect political union or Heaven Here on Earth.

Thus, my journey into politics with Apostle Barack involved an extraction of critical information, from a chronology of selected speeches. These speeches started with his presidential announcement on February 10, 2007 and culminated with his inaugural address as President of the United States of America on January 20, 2009. A summary of meaningful statements, made throughout each of Apostle Barack’s speeches that I believed moved me closer to understanding him and his vision of America, were extracted, placed in quotation marks and merged into one or several statements as Excerpts. The Numbered Speeches and Excerpts, were for the ease of citing or locating specific information. Each speech began with a highlighted statement that I believed contained the key to learning about Apostle Barack and unlocking the answers to his vision of America as Heaven Here on Earth.

This book will take Apostle Barack’s followers on a journey throughout the country and world by chronicling Excerpts from his speeches that had been divided into three sections. Section I: The Introduction explains why and for whom this book was written. Section II: Apostle Barack’s Speeches include summarized ‘Excerpts,’ from his speeches regarding his life, his arrival in Illinois, his faith and family and his vision of creating a more perfect political union as Heaven Here on Earth. This section also includes Apostle Barack’s use of the past, including the historical knowledge of former presidencies, to assist followers in finding the present and future answers to the unfinished business of transforming this nation into Heaven Here on Earth. Section III: Powerful Learned Lessons summarize the valuable lessons I learned on this journey with Apostle Barack in search of America as Heaven Here on Earth.

SECTION II

APOSTLE BARACK’S SPEECHES

This section contains summarized Excerpts from Apostle Barack’s speeches about his life, his arrival in Illinois, his faith and family and his vision of America as a more perfect political union or Heaven Here on Earth. The ‘Numbered Speeches and Excerpts’ are for the ease of citing or locating specific information within the speeches.

Speech 1

NOT A NATIVE… .

February 10, 2007

Presidential Announcement Excerpts 1, 2, 3

Springfield, Illinois

During his presidential announcement in Springfield, Illinois, Apostle Barack told the thousands of people gathered that he was not a native of the great state.

1He said he moved to Illinois over two decades ago as a young man a year out of college. He had no money, did not know anyone and had no family connections. A group of churches offered him a job as a community organizer for about $13,000 a year. He accepted the job, sight unseen and motivated by a single, simple powerful idea that he could play a small part in building a better America.

2He indicated after three years as a community organizer, he went to law school to understand how the law should work for those in need of help. He became a civil rights lawyer, and taught constitutional law. And after a while he came to understand that Americans cherished rights of liberty and equality depended on the active participation of an awakened electorate that had made it possible for the country to reform the death penalty system and give health care to children in need. The electorate also made it possible for the tax system to be fairer and just for working families and pass ethics reform that the cynics said could never, ever be passed. As the new generation, like generations before, it was time for Americans to rise up and answer the challenges of today including—a war with no end and a dependence on oil that threatens America’s future. These challenges also included schools where too many children were not learning and families who struggled from paycheck to paycheck despite working hard.

3He stated in the shadow of Illinois’ Old State Capital, where Lincoln once called for America’s divided house to stand together, he announced his candidacy for President of the United States. He had been in Washington long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change. In the face of impossible odds, people with an unyielding faith and who loved their country could change it. Abraham Lincoln understood that even with his defeats and setbacks, but because of Lincoln’s will and the millions who rallied for his cause that Americans were no longer divided as North and South. Because of Lincoln both men and women of every race and walk of life continued to march for freedom long after this former president was laid to rest.

Speech 2

HOLY LAND… . .

March 2, 2007

AIPAC Policy Forum Excerpts 1, 2

Chicago, Illinois

In January 2006, Apostle Barack made a trip to the Holy Land.

1He stated the Holy Land was a place unlike any other on earth. It was a place filled with so much promise of what Americans truly could be as people; a place where Americans had learned that in a flash, violence, hatred and intolerance could turn that promise to rubble and send too many lives to their early graves. America’s job was to renew the United States’ efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who did not share this vision. America’s job was to do more than lay out another map but rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region. His efforts would begin with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel—the country’s strongest ally in the region and America’s only established democracy. His commitment to Israel’s security would always be his starting point.

2He said the town of Fassouta was on the border with Lebanon. In Fassouta, there were 3000 residents of different faiths and histories, with a community center supplied by Chicago’s own Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the Jewish Federation of Metro Chicago. Fassouta was where the education of the next generation had begun in a small village with people of all faiths and nationalities, living together with mutual respect. After a few moments, he thought about his own daughters, Sasha and Malia and how they too could dream and dance in a place like this, a place of renewal and restoration. This was proof, that in the heart of so much peril, there were signs of life, hope and the promise that the universal song for peace played on.

Speech 3

BLACK MAN… . 

March 4, 2007

Selma Voting Rights March Excerpts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Selma, Alabama

Apostle Barack talked about his presidential announcement several weeks before. He told those gathered at the Unity Breakfast that morning that he stood in front of the Old State Capital in Springfield, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln delivered his speech declaring, drawing in scripture, that a house divided against itself could not stand.

1He said "a lot of commentators questioned the audacity of a young man like himself, who had not been in Washington too long. He acknowledged there was a certain presumptuousness about him running for President. But he received a letter from Reverend Otis Moss Jr. in Cleveland and his son, Otis Moss III, his pastor, giving him encouragement and saying how proud they were that he had made his announcement and they encouraged him to stay true to his ideals and values and not to his fears. For those in doubt, his pastor told him to just tell them to look at the story of Joshua because he (Apostle