I know I'm biased. There's no American political leader I identify with more closely than Obama. There's no historical figure I've studied more than Lincoln. But, I believe Obama's speech on Lincoln's 200th birthday is one of the great speeches in American political history.
The Gettysburg address defined the meaning and purpose of the Civil War. Kennedy's inaugural defined the spirit of service and change in his era. More than his inaugural address, and more than any other speech, this one defines Obama's philosophy and the struggles before us in our time.
I was offended by George Bush's 2005 speech at the dedication of the Lincoln Presidential Library. He used the occasion to justify the invasion of Iraq by distorting Lincoln's legacy. It directly contradicted Lincoln's speeches in opposition to the Mexican-American war of aggression, and his determination that the North should not fire the first shot in the Civil War. Bush's speech showed a complete lack of understanding and disrespect for Lincoln's ideals.
Obama also used this speech to make a political statement. But he did it by honoring Lincoln's ideals rather than perverting them. He gave specific examples of action Lincoln took that relate to the role government can play today. He defined the struggles of today through the prism of yesterday.
Obama reiterated his philosophy that collective action through government is essential, but we must also avoid autocratic overreaches of power that stifle individual freedom and initiative. It's the kind of anti-authoritarian liberalism one would expect from a former community organizer. He recognizes that people from divergent philosophies and backgrounds have all added something meaningful to the American debate at different times in our history.
Read the speech if you haven't already. I believe it will define the Obama Presidency and this new era in American politics.