POLITICS: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

President Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America as his wife, Michelle Obama, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, look on.
Placing his hand on the Bible once used by Abraham Lincoln, Obama took the Oath of Office at 12:05 p.m. on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Immediately following, he delivered his Inaugural Address to a sea of flag-waving Americans stretching down the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial and beyond.



( Photos: Getty Images )








160 Comments
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1.
Taylor
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
truely amazing!
- proud to be a black american!
2.
Nothing But Love
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Just wow…what a world we live in
No more Bush, thank god!!!
3.
Tha New Jessica Rabbit
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK…I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED THANK YOU JESUS, YOU GUYS THIS IS IT!!!
GREAT LOOK OBAMA
SO HELP ME GOD
4.
shaiy
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
History was being made! Loved the speech! and found it funny that he messed up the oath a lil. well he is also only human afterall!
5.
Danielle King
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I am still in SHOCKKK!!!!!!!!!! I pray that all goes well. Congrats Obama!!!!!!
6.
asiaboo
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
TRUlY PROUD!!
hOPE fOR THE BESt.
7.
sue reps for jamaica
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I LIVE IN JAMAICA I AND I HAD TO WATCH EVERYTHING! WAS EVEN CRYING! IM SO PROUD! WELCOME MR. PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!
8.
dale23
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Wow….can u believe it hasn’t hit me like I thought it would until that moment??
9.
Mocha_Lee
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Words can’t express how proud I am.! His speech was beautiful. His family is beautily. All of this is just amazing
10.
Obama 2 di world
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I am TRULY excited and proud. God Bless America. We have come a loooong way.
Hello Mr. President.
:)
11.
BigDaddyReg
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Great job, now let’s get to work
12.
Enneirda07
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Words cannot express how I feel! Congrats to President Barack H. Obama!
13.
Beyonceisdesperate
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Awesome. Obama made history. The family is beautiful. Black people time to get off our collective asses and support Obama, not just sit back and expect him to do all the work.
14.
kmniles
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Adios Bush! Put on your chaps, sharpen your spurs, and cinch the hat cause it’s a looooong ride back to Texas on the back of a bucking horse, lol.
15.
Wendy Williams
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
A new America begins today, we must take in this moment and be the best we can be. How great it will be to see a black family in the White House !!!
16.
Sophie
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
WOOT WOOT!!!
EXCELLENT SPEECH-MICHELLE LOOKED AMAZING-I HEART HER DRESS-THE GIRLS LOOKED LOVELY. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
AND HOW CLASSY ARE THE OBAMA’S……
THEY WERE THE ONLY INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO SEE THE FORMER PRES AND HIS WIFE TO THEIR FLIGHT HOME.
NOW THAT’S CLASS!!!!!
OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA YES WE CAN YES WE CAN HELL YES WE DID!!!
17.
TooMuch
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Wow! God is Great! All the time! A black man as the US president. Just beautiful. I couldn’t accept it until he was actually sworn in…. Just Beautiful.
MLK’s dream has come true. We’ve reached the mountain top!!!!
18.
Lakesha
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Collective failure…I must agree to that Obama…his speech was great!
19.
Qudoubleen
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I feel like Cuba Gooding Jr. the night he won the Oscar “I Love Everbody” and to quote his character (Rod Tidwell) from Jerry MaGuire “I love black people”. America this is truly a defining moment.
20.
M$. Ho!!@nd
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
God is good all time!! This is a great day in history as well as Black History!!! This is what our people have fought for so many years. I can truly say I am proud to be an American and I know that all things are possible through God. We have a beautiful family in the white house and I wish them well. God be with them!
21.
Mel
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
What a beauttiful day!!!! Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America!!!
I black Canadian and I am soooooooooooo happy right now! I feel like I’m on cloud nine!
22.
TooMuch
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
One more thing. Let’s thank the American people for VOTING!!! This would NEVER have been acheived without EVERYONE!!!!
THANK YOU!!!
23.
WHAT
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@4 , actually it was the chief justice who messed up the oath at the beginning and the end because they both stumbled. Even the nbc news anchor noticed and said he must have forgot his notes.
24.
Liyah
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
so greatful that i was able to witness such a historic event. god bless america, the newly president and his family. The speech was amazing… Let us all work together to bring about change in america, but more importantly, bring about positive change everywhere in the world…. Peace… god bless.
25.
BabyLove
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
OMG I am soooooooooooooooo excited. And I wish all the best to the Obama family. May Allah guard you and your family to a great directions and may he keep you away from all the bad things and may he watch over you and guard you to do ur job the right way with no harm among you or your loving family. Congratulation. Sasha n Malia omg they’r such beautiful little girls. Michelle, she is just sooo smart and beautiful.
26.
chocolitt
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@Shaiy, FYI…..President Obama did not mess up during his swearing in. It was Chief Justice John Roberts that stumbled….he said…”I will execute faithfully”….in which he should have said…”that I will faithfully execute the office of president to the United States.” President Obama knew he (Chief Roberts) made a mistake so he paused to state the correct phrase.
27.
J. Dakar
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
#4 and #23: That’s exactly what happened! Justice Roberts tried to wing it and ended up saying the wrong thing, which, in turn, threw President Obama for a loop. So he was like, “Let me just let him get it together and we’ll try this again.”
People are going to be saying that Pres. Obama messed up the oath, but it was Justice Roberts who did that.
28.
WHAT
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
But, on another note my cheeks hurt I could not stop smiling watching everything. That benediction had me shouting amen in my home.
29.
Ladyssolady
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Sasha’s so cute! She was so excited.
30.
61
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
My president is black my car is baby blue. YEAAAAAA im so proud of r country right now. I cried this morning because of this man. He going to be the best president period. Do the damn thing obama. His girls r so beautiful.
31.
Lovinlyfe757
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
IT IS OFFICIALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise Jesus!!!! Pastor Rick Warren tore it up, and so did Rev. Lowry!!!!!
President Obama’s speech was the best yet!
I am so proud!
Let’s get to work, so he can down in history as one of the best.
32.
strange..... but true
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
may GOD be with our first black president of these united states BARACK H. OBAMA II and be w/ our VICE PRESIDENT who i will nickname JOE [ YOU THINK I'AM PLAYING ] BIDEN . these two men ain’t no joke AND FOR THOSE who think that DR.KINGS dream is fullfilled you are being mislead in your own thinking and being mislead in your own mind. we dreamers we come and we go. and the ones who have gone on. they pass the dream on . i WILL NEVER STOP dreaming UNTIL THE DAY I DIE. and for those who are asleep at the switch, w/ the talk of the dream being fullfilled in a survey done by cnn all 69% of you. need to take off them maid and butler suits. that mentality of “WE’S DOING ALRIGHT NOW” is the same thinking that caused them people to roll that trojan horse up to your gate, to roll that horse up to all your homes etc.. while you party and celebrate and sleep . understand tomorrow begins a new chapter. a new day don’t let them catch you sleeping.
33.
chocolitt
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Maybe it is just me…..but I felt Elizabeth Alexander’s poem for the inauguration did not generate a memorable momemt. It was not very exciting or inspiring. I know she has written some very good poems in the past, but this one did not “fit the bill” for me…….No Maya Angelou!
34.
Hotness........is here
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
WOW!!!!!! What WONDERFUL time for us ALL!! A time to celebrate and be proud!!!
THANK U JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remeber, lets all continue to pray for and support our President.
35.
Hotness........is here
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Oh, and they all looked FAB!!!!!!!!!! Gold is defin. Michell’s color.
36.
My V-O-T-E mattered
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
What a sight to see, this is truly a moment to remember! The monemt he was sworn in is a wallpaper on my phone!
President Baracl Obama,
I pray that your presidency is one of greatness and prosperity. As this nation and the world come together to make this a better world, it is with great pleasure and pride that we have you guiding and leading the free world.
37.
Ala
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
CONGRATS AMERICANS!!!
38.
Q.T.Pie
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Having had to drink from the “blacks only” water fountain, not being able to enter through the front door of doctor’s offices and other racial issues we faced growing up in the deep south…. this moment is TRUELY a blessing for me. I’m so proud to be an American, especially an African American. I mean, I’ve always been proud of my color, this just makes me feel like I can finally see real change . Thank you President Obama for having the courage to stand up for ALL of us. God bless you and your family and God bless America.
39.
MWNY
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! My President is Black.. The first family looked so beautiful. CNN recognized that Chief Justice Roberts messed up the oath.. President Barack already knew it. It doesn’t matter My President finally looks like me.
40.
Nikki
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Oh? Thanks for clearing it up #26/27. I took it lightly anyway it was cute. Gosh Judge you had to mess it up for the first ethnic prez huh. I knew it cause I know O is a planner. I know he knew that oath front and back but it was the guy the ‘had’ to fallow. It’s just an Obama thing to PLAN before doing something. So it had to be the mistake of something he couldn’t control the judge.
41.
MAI03
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
A Beautiful & Historic moment.
42.
Hollywood Blackout
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
John Roberts botches the oath and Obama is going to get blamed for it.
OH WELL!! He’s already President!
Those little girls are too adorable. I want to babysit! Can that be part of my “call to service?”
Michelle is just gorgeous. So nice to see a brown-skinned black woman standing tall and proud next to her husband.
I may be the only one who actually felt a little sorry for Bush. I doubt he expected so many to be THRILLED he is gone when he was sworn in 8 years ago. Hopefully Obama will keep this in mind with the decisions he makes. Public opinion can change in an instant. Good luck, Barry!
43.
WhatNow
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@ 33
I totally agree, that poem left much to be desired. It was hard to follow where she was going with the poem, because it was truly all over the place. Why didn’t anyone ask Maya Angelou or Nikki Giovanni to come
“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around.”
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!
44.
Harlem Loves...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
What a beautiful ceremony and Rev J E Lowry was soo funny. I wish he was my grandad
45.
iknowdasrite
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
#33, I disagree, I thought it was remarkable! It was very fitting considering the times we are in, it was more about the words than the delivery
I proud to be an American yall! Happy Obama Day
46.
bassackwards
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY EVERYONE!!
We must pray for our leaders as President Obama is walking into a hornets nest left by his predecessors. We wish him the best, both my husband and I “closed up shop” today to celebrate this historic event with friends and family. We just had a roundtable and everyone got a chance to say what this day meant to them, it was overwhelming - not a dry eye in the room.
I am blessed to see such an historic event.
47.
roe
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
WE have now come full circle!!.. GO OBAMA!!
48.
TAMEKA NOT USHER WIFE LOL
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
THAT WAS SWEET AND GOOD I AM STILL THERE NEXT STOP THE BALL I AM ON MY WAY TO SEE THE OUR NEW PEZ GOING TO HIS NEW HOME THE WHITE HOUSE. AND THE BALL ALL 10 OF THEM ONE PRIVITE ONE . YEAH MEN I AM MAKING HISTORY TO. I CANT WEIT TO GO BACK HOME AND WORK. LOL
49.
Remi
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@SHAIY - it was actually Roberts who messed up the oath, not Obama.
But anyway, I am so proud right now, words cannot express the immense joy I feel. Black people, American people, it’s time to step it up!!
50.
Shellboogie
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE ????????
Ooh, Happy Day, Ooh Happy Day, Ooh Happy Day, when Jesus washed. Washed our sins away. Ooh Happy Day !!!
God is real !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
51.
greta
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Amazing!!! God is Good
52.
nycqueen
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
THE GOOD LORD HAS TRULY SMILED ON THIS COUNRTY TODAY…NO MORE “PRESIDENT ELECT FOR U MY MAN…U OFFICIAL NOW BABY!!! I THOUGHT THE REV LAWRY’S BENEDICTION WAS AMAZING, OBAMA’S SPEECH WAS THE PERFECT FIT AND I’M JUST SO PROUD, I CAN’T EVEN PUT INTO WORDZ MY EXCITEMENT AND MY HAPPINESS 4 THIS SPECTACULAR MOMENT IN HISTORY. THIS MAN ALONE HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATIONS, RELIGIONS, AND RACES. NOT GONNA LIE THOUGH I DID FEEL A SENSE OF SYMPATHY 4 BUSH ONLY 4 THE SIMPLE FACT THAT IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES I WOULD FEEL LIKE A FAILURE, AND THE QUESTION OF ” WHAT DID I REALLY ACCOMPLISH AFTER 8 YRS FOR THIS COUNTRY?” WOULD LINGER IN MY MIND AS WELL AS “WHAT KIND OF LEGACY DID I LEAVE AS A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?” THE ANSWER TO BOTH QUESTIONS IS “NOTHING” & “NONE”…OH WELL!!..WE ALL HAVE 2 LIVE WITH OUR MISTAKES, MOVE ON AND LET THOSE WHO ARE CAPABLE, WILLING, LEVEL HEADED TO TAKE OVER…WELCOME HOME MR. PRESIDENT!!!
53.
RENAE
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Congrats to both PRESIDENT Obama and Vice President Biden. It shows great progression but please don’t think this means everything that was promised will be fixed instantly because 4 years will not fix everything thats messed up with our country right now. The Obama team has a very difficult task in front of them and unless they can work miracles its going to take a while before we see improvement.
54.
Kay Kay
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I was just beautiful. Everything went smoothly. Michelle did not let me down at all with that outfit. It was smokin! The girls, always cute and of course my man Barack had his usual poise and swagger. I continue to pray that the Lord will watch over and guide him everyday as he has taken on the toughest role at the hardest time.
55.
H-Town Chic***
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
This was not only a histroric event but it was beautiful to all races come together and become one…
56.
i support, SUPPORT...wear a GOOD bra!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Aint God good!?!!?!?
Aight, let the work begin you guys!
57.
Mike J.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
To God be the GLORY!!!! It feels soooo good to be able to oficially say PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!!
58.
dctrinigyal
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
REV LOWRY WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! YELLOW IS MELLOW, BLACK IS BACK WHITE NEED TO GET RIGHT…ALL OF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. LOL
59.
JUJU
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
CL SEEM TO BE THE ONLY BLOG UPDATING!
60.
pms@yahoo.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
May God Bless and keep the Obama’s safe.
ARETHA FRANKLIN IS TRULY A CLASSIC VOICE. Her rendition was heart stirring. She was so reserved, and the tone, delivery, and ease of her performance was absolutely fitting.
61.
chocolitt
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@45……I should rephrase what I said earlier abut the inauguration poem. The poem itself was good; However, Elizabeth’s delivery was terrible. Her reading of the poem was emotionless and it was not read with passion and it did not flow musically. I should have felt the words she was actually reading, but i didn’t. It’s like, “Wow….I coulda had a V8″.
62.
Oh What a Beautiful Day
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Hell must have frozen over. What a beautiful day it is, and guess what, look at all these positive comments in here, Oh what a beautiful day in America!!!
63.
sha sha85
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
This was so amazin!!! I had tears in my eyes!!! Makes me proud to be black!! There’s no limit to what we can do, President Obama is a prime example!!
64.
LINDA
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
GOD IS GOOD. MAKES ME PROUD SO VERY PROUD TO BE BLACK IN LIVE IN AMERICA. NOW I CAN RAISED MY HEAD HIGH IN BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. NOW THERE IS TRULY WORK FOR US TO DO TO LIVE UP TO THIS. BUT THE MOMENT IS SO HEARTFELT. IT WAS ALL BEAUTIFUL. THE OBAMA FAMILY IS TRULY A FAMILY WE CAN LOOK UP TO. FIRST LADY MICHELLE SUCH GRACE AND CLASS. THE GIRLS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT OBAMA NO MORE ELECT. YOU ARE OUR CHIEF WE LOVE YOU. GOD BLESS THE FIRST FAMILY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
65.
t.lynn
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
@16….He wanted to make sure that a** got on that plane and didn’t miss it by ‘accident!!’ lmao!!
Man, I’m just glad I got to see this day. And I’ll never forget where I was when it happened….at work!! Glad my job was nice enough to set up some tvs for us to watch! That just did my heart real good…I may not even have an attitude about some of this work until tomorrow….
PEACE LOVE AND UNITY YA’LL!!!!
66.
Don't Be Churlish....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Sasha is adorable.
I am not a President Obama supporter but I’m glad to see a black man ahead of this country.
Can we stop with the negative Bush remarks PLEASE! We all know you support President Obama and dislike Bush but is very unnecessary to keep hating on him. Yeah he wasn’t the greatest president and Obama may not be either. Trust and believe Obama will have bad days along with the good but you know you wouldn’t want to hear people hate on him. I wonder what you’ll do when President Obama doesn’t do “so great”. can we all just GROW UP already? How is a grown person still cursing out another human for years?
Anyway, I will take my mind off the negative. I was always proud to be an American but I’m even more proud that our country is finally beginning to push away racism. I know it will always occur but this was a huge step.
67.
Nikki
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I hope Ted and the other senator is OKAY!
68.
dctrinigyal
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
TED KENNEDY JUST FELL OUT AT THE LUNCHEON …PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM GUYS. THAT’S THE LATEST NEWS NOW HERE IN DC.
69.
hilltop
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
How could Justice Roberts mess the oath up? Anyway, IT’S A BEAUTUFUL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
70.
Nikki
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Honestly Bush a cool dude.
He was funny sometimes BUT
the fact that he put us in a silly
war just made me smh…I’m
glad he’s gone I don’t hate him.
Same as McCain. That guy is
great but it just so happen that
history wasn’t ready for him to be
prez. It was ready for Obama.
Churlish O will have bad days
months probably and ppl will
doubt but I won’t let fear ’scare’
me (he won’t either).
I rather let hope lead me. That’s
what’s gonna build confidence.
Knowing that though things
are bad we will be okay.
71.
hilltop
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
How could Justice Roberts mess the oath up like he did… smh. Anyway, IT’S A BEAUTUFUL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
72.
Nikki
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Yes it is. I can’t wait to start living in ‘change’.
Like I want to volunteer, get in college, work.
Financial Aid is hard to get for me. But i’m
hopeful I’ll get it poppin’.
73.
dukesman2000
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
It was a very good speech. Obama tried going for the “knock out” one liner like what Kennedy had when he said “ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” Obama had one very good one when he said “Leaders are judged by what countries they build, not by the ones they destroy.” Bush had a look on his face like “Is this Negro talking about me?” Hahaha
74.
Supply
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
What a beautiful day! I am so proud to be an American right now. God Bless our president.
75.
SIMMONSROYALTY
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
WOW WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT FOR AMERICA!!! PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS MY NEWEST HERO… HE WILL STAY IN MY PRAYERS =)
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