DNC 2016: We asked 12 people at the convention to explain how they felt when Barack Obama spoke

 

It was not a simple question. Was it even possible, to sum up in a single word, how somebody felt when they heard President Barack Obama speak?
On Wednesday night, Mr Obama received praise and plaudits for a soaring piece of oratory in which he endorsed Hillary Clinton and sought to expose what he called 'the absence of facts' of Donald Trump.
Mr Obama’s address - sometimes moving, frequently funny - brought roars and cheers from the delegates and supporters packed inside the hall. There was barely room to stand, but people who listened to what was his final set piece address, said they would remember it for a long time.

Mr Obama speech was 'awesome', 'super' and 'inspirationa

“Brilliant,” said Anne Ganon, from Delray Beach, Florida, when asked to sum up her feelings when she heard the president speak. “It’s very thoughtful. He looks out for everyone. And he always seems to want what is best for America.”
Brian Lee, a Native American delegate from New Mexico, said the president had achieved a lot during his eight years in office and had “stood up for everyone”. Asked to sum up the emotions he felt when the president spoke, he replied: “Excitement”.
Mandy Norell’s one word was “inspirational”. She said Mr Obama “speaks to the soul and helps us get excited about our potential”. Ms Norell, from South Carolina and a delegate to the convention, said he was always looking out for other people.

Kalah Johnson said she felt 'proud' when the president spoke

“Legendary,” said Jennifer Delgado, when asked for a word that encapsulated what she thought on hearing Mr Obama speak. “He always speaks with grace and dignity, and he has lead our country with grace and dignity.”
Gurjatinder Randhawa moved to the US from Ludhiana in India and now lives in Elk Grove, California. He struggled to limit his thoughts about Mr Obama to a single word. Eventually, he settled for “great”.

He said that when Mr Obama came to office the country was heading on a downwards trajectory. “He was the only guy to make this country great again,” he said.
Dan Jackson, a psychiatrist from Boston, said the word “eloquent” came to mind. “He crafts his speeches well,” he said.

Gurjatinder Randhawa moved to the US from India

Kalah Johnson, 24, from Atlantic City, said even know she found it hard to fully explain the effect Mr Obama’s election had on her as a young African American woman. She said that when she was told he was going to run for the White House, she had believed it was a joke, given the nation’s long history of discrimination against black people.
“Even when he was running, we could not believe it,” she said. When he won, she was speechless, because his victory had shown her that “anything was possible and that things are moving for the better”.

And the word that came to mind when she heard him speak? “Proud.”
Stephanie Zinnerman, a 51-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York, also spoke of Mr Obama’s achievement as the first black president. She said he was moral, insightful and measured. During his time in office there had never been a scandal, over either his administration or about his personal life, she said.

'More', said Melissa Byrne, from Philadelphia

That he could do that while confronting the barrage of racial abuse he had received, made his accomplishment all the more stunning. “Awesome,” she said.
Qadirah Jamal, also from New York, chose the word “spectacular”. Victoria Cassano, a doctor from Connecticut, opted for “amazing”. Melissa Byrne, from Philadelphia, selected “more” - “we can be more progressive”.

Richard Thompson, a military veteran who served in the Korean War, said he thought Mr Obama’s speech was 'super'

Richard Johnson, a military veteran from Aiken, South Carolina, had sat and enjoyed listening to Mr Obama speech. As he was preparing to make his way from the convention hall on Wednesday night, he declined to give his age, but he said that he had fought in the Korean War.

“That was between 1950 to 1953,” he said, underscoring that while he may have been young at heart, he was getting on in years.
He said he thought Mr Obama had been a brilliant president. And while he was supporting Ms Clinton, he would have preferred, were it possible, another four years of the current incumbent. Asked to sum up how he felt when hearing the president speak, he said: “Super.