Washington, DC – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statements on today’s Inauguration of President Barack Obama. A telephone-quality actuality of the statement is available.
“As I traveled to the Capitol today, I could feel a growing sense of excitement all over this city. At one point, Mary and I went passed a city bus full of people chanting ‘Obama’ and the streets got progressively more crowded and festive as we neared the National Mall. There was a tremendous feeling of purpose and a readiness to embark on a new chapter in our nation’s history.
“President Obama really captured the difficult place we are in as a country – faced with two wars and a broken economy. He observed, however, that America has faced difficult challenges before. And as we have worked together to overcome those challenges, we will work together to overcome what lies before us. President Obama appropriately gave a serious speech – not one full of applause lines but one that really outlined the problems we face and prepared the nation for the difficult choices we will have to make to get back on track.
“I know I join all Americans in pledging to work with President Obama to take the necessary steps to restore peace and prosperity, and ensure that we are all able to fulfill our God-given potential.”
The statement can be accessed by dialing 1-800-511-0763 and entering 3337 at the prompt.
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