"A Glimpse of What Destiny Looks Like"

(AP Photo)

ATLANTA (WXIA) -- Although President Obama's approval ratings may rise and fall, one thing was evident during his Atlanta visit: He is still a rock star in many Americans' eyes. And Friday's crowd at Tyler Perry Studios was proof of that.

As attendees of the affair waited for President Obama to hit the stage, the crowd started cheering, "four more years," and once the president began speaking, people intermittently shouted out, "I love you . . ."

"Change is the fact that for the first time in history, you don't have to hide who you love in order to serve the country you love. We ended 'Don't ask, don't tell,' " Obama told the audience. He also pointed out that after nine years, "there are no Americans fighting in Iraq" and that "Osama bin Laden is not walking the face of this earth," using both as examples of change that took place during his tenure . . .

"We still have a lot of work to do, because there are a lot of folks who are still hurting out there. A lot of folks still pounding the pavement looking for work, a lot of people whose homes -- values have dropped. A lot of people who are still struggling to make the rent," he said . . .

read: http://www.theroot.com/views/obama-gets-rock-star-welcome-atlanta?page=0,1



(AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)

President Obama landed at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for an Atlanta campaign swing -- right during the height of the Friday afternoon rush.

President Obama's first stop was a private reception at the Midtown home of campaign contributor and entrepreneur Mac Wilbourn. As the president got out of his limo, he greeted neighbors to the sounds of cheers.

"Don't push, don't push," the president said as the group crowded around him for photos across the street from Wilbourn's home.

At the campaign appearance at Tyler Perry Studios, Obama cast the Republican Party as holding a "fundamentally different vision about who we are as a country . . ."

read: http://www.11alive.com/news/article/233482/8/President-Obama-campaigning-in-Atlanta



(AP Photo/David Goldman)

President Obama raised money in film producer Tyler Perry's sprawling southwest Atlanta studio at a gala event featuring a performance by pop star Cee Lo Green. Then he spoke to those in a more elite group, including Oprah Winfrey, at Perry's 30,000-square-foot French provincial mansion along the Chattahoochee River.

Mr. Obama neatly summed it up, when he thanked Winfrey on Friday at Perry's home: "Just like books and skin cream, when Oprah decides she likes you, then other people like you, too."

Perry, introducing Obama to a predominantly African-American audience, said seeing the presidential motorcade drive through southwest Atlanta offered "a glimpse of what destiny looks like."

To which Obama said: "There's something about America where somebody from my background can do what I'm doing and someone from Tyler's background can do what he's doing."

read: http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2012/03/16/ap/entertainment/us_campaign_celebrities.txt



(REUTERS/Larry Downing)

"The recovery is accelerating, our economy is getting stronger," Mr. Obama said. "We’re moving in the right track. What we can’t do is go back to the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place."

At the home near Morningside, Obama pointed to the changes in the Republican Party since his election, noting that his opponent in 2008, Sen. John McCain, did not dispute the ill effects of climate change, opposed the use of torture and had supported immigration reform. Describing the GOP of today, he said, "Their basic vision is, ‘I got mine, everybody else can fend for themselves.' "

"If you’re willing to get back to organizing, if you’re willing to get on the phone and email and tweet and knock on doors and do what needs to be done, if you feel the same passion and same energy and determination that I do, and I’ve felt it more now than I’ve ever felt it in my life," he said, "then I promise you we will finish what we started."

read: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/obama-rallies-faithful-at-1388220.html



(AFP Photo/Brendan Smialowski)

“As satisfied as I am with some of the progress we’ve made,” he said ticking off other examples, “I know we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

“The good news is, because of people like you, I expect to have another five years to do it.”

He was interrupted by a noisy ring tone of a phone belonging to a guest. “Oh!” He said, “You’ve got some Luda (Ludacris) on there?” Lots of laughs.

It’s not going to be easy to win in 2012, he said. “Now, I’m grey,” he said to laughs. “It’s not as cool to be an Obama supporter.”

“I got a few dings and dents from doing battle in Washington,” he continued. “I’m more determined now than I was in 2008 . . . “I’m determined. I’m ready to work, and I hope you are.”

read: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/03/16/barack-obama-in-atl-%E2%80%98i-got-a-few-dings-and-dents%E2%80%99/



(REUTERS/Larry Downing)