Obama’s 7-Minute Walk Down Pennsylvania Ave

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In an (according to CNN) impromptu move, President Obama and First Lady Michelle got out of their limo and walked a 7-minute stretch in the middle of the inaugural parade about an hour ago, to the delight of a roaring crowd, and to the likely dismay of their secret service crew. (Apparently they were scheduled to walk the last bit near the White House, according to tradition, but not earlier sections.)

Commentating for CNN from the parade Rev. Jesse Jackson, after the Obama’s got back into their car, said he was nervous the whole time given our “history of violence in this country.” He warned that Obama “must risk on the side of caution.” CNN’s Soledad O’Brien came back with this instant classic:

“You can’t talk about hope and change and the promise of a nation, and not get out of the vehicle.”

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DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY

Mother Jones was founded to do journalism differently. We stand for justice and democracy. We reject false equivalence. We go after stories others don’t. We’re a nonprofit newsroom, because the kind of truth-telling investigations we do doesn’t happen under corporate ownership.

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