"The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too."
That was Vivek Ramaswamy during the recent Republican presidential candidates debate - on Fox.
Oh wait -- no it wasn't -- that wasn't Vivek Ramaswamy at all.
Let's try that again.
That was Barack Obama, delivering the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention - on C-SPAN.
Many observers said Vivek Ramaswamy sounded a lot like Barack Obama when he said during the Fox debate: "Who the heck is this skinny guy with a funny last name."
Everyone singled out future president Obama's 2004 keynote speech for the comparison ... but there were other times Barack Obama said he was a skinny kid with a funny name ... and so have other candidates.
As you'll hear in the latest episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly" -- it's a podcast all about skinny kids with funny names who grew up to be politicians.
 
Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.
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Skinny kids with funny names who grew up to be politicians

Connecting today's political discourse with the past 40 years of politics. Using audio taken from C-SPAN's vast Video Library, each episode focuses on a theme tied to current events providing a unique perspective on today's news.

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The recent death of O.J. Simpson reminds us of one of the most controversial episodes involving a prayer opening a session of Congress…And its aftermath.
In this week's episode of C-SPAN’s “The Weekly, you’ll hear the full Senate prayer for O.J. Simpson following his arrest  … plus, the rare rebuke by a U.S. Senator. And then, you’ll hear the surprise twist that happened next.
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The Senate Prays … for O.J. Simpson

Elected in November 1984, Mitch McConnell now has over 4,300 speaking appearances on C-SPAN. 
And he’s been telling jokes from the beginning.
And - in this week’s episode of C-SPAN's “The Weekly” – we hear them!
We recently remembered Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman by hearing his jokes, quips, and humorous one-liners.
Now, it’s part II – BALANCE!  -- we hear a Republican Senator telling jokes … 
So, once again, get ready to have a good time  … and listen to the first ever Mitch McConnell Comedy Festival…..
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Mitch McConnell Comedy Festival

It is my sad duty to inform you officially of the death of Richard Milhous Nixon, the thirty-seventh President of the United States

Born in 1913, he was first elected to the Congress in 1946, a member of that historic freshman class of World War II veterans that also included John F. Kennedy. He was elected to the Senate in 1950, and served two terms as Vice President of the United States between 1953 and 1961. His career in the Congress coincided with the great expansion of the American middle class, when men and women from backgrounds as humble as his own secured the triumph of freedom abroad and the promise of economic growth at home
That was a message from President Clinton … read at the beginning of the House session on April 25, 1994. It was the first day Congress met after Richard Nixon’s, death three days earlier.
In 1968, Richard Nixon was elected the 37th President after previously serving as a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator.
Richard Nixon is  the most recent president who served in both the House and the Senate. In fact, he was the last of three straight presidents who served in both chambers, following Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy. In all, ten presidents have served in both the House and Senate.
Many of the speakers in Congress that April day remembered Nixon in personal terms and with personal stories …

As we approach the 30th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s death … April 22nd … this week's episode of C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” remembers what was said about him --  in both chambers–-- as Congress mourned one of its own.
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Nixon Death 30 Years Later: Remembering Congress Reaction

It’s the war between the States – of the States addresses!
Folks are moving here in record numbers to become a part of our winning way of life. Californians and New Yorkers have never seen a state like ours – one that trusts our people, and one that embraces and promotes liberty and Freedom. 
 
That was Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem … her State of the State address …Now here’s Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer – her State of the State address:
In some states, educators are being undermined, micromanaged, and even criminalized just for doing their jobs. In Florida, teachers are disrespected and book bans are rampant—heck, just two weeks ago, a district banned the dictionary! The dictionary! In Texas, nearly 1 in 3 teachers aren’t even certified.
Governors who knocked other states – states whose governors happen to be from opposite parties.  
 
 It happened a lot this year in State of the State addresses.

Instead of the Blue versus the Gray, this civil war – the rhetorical civil war -- is the Blue versus the Red.
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The War Between the States – of the States Addresses

Joe Lieberman is being remembered as a Senator, a Presidential candidate, and a Vice Presidential candidate… But also part of Joe Lieberman’s legacy: comedy.
 
What were some of his funniest quips, jokes, and real-time reactions?
 
Find out in this week’s episode of C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” – as we remember Joe Lieberman’s journey through politics -- with the jokes he told and the funny things he said.
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Skinny kids with funny names who grew up to be politicians

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