“Change doesn’t come from Washington; change comes to Washington”

Presidential nominee Barack Obama said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on August 28, 2008:
     
“You understand that in this election the greatest risk we could take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us, that in defining moments like this one the change doesn’t come from Washington, change comes to Washington.”
 
“Change doesn’t come from Washington—change comes to Washington” was cited by Obama again on August 28, 2013—the fiftieth anniversary of March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
 
The “change” sentiment—if not the exact words—existed earlier. “What we’ve learned is that real change doesn’t come from Washington, but from the grassroots” was cited in print in 2002.
 
 
National Journal
Volume 34
7 December 2002
Pg. ?:
“What we’ve learned is that real change doesn’t come from Washington, but from the grassroots,” he (Deepak Bhargava—ed.) said.
   
C-SPAN
AUGUST 28, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama 2008 Acceptance Speech
Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party nomination for president and outlined his vision for America. He spoke about the state of the economy, foreign affairs, and measures of progress for the United States.
(...)
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IN THIS ELECTION THE GREATEST RISK WE COULD TAKE IS TO TRY THE SAME OLD POLITICS WITH THE SAME OLD PLAYERS AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT. YOU HAVE SHOWN WHAT HISTORY TEACHES US. THAT IN DEFINING MOMENTS LIKE THIS ONE THE CHANGE DOESN’T COME FROM WASHINGTON. CHANGE COMES TO WASHINGTON.
[APPLAUSE]
CHANGE HAPPENS BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND IT, BECAUSE THEY RISE UP AND INSIST ON NEW IDEAS AND NEW LEADERSHIP, A NEW POLITICS FOR A NEW TIME. AMERICA, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT AS HARD AS IT WILL BE, THE CHANGE WE NEED IS COMING BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT. BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IT.
 
Twitter
jeff slobotski
‏@slobotski
change doesn’t come FROM washington, but TO washington
9:52 PM - 28 Aug 2008
 
Google News Archive
28 November 2008, Sun Journal (Lewiston ME), “Our ‘dear leader” is a movement unto himself” by David Sirota, pg. A8, col. 3:
Others recall Obama insisting hat “change doesn’t come from Washington, change comes to Washington,” and say they are dismayed that his government will be run by insiders.
 
Twitter
Jing Cao
‏@JingCao
“Change doesn’t come from Washington, but to Washington.” @BarackObama #MarchOnWashington #KeepMarching http://bit.ly/19OR70u
10:47 PM - 28 Aug 2013
 
Vox
Cory Booker on how America’s criminal justice system destroys the American dream
by German Lopez and Joe Posner on March 16, 2015
(...)
Cory Booker: You know the old saying — I’ve heard it a million times down here: “Change doesn’t come from Washington; it comes to Washington.”