Senator Obama visiting with folks at Nicky's Cruisin Diner in Bangor, Maine
February 9, 2008
Ben and Jerry's and Obama
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s and previously a John Edwards supporter, announced today his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President. Cohen believes Barack Obama is the best candidate to unite Americans and finally tackle the challenges facing our nation. "I support Barack Obama because he is the kind of leader America needs right now. By taking on special interests and uniting our country around a common purpose, he will change politics in Washington,” Cohen said. “When Barack Obama is President, we will finally have a government that works for all Americans.”
“I am honored to have the support of Ben Cohen for my candidacy for President,” Sen. Obama said. “With tireless dedication to improving our world, Ben's entrepreneurial leadership and dedication to reduce unnecessary government spending have challenged Washington to invest taxpayer resources wisely. As President, I look forward to working with leaders like Ben to build a better future.”
Washington, Nebraska, Louisiana, and U.S. Virgin Islands...Now it's Your Turn!
... a chorus of millions calling for change -
February 8, 2008
On the Question of Experience - Michelle Obama Speaks Out in Spokane Washington
Jonathan Brunt, Staff writer, February 8, 2008
Michelle Obama turns focus to experience
Barack Obama’s campaign focus has been all about change. But standing in front of a giant sign dominated by the word “change,” much of his wife’s speech Friday at Spokane’s Fox theater highlighted a topic usually stressed by Hillary Clinton’s camp: experience.
Michelle Obama pointed to her husband’s years as a community activist in Chicago and his eight years in the Illinois Legislature before winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2004.
“As we talk about experience, the truth of the matter is that Barack has more legislative experience than his opponent,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a president of the United States who understands how federal law impacts local government? Barack is the only candidate who brings that kind of perspective.”
Obama gave a 50-minute address to a boisterous capacity crowd. About 1,600 people found seats in the theater. Another 100 or so listened from the gallery. About 200 were shut out completely.
Without providing much in the way of specific proposals, Michelle Obama said her husband would improve education, create more access to health care, increase respect for the United State abroad and help unite the country.
Just because Obama is experienced, that doesn’t mean he’s the same-old politician, she said.
“What Barack did with his years in politics was not become a part of that system,” she said. “When you’re free, when you are not owned or you don’t owe, but you’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do, you can take risks.”
Obama and Clinton are locked in a close battle for the Democratic nomination. Three days after voting ended in the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, the race for delegates in those contests was too close to call Friday. With 91 delegates still to be divided, Obama had earned 796 from Tuesday to 794 for Clinton, according to the Associated Press.
Clinton, however, is leading the overall delegate count, 1,055 to Obama’s 998.
Today, 97 delegates are up for grabs in Washington’s Democratic precinct caucuses.
“This momentum has been building,” Michelle Obama said. “When was the last time we had a Democratic candidate who could win South Carolina and Utah?” she said before adding “Idaho” to the list after a few shouts from the crowd.
The would-be First Lady spent much of her address talking about “regular folks” and their struggles with health care, jobs going overseas and mounting debts to pay for college.
“It has gotten progressively worse for regular folks through Republican and Democratic administrations,” she said.
Spokane resident Jeanell Malone agreed. She was one of a few dozen supporters who reached from the audience to shake Obama’s hand after the speech.
“I am really ready for a change. I used to think I was in the middle class. Now I feel I’m lower middle class,” Marshall said. “I’m not voting for Barack Obama because he’s black. I’m voting for him because, as his wife said, he’s brilliant.”
Before the event, several hundred people lined a block down Sprague and around to Madison Street. After doors opened and the theater filled, campaign organizers counted empty seats and told security to let just enough in to fill them.
“Twelve people!” There’s nobody else coming in here,” shouted Spokane police Lt. Darrell Toombs. State Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, needed an escort to get inside the building because the theater had reached capacity. He and state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, introduced Obama.
Kristin Taylor, an Obama campaign volunteer from Montana, said Spokane shouldn’t be offended that Barack Obama chose to make his Washington appearances on the west side of the state. He and Michelle are simply trying to cover as much ground as possible in the few days between contests, she said.
Many said they were just as happy to have Michelle.
“My dad was disappointed (Barack) wasn’t coming, but after listening to her, I’m not disappointed,” said Dalton Paget, a 19-year-old Eastern Washington University student. “I would vote for her right now.”
Meghann Cuniff contributed to this report. Jonathan Brunt can be reached at jonathanb@spokesman.com or (509) 459-5442.
Frank LaMere, Nebraska superdelegate and chairman of the Democratic National Committee's Native American Caucus, endorses Barack Obama
"We, as Native Americans, have always stood four square with the Democratic Party and they have always stood four square with us. We will continue to do so in 2008 as we elect a Democratic President to restore the national vision that has been blurred during the last eight years. I ask your help in this endeavor. All in this country know that Native people continue to suffer disproportionate need. In light of the service and sacrifice of or young men and women during times of war it is hard to reconcile why this should be. We must continue to pray that things be better for the children, the elders, the sick and incarcerated, all of the dispossessed among us. We must pray for those who have no voice. More importantly, we must continue to hope. Our forebears have taught us that the survival of the generations to come is dependent on our willingness to hope and to change things for the better.
To this end, there is a man who talks of this audacity of hope and of the need for change. He is Barack Obama. He has engaged the Indian Nations with his message and we have listened. It is now time to act.
Hope has always been the basic tenet of the Democratic Party and not an obscure backdrop. Change should be looked at in terms of generations and not what we might be able to do to win the next election without affecting anyone's comfort level.
Hope and change require that we be audacious and Barack Obama knows this better than anyone. We must acknowledge this bold man among us and the good heart that he has for all of the people.
As Chairman of the Native Caucus of the Democratic National Committee and as a Winnebago Indian mindful of what I may leave for my children, my grandchildren, and all of the generations to come I am humbled but pleased to endorse Barack Obama to be the Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States.
I beg your indulgence and respectfully as that Native people from the four directions join with me in this work as we are all related. It will be good. Pi-nah-gi-gi. Thank you.
Frank LaMere
Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Endorses Obama
Edwards Primary: A Key Win For Obama
David Obey really did want to vote for John Edwards for president.
In fact, aside from the former candidate himself, there could be few better barometers than the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee for defining where "the Edwards vote" is headed now that his backers must choose between New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
And Obey has made that choice.
"For eight long years, in extreme partisanship, George W. Bush has governed this country by dividing it," the senior Democrat from Wisconsin explained in an email sent to this reporter after we spoke about the race Thursday. "(Bush) has pursued disastrous foreign and domestic policies and has stubbornly refused to listen to anyone's views except those who march in lockstep with him. America desperately needs a new president who can reach across old barriers to form new alliances that can produce a new era of optimism and a healthier respect for the needs of others. I had originally supported John Edwards for President, but with his withdrawal I am voting for Barack Obama."
Obey, who as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee is one of the most powerful Democrats on Capitol Hill, is an economic populist of the old school. No Democrat was angrier about the tax cuts for the rich and the free-trade deals that defined the economic policies of the Bush administration, and few were more frustrated with the compromises of the Clinton administration that came before it.
Obey wants a Democratic president who will work with a Democratic Congress to forge economic policies that favor Main Streets in Wisconsin cities like Wausau, Superior and Ashland rather than Wall Street. For this congressman, the choices are about a lot more more than legislative maneuvers and political positioning. Obey's one of the few really powerful people in Washington who knows the location of every union hall in his home state. And don't get him started talking about trade and economic policies unless you are ready to listen to a lengthy discourse on how successive administrations have let down the factory workers and farmers of his northern Wisconsin district.
Edwards' populist campaign struck a chord with Obey, and with a number of other old-school Democrats who have made economic concerns central to their tenures in Congress. They joined a number of key unions in backing the former senator from North Carolina.
But Edwards is now out of the race. The unions are making their moves: The Transport Workers Union, which represents 140,000 workers nationwide and has long been one of the savviest political players on economic issues, just announced that, "With Senator Edwards out of the race, our officers found it an easy decision to lend our support to the Obama campaign."
And Obey says, "People will, and should, make their own choices, but I believe that, while both remaining candidates would make outstanding presidents, Senator Obama has the best chance of giving this country the new beginning it so desperately needs."
"Because he puts problem solving before politics" Kentucky Congressman Endorses Obama
LOUISVILLE, KY –Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY), the class president of the 44 Democrats in the House, today endorsed Barack Obama for President, citing his crossover appeal to Republicans and independents and the powerful coalition he is building to bring change. "The change America needs won't come easy. It requires the kind of leadership that ignites passion, instills hope, and inspires us to work together for a better tomorrow," Congressman Yarmuth said. "As we strive to take on the great challenges our nation faces, we need a leader who will stand up to special interests and build a coalition that will bring change we can believe in. Because he puts problem solving before politics, Barack Obama has the unique capacity to build support from Americans of all parties from Kentucky to Idaho to Connecticut, and he will lead us to recapture our potential when as President.”
"In Congress and in Louisville, John Yarmuth has fought for increased access to higher education and honest and open government,” said Senator Obama. "He knows that we can’t bring change without engaging all Americans in the process. Congressman Yarmuth is a fitting addition to our coalition of leaders of diverse ideologies and from all regions of the country working to solve the problems that lie ahead.”
Yarmuth, who first met Obama in Louisville in 2006, currently serves as President of the 44 freshman House Democrats. He was named 2007 "Legislator of the Year" by the Kentucky Reading Association and "Outstanding New Member of Congress" by the Committee for Education Funding, the largest non-partisan education organization in the nation.
Washington State Governor Endorses Obama
Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president Friday, the day before Washingtonians go to caucuses to make their voices heard in one of the closest races for the White House in recent memory.Gregoire said "Barack Obama has a unique ability to reach across all the artificial divides and divisions to move our nation forward...we need a leader who will unite us. Barack Obama is that kind of leader."
Gregoire planned to join Obama in a major campaign rally at Seattle's KeyArena on Friday. "I was inspired to pursue a career in public service by John F. Kennedy. His presence heralded the arrival of a new generations to lead our nation. Like President Kennedy, Barack Obama is inspiring a new generation of young people to get involved. If elected, I believe he will lead us all -- young and old, 'blue and red' -- to create a positive change in our communities, this nation and the world."
From an article by Seqattle P-I reporter Chris McGann. She can be reached at 360-943-3990 or chrismcgann@seattlepi.com.
February 7, 2008
Obama Speaks of Justice in New Orleans
With hope and change as his battle cry, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama came to a city in need of both Thursday, two days ahead of Louisiana's suddenly significant Democratic presidential primary.
The Illinois senator, fresh off a strong Super Tuesday showing that left him in a dead heat with U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York for the party's nomination, started his speech at Tulane University by highlighting signs of New Orleans' resiliency: the Endymion parade's return to Mid-City, the streetcar back on its traditional Uptown route, even the Super Bowl success of New Orleans native Eli Manning.
The only major presidential candidate scheduled to appear in Louisiana before Saturday, Obama also told a crowd of about 3,500 supporters that it will take change in Washington for New Orleans to recover. He pledged that if elected, he would restructure FEMA and make sure there is enough money to protect the area from future storms.
"I promise you that when I'm in the White House I will commit myself every day to keeping up Washington's end of this trust. ... And I will make it clear to members of my administration that their responsibilities don't end in places like the 9th Ward -- they begin there," he said.
With the two senators in a tight battle for delegates, at stake in Saturday's primary are 37 of the state's 67 Democratic delegates to the party's convention this fall. The Democrats apportion those delegates based on the popular vote in each of the state's seven congressional districts. The rest are named by party officials or by the Democratic State Central Committee, the party's governing body.
On Thursday, the energy was palpable as a crowd of mostly college students lined up outside Fogelman Arena before dawn to await Obama's arrival. With a line stretched across campus and down Willow Street, hundreds were unable to get in, so Obama stopped briefly to speak to a crowd of about 500 gathered outside.
Under the din of "Yes we can" chants and cries of "I love you, Barack," Obama made his case as the leading agent of change, not by contrasting himself with Clinton, but by focusing on the Bush administration's failures after Hurricane Katrina. The speech's first big cheers erupted when Obama made reference to Bush's flyover to view Katrina's destruction, calling it a "metaphor for his entire presidency."
The senator said that as much as he would like his positions and oratory to inspire people, many of his supporters are driven simply by knowing that "George W. Bush's name won't be on the ballot."
Obama got another loud response when he took shots at Bush's appointment of Michael Brown, who had no emergency management experience, as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Obama promised that his FEMA director would report directly to the president, as was the case before Bush took office and placed the position under the Office of Homeland Security. "No more Brownie, no more heads of the Arabian Horse Association in charge of FEMA," he said.
George Kobitz of Covington, toting an "Obamacan" sign -- a contraction of "Obama Republican" -- lumped Clinton in with Bush as part of the old guard that has to go. "I've been a Republican all my life, and this Bush thing didn't go over very well. If it was just Clinton, I would stay a Republican and vote for (Arizona Sen. John) McCain, but Obama's about change," said Kobitz, who drove to Tulane before sunrise to catch the speech. "The Bush-Clinton era is over. We're sick of it."
Norman Francis, president of Xavier University led Obama's tour of the city Thursday and was wowed by his speech. "The speech was tremendous for New Orleans," he said. "He covered all the bases. The enthusiasm for him was unbelievable. There is a clear inspirational side of his delivery, and his message totally energizes young people."
Obama also focused on post-Katrina education needs in New Orleans, touring George Washington Carver Elementary School in the Upper 9th Ward. Walking through the cluster of temporary trailers behind a public school bus depot, he learned about the Recovery School District's challenges from an old friend, Superintendent Paul Vallas, who once ran the schools in Obama's hometown of Chicago. "Superintendent Vallas tells me that, ironically, even though these are transitional buildings, in many ways they're superior to the buildings that existed before the storm," Obama remarked as he paused in a makeshift gym -- essentially a double-wide trailer with a large open floor space. He spent more than 30 minutes there, asking teachers and administrators about their needs and taking questions from wide-eyed students.
Obama spent more than half the day in New Orleans before stopping in at Dooky Chase's restaurant in Treme for a lunch of chicken, sausage and shrimp gumbo with the restaurant's 85-year-old owner, Leah Chase.
"You're too frail, baby. I have to fatten you up," Chase said to the lean Obama.
Chase, who is struggling to get her iconic restaurant back to full strength after Katrina, said she likes Obama, even though she's always been close with President Bush. In explaining her change in allegiance, she summed up the message Obama hopes voters take to heart.
"Things move along, things change," she said.
contributions by David Hammer, times picayune staff writer, staff writers John Pope and Ed Anderson, and The Associated Press. David Hammer can be reached at dhammer@.com or (504)826-3322
Iowa Governor Chet Culver endorses Barack Obama for President
OMAHA, NE – At a “Stand for Change” rally in Omaha today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver endorsed Barack Obama for President today, citing his ability to work with Democrats and Republicans to get things done and his lifelong record of standing up to special interests on behalf of working families.
"It’s clear the American people are hungry for change, and they're looking for a leader who can push back on the special interests,” said Governor Culver. “It’s time for a new, fresh approach to governing in Washington, and Sen. Barack Obama represents this new approach.”
“Senator Obama has been fighting for ordinary Americans ever since he was a community organizer more than two decades ago. He has the unique combination of real life experience fighting for ordinary Americans, and the skill to bring Democrats, Republicans, and Independents together to get things done.”
“I strongly believe Senator Barack Obama's candidacy will unite the party and his administration will unite the country."
“I’m proud to have Governor Culver’s support,” said Senator Obama. “Governor Culver is part of a new generation of American governors. From fighting for good-paying jobs to standing up for trade deals that work for American workers – Governor Culver is a leader all Iowans can count on. And his leadership in bringing about a clean energy future is something all Americans should be grateful for. His endorsement reflects our campaign’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of ordinary Americans, and I look forward to fighting by his side in that cause.”
Chet Culver was elected Governor of Iowa in 2006 after serving as Secretary of State and Attorney General. Culver has been an advocate for consumers, working families and the environment throughout his career. Culver helped boost the civic participation of young voters and others in Iowa by creating the Iowa Student Political Awareness Club
Potomac Primary: Barry to Endorse Obama
D.C. Council member Marion Barry will endorse Barack Obama for president later this week. The former Washington mayor told me he has selected Obama because "he's a fresh start, a new direction. I listened to him Sunday morning on C-SPAN and it was like a breath of fresh air."
Barry, who remains popular in his Southeast Washington ward and in neighborhoods where longtime residents feel as if the city they grew up in is changing without them, said he was an early supporter of Bill Clinton back in 1992 and that he was "close to endorsing Hillary this time." But as Barry has watched the campaign, he has concluded that Sen. Clinton represents older and less flexible forces in the Democratic party.
Barry expects that Obama will win in Tuesday's D.C. primary, but cautioned that the contest will be closer than might be expected based on a purely racial reading of the electorate.
Mayor Adrian Fenty has endorsed Obama as well, as have council members Muriel Bowser (Ward 4), Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Yvette Alexander (Ward 7.) Council members Jim Graham (Ward 1), Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Mary Cheh (Ward 3) have lined up behind Hillary Clinton.
Maryland Leaders Endorse Obama at Annapolis Rally
By Philip Rucker - Washington Post Staff Writer - Wednesday, February 6, 2008; 3:40 PMThe Howard County executive and an influential state senator from Southern Maryland today endorsed Sen. Barack Obama as the Illinois senator's presidential campaign sought to broaden its appeal beyond Maryland's Democratic strongholds of Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
County Executive Ken Ulman (D) and Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) said at a rally in Annapolis that they joined Obama's campaign because they were inspired by the political movement he has created.
"In my 62 years, I can't remember a time when Maryland or the United States was holding out hope like they are in this election," said Middleton, a farmer and popular figure in Southern Maryland.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), co-chairman of Obama's Maryland campaign, motivated Obama's supporters with a stirring speech, saying that Obama "was told so many times, 'How dare you hope,' but he hoped anyway."
"Now Barack Obama will become the next president of the United States," said Cummings, a powerful member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represents the Baltimore area. "Never did I dream in my lifetime that I would see a Barack Obama emerge to tell us what we could be as opposed to telling us what we can't be."
The campaign's other Maryland co-chairman, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), said Obama will do well in Baltimore and the densely-populated Washington suburbs. Gansler highlighted key constituencies, including Jewish voters, women and Latinos.
Speaking in Spanish, Gansler introduced Del. Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince George's). She led cheers of "Si se puede!" which is a rallying cry for laborers.
"This is really a Kennedy-esque moment," Gansler said. "It's a moment in time."
Gansler said Obama volunteers plan to knock on hundreds of doors Saturday in Montgomery County.
Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), who joined several Maryland elected officials in campaigning for Obama in South Carolina last month, said he will be working hard for Obama over the next week.
"This is a different kind of leader that we have," Franchot said. "He makes us feel good about America again. I think you're going to see the impact of that in Maryland."
Obama: The Shock of the Red
Timothy Egan - February 6, 2008, 8:51 pm
Take a look at what happened on Tuesday in the nearly all-white counties of Idaho, a place where the Aryan Nations once placed a boot print of hate — “the international headquarters of the white race,” as they called it.
The neo-Nazis are long gone. But in Kootenai County, where the extremists were holed up for several decades, a record number of Democrats trudged through heavy snow on Super Duper Tuesday to help pick the next president. Guess what: Senator Barack Obama took 81 percent of Kootenai County caucus voters, matching his landslide across the state. He won all but a single county.
The runaway victory came after a visit by Obama last Saturday, when 14,169 people filled the Taco Bell Arena in Boise to hear him speak – the largest crowd ever to fill the space, for any event. It was the biggest political rally the state has seen in more than 50 years.
“And they told me there were no Democrats in Idaho,” Obama said.
Okay, so Idaho is the prime rib of Red America. Ditto Utah, where Obama beat Senator Hillary Clinton 56 percent to 39 percent on Tuesday, including a 2-1 win in arguably the most Republican community in America – Provo and suburbs, a holdout of Bush dead-enders. Tom Brady will date a nun before these states vote Democratic in a general election.
But those numbers, and exit polling across the nation, make a case for Obama’s electability and the inroads he has made into places where Democrats are harder to find than a decent bagel. Yes, Hillary-hatred is part of it. But something much bigger is going on among independents and white males, something that can’t all be attributed to fear of a powerful woman in a pantsuit.
Having gone through their Hope versus Experience argument, Democrats are moving on to the numbers phase, looking for advantages in the fall. If they want to parse the Geography of Hope, they can do no better than study what happened in red counties on Tuesday.
Overall, Obama won some big, general election swing states: Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota, and a tie in New Mexico, where they may still be counting votes from the 2004 election. All will be crucial in deciding the next president.
His victory in Colorado, by a 2-1 margin, defied most predictions. Four times as many Democrats turned out as were expected, typical of the passion level elsewhere. In Anchorage, Alaska, for example, traffic was backed for nearly a mile from people trying to get into a middle school to become part of an Obama avalanche.
But back to Colorado. Obama won the liberal enclaves, as expected, but then he nearly ran the table in the western part of the state – ranch and mining country — and he did it with more than Brokeback Mountain Democrats. In booming, energy-rich Garfield County, for instance, Obama beat Clinton 72 percent to 27 percent.
“We won in places nobody thought we could win,” an exultant Federico Pena, the former Denver mayor, told a victory crowd on Tuesday night. Obama’s audience a few days earlier – more than 18,000 — was so big that thousands who couldn’t get in huddled on a frozen lacrosse field to hear him.
Now broaden the picture and look at the vote among white males, traditionally the hardest sell for a Democrat. While losing California, Obama won white men in the Golden State, 55 to 35, according to exit polls, and white men in New Mexico, 59-38.
Looking ahead to Saturday, when Washington State, Nebraska, and Louisiana hold contests, Obama should add another three states to the 13 he won on Tuesday. They’re all caucus states, each with distinct advantages for Obama.
His problem – and it’s a big one – is among Latino voters, and older women. He got crushed by Hillary among Hispanics in California and New Mexico. To win the West, Latinos have to be in your camp.
Only slothful thinkers still view Democrats in the West as Prius-driving latte-sippers along the Left Coast. The larger story is about home-grown identity. Eight of the 11 Western States have Democratic governors. The Democrats picked up two Senate seats in the West in the last two national elections, and are poised to pick up two more this year, in Colorado and New Mexico.
Early on, Obama took a chance on the West, sending paid staffers to places like Boise, Idaho and Wenatchee, Washington. And the Alaska office for Obama – that was a knee-slapper at the time, but no one’s laughing now. He won the Last Frontier state by a 3-1 margin Tuesday.
Obama has made cynics wilt, and stirred the heart of long-dead politicos in places where Democrats haven’t had a pulse in years. Cecil Andrus, the eagle-headed eminence of Idaho, a former governor and Democratic cabinet member, nearly lost his voice introducing Obama in Boise on Saturday. He recalled a time when he was a young lumberjack who drove down the Clearwater Valley to see Jack Kennedy speak in Lewiston, a day that changed his life.
“I’m older now, some would suggest in the twilight of a mediocre political career,” Andrus said. “I, like you, can still be inspired. I can still hope.”
This kicked off the second biggest political rally in Idaho history. And the first? That was when President Dwight Eisenhower came to visit. Last week his granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower, made a small bit of family history on her own. She said that if Obama is the nominee, “this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected.”
Key Virginia Endorsement for Obama
While it's no secret that there are a number of Barack Obama supporters on this website, this support has been unofficial. Until now. Raising Kaine is now officially endorsing Barack Obama for President and encourages all Virginians to vote for him in the Commonwealth's presidential primary this Tuesday, February 12, 2008. This endorsement is based on the unanimous support among the Raising Kaine editors as well as overwhelming support from our community.
All of us are supporting Obama for different reasons, whether it's his strong consistent position against the war, his progressive stance on immigration, his strong pro-choice record, his devotion to civil rights and liberties, his strong cross-over appeal to independents and disaffected Republicans (especially in Virginia), his ability to unite the country, or something else about his wisdom, progressive positions, or character.
In addition, we believe that Obama is best suited to win Virginia this year for the Democrats. As we all know, Virginia is trending Democratic in recent years, a candidate that has exhibited true cross-over appeal and strength in the states won by the GOP in recent years will have a strong chance in the Commonwealth. We believe that person is Obama, while we believe that Clinton will not be able to make the same appeal (especially with her potential weakness with independents while she energizes the conservative base against her).
We will continue posting about news, events, and volunteer opportunities. Also, we'll be adding an Obama button on the main page where we'll aggregate this sort of information so that it'll be easy to find.
Hopefully, we will be your "Obama Central" in Virginia this week. Clinton supporters are certainly welcome to continue being a part of our community -- our diaries and comments are open to fair posts by all. However, we encourage all Virginians to vote for Barack Obama next week for President.
Who Is More
Electable?
It’s increasingly likely that the Republican presidential nominee will be John McCain, who is also the Republican most likely to win the November election.
Senator McCain has unusual appeal among swing voters, and polls show him running stunningly well in general election matchups — even in a year that one might expect would be a Democratic romp. So that raises the obvious question: Who would be the stronger Democratic candidate?
The answer isn’t certain, partly because Barack Obama’s shine could quickly tarnish. In July 1988, Michael Dukakis was hailed as a Democratic hero with a 17-percentage-point lead over George H.W. Bush; four months later, he was a loser.
But one clue emerged in Tuesday’s balloting in 14 “red states” that were won by President George W. Bush in 2004. Mr. Obama won nine while Hillary Rodham Clinton won four and is ahead in the fifth.
“Obama would appeal much more to Republican voters,” said Susan Eisenhower, a lifelong Republican and granddaughter of the late president. “Not all Republican voters, but certainly those who might be somewhat in play.”
Ms. Eisenhower is supporting Mr. Obama and said she would be glad to enlist in a “Republicans for Obama” organization.
When pollsters offer voters hypothetical matchups, Mr. Obama does better than Mrs. Clinton against Mr. McCain. For example, a Cook Political Report poll of registered voters released this week found Mr. McCain beats Mrs. Clinton, 45 percent to 41 percent. But Mr. Obama beats Mr. McCain, 45 percent to 43 percent. The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll found similar results.
Mr. Obama also has the highest approval rating of any major candidate among independents, 62 percent, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll. He also has unusually low negatives, which gives him upside potential.
Mr. Obama does surprisingly well among evangelical Christians, an important constituency in swing states. For example, Relevant magazine, which caters to young evangelicals, asked its readers: “Who would Jesus vote for?” Mr. Obama was the winner and came out 27 percentage points ahead of Mrs. Clinton.
Politicians from red states have seemed likely to endorse Mr. Obama because many see him as the Democratic candidate who will do better in their states. Politico.com canvassed Democrats in potential swing states and concluded:
“During extensive interviews in recent weeks in Republican-leaning states, Politico found widespread belief among current and former Democratic statewide officials that Obama is the more electable candidate with their electorates. These politicians also frequently registered a fear that Clinton’s personality and past history make her too polarizing to win independent and Republican-leaning voters.”
Another way of looking at electability is to wonder whether it’s more of a disadvantage to be black or to be female. Shirley Chisholm, the black woman who ran for president in 1972, argued in effect that there were more sexists than racists in America. “I met more discrimination as a woman, than for being black,” Ms. Chisholm once said.
And recent polling and psychology research seem to back that up.
Moreover, my hunch is that a conservative woman like Margaret Thatcher may have a better chance of being elected than a feminist with a distinguished record of standing up for women’s rights. For the same reason, Mr. Obama probably has a better chance than a black candidate who emerged from the civil rights movement.
Granted, a general election campaign could shuffle judgments of electability, and it may be unwise — even offensive — to cast votes in part on how people with different political philosophies, even bigots, would cast their ballots. It’s also true that Mr. Obama has received more gentle press scrutiny than Mrs. Clinton, and if he were the nominee, he would be buffeted, investigated and swift-boated in a way that he hasn’t been (but that Mrs. Clinton has).
Then again, voters in many states have only just begun to be acquainted with Mr. Obama, and more familiarity may breed more comfort — and dispel some of the savage myths about him, such as the one claiming that he is a Muslim who doesn’t pledge allegiance to the American flag. Such lies will become harder to sustain.
Moreover, Mr. Obama’s charisma has stood up surprisingly well since he first sprang upon the stage in 2004. Some old hands believe that if he casts a spell upon many voters in red states, it’s not because of some momentary dazzle, but because he truly possesses an exceptional and enduring political talent for connecting with independent voters.
“I’ve worked for three presidents and known two or three others,” said Michael Blumenthal, who started his public career under President Kennedy and served as Treasury secretary under President Carter. “And Obama is just about the only politician I’ve ever seen who compares to Jack Kennedy.”
February 6, 2008
Washington State SEIU Endorses Obama
State's Largest Union Joins Obama's Movement for Change
Today [Feb. 5], Washington State SEIU announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. Washington State SEIU, the largest union in the state with over 100,000 members who previously endorsed Senator John Edwards, has now chosen to mobilize its members to support Obama. The Washington State SEIU cited Obama as the only candidate who can unite people to bring the fundamental change our health care system needs.Senator Obama said, "I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Washington State SEIU, and together we will provide affordable, quality health care for every single American. Washington State families deserve to know that we will end the game playing in Washington and unite all of us to change the way the health care system works so that every single American has the coverage they need."
"The last eight years have been a disaster for working families," said SEIU Healthcare 775NW President David Rolf. "We need to bring fundamental change to Washington DC on issues like health care, tax fairness, and immigration, and Senator Obama is the candidate who can make that happen."
"We know that Barack Obama stands with and for working people because in Illinois he acted to help raise child care workers out of poverty and improve the quality of care for children," said Kim Cook, SEIU 925 President. "He supported a movement of child care workers that has spread to Washington State and across the country."
"Now, more than ever, we need a candidate who can bring change to our country, deliver needed health care reform, and help working families," said Diane Sosne, RN, president of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. "Barack Obama is the candidate who can unite America."
"SEIU Local 6 represents janitors, security guards and other building service officers across our state – most of whom are barely able to make ends meet," said SEIU Local 6 President Sergio Salinas. "We are convinced that Barack Obama is the candidate best able to represent the interests of our hard working families."
SEIU represents 100,000 health care, long-term care, education, child care, and building service workers throughout Washington State. It is the state's largest, most diverse, and most politically active union. The union will be making tens of thousands of phone calls over the next few days to encourage members to attend the Democratic caucuses on Saturday.
SEIU Locals in Washington State include:
SEIU Local 6 – representing 3500 janitors and security guards
SEIU Local 49 – representing 1200 health care workers in SW Washington
SEIU Healthcare 775NW – representing 33,000 long-term care workers
SEIU 925 – representing 23,000 education and child care workers
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW – representing 22,000 nurses and health care workers
SEIU Local 1948 – representing 27,000 school employees
More Obama from Seattle
For all the heated disagreements between the Democratic frontrunners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the policy differences between the two senators are pretty minimal. This can easily be missed while watching (and, for a lot of excited Democrats, participating in) the most interesting nomination fight in a generation. But the fact is both candidates support the urgent, fully defined, and popular Democratic agenda that has emerged after eight years of George W. Bush's catastrophic presidency. Under Bush, the number of Americans without health insurance has soared from 39 million to 47 million; the gap between rich and poor has reached an unprecedented and precarious divide thanks in part to Bush's top-down tax cuts, with the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans now earning nearly 25 percent of all income; and the $275-million-a-day fiasco in Iraq continues with nearly 4,000 American troops and 700,000 Iraqis dead.
This would seem to be a political environment in which it would be impossible for Democrats to lose. But we have felt this confident, and been burned, before. Thus, the crucial question facing the Stranger Election Control Board was this: Which candidate is best suited to take on the formidable and conniving GOP—and Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and America's cowed "liberal" media—in November? The SECB believes the answer to this question is Barack Obama.
* * *
It is hard to believe today, but as recently as three years ago the Democratic party seemed in the midst of a crippling identity crisis. Its leaders could not figure out how to connect with a country that had become unrecognizable to most liberals. Now this same party—having won control of Congress in 2006—is speaking to a voting population that has, by and large, caught on. Democrats are advancing a focused agenda to achieve universal health care, end the occupation of Iraq, combat global warming, reestablish the United States as a respected international leader, reverse the erosion of civil liberties at home, and make the economy work for the middle class again.
Obama, a once-in-a-generation political orator with a bold message of unity, is the best bet for moving that agenda into the Oval Office. For starters, he would be better against the GOP on the campaign trail than Clinton. The SECB admires Hillary Clinton, and not in a damning-with-faint-praise sort of way: She's a wonk, and she can be a tough, even ruthless campaigner. But we have reservations about nominating a candidate who's so polarizing. If we were Republicans—which we're not, because Republicans are always fucking over people who live on SECB wages—we'd be terrified about having to take on a superstar like Barack Obama.
An Obama candidacy would be buoyed by his inspirational life story—a mixed-race kid abandoned by his father who made it to Harvard Law and the U.S. Senate, with a stint as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago in between. His candidacy will also be buoyed by his charisma. A single, profound speech about unity at the 2004 Democratic National Convention made him a sensation. And the eloquence has continued with goose-bump moments during his "In the face of impossible odds" speech in Iowa, and his "It is not about black versus white... it's about the past versus the future" speech in South Carolina.
What encourages the SECB most about Obama's oratory is that he uses his gift to open people's minds, unify them around progressive values, and challenge them to do better. At his Martin Luther King holiday speech in front of a black congregation in Atlanta, for example, he condemned the scourge of homophobia and anti-Semitism in the African-American community. By contrast, Clinton sticks to the standard politics of shameless pandering, telling interest groups only what they most want to hear.
On the less impressionistic side of things, there are the numbers. Where Clinton rallies support from staunch, partisan liberals—people whose votes are already firmly Democratic—Obama appeals to an all-important category, given the closeness of the last presidential election: the nearly 30 percent of America's electorate who identify themselves as independents. Nationally, Obama has an 11-point lead over Clinton among independents. These independents are infusing energy into the Democratic primaries—and were it not for Obama drawing them there, they might otherwise drift to John McCain.
* * *
At first, Obama's appeal for unity put us off. In his efforts to reach across old divides, he sometimes mimics GOP rhetoric about Social Security. He put out a mailer in South Carolina proclaiming himself a "committed Christian." He refused to cancel appearances with an antigay gospel singer. The SECB is not interested in "reaching out" to people whose political goals are inimical to liberal values.
But all we had to do was look at Obama's record and policy proposals to realize that he's committed to a liberal agenda. (Shhh—don't tell the Republicans.)
He has a 96 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters and cosponsored a righteous and aggressive proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders (VT-Socialist?) for an alternative cap-and-trade proposal to curb global-warming emissions. He has eloquently defended abortion rights on the campaign trail, and his votes in the U.S. Senate have earned him a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. He wants to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act and he denounced the pandering flag-burning amendment.
Most significantly, Obama was openly opposed to the war when that position was unpopular, warning in 2002 that "even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences." He's voted for withdrawal timelines and he voted to restore habeas corpus.
As for Social Security, he's not raising alarm bells because he wants to privatize it. He's raising alarm bells because he wants to extend the payroll tax to tap fatter incomes. And while his health-care proposals look slightly more cautious than Clinton's, he's thinking ahead. Where punitive mandates may very well derail Clinton's proposed program before it gets off the ground, Obama's more palatable, incentive-based program could muscle through Congress and immediately expand access to quality health care.
Obama's liberal voting record, his position on the war, and his campaign priorities are firmly progressive. His promise lies in his ability to appeal to a wide cross section of Americans, and hopefully persuade them that these and other long-standing Democratic goals are mainstream no-brainers. It just might work.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD: A Time for Change
Sen. Obama has emerged as an impressive, balanced thinker with a charismatic presence. His ability to address a wide range of ideas in nuanced yet deeply inspirational fashion could re-energize political discourse in a manner reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt because Obama has the potential to lift us into a transformative era. Right now, too many Americans see their lives distorted by the misdirected post-9/11 age of secrecy, fear and division. Obama can help the country close that chapter. The Illinois senator is a candidate particularly well equipped to improve the nation's performance in the world at large. Obama starts from sound, well-considered positions. He opposed the wrongfully launched Iraq invasion. After years in which U.S. leaders have forgone critical diplomatic opportunities with Iran and North Korea, Obama would start from a bolder, more engaged position. He would understand broader parts of the world in a more personal way than any recent president because he lived in Indonesia and has connections with Africa. His presence in the White House would cause the world to look to this country with a renewed hope for positive leadership.
On domestic issues, Obama's instinct for compromise offers a larger hope for a creative, less-contentious pursuit of a society with better education, health care and job opportunities.
For all practical purposes, a Hillary Clinton presidency could open just as many or more doors at home and abroad. Despite our differences with her Iraq war vote, we believe she would pursue Iraq questions skillfully. Democratic caucus-goers will have legitimate debates about whether her hard-won experience or Obama's freshness will better translate into much-needed changes on environmental, health and economic-equity questions. Either could be a worthy general election candidate.
Seattle Times: Obama for the Democrats
After seven years of George Bush's failed presidency, after five years of unnecessary war in Iraq, America is ready to write a new narrative. All candidates favor the now-bromidic slogan: change. Only one candidate truly embraces the yearnings this word represents. The Seattle Times endorses Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president. He has the grasp, temperament and skills to right our standing in the world. He has broad insight and specific ideas to assuage our own hardworking citizens' fears of an economy turning sour.
Obama has thoughtful plans to help citizens with everyday problems: middle-class tax breaks; elimination of income tax for seniors earning less than $50,000; health care for minors.
Critics ask a fair question about Obama's experience. He has been a U. S. senator for three years, Illinois state senator for eight, lawyer, lecturer, community organizer — a résumé some say is not executive enough for a president.
American voters tend to select governors rather than senators for president, President Bush being a recent example. Bush fit the mold — governor of Texas six years — but his résumé proved to be a failed indicator.
Judgment is more important. Bush's decision to invade Iraq was the most-wrongheaded decision of our time.
Voters this time have reason to focus on other qualities, such as the courage to tell people things they might not want to hear. Obama, for example, took his pitch for higher fuel-efficiency standards to the most-challenging audience, Detroit.
And in October 2002, when our country was horribly bruised by Sept. 11, he came out against the war in Iraq: "I don't oppose all wars. ... What I am opposed to is a dumb war. ... What I am opposed to is a rash war."
Such statements might sound unpatriotic — unless, of course, the speaker turns out to be correct. In an Obama administration, American troops have a chance to start coming home.
Americans have not selected a candidate for president directly from the Senate since 1960, when they elected Sen. John Kennedy, who offered similar charisma and hope.
Obama, more than other candidates, is gut-level inspiring. All candidates speak in platitudes that make us feel good. Sometimes their words actually move us.
"We want a politics that reflects our best values," Obama said early in the campaign. "We want a politics that reflects our core decency, a politics that is based on a simple premise that we stand and fall together."
We need that after the divisiveness of Bush-Cheney. Obama would rather talk to world leaders than rattle sabers at them.
That approach is likely to appeal to moderates and independents if they participate in Washington's Feb. 9 caucuses and Feb. 19 primary.
Obama's personal story offers progress in the ongoing struggle to be a more comfortable, racially diverse country. The son of a white mother from Kansas and an absent father from Kenya, he doesn't need to say much about diversity. He moves the issue forward just by waking up in the morning. Obama would be the first African-American president. But in his way of transcending the harshness of typical racial politics, he makes that almost a side point.
Obama has realistic ideas about education: performance pay and universal prekindergarten that is not mandatory; after-school and summer programs.
Obama would mandate health-insurance coverage for children, but not for adults. His approach to expanding coverage and stemming escalating costs is pragmatic enough to gain legislative traction.
Obama speaks eloquently about media issues. His positions encourage a public worried about a consolidated media. He supports network neutrality and laments media consolidation. He co-sponsored a bill to stop recent changes to the cross-ownership rule adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. Obama says he would appoint FCC commissioners who will work in the public's interest and against media concentration.
Obama has the smarts, the plans and, yes, the charisma to capably lead and transform a nation that aches for a new direction.
Omaha, Nebraska Mayor Endorses Obama: "Give me a guy who wants to sit down with the other side and seek solutions."
Published Wednesday | February 6, 2008
Omaha mayor endorses Obama
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey welcomed the news that Barack Obama is coming to Omaha on Thursday by endorsing the Illinois senator for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Fahey's endorsement carries more than a pat on the back. As Omaha's mayor, Fahey qualifies as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and Fahey said that he plans to attend the convention.
"Barack Obama appeals to me," Fahey said.
"He wants to put partisanship aside," the mayor said, "and we really need that with all the problems we face.
"Give me a guy who wants to sit down with the other side and seek solutions," Fahey said.
In addition, Obama asked for his support. Fahey said he feels very comfortable talking to Obama.
Fahey joins Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler in supporting Obama over Clinton.
The excitement of a competitive race for the nomination is not lost on Fahey, a former Nebraska Democratic national committeeman. With the Democratic caucuses Saturday, Fahey said: "This is the first time in my memory where Nebraska Democrats will have a little bit to say about our nominee."
Obama Ready for Stretch Run After Winning Clear Majority of Super Tuesday States!
Barack Obama won thirteen states on Super Tuesday - Alaska, Missouri, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Connecticut, North Dakota, Utah, Kansas, Alabama, Delaware, Illinois and Georgia. From the northeast to the deep south, from the heartland to the west, all the way to Berring Sea."Tonight, we know one thing for sure -- our time has come, our movement is real, and change is coming to America.
At this moment in history, the stakes are too high and the challenges too great to play the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expect a different result.
This time must be different.
There will be those who say it cannot be done. But we know what we have seen and what we believe -- that when ordinary people come together we can still do extraordinary things.
We are the ones we have been waiting for. Yes we can!
Barack Obama
Join this historic movement of change, possibility and hope!
February 5, 2008
PRIMARY DAY - OBAMA TAKES EARLY LEAD!
Kate Redmond of Fairplay, Colorado, center, casts her ballot as others queue up to vote in 2008 U.S. presidential primary, at a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, 05 Feb 2008, Voice of America, Jakarta, 05 February 2008U.S. Democrats living in Indonesia cast the first votes in the Super Tuesday round of primary elections. Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta, where Senator Barack Obama was the favored candidate. More than 100 members of the U.S. Democratic Party gathered in a Jakarta hotel to choose a candidate for the United States' presidential race early Tuesday morning.
Voting began at the stroke of midnight. Early results at the hotel indicated 75 percent of the Jakarta vote went to Senator Barack Obama, who spent some of his childhood years in Indonesia.
VOTE OBAMA!
Dear Friends,I hope this finds you well.
A question, a reflection, and an endorsement.
Why is our country divided?
Why has this division been growing?
Can we not all agree that we are a country that supports its families, that protects its citizens and respects its neighbors?
A country that educates its children?
Are we not a country that can lead by example rather than by force?
Is ours a government of the people, by the people, for the people?
I would like to think so.
But I believe that corporate greed and its involvement in policy making, along with political cronyism have made it nearly impossible for the people to govern.
So we fight amongst ourselves over the spin of political slogans and half truths.
And so we are divided.
It is time for a change and that is why I support Barack Obama for President.
Respectfully,
Dave Matthews
February 4, 2008
| COMMENTARY | ||
The Obama Opportunity
By JANET NAPOLITANO , KATHLEEN SEBELIUS and CLAIRE MCCASKILL
(Ms. Napolitano is governor of Arizona, Ms. Sebelius is governor of Kansas, and Ms. McCaskill is a U.S. senator from Missouri)
February 4, 2008; Page A15
(Ms. Napolitano is governor of Arizona, Ms. Sebelius is governor of Kansas, and Ms. McCaskill is a U.S. senator from Missouri)
February 4, 2008; Page A15
Once in a generation, an opportunity comes along -- not just for the Democratic Party, but for the United States of America -- to build a new majority for change. Barack Obama's candidacy offers us that opportunity. As Democrats, and as Americans, we must seize it.
This moment in history is marked by the magnitude of our challenges. Our nation is fighting a war in Iraq that has made us less safe. Our planet is imperiled by a global climate crisis that we have done little to combat. Our economy is sliding toward a recession. Wages aren't keeping pace, as the cost of everything from health care to college is rising. Whether it's a world-class education, a secure mortgage or a dignified retirement, too many Americans are seeing their dreams slip out of reach.
Much of the blame lies with the Bush administration. That is one reason why Democrats have made gains in recent years, and that is why -- in this election -- Democrats have a historic opportunity to win over independents and Republicans. But we must understand that it's not just George Bush's policies that Americans are fed up with -- it's decades of political polarization in Washington that has stood in the way of progress.
As Democrats from so-called Red States, we know that the way to win elections is not just by blaming Mr. Bush, or building campaigns focused on beating the other side -- it's by bringing people together. Americans are fed up with a divisive brand of politics that is more about scoring points than solving problems. To win in November -- and to govern this country -- we should not choose to be a party that extends an era of bitter partisanship; we must be the party that ends it.
Barack Obama is running for president to do just that. His life's work has been dedicated to bringing people together around a common purpose. As a community organizer, he bridged divides of race and class to fight for jobs for the jobless on the streets of Chicago. As a state senator, he brought Republicans and Democrats together to expand health care and provide a tax cut for working families. And as a U.S. senator, he worked across the aisle to secure loose nuclear materials around the world, and took on powerful interests in both parties to draft and pass the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.
Mr. Obama has lit a spark that has not been seen in American politics in a long time. In the divisive 2004 election, Mr. Obama's call for national unity was a light in our political darkness. In 2006, Mr. Obama was called to campaign for Democrats in states like Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Virginia. No other Democrat running for president can make that claim. His unique ability to draw votes -- not just for himself, but for down-ticket Democrats -- makes him an obvious choice to lead the Democratic Party to success in the Congress, and in statehouses and state legislatures.
In his campaign, Mr. Obama has built a movement for change from the bottom up. He draws enormous crowds. He has shattered fundraising records, with some 650,000 contributors and a seemingly limitless ability to tap small donors. He has inspired a flood of new voters, particularly young Americans. He's reached independents and Republicans who have voted for him by large margins. He's won with a diverse coalition, scoring decisive wins in the demographically different states of Iowa and South Carolina. And as the campaign goes national, polls show that the more voters see of Mr. Obama, the more they support him.
Americans are responding to Mr. Obama for more than his personality; they know we need a new kind of leadership in Washington to make progress. Not only does Mr. Obama have a plan to make health care affordable for every American, he'll be able to bring Democrats, Republicans and independents together to actually get it done. Not only does Mr. Obama have a plan to give all of our children a world-class education from early childhood through college, he'll be able to work with governors in all 50 states to make it happen. Not only is Mr. Obama committed to capping emissions and developing new sources of energy, he'll be honest and open about what we have to do, and take on the special interests to end our addiction to oil.
On national security, Mr. Obama has shown the judgment and conviction to be right from day one. The way to win in November isn't by matching the Republicans with tough talk -- it's by being right. In Mr. Obama, Americans will have a leader who can end a war in Iraq that he opposed from the beginning; a leader who knows it is right to support our troops when we are at war, and it is right to support our veterans when they return home; a leader with the conviction to conduct diplomacy with our adversaries as well as our friends. In Mr. Obama, they'll see a leader who can restore our security and standing, and lead the world against the threats of the 21st century.
No matter how Democrats vote in this election, they will make history. The choice is not between race and gender. It is between the past and the future. We know the Republicans will try to unite their party by fighting the old partisan battles. If we choose Mr. Obama as our nominee, the Republicans won't be able to make this election about the past because we will have already chosen the future -- a nominee who can bring all of us together, push back against the special interests, and offer leadership that is honest, open and inspiring.
For the sake of our party and our country, we cannot let this opportunity pass. Now is the time to build a coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans that finally stretches across Red States and Blue States. Now is the time for us to have the courage to choose to change. Now is the time for Barack Obama.
A New Day for My Daughters
"Free, fierce, and strong women for Obama," including Caroline Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Maria Shriver, gathered yesterday at UCLA in Los Angeles - reflecting a new day of hope, not only for all women, but for our entire human family.This was, perhaps, the most extraordinary political rally I've seen in my lifetime. My four year old daughter put it best, after hearing Michelle Obama speak of the important choices in front of us -
"I care about important things."
Joan Baez for Obama
Editor - I have attempted throughout my life to give a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the discouraged, and options to the cynical and complacent. From Northern Ireland to Sarajevo to Latin America, I have sung and marched, engaged in civil disobedience, visited war zones, and broken bread with those who had little bread to break.
Through all those years, I chose not to engage in party politics. Though I was asked many times to endorse candidates at every level, I was never comfortable doing so. At this time, however, changing that posture feels like the responsible thing to do. If anyone can navigate the contaminated waters of Washington, lift up the poor, and appeal to the rich to share their wealth, it is Sen. Barack Obama. If anyone can bring light to the darkened corners of this nation and restore our positive influence in world affairs, it is Barack Obama. If anyone can begin the process of healing and bring unity to a country that has been divided for too long, it is Barack Obama. It is time to begin a new journey.
JOAN BAEZ
Menlo Park
Feminist leader sides with Obama over Clinton
Feminist leader sides with Obama over Clinton by Mark Silva
In the tug of loyalties between Sen. Hillary Clinton's appeal to women and Sen. Barack Obama's appeal to a vote for change, Kate Michelman, one of the stalwarts of the women's rights movement, has cast her support to Obama.
Michelman, former president of the National Abortion Rights Action League, had been backing former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, and then he withdrew. Now Michelman explains, in a column published at The Huffington Post, why she will remain in the camps of Democrats attempting to deny Clinton the Democratic Party's nomination.
"The question I have been asking myself and others during my entire life in public policy and throughout this 2008 presidential campaign -- the question which tens of millions of women and men have also been asking -- is how do we best bring America together in shared purpose, prosperity and, especially, equality,'' Michelman writes.
"Those of us who until last week worked for Sen. John Edwards to become president were always fighting for something bigger than any of us and bigger than all of us. We were also part of a movement with the objective, John's objective, of lifting up all Americans.
"John Edwards is not going to be president, and so what we who were helping him must do is now elect the individual who has deep in his core John's principles and vision for this country. And so today, with every passion and enthusiasm I have, I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama to be president of the United States,'' she writes.
"Barack Obama is also calling our nation to the greatness that we all want but that we're uncertain we can still achieve,'' Michelman writes. "Others talk about greatness and they even say all the right words, but they do not bring those words to life. Their words do not grab us by the arms and pull us along together.
Barack Obama, like John Edwards, is redefining what is possible and in so doing he's changing us, each one of us.
Many who had given up on politics are re-engaging. Many who had grown tolerant of the intolerable are now ready to demand more and not just from themselves but others. And many who had given up believing that the ideals of equality, dignity and justice would ever again be as politically important as money and power, now believe again.
And this too is why I'm endorsing Senator Barack Obama.
Barack and John Edwards were different candidates, with different backgrounds and life experiences, but all these many months and really throughout their lives, they have been on a common path.
Both are focused on changing our politics, both are committed to shaking the foundation of the Washington establishment, and both are profound voices for what our country should and can be.
When I endorsed John Edwards for president, I did so because I was confident he would help lift women out of poverty and protect a woman's right to make her own decisions about if or when to have a family. I was confident that if John were in the White House, the single mother, who was working two jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and worried about health care and child care, would have more influence than the well-healed corporate CEO armed with a team of lobbyists.
And when I endorsed John Edwards I also knew that Barack Obama shared every one of these concerns, and over the course of Barack's own campaign, the nation has come to believe in him just like I always have as well.
Senator Obama is not just prepared to lead as our beloved Teddy and Caroline Kennedy have said, he is prepared to lead in a way different than we have seen for decades. Not out in front with us behind him, but rather with us beside him.
And that difference is all the difference. That difference separates just any president from a great president; and right now, we need a great president.
Barack Obama will be that great president. He will bring us all together. And together, we will change our country.
During these past many years, we have lost the sense of what we could do together, who we could be, what was possible.
That's changing.
And Barack Obama is the one changing that.
With him, greatness is again within reach.''"
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