Caroline Kennedy Endorses Obama, Comparing Obama to JFK

Throughout the campaign there have been comparisons between Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy. These comparisons were made once again by someone who knows. Caroline Kennedy has endorsed Obama in an op-ed in The New York Times entitled A President Like My Father. She began:

OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

With the Clinton campaign turning to dirty tactics since running into trouble in Iowa the most significant differences between the candidates has been character. Kennedy writes that, “qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual” in this campaign:

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

Kennedy again noted Obama’s honesty in the conclusion to her endorsement:

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

I wonder if this is the first step as the Kennedy family attempts to restore honor to the Democratic Party which has been so badly tarnished by the unsavory tactics of the Clintons in this campaign. As The Trail writes:

All eyes now turn to the senior senator from Massachusetts, one of the most conspicuous of Democratic fence sitters, who is known to have become mighty annoyed with Clinton campaign tactics in recent weeks.

Update: Kennedys to Bill Clinton: You Are No John Kennedy. Ted Kennedy to endorse Obama on Monday.

Obama Beats Clinton By 2 to 1 Margin

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iVAPH_EcmQ]

Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton by more than a two to one margin in South Carolina. As expected, Obama beat Clinton by a wide margin among black voters but also won among many other groups. The exit polls show Obama Obama beat Clinton among women 53% to 30%. Obama won every age group except voters over 65 years of age.

The Clintons responded to Obama’s win in Iowa by launching a campaign based upon lies, smears, and racism. Obama responded to this during his victory speech (video above).

We’re up against decades of bitter partisanship that cause politicians to demonize their opponents instead of coming together to make college affordable or energy cleaner. It’s the kind of partisanship where you’re not even allowed to say that a Republican had an idea, even if it’s one you never agreed with.

That’s the kind of politics that is bad for our party, it is bad for our country, and this is our chance to end it once and for all.

We’re up against the idea that it’s acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election. But we know that this is exactly what’s wrong with our politics. This is why people don’t believe what their leaders say anymore. This is why they tune out.

And this election is our chance to give the American people a reason to believe again.

The Clintons have tried to frame the South Carolina primary as a black versus white battle in the hopes of attracting more white votes on Super Tuesday. Obama also responded to this tactic:

So understand this, South Carolina. The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It’s not about rich vs. poor, young vs. old. And it is not about black vs. white.

This election is about the past vs. the future. It’s about whether we settle for the same divisions and distractions and drama that passes for politics today or whether we reach for a politics of common sense and innovation, a politics of shared sacrifice and shared prosperity.

Past versus future. The politics of change versus the politics of smears from a candidate who will say or do anything to get elected. These are the choices we face as the primary battle goes forward.

The Clintons and Race

I’ve previously noted the use of race in this election by the Clintons.

Even former Clintonite Robert Reich agrees on their use of race:

While it may be that all is fair in love, war, and politics, it’s not fair – indeed, it’s demeaning – for a former President to say things that are patently untrue (such as Obama’s anti-war position is a “fairy tale”) or to insinuate that Obama is injecting race into the race when the former President is himself doing it.

Bob Herbert has reviewed some cases and concludes:

The Clinton camp knows what it’s doing, and its slimy maneuvers have been working. Bob Kerrey apologized and Andrew Young said at the time of his comment that he was just fooling around. But the damage to Senator Obama has been real, and so have the benefits to Senator Clinton of these and other lowlife tactics.

There’s also an entire wiki documenting examples of the use of race by the Clinton campaign.

Barack Obama’s Top Ten Campaign Promises on Letterman

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnL9HRLNxIA]

The Top Ten List on Thursday’s Late Show With David Letterman (video above) had Obama listing “Barack Obama Campaign Promises.”

10. To keep the budget balanced, I’ll rent the situation room for sweet sixteens.

9. I will double your tax money at the craps table.

8. Appoint Mitt Romney secretary of lookin’ good.

7. If you bring a gator to the White House, I’ll wrassle it.

6. I’ll put Regis on the nickel.

5. I’ll rename the tenth month of the year “Barack-tober.”

4. I won’t let Apple release the new and improved Ipod the day after you bought the previous model.

3. I’ll find money in the budget to buy Letterman a decent hairpiece.

2. Pronounce the word nuclear, nuclear.

1. Three words: Vice President Oprah.