GLOBE ENDORSEMENT FOR OBAMA. I guess we all knew this would happen eventually, but the endorsement is full of the reasons why we support Obama and will vote for him. It contains within a fairly short endorsement, a comprehensive checklist of reasons I like Barack Obama and why we need Barack Obama for President:
- Sound Management,
- Lays down Principles,
- Put the Right People in Positions of Authority,
- Spends Money Strategically,
- Shows Remarkable Steadiness,
- Made forward-looking appeal to voters’ best instincts.
Obama has run his campaign has been a marvel of sound management: He laid down principles, put the right people in positions of authority, and spent money strategically. And he has shown a remarkable steadiness. Whether he was far behind Hillary Clinton before the Iowa caucuses or on the verge of locking up the Democratic nomination, whether he was leading or trailing McCain in the general election contest, Obama made the same forward-looking appeal to voters’ best instincts.
- The nation needs a chief executive who has the temperament to bring us through these difficult times.
- Obama has the vision to restore this country to its place of world leadership.
- Obama has the ability to channel Americans’ hopes and rally the public.
- Obama isn’t refighting the political or cultural battles of the 1960s.
- Obama asks Americans to take responsibility for the nation’s problems now.
- Obama shows great faith in the possibility of persuasion overseas.
- Obama shows great faith in the ingenuity of the American economy.
- Obama has assembled an impressive economic team that understands both the power of the market and the need to discourage recklessness and promote social equity.
- Obama would broaden access to health insurance.
- Obama offers a tax plan that, in offering modest cuts to most taxpayers and taking back some past cuts for the highest earners, acknowledges the widening gap between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else.
- Obama has nimble mind, an ever more impressive grasp of policy detail, and an ability to listen to contradictory viewpoints.
Of course the Endorsement tells us all the weakness and foibles of George Bush and how John MCCain will offer more of the same. (i.e., Unnecessary and costly war in Iraq, tough talk abroad, tax cuts for the richest at home, mismanagement of the economy).
In Conclusion it reminds us of the
Obama campaign slogan ‘‘We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.’’ His critics deemed such rhetoric too ethereal. Now it seems prescient, as the nation confronts a financial crisis of historic proportions, as well as all the other policy failures and debt-fueled excesses of the last eight years. The United States has to dig itself out. Barack Obama is the one to lead the way.
I recommend reading the BOSTON GLOBE ENDORSEMENT and using the checklist of talking points in the coming weeks.