San Jose Mercury News is the newspaper of California's "Silicon Valley," with a circulation of of over 250,000!
This editorial will appear in Sunday's San Jose Mercury News.
America longs for a change of style, a change of policy and a change of heart. Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate with the best chance to unify the country and put it back on track. He is the candidate who can best restore the world's faith in America and America's faith in itself.
We recommend Obama as the Democratic nominee, believing that his political approach could eventually make as much history as being the first African American president.
The Democratic race is boiling down to two candidates, although former Sen. John Edwards vows to stay in the hunt until the convention. Choosing between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton will not be easy for Democrats in Silicon Valley. The candidates' positions and their centrist approach to potentially devisive issues are remarkably similar.
From a pure Valley perspective, Clinton has articulated a clearer agenda to unleash American innovation. We believe Obama understands the importance of this region to the national and world economy. Nevertheless, he could learn from Clinton on how to appeal to the Valley's entrepreneurial spirit.
But this election is about far more than Silicon Valley. And ultimately, the best way to make the Valley strong is to make America strong - at home and abroad. What tips the scales in Obama's favor is the freshness of his approach and the lack of political baggage he would bring to the White House.
We don't agree with most of the aspersions Republicans cast upon Clinton. She has built a record of accomplishment and compromise in the Senate, winning the respect of past foes including, of all people, Newt Gingrich. But Clinton's perceived negatives will cloud the campaign, and some positions she has taken over the years appear to have been based on political expediency more than core values. With that history, it will be harder for her to be successful.
Obama would dramatically change the nation's approach to foreign policy and domestic issues. While the substance might not differ substantially from Clinton's in many areas, he would have more cross-over appeal to independents and Republicans, whose support will be needed to bring about significant change.
Obama is the only candidate who opposed the Iraq war from the outset. His ethnic background and his upbringing give him a unique world view. He has the best chance to change how the world looks at the United States and restore the respect it has squandered during the past eight years.
While Clinton has a deep understanding of health care issues, her failed attempt to reform the system during her husband's first term dogs her steps. She chose experts with similar views and did not broadly engage stakeholders, which made her end result easy to shoot down. Obama can start fresh, and seems to understand the urgency.
He also brings a solid approach to the issues of climate change, education, election reform and stem cell research.
The nagging doubt about Obama is his lack of experience. He has worked hard to prepare for the White House, and it's not clear another six years in the Senate would necessarily make him a better president. Ronald Reagan showed that the most effective presidents have clear vision, good judgment and the ability to spur change.
For Obama, the important thing will be surrounding himself with intelligent and experienced advisers with a range of viewpoints and no reluctance to disagree with him. Abraham Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" would be the example here. Then it's a matter of deciding when to heed experience and when to follow his own instincts. Obama is smart enough to make good choices.
The George W. Bush-era has been the most divisive period in American history since the 1960s. Barack Obama represents the voice of a new generation. He resonates much as John F. Kennedy did with his message of hope and challenge. He is the best choice to unify and inspire America.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8079425?nclick_check=1
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