Chicago Sun-Times Endorses Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Why Obama gets our vote
A candidate who is right for America

February 1, 2008

On June 5, 1986, the curiously poetic name of Barack Obama appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times for the first time. Obama, new to us but presenting himself as a "community organizer" on the South Side, was quoted in a news story calling on Mayor Harold Washington to get asbestos out of a public housing project.

Obama was right about that one -- the poisonous asbestos had to go -- and perhaps we should have weighed in at the time with a strong editorial. It is the job of a newspaper -- especially this newspaper -- to stand with the powerless against the powerful.

And so today, as we mark the 60th birthday of our newspaper, it is a special pleasure to give Obama this newspaper's endorsement in Tuesday's Illinois Democratic presidential primary. Because we believe he's right again.

Obama is right on the issues, right in daring us to believe in a goodness greater than ourselves, and right in having the confidence to appeal to all of us as one America.

Obama has the power of a celebrity's charisma and the grounding of a common man's birth.

There's been talk of Camelot in the last few days. Back then, that young president said to us:

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

And once, we had another great leader, who said, "I have a dream."

Americans took them at their word. They joined the Peace Corps. They marched on Selma. They protested a pointless war.

We need a president and a leader like that again.

Remember, in 1960, voters chose John F. Kennedy, whose own vision was sketchy yet promising, whose political track record was largely as a senator. The country still mourns that unrealized dream of Camelot.

Significantly, the Kennedy family can see the promise that is Obama:

"I want a president 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," said Caroline Kennedy, JFK's 50-year-old daughter.

Call us shameless idealists, but that sounds right on to us.

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/771028,CST-EDT-edit01.article

[Bitwit1234]

1. Another republican rag...add that to NYP gee those

republicans sure want him as the candidate...beatable ---

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Yeah, well, they also endorsed BUSH in 2000.

Though they did come to their senses in 2004 and endorsed Kerry.

[jasmine621]

3. They all know Hillary would whip McCains butt soundly. nt