IL Paper The Journal Standard Endorses Barack Obama

[MadBadger]

The party establishment, the Eastern Media and the old liberal boomer-Rooseveltian core of the Democratic Party was ready to embrace NY Sen. Hillary Clinton as the obvious candidate for the presidential nomination.

Then, along came a tall man from Illinois with charisma, energy and class. And the voters were moved, so much so that they demonstrated clearly that this country has come far - far enough to pick a presidential nominee without regard for the color of his or her skin or his or her gender.

While Ill. Sen. Barack Obama has been short on the how of his proposals and perhaps a bit naive in his foreign policy pronouncements, he has shown a remarkable ability to inspire and lead and learn. He so reminded the John F. Kennedy family of their legendary brother and father, that they broke ranks with the establishment and endorsed the man from Illinois. We are also reminded Kennedy's foreign policy credentials were a bit thin in 1960.

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton proved one of his wife's greatest challenges should she ascend to the presidency would involve being jostled for the center stage position.

Hillary Clinton was a different kind of first lady when Bill Clinton was president, but that doesn't qualify her for the presidency. Eleanor Roosevelt was also a different kind of first lady but Sen. Clinton is no Eleanor Roosevelt. Voters want ethics and honesty. Outside of the ideologues in the Democratic ranks, the daily soap opera that was the Clinton administration is a nasty, unwelcome memory.

However, The Journal-Standard urges a vote for Sen. Obama not because of his opponents or because he is our native son. We sense selflessness in this young man and that will serve him well in the nation's highest office. We urge a vote for Sen. Obama because he stands alone as a leader with vision and an agenda focused on the needs of Americans rather than the needs of the West Wing.

http://www.journalstandard.com/articles/2008/02/03/opinion/opinion01.txt