Fredericksburg, VA's The Free Lance-Star Endorses Barack Obama

[MadBadger]

In the end, the choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. 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; of shared sacrifice and shared prosperity.

--Sen. Barack Obama


FOR TOO LONG, Americans have endured a season of bitter parti- san politics. The red -blue divide has produced contention, gridlock, and a proliferation--not a resolution--of our nation's problems. On the Democratic side, one candidate gives hope of ending, rather than intensifying, the dysfunctional atmosphere in Washington. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is The Free Lance-Star's choice in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Mr. Obama articulates the frustration of the American people when he talks of the ideological divide in Washington that has wrapped politicians in a self-made straitjacket. It's time for a differ-ent course. Mr. Obama is able to think beyond partisanship and convincingly reach across political boundaries with a graciousness all too lacking in Washington.

The nation faces many serious challenges: the very real threat of terrorism, economic struggles, crumbing infrastructure, health-care costs, and energy woes. Surmounting these obstacles will require intelligence and strong leadership. Mr. Obama's intelligence is proven, and his leadership, while largely untested, seems constructed of the necessary elements. One is good character. Another is the ability to unify people--a quality he has displayed already in this campaign.

There is no doubt that Mr. Obama's opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, is a bright woman who knows policy and politics and how to wield power. What Mr. Obama offers the Democratic Party is a vision that transcends thumping the opposition and an eloquence that inspires even those disquieted by his liberal views. He is the decidedly better choice for Democrats on Tuesday.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/022008/02082008/354623