Obama for President
Columbus Post endorses Senator Barack Obama for President
Eight years ago, a candidate for president promised Americans that he would unite the country - at a time when it seemed that's just what America needed. Instead, by 2004, America saw a country that had become more divided. America was now in two wars; its popularity in the world was slipping, in part due to its invasion of Iraq ; Congress had become even less effective than it was when it was deeply mired in partisan politics at the end of the Clinton years; and the economy had begun to show signs of a slow hemorrhaging.
Eight years later, after two terms of the promised “uniter,” George Bush, America finds itself with an economy on the brink of disaster - a result of reckless spending and mismanagement by a Republican administration that ran on the platform of smaller, effective government and fiscal responsibility. And, now, there is another Republican running for president, John McCain, sounding very similar to his Republican colleague whom he claims to be different than. Senator McCain says he's “the one” who will restore our country to prominence in the world and cohesiveness within.
Senator McCain is a war hero who has served his country in the military and in Congress with distinction. He has been known to even go against his own party at times to work with Democrats to get things done. But in watching this election, the bipartisan, fair-minded McCain seems to have traded in his uniform for a more traditional Republican one - one that will do whatever it takes to win. Americans saw this strategy employed in 2000 and 2004, and they are living the results in 2008.
As the old saying goes, “fool me once shame on you - fool me twice shame on me.” Or, as they say in Texas “that dog just won't hunt.” Not this time - not with so much at stake.
In this presidential election, America doesn't just need change from President Bush or a good soldier as president - America needs to move in a new direction with a new type of leader. America needs a leader who can inspire Americans and people around the world to see one another's strengths and not their weaknesses. America needs a leader who understands that fighting never really solves anything, it only exacerbates the problem. America needs a leader who knows it takes real strength to face your enemies with honest, firm words, and not weapons. You see, many people can act “bad” with a gun, but without it you find they aren't really “bad” at all.
Senator Barack Obama has exhibited the character and demeanor of the leader America needs at this time. Since 2004, when he first hit the national stage, Senator Obama talked about bringing this country together and repairing its relationships around the world.
As president, Senator Obama promises to make health care affordable for every American and to provide a tax cut to the middle class. These are the kinds of policies that will make America work again for all Americans.
General Colin Powell in his endorsement of Senator Obama put it this way, “We need a president who is a generational change” ... “I think he [Mr. Obama] is a transformational figure.” And, “he has met the standard to become a successful president Ð an exceptional president.”
Simply put, Senator Obama is visionary, intelligent, thoughtful and disciplined. And in this time of economic uncertainty in America and low respect around the world, America needs a steady hand at the helm. America needs a leader who whitcowill make America work again for all of its citizens and one who is willing to give all countries in the world the same respect America requests from them. Electing Senator Barack Obama president is not only change America can believe in – it's the change America needs.
Click here to download PDF of the entire endorsement pages
Powell endorses Obama
By Stephen Ohlemacher
Wire Service Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Colin Powell, a Republican who was President Bush's first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain's campaign.
The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said either candidate, both of them senators, is qualified to be commander in chief. But he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world.
"It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that,'' Powell, interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," said of his longtime friend, the Arizona senator.
But, he added: "I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain."
Powell's endorsement has been much anticipated because he is a Republican with impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is weak. Powell is a Republican centrist who is popular among moderate voters.
At the same time, Powell is a black man and Obama would be the nation's first black president. Powell said he was cognizant of the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision. If it was, he said, he would have made the endorsement months ago.
Powell expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain's campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate and McCain's and Palin's decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama's ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers. A co-founder of the Weather Underground, which claimed responsibility for nonfatal bombings during the Vietnam War-era, Ayers is now a college professor who lives in Obama's Chicago neighborhood. He and Obama also served together on civic boards in Chicago.
"This Bill Ayers situation that's been going on for weeks became something of a central point of the campaign,'' Powell said. "But Mr. McCain says that he's a washed-out terrorist. Well, then, why do we keep talking about him?"
Powell said McCain's choice of Palin raised questions about judgment.
"I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States," Powell said.
McCain seemed dismissive of Powell's endorsement, saying he had support from four other former secretaries of state, all veterans of Republican administrations: Henry Kissinger, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander Haig.
"Well, I've always admired and respected Gen. Powell. We're longtime friends. This doesn't come as a surprise," he said on "Fox News Sunday."
Asked whether Powell's endorsement would undercut his campaign's assertion that Obama is not ready to lead, McCain said: "Well, again, we have a very respectful disagreement, and I think the American people will pay close attention to our message for the future and keeping America secure."
Obama called Powell to thank him for the endorsement, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
"I am beyond honored and deeply humbled to have the support of Gen. Colin Powell," Obama said in remarks prepared for a rally in Fayetteville, N.C. "Gen. Powell has defended this nation bravely, and he has embodied our highest ideals through his long and distinguished public service. ...And he knows, as we do, that this is a moment where we all need to come together as one nation - young and old, rich and poor, black and white, Republican and Democrat."
Powell said he remains a Republican, even though he sees the party moving too far to the right. Powell supports abortion rights and affirmative action, and said McCain and Palin, both opponents of abortion, couldput two more conservative justices on the Supreme Court.
"I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration," Powell said.
Powell, 71, gained popularity while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military commander, during the first Gulf war under President George H.W. Bush. After retiring from the military, speculation mounted that he would run for president in 1996 - perhaps becoming the nation's first black president - but Powell opted against it.
As secretary of state, he helped make the case before the United Nations for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, launched in March 2003.
Powell said the nation's economic crisis provided a "final exam" of sorts for both Obama and McCain.
"In the case of Mr. McCain I found that he was a little unsure as to how to deal with the economic problems that we were having," Powell said.
"Almost everyday there was a different approach to the problem and that concerned me, sensing that he doesn't have a complete grasp of the economic problems that we had."
In contrast, Powell said Obama "displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at problems like this. ..."
"I think that he has a definitive way of doing business that would serve us well," Powell said.
Powell said he does not plan to campaign for Obama.
Hot ticket
TOURING FOR VOTES – Vice Presidential Candidate Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) looks on as Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses the audience on Saturday, August 30 at Dublin-Coffman High School. (Photo by Greg Lewis/GLIMAGE)
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