It’s California’s Turn to Elect a President Like John Kennedy

John Kerry, Ted Sorenson, Gary Hart, and many others knew John Kennedy; Kennedy was a friend of theirs, and they all find Obama to be like John Kennedy and are supporting Obama for President.

Barack Obama is a lot like Jack Kennedy.

As a John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, I knew Barack Obama and had a class with him at Harvard Law School; we became friends. He was then, and has only become even more so, a Kennedyesque natural leader and an outstanding progressive voice for change. Obama had the right judgment to speak out and oppose the Iraq War when it mattered most, before the War started in 2002.

Obama opposed the Republican-backed Iran Resolution in 2007 because he recognized that the Bush Administration could use that Resolution to start a war against Iran. By contrast, Hillary Clinton voted for the Iran Resolution in 07. She voted for the Iraq War Resolution in 02, yet still refuses to apologize for that vote or recognize that it was a mistake. At least, John Edwards recognized that tragically mistaken vote and apologized for it.

Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Obama and all the Democratic Presidential Candidates this year voted against or opposed the Iran Resolution, except Hillary who voted for it, failing to learn a lesson of her mistaken vote in 02. It’s a fairy tale that Bill Clinton ever spoke out against the Iraq War before it became unpopular. It’s an equal Clinton fairy tale that Obama did not strenuously and continuously speak out against the Iraq War, as a State and US Senator. The facts are right here.

Obama opposed the Iraq War while Hilary and Edwards voted for the Iraq War authorization legislation in 2002, and those are the facts; no matter how you spin it, it does not depend on what the meaning of word is is.

As State Senate Health Committee Chairman, Obama got major health care legislation passed and signed into law, providing health insurance to over a 100,000 children and adults in his home state of Illinois. During his 8 years in State Senate, Obama learned how to work across the aisle to get things done, he sponsored major lobbying reform and death penalty reform legislation that passed both houses and was signed into law. Illinois Senator Obama achieved an expansion of early childhood education and created the state Earned Income Tax Credit program. Hillary Clinton made a lot of sound and fury about health care in the White House, signifying something, but sadly accomplishing little there. Teddy Kennedy decided to endorse Obama over Hillary and Edwards because Obama showed courage and legislative skill in addressing health care and immigration reform in the US Senate.

I knew Hillary and Bill Clinton; I met them, and think of them as friends, but Hillary is no Bill Clinton. Barack Obama is a brilliant speaker, thinker, and writer. Obama has more years in elective office than Hillary or John Edwards. Obama has more relevant experience and better judgment to oppose an unnecessary, deadly war than her rivals. At the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, the majority of my fellow delegates there who heard Obama’s spellbinding keynote address said or thought right after, he’s going to be President. Does anyone remember Hillary’s speech at that DNC? At the 2007 California Democratic Convention, Obama gave a passionate anti-Iraq War speech that won thunderous applause.

Obama has won more votes from Independents and Republicans in the last 4 elections than either Hillary or Edwards. Obama is the Democratic leader in pledged delegates, having won or placed a close second in all 4 contests, defeating Hillary in the largest election so far this year, in South Carolina, by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Obama is more electable and a stronger candidate.

I support and am going to vote for Barack Obama for President next Tuesday February 5th. Will you?