Ted Kennedy to Endorse Obama

Here is the latest in the Democratic presidential nomination: After Barack Obama's dramatic weekend victory in South Carolina, the candidates head into Super Tuesday on February 5. Later this morning, Sen. Edward Kennedy, the liberal lion and dean of the Democratic Party, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama. Details at the Boston Globe:

Kennedy said the senator from Illinois can "transcend race" and unite the country, a Kennedy associate told the Globe. Kennedy was also impressed by Obama's deep involvement last year in the bipartisan effort to craft legislation on immigration reform, a politically touchy subject the other presidential candidates avoided, the associate said.

The Massachusetts political establishment is lining up behind Obama—two weeks ago, Sen. John Kerry endorsed Barack and last fall, Gov. Deval Patrick endorsed Obama.

Today's joint endorsement follows a beautifully written op-ed supporting the Illinois senator in the Sunday New York Times by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of John F. Kennedy, entitled "A President Like My Father."

"Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960."

Like many other families, the Kennedy clan is split into partisan camps. Over the weekend, the children of Robert F. Kennedy—Robert F. Kennedy Jr, former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy and Kerry Kennedy—publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton. "I respect Caroline and Teddy's decision but I have made a different choice," Kathleen Kennedy noted. "While I admire Senator Obama greatly, I have known Hillary Clinton for over 25 years and have seen first hand how she gets results...Hillary Clinton would make the best possible choice for president. She shares so many of the concerns of my father."

On Friday we mentioned how newspaper endorsements can often frame the debate around candidates. and these "legacy" endorsements often encourage a closer review of history—there is already some discussion across the e-telligentsia on the irony of John F. Kennedy's personal appeal, which is similar to Obama's, being contrasted with his hawkish, interventionist foreign policy, which is more similar to Clinton's. As far as JFK's "record" on civil rights, well, that speaks for itself.

Kennedy Poised to Endorse Obama [Globe]
A President Like My Father [NYT]
Landslide [Keith Boykin]
Obama Would Have Voted for the War [Taylor Marsh]

More BARACK OBAMA
More MASSACHUSETTS

Some Background:
Kerry to Endorse Obama [R20]
Deval Patrick Endorses Obama [R20]
Obama Addresses Homophobia and Anti-Semitism [R20]
"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Obama on Omar on "The Wire" [R20]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Paging John Edwards and Barack Obama [HuffPo]
This Barack Obama Should Tell Bob Novak [HuffPo]
Deb Price on Blacks LGBTs and Obama [R20]
Report: Barack Obama Campaign REJECTS Michael Eric Dyson and TWO Black Gay Pastor [R20]
Obama Tries Distance from "Ex-Gay" McClurkin [R20]
Obama Campaigns with Ex-Gay Donnie McClurkin [R20]
Bishop: "No Faggots or Sissies" [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Hillary: The Advocate Interview [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]

Comments

[Blah!]

Call me crazy but, I don't care which big name endorses a candidate. At the end of the day, my vote is MY vote. The Kennedys can vote for whomever they choose to. I am pretty sure they have different concerns than me. These endorsements kill me!

[James]

I think you have to take endorsements with a grain of salt, but there is something deep and truthful to intuit from the lack of endorsements.

I have already voted for Senator Obama in early voting, and I expect to vote for him again in November. If, in fact, Senator Clinton is the Democratic nominee, I will NOT be voting for her.

I will vote in November, and just leave my selection for President blank. There is no way I could vote for the Clintons after the divisive, malicious way that they have injected race into the campaign and dismissed the thousands of people (Black, white and otherwise) who voted in the SC Primary.

Interestingly, H. Clinton is campaigning in FL where there are no delegates, explaining herself by saying that the people of FL should have their votes counted (especially since they might go in her favor). What about the folks who just voted in SC, who had their votes dismissed -- oh, I forgot those were majority Black Jesse Jackson redux votes.

I find the Clintons' behavior disgusting and unbecoming of anyone who wants to be president of the most diverse country in the world.

[Naymon]

James, that's a horrible idea. Hillary, John Edwards or especially Barack Obama would each be much better than Mitt Romney or John McCain and not voting helps them.

As far as the race campaign, there is enough blame for both sides. It's becoming very frustrating to hear other Obama supporters ignore the many crazy things their fellow supporters said and did. Obama wasn't even attracting the majority of black voters until he won Iowa.

[James]

It may sound like a horrible idea, but this is not a game. My vote is priceless and I refuse to give it to anyone who I'm not comfortable with.

After their behavior over the past few weeks, there is absolutely no way they could represent me. I am a proud Black, gay man, but I am so much more: optimistic, passionate, inquisitive, and full of hope.

I'm tired of the hatred, division and cynicism of the past eight years. I'm not going backwards. A vote for H. Clinton is an endorsement of the divisive past. I also choose not to vote for the Clintons because of policy decisions made the first time around:
DOMA.
Don't Ask Don't Tell.
The Reorganization of the Federal Govt. in which millions of Black people lost thier jobs.
The end of welfare in which millions of poor people were essentially railroaded off of welfare into even deeper levels of poverty and despair.

[Ed]

I cosign James. I was a political science major have followed politics since I was in Jr High School. I have voted in every election since I was able to vote and I used to tell my parents who to vote for before I was able to vote.
I cannot imaging not voting in an election, but after the actions of the Clinton's in SC, I feel that if Obama is not the democratic candidate in Nov., I will not vote for president.

This idea is killing me because of my passion for politics, but I cannot see myself voting for Hillary after SC. The way that Bill performed in SC makes me sick to my stomach. I have always been a fan of the Clintons and was looking forward to H. Clinton's turn as Pres., because of Bill. But after SC, the last thing I want is 4 or 8 years of the Clinton's in office. I can now see why there is a limit on the number of terms that a president can serve.

[Ed]

I cosign James. I was a political science major have followed politics since I was in Jr High School. I have voted in every election since I was able to vote and I used to tell my parents who to vote for before I was able to vote.
I cannot imaging not voting in an election, but after the actions of the Clinton's in SC, I feel that if Obama is not the democratic candidate in Nov., I will not vote for president.

This idea is killing me because of my passion for politics, but I cannot see myself voting for Hillary after SC. The way that Bill performed in SC makes me sick to my stomach. I have always been a fan of the Clintons and was looking forward to H. Clinton's turn as Pres., because of Bill. But after SC, the last thing I want is 4 or 8 years of the Clinton's in office. I can now see why there is a limit on the number of terms that a president can serve.

[Derrick from Philly]

"...the way that Bill Clinton performed in S. Carolina..."

Yes, Ed, the way that Big Cigar Bill performed, NOT Hillary. She probably cussed his out of control ass out after the backlash from the black community--a community NO Democrat can afford to offend. Roberts, Alito, Thomas and the sub-human Scalia--that's all I have to chant to myself, then I can vote for any Democrat...even old senile, red-neck KKK Robert Byrd.