All Five Major Texas Newspapers Endorse Obama
All five major Texas newspapers: the Dallas Morning News, the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram, the Houston Chronicle, the Austin American-Statesman, and the San Antonio Express-News have endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president.
On Thursday, February 7, 2008, the Dallas Morning News editorial board recommended Obama, saying:
"Mr. Obama is our choice because of his consistently solid judgment, poise under pressure and ability to campaign effectively without resorting to the divisive politics of the past. "Race is not an overriding factor for us. But it is undeniable that America has failed to heal its racial wounds, including here in Dallas. We need a motivational leader capable of confronting the problem, and no candidate is better equipped than Mr. Obama. His message isn't about anger and retribution. It's about moving forward."Dismissing the "noise about his lack of experience" the Morning News pointed out that "he has served more time on Capitol Hill than four of the past five White House occupants." On Sunday, February 17, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram endorsed Obama, pointing out that, "Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama represent change, but in decidedly different ways.
"Supportive politicians, pundits, and writers of letters to newspaper editors have defined that difference as transitional vs. transformative. Clinton is the former; Obama the latter. "Right now, America needs transformation."Maintaining that, while Clinton's policies were more detailed than Obama's, "they are also more expensive." Obama's "message and energy," said the editorial, would "transcend the demographic differences among voters that the media so stubbornly focus on: race, gender, age, and economic standing." Pointing out the crowds who've turned out to vote in the primaries, the paper stated that, if those turn-outs continue, Obama could enter office with a "commanding mandate from the American people." They concluded with this zinger: "Yes, we know, hope is not a strategy. But it can get people working together to find one." Writing on February 16, 2008, the Houston Chronicle wasted no punches. Its lede paragraph read:
"The presidency of the United States is a powerful bully pulpit. The occupant of the White House must not only issue orders, but also inspire and advocate for all Americans."Discussing all the ways in which Obama and Clinton are similar in policy, the Chronicle points out "a decisive difference."
"Obama vows to reach out to independents and Republicans with a message of inclusion and cooperation. He offers a historic opportunity to elevate national political dialogue to a higher ground. Those who insist on vitriol and obstructionism would be marginalized."The Chronicle concludes that Obama is "the epitome of the American Dream" that would stimulate more citizens to participate in the electoral process. On February 2, the Austin American-Statesman also compared areas of agreement between Obama and Clinton, but emphasized "differences...in leadership styles and visions for the country."
"Obama presents a view of governing that is inclusive and relies on Americans to work with their government to solve sobering problems at home and abroad. Obama's familiar refrain on the campaign trail is, 'Yes, we can.' "By contrast, Clinton promotes a self-centered governing style that drives home what she would do as president. She asks little of Americans and discourages opposing views. Clinton has moved from her position as first lady that 'it takes a village' to solve problems to it takes only Hillary (and maybe Bill). "These contrasts offer a clear choice: Barack Obama. His optimism, unifying vision and ability to inspire are the kind of healing balm the country needs at this moment in history."They conclude with a vivid image:
"At home, we're divided into red and blue camps. Democrats and Republican have stoked divisions to advance their party's interests. Meanwhile, Washington is stumbling along with its red leg moving right and its blue one lurching left. "Along the way, elected officials--and the public--have forgotten that those legs are part of the same body. It's not surprising, therefore, that we've danced in place, failing to make progress on the big challenges that confront our country... "No other candidate except Obama offers a way out of that rut. He has articulated a vision that would allow the legs of government to again move fluidly in a natural motion that takes the country forward."On February 10, the San Antonio Express-News like the other papers compared the two candidates, but added that:
"Obama tends to falter in debates, his words sometimes unable to express the passion he feels inside. On the campaign trail, however, it is a different story, his words ringing with a clarity and energy that have been missing from a bitterly divided political landscape. "Clinton talks about her vast edge in experience, but much of it came as first lady, when her attempt to reform health care provided a colossal failure, mainly because of her inability to do what Obama advocates--reach across the aisle."The Express-News seemed to feel that Obama's lesser amount of time spent in Washington was actually an advantage, because he would "lack the baggage" that would "hamper a Clinton presidency," adding that the Clinton's campaign, had been "at turns, nasty and undignified," that "is a turnoff to many voters." You would have to be a Texan to fully appreciate the magnitude of each of its largest city papers endorsing the same candidate in a tight race, particularly considering the network of Texans in the Clinton camp. This state is enormous, spanning almost a thousand miles east-to-west and north-to-south, encompassing rich farmland, big cities, rugged ranchland, sophisticated suburbs, small towns, high-tech enterprise, plains, mountains, deserts, dense forests, swampland, pristine beaches, the Gulf of Mexico and a border with a foreign country. Each part of the state has its own personality, history, culture, and demographic make-up, and each of its biggest cities is entirely different from the other. This is a remarkable unity of opinion. Whether the voters reflect that unity remains to be seen.
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I got to see him here in Lexington KY about a year ago, a room of just a few hundred maybe 1000 before he became a "rock-star". Obama is awesome, inspiring, etc. Its time to roll the dice and give him a shot.
From a www.Blacks4Barack.org Commenter:
TEXAS/OHIO....BEFORE YOU VOTE.....Here's What HILLARY'S 'Mandated' Health Care Plan FEELS Like
As a Massachusetts single parent, 2 job holding resident, I wish reporters and interested parties would ask Mitt Romney, our former Governor, about his mandated health insurance plan for all Massachusetts residents he left us with. Ask democrats, republicans and independent voters what we think about this plan. This is the same plan that Hillary wants to adopt. Please do yourself a favor and ask the Massachusetts residents how it feels to no longer have a choice about putting food on the table, because YOU MUST, pay for a premium you can't afford. Ask MA residents how LONG it takes them to get a visit with their PCP (Primary Care Physicians). Ask the MA seniors about their medicine vs health care premium. I can go on, but please ask the questions. Also note that Mitt Romney never gives credit or much talk to his governorship here in Massachusetts, because he KNOWS that Massachusetts RESIDENTS think he is a scam. Mandated health care IS NOT a good plan...TRUST ME, and the rest of the MA residents who can vouch this. Barack has the better plan.
Submitted by a http://www.Blacks4Barack.org Commenter
Seems like the only one who benefits from Hillary's Plan is her buddies at the INSURANCE COMPANIES !
Say It Loud...BARACK & I'M PROUD !!!
Today's NY Times has a story about the many faces of TX and the complexity of running there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26texas.html?hp
Read the article. Then go back and read where Deanie says how unusual it us that all 5 large newspapers, from different parts of this complex state, have endorsed Obama. That says a lot.
The TX papers made a better endorsement than the NY Times, by the way! (Thank you, TX!!!)
Thanks for all your updates, Deanie.
I have a sinking feeling we are in for buyer' remorse come November. Somehow, some way the GOP is going to inject an "October Surprise" into the race just to illustrate Obama's inexperience. Those "not present" votes are going to be well played along with his limited years in the Senate. Winning a senate seat against Alan Keyes should not be something to applaud so loudly when we need, really need, experience to clean up the mess in 2009. I hope I am wrong, but this Obamamania may come to a crushing halt when reality sets in.
Wishing thinking on your part.
I think there will be a October surprise as well. I have faith that Senator Obama will prevail.
yaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Wow- Texans are politically savvy people- now- they (the Obama Camp) need to have their ground troops glued in the Ohio precincts- Ohio is a slippery slope State- watch the diebolds- Obamacans- they were for Kerry up until the last minute in 04- then went to Bush--
I am an Obama supporter first but if Mrs Clinton wins the nomination I would surely vote for her. How anyone with two braincells to rub together to create a thought could vote for a continuation of the Bush policies via election of Sen McCain is just beyond rational comprehension. Ask yourselves,... " another 100 years in Iraq?... Our economy is vibrant and strong?...... we need this bill to protect telecom companies, while they spy for us, from unwarranted litigations?,.... we will find Saddam's WMD and be vindicated?..... " zzzzzzz
It would be great if one of these endorsements read,
"We choose Barrack simply because we like him better." or
"We choose Obama over Clinton not because of better experience or better policies but rather simply he is not Hillary." or
"Based on the country's mood, Democracts for the first time in eight years might win the White House and with its majorities in Congress will have a clear mandate by the People. This sort of power will lead to greater temptation by elected officials and Sen. Clinton has already shown that she will abuse her powers to grant favors to campaign contributors such as Marc Rich and others who benefitted from the Clinton Administration without any benefit to the American people. Given the choices and clear risks of this sacred office, we choose Barrack Obama whose themes are with the people."
Bush was endorse by all the same papers. It's 2000 all over again. An experienced guy, running as an outsider and against Washinton, promising to bring people together and practice a different kind of politics with a large group of zealots on the far wing making making him larger than they are.
I guess the who you want to have a beer with test is still how we pick our presidents, that and the kiss of Opera.
What a sad country we have become.
Yeah, you keep that Bush-Obama comparo goin'. that'll work really well.
Especially since it was CLINTON who voted for his beloved war!
yeah cox, everyone is delusional, even all the newspapers, all the voters, everyone but you and hillary. god, give it a rest already. and your lachrymose "sad country" crap won't play either. that's why hillary's war against "hope" is falling as flat as your head.
What the heck do you mean everyone?! If you add the Florida vote, it is basically tied!
The Washington State Vote proved how the cacus votes were not reflective of true voter intent.
In the cacus, he won by 65 to 33%, when they held the primary, it was a 3% spread. I have a strong feeling that if that vote had counted, Hillary would have won it.
So let Florida and Michigan vote again. Why would you want to go into a general election making those people angry. That will be a lot bigger risk than Ralph Nader. If your man is so great, than he should not fear letting the people vote again. What are you afraid of?
He is leading now in the national polls, so let him vote. These are conservative papers, and they may very well have a vested interest in seeing a Repug elected.
The Republicans are already cranking up the slime machine.
You got a lot a of um, let's call it nerve, but if you want to translate, we can say eggs, to say Hillary's war against hope. As if we don't have hope. I DO have hope. That's why I don't want Obama to win. Because for one, I can see how hard it is going to be for him in the general. And most importantly, he's idea of hope, is nothing more than rhetoric.
Define the hope you have? What is it that is so hopeful about what he is going to do? Because he get's people to chant to the tunes of U2?
How is he going to enlist all of you in this change? What is the change going to be? How does he plan to get it through entrenched interests and Congress from both party's?
It is a fairytale. I do have hope. We have hope, realistic hope of getting real change that is plausible by someone who knows how the players and how the system works.
You are not going to be able to sweep so many pepple out of Congress because of the safe districts in this country. But you don't realize that, because you are naieve.
Why don't you go look into the Rezko trial today and tell me about hope.
I tell you this, too, I know several hispanic people in LA and they are telling me they are not voting for Obama no matter what. They will vote for the Repubican. They tell me everyone they know feels the same.
That may very well put Cal in play, at least enough that he has to spend money here to defend it. You had better have a lot of hope and motivation to get out and get your own people to vote for him, because that is going to be a tall order!
Once again the most thought provoking analysis leaves only one conclusion. I hope cynicism loses on March 4th.
I came to see a politician speak, became part of a movement that swept the country and threw out the corrupt republicans, and following a dynamic and charismatic leader who talked to nations, we started practicing what we preached and world became a little more peaceful.
Do not write so many hopes and dreams or you will be call delusional. Let me try: I hope and believe that WORDS INSPIRE, A Decent man called Obama will lead the Democratic Party to victory. We will gain 61 seats in the senate, and under president Obama's inspirational leadership, and Hillary Clinton's solutions for our problems, we will once again be a great nation where we take care of the sick, educate our kids and everyone will have a shot at the American dream.
Too bad, Oh Zeus, that you and your millions and millions of fellow Obamaniacs are so misinformed and/or delusional and/or naive and/or way too stupid to understand just how evil Obama is and how vital it is that Hillary is the Democratic nominee because, if there's going to be a first woman president, it has to be Hillary. She deserves that distinction. She and Bill belong in the White House. Time for the Bushes to move out, time for the Clintons to move back in. Then it'll be the Bushes turn again, by which time Chelsea will be the required age to make her own run and we can have another Clinton back in the White House. Counting Chelsea and Jeb, we can keep this going for another quarter century at least.
As a former Texan, I'm as equally stunned by the unanimity of these endorsements.
Here's hoping the voting public follows suit.
Given Clinton's righteous indignation schtick this past weekend, I am more convinced than ever that if we can't all find some common ground, this country is going to tear itself apart in factional hatred. Obama can at least start that long-overdue conversation. The rest is up to all of us Americans.
Darnamell is correct; it is the Clinton's righteuos indignation that is so disturbing. To imagine her (them) back in the White House makes me sick. I listened carefully to her rants over the past few days, and in a nutshell, it's all about HER, not WE. Her media lackeys are delusional, and in denial. I am not from Texas, but Florida, and I do hope that Obama crushes her for good come March 4.
Deanie -
I'm a fan - on TPM I expressed same.
You are all hat and all cattle!
Rock on!
Very eloquent and thoughtful endorsements. Makes me wish I were Texan
Gosh, that's a quantum leap! I cannot think of a single thing or multiple blessings that would make me pine for a Texas address...except maybe a night with Mrs. Kucinich... naw, that's just not enough!
I am so proud to have been born a Texan, right now.
This just in: Newspapers don't matter. Particularly those in part caucus states.
huh?
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Posted February 25, 2008 | 05:07 PM (EST)