Why I'm Supporting Barack Obama

When I decided to run for Senate, I did so because I deeply believed that the citizens of Connecticut were yearning to see fundamental changes in our politics - changes that would make government work for them again.

Today, with our Presidential primary in Connecticut less than a month away, I am announcing my support of Barack Obama for President because I am convinced that his forward-looking, progressive vision provides the best chance to enact meaningful reforms in the way Washington works.

Sen. Obama has the tone and temperament to bring out the best in our people and our nation, and to bring new coalitions together in support of the progressive policies we all want to see enacted. His campaign has already reflected this, not only by bringing hundreds of thousands of new voters of all ages to the polls, but by inspiring so many who are new to politics to become activists as well.

Making healthcare affordable for all Americans, rebuilding our aging infrastructure, and ending our dependence on foreign oil are all problems that require more than a tax credit here or an earmark there. Barack is the candidate best able to enact these big changes necessary to getting our country moving again.

We have seen that Sen. Obama has the wisdom and judgment to get the big decisions right - as he did on Iraq more than five years ago. And when President Obama steps out of Air Force One in countries around the world, he will represent a fresh start with friends and allies. He will end the war in Iraq, work for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and start investing in America again - and we will be safer and stronger for it.

We Democrats are fortunate to have had many strong candidates running for President. As you may know, I was proud to work hard for Chris Dodd during his campaign. I have the deepest respect and admiration for Sen. Dodd - especially for his powerful calls to defend our constitutional freedoms by restoring habeas corpus, closing Guantanamo, and living up to the spirit of the Geneva Conventions. I know that Sen. Obama, a former professor of Constitutional Law, has been and will continue to be Chris' ally in fighting to protect our Constitution.

As Barack often says on the campaign trail these days, "with the challenges we face at this moment, the real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result."

It's time to change the game.

(Cross-posted at NedLamont.com.)

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P.S. For all of you who were so supportive of our campaign, and especially our ads, we thought you might appreciate this short video message:

Comments

[hope4theflowers]

those are nice ideas.Im not convinced he will accomplish them though.Im not convinced any of the 3 leading Dems even want to...

[Steamboater]

"Sen. Obama has the wisdom and judgment to get the big decisions right - as he did on Iraq more than five years ago."
Then Obama should never funded the war. Instead, he gives us the same excuse as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and so many other democrats that he was just supporting the troops. This war will go on and on with excuses like that. Hillary Clinton too has the same track record. If Obama though was a man of convictions, he never would have voted one dime for the war in Iraq. Obama is just as much a political hack as the rest of them and maybe worse because he absented himself from the vote in targeting the Iranian Guard as a terrorist group using another excuse--that his campaigning for the presidency was more important.

[MAX1]

.

What does Obama Champion today that he will carry into his Administration, tomorrow?

Health care?

Out of Iraq?

Accountability with consequences?

Repairing/restoring the Constitution?

Or promises of all of the above, when it suits him?

"CHANGE" means more than just one's mind.

.

[johnnyjust]

A Hillary/Obama ticket.

One question: who'll carry the bags?

[dantheman]

Ned, your support is greatly apreciated. You are a true progressive and I am proud to have supported your candidacy for Lieberman's seat. Unfortunately, we were derailed by the Democratic establishment, the Clintons and the DLC.

We need to reclaim our party first, and then America.

Keep fighting the good fight and keep being a strong voice for America.

Obama 2008!

[researcher]

hated to see you lose. not from your state. what happened? is conn now a red state voting in a war monger like lie ermann.

in az where i retired kyle lied to the folks out here on illegals. got the repubs good on that one.

the way i see it if a voter wants spineless vote demo it they want war mongers vote repub.

this war should have been defunded long ago. nancy and reid are either spineless or playing politics with this illegal war. either way both should resign for being traitors to americans.

[teahead]

Obama needs THE GORACLE (as in Al Gore) to endorse him.

He will NEVER endorse Hillary. NEVER!

[letitgo]

Enid.

the URL was too long to post. Google "A drunk and a bigot - what the US Presidental hopeful HASN'T said about his father"

No messiah. Just an another calculating politician.

[Spookcatcher]

Come on People do your research! Ned Lamont: Born in Washington D.C. of a family of Bankers J.P. Motgan no less, an Elitist who graduated from BOTH Harvard and Yale, and now "serving in a Harvard School of Politics! Obama also a Harvard Graduate! So I guess this is just another (like Goldman Sachs and Lehmean Bros) GRASS Roots supporters? Now you know why Edwards is not getting the endorsements and money. Wake up!!!! Obama is a new face to sell the lost sheep American People who are looking for "change" and "forward vision". Yes, more countries dominated by the elitist supremist American Bankers and Corporate interests that is the continuing change (takeover) and the vison forward of their Global Dominance!

[Pneumaticus]

But don't you think his ears are too big?

[WAdem]

While I agree that we need more debate and diplomacy in Washington, Obama is just the latest politician to preach hope. It ain't possible in the current environment. The House is more polarized than at any time in my life. Finding a moderate Republican there is akin to finding a moderate member or al-Qaeda and we know how that's going.

While no one believes her to be Ghandi, Hillary is our best hope if and when the GOP members accede and seed compromise. We will have the same outcome if Obama is elected as GWB, strident partisanship. Do you actually think Republicans will avoid sliming him? Moreover, the only reason so many pundits tried to bury Hillary prematurely last week is that they are Republicans for the most part and FEAR her nomination. Duh! I agree with those who think it was due to an anti-Matthews backlash.

[clevelandchick]

Ned, if you were really progressive you'd be supporting John Edwards. And you know it.

[letitgo]

Loser Kerry backs Obama. I gather he never forgave Hillary for piling on him over his student/Iraq gaffe. Payback is not always a bitch however. Obama backed Lieberman but gets loser's "your my daddy" Lamont's backing. Go figure.

Probably HC's time has passed and the "keep hope alive" messiah may very well coast to the Dem nomination but the road ahead to the WH will not be as easy. Regarding his credentials, Google, "Obama/empty suit". This GOP shit repeated often enough will circulate and ring true for many.

Regarding his autobiography read the Daily article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/
news/news.html?in_article_id=431908&in_page_id=1770

IMHO I believe the Dems overlooked better quality candidates who actually have solid experience, Richardson, Dodd and Biden.

[situationcritical]

I'm a Hillary supporter, but I must say President Obama is almost equally appealing.

Clinton/Obama '08

[KRANKY]

One way for Progressives: Kucinich 2008!

Liberals have a multitude of choices: Obama, Edwards, Clinton.
Then they can continue to whine when they lose after they refuse to fight.

I am a Radical that will be in the vanguard against the slaveholders, as in the past. I will help win victories for all, at personal risk.

What this country needs are insurgents; people willing to risk all, against the Tory Boobwa's; the idiot elite that controls by numbers and stupid excess.
We can win with a few, making the neocon drones memories.