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.)

---

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

[EspressoAtNoon]

I wish so much you had won. I can't stand that Israel-firster, Lieberman. Thanks for endorsing Obama - that will help us in Ct.

[indypete]

Granted Obama seems to be the best of a pretty bad bunch but I bet the repubs are gleefully watching him and Hillary lead the race knowing that there are a lot of ignorant assholes out there who will NOT vote for a black man or a woman so the white male repub candidate (from an even worse bunch) will be garanteed all the, if you'll pardon the expression, redneck vote... an unfortunately large number of people. (By the way, I don't refer to the honorable type of redneck as personnified by Jeff Foxworthy, I'm using the expression as it applies to the white sheet and pointy hat crowd).

[wanked]

If hillary clinton treated me the way she treated you Ned, Id be supporting Obama too. She and LIEberman have MUCH in common.

[Wulfstan]

You are all fired up, but your wheels are pointed in the wrong direction. They keep veering right.
You might need a steering alignment.

[illinoisan]

Thanks, Ned. This is vindication for those of us who supported you in your campaign and also are working to see Obama win the presidency.

Unlike so many of the commentors here, we see no contradiction between our support for you and for Obama. Many of the commentors here lack the seasoning and experience to discern the totality of the candidacies and the larger considerations at stake. They are thralls to a cynicism that Obama warned us from the outset would be the greatest hurdle of his campaign. They lack the understanding of the necessity and the virtue of the national unity that would be brought forth by Obama's election.

Ned, you could do no greater service to the great cause before us than to help shepherd these folks out of the dark valley of doubt and cynism to a better vantage point where they might discern a broader vista and a brighter future.

[OSUMercutio]

I hope Dodd endorses Obama. I didn't know who he was before the primaries, but I've grown to like him very much. I think he'd be a great majority whip - along with Biden as majority leader. Screw the bozos like Harry Reid.

[leftLibertarian]

You Democrats were cowered by Bush and Cheney.

That is why the US still has troops in Iraq and throughout the globe. And that is why there is still a Patriot Act.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, well it ain't gonna happen.

O is full of hot air and promises. His 'change' is an illusion.

[seidofan]

I live in Chicago and voted for Obama for Senator, but I am not so sure I will vote for him as president. He talks a lot about change, but talk is not the same as action. So far he has not stood out as a great Illinois Senator like Paul Simon. Also, he may say he is for change and reform, but he endorsed Todd Stroger for Cook County Board. The real estate deal with Rezko also bothers me. It may not have been illegal, but that doesn't mean it was ethical. People like Rezko don't do favors like that without a reason. Obama was either too naive to accept Rezko's favor, or else just as much of an insider as all the other Chicago machine Democrats.

There was no real opposition when Obama ran for Senator after the Republican Party dumped Jack Ryan and did not replace him another Illinoisan as nominee (Alan Keyes had no clue about our state.) Hopefully if Obama gets the nomination he will prove he is a fighter. There will be a lot of opposition against him. All this talk about bipartisanship is nice, but sometimes the other side isn't willing to deal. Singing Kumbaya would not have worked for Mayor Harold Washington during council wars in Chicago. It probably won't work against swift boat Republicans who don't want Obama's changes.

[DontSpin]

I love you Ned. Keep up the good work. And thanks for running against that crazy old nut Lieberman.

[Dominick06]

Ned, thanks for supporting Barack. I've been supporting him since day one--long before all the hub bub.

I would ask you to not trumphet your support for Obama that much in your home state--Lieberman country.

Ask you can see, the press is having a field day with the Kerry endorsement; who I supported last time around.

Barack needs the independents big time to gain the nomination--and especially in the general election.

I can just see Lieberman playing up your endorsement of Barack--and getting the independent at home to vote McCain.

Nothing personal--but sometimes an endorsement can be counter-productive. And sometimes it is best to keep it quiet on a strategic basis.

It's about getting Barack elected--not about "us."

[Tackora]

Thaks Ned, Just remember we still support YOU!

[OhPlease2007]

Ned, we all love you & hope you run again, but what exactly are you endorsing in Obama? A bad attendance record?, being against the war but continuing to fund it?, voting for the Patriot Act?, mysteriously missing state government records??? C'mon Ned! LOL When Obama gets properly vetted, either by the M$M or the Republicans, he is going to get his head handed to him. In my opinion, Obama fails miserably to walk his, 'talk.'

Edwards/Dodd '08!

[H8FascistCons]

America is being set up to elect another loser, Obama and Hillary are both republican lite and will govern accordingly with Washington lobbyists and corporations running all over us. Look who is endorsing these two candidates, they are Democratic blue dogs, John Kerry, Tom Daschle and yes Ned Lamont all republican lite . We can have a twenty first century FDR leader or these two republican lite candidates, America you're about to get it wrong again and sink us for another four years... Think, Think, Think...

[Libsrule]

NED!!!! Dude, where ya been!!

I was and still am heartbroken you lost. The jerk democrats who said they would support the democratic nominee and then basically gave you lip service all deserve to be voted out!

I hope you keep in the public eye and become a thorn in Tailgunner Joe Liberman's ass!

Let us know when you run again and I'll contribute just like last time. I had hopes for ya Ned!! Keep them going.

By the way, I'm an Edwards supporter and hopefully an Al Gore supporter before too much longer but if Hillary gets the nod I won't vote for her, and if Obama does I WILL vote for him).

Take care and let us know if you read these things.

NED LAMONT! CT SENATOR 2012!! (it's not that far away)

[scottarino]

Yay, Ned. Lets just change! Nevermind the corporate ties to Obama. He's the "feel-good" flavor this year. Talks like MLK, walks like CEO.