Our View: America needs Obama's steady hand
Endorsement, U.S. President
Barack Obama soared to national prominence through the force of his remarkable oratory skills - the charisma and political rock-star appeal that attracted 14,169 people to Taco Bell Arena on a Saturday morning in February.
Over the ensuing months, the Illinois Democrat has shown American voters something more subtle, but something more important. He has demonstrated the superior intellect and the calm command our nation needs now.
The Statesman editorial board endorses Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
This is not an obvious choice for a newspaper in a historically Republican state. Nor was it a unanimous choice. But we have to think about what's best for our nation, which is facing challenging and confusing times that call for even-tempered, clear-minded leadership. When the partisanship of this election finally subsidies, Obama is the man who can reach reasoned conclusions, reach across the political divides, and reach out to the common American.
In this partisan race, Obama has understandably - and, in many instances, rightly - laid much blame with the outgoing Bush administration. The economic collapse, Obama is fond of saying, renders "the final verdict" on eight years of failed policies. The costly war in Iraq, which Obama opposed from the beginning, now makes it more complicated for America to defend its interests in Iran and Afghanistan.
Obama's campaign has exploited hindsight to full advantage. Yet he has also emerged as the candidate who will move the country ahead.
Obama better understands the real economic fears gripping the middle class - and his tax and health care policies reflect that.
Obama better understands the kind of regulatory reform required to prevent a repeat of the financial market meltdown.
Obama is better equipped to build a diversified, versatile energy infrastructure, arriving at a strategy something more nuanced than a "drill, baby, drill" mantra.
Obama is better prepared to restore America's allies abroad, building the coalitions required in a turbulent world.
Obama has advanced an ambitious domestic agenda - and probably an unaffordable one. In fairness, neither he nor Republican nominee John McCain has been forthright about the tradeoffs required in the face of massive debt and deficit. We believe Obama can and will respond to fiscal reality, and apply reason and sound governing principles to the process of making tradeoffs.
After eight largely unproductive years, when a White House seemed unable to accomplish much with either a Republican- or a Democrat-controlled Congress, we believe either Obama or McCain will have a chance to get more done.
Campaigns may drag on too long for many of us, but the odyssey tests decision-making and temperament. Here, we believe Obama has passed.
When picking a running mate, Obama made a solid choice, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Biden gives an Obama administration a seasoned hand on foreign policy and a 36-year Capitol Hill veteran. For all the seductive campaign rhetoric about the value of an "outsider," the reality is that Obama is helped by having a running mate who can deliver results.
McCain countered with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who energized the GOP's conservative base and wowed many Americans with her speech at the Republican convention. Since then, though, the Sandpoint native and University of Idaho graduate has not convincingly shown she is ready for the White House.
McCain made a splashy but impulsive pick designed to court voters. Obama made a smart pick designed to build an effective governing team.
Obama and Biden have largely stayed on topic and unflappable, in the face of last-minute campaigning that has turned ugly. At their worst, Republicans have resorted to fear-mongering. In what, by comparison, pass for measured moments, McCain and Palin simply insinuate that the Democratic ticket is out of touch and elitist.
It's not only a bogus claim - given Obama's and Biden's backgrounds - but it's a silly form of reverse snobbery. Our nation has to stop equating intellect with elitism and viewing intelligence with scorn and skepticism. Considering the problems at hand, there is no better time than now to change our thinking.
McCain certainly furnishes a strong resume, and he certainly has a longer record than Obama, elected to the Senate in 2004. In theory, McCain's experience should translate into the serious, studied leadership the presidency demands.
In this campaign, however, it has not.
We applaud McCain's courage and service to our country. We do not dismiss the Arizona senator's 26-year tenure in Congress.
But we cannot dismiss what we have seen and heard during the long job interview that is a presidential campaign. Obama has earned our trust and our support.
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