Published Sunday, October 19, 2008 6:05 AM
In the past 50 years, The Eagle has never recommended a Democrat for president. We made no recommendations in 1960 and 1964 -- when Texas' own Lyndon B. Johnson was on the Democratic ticket -- nor did we in 1968 -- although we did praise Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey's position on the Vietnam War. We did not in 1976 and 1980. In 1972, The Eagle recommend Richard Nixon, in 1984, Ronald Reagan. We recommended George H.W. Bush in 1988 and 1992 and his son in 2000. We recommended Bob Dole in 1996.
Four years ago, the Editorial Board couldn't recommend George W. Bush for a second term, but we also couldn't recommend Sen. John Kerry either, so we made no choice.
This year is different, in large part because of the very difficult challenges facing this nation after eight years of a failed Bush administration. We are faced with a choice between Sen. John McCain, who claims to be an agent of change but promotes the policies of the past, and Sen. Barack Obama, who also wears the change mantle, but offers a vision for the future, even if he has yet to fully explain how he would carry out that vision if elected president in little more than two weeks.
Every 20 or 30 years or so, a leader comes along who understands that change is necessary if the country is to survive and thrive. Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the 20th century and his cousin Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan -- these leaders have inspired us to rise to our better nature, to reach out to be the country we can be and, more important, must be.
Barack Obama is such a leader. He doesn't have all the answers, to be sure, but at least he is asking the right questions. While we would like more specificity on his plans as president, we are confident that he can lead us ever forward, casting aside the doubts and fears of recent years.
John McCain is a great American, no question. He served his country with honor in the Navy - enduring five years of hell in a North Vietnamese prison -- and he has represented Arizona and, indeed, the country well in the Senate. He has been a maverick at times, but his unbridled support for the Iraq War shows a lack of understanding at the weariness of the military and the country to remain much longer in a country unwilling or unable to govern itself.
Perhaps Obama won't be able to bring American men and women safely home from Iraq in the promised 16 months, but at least he is willing to make the effort.
Also of great concern is McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. Like Obama, she has little experience in governing, but unlike the Illinois senator, she is a candidate of little intellectual curiosity who appears to be hopelessly unready to be president. The fact that people are confused by the difference between Palin and comedian Tina Fey's caustic impersonation is clear evidence that Palin should not be, as they say, a heartbeat away from the presidency.
We also are dismayed by the tenor of the McCain-Palin campaign. If their goal is to severely wound an Obama presidency should that come to pass, they are dangerously close to succeeding.
It is time for America to look to its future with hope and optimism. It is time to say we can be better. It is time to redefine who we will be as a leader of nations.
With hope in our hearts and confidence in our choice, The Eagle recommends a vote for Barack Obama for president.
1 comments:
As the election draws closer to Nov 4, the American people will see the true results if Obama wins. There are just too many questions on his past, his vision of the future (EuroSocialist Government), spreading the wealth from those who are working for a living (Rich @ $42,000+) to those who would rather live under a welfare state, a medical system such as Canada. We just do not need to have Obama elected. We would have just more of the Democrat philosophy running our lives. Heaven forbid. With Obama’s, Biden’s and Democratic leadership’s rhetoric, or I should say, lack of we would be in a world of hurt.
Obama is promising legislation that would make it more difficult for workers to hold a private ballot vote in unionization drives, which critics say would lead to harassment and intimidation, has spurred a pitched battle between powerful labor unions supportive of Sen. Barack Obama and big business in the presidential campaign. Seen by the AFL-CIO as a way to boost union rolls by hundreds of thousands of new members, the hotly-contested bill has become this year's No. 1 election issue for organized labor. Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised union bosses that the Employee Free Choice Act will become law in 2009 if he wins the presidency in November.
Barack Obama was shaking hands the other day, which is a necessary thing for politicians. The question he got, though, was not typical. A man who described himself as a plumber by trade said Obama wants to tax him more Obama's response was typical: "It's not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure everybody behind you has a chance....just spread the wealth around." Sounds like a confirmation, if any is needed, that this man is glued to the redistribution of wealth. His running mate, Joe Biden, in his “Patriotic Comment” on paying taxes also confirmed it. Any doubts? I didn't think so. Anyway, I don't think many Americans in Obama's dreams even pay any taxes to begin with. 44% today, do not. Folks, more handouts are coming if he's elected. You can bet on it.
The print and news pundits have really become surrogates for the Obama campaign and should register as such. I have lost all faith in the majority of them. They need to become more fair and balanced in their reporting and coverage of the facts. I would love to see a more truthful analyst of Obama. There are too many unanswered question on him and his agenda. It is about time that the "True" facts on Obama’s past associations are exposed. Look... We need to continue the Ayers Obama connection however, his associations with ACORN, his campaign contributions, particularly foreign groups, Aslinksy, Rezko and Wright are just additional examples of issues which need to be addressed and exposed. The ACORN relationship, particularly, should be addressed. Socialized Medicine is something we do not need. Look at the number of Canadians who come to the states for medical attention. The same applies to Mexican citizens who cross the border for medical care. More importantly, look at the level of care in countries under socialized medicine compared to the USA. No comparison. As we get nearer to Nov 4, think hard on your choices. You've help make your country great, now vote to keep it the same Vote Wisely Nov 4th!
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