Why Caroline Backed Obama

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  • Posted By: Jennifer5647 @ 01/30/2008 11:01:11 PM

    Caroline Kennedy's op-ed piece spoke to everything I have been feeling. Sen. Obama's speech at the DNC in 2004 was the first moment in my life that a politician made me feel I can actually take part in this country's political and social system. After that no one, including Sen, Clinton, whom I supported as a NY'r, made me feel that way. I feel that same feeling of optimism from Obama this year. She really tapped into something.

  • Posted By: Jennifer5647 @ 01/30/2008 11:00:41 PM

    Caroline Kennedy's op-ed piece spoke to everything I have been feeling. Sen. Obama's speech at the DNC in 2004 was the first moment in my life that a politician made me feel I can actually take part in this country's political and social system. After that no one, including Sen, Clinton, whom I supported as a NY'r, made me feel that way. I feel that same feeling of optimism from Obama this year. She really tapped into something.

  • Posted By: rosieinalbany @ 01/30/2008 9:27:48 PM

    Also I heard the Kennedy's have alot of real estate in Obama's district in Chicago so there are other reasons for this endorsement.

  • Posted By: jwatlaw @ 01/30/2008 10:13:55 PM

    Anyone who states that they have no idea about Obama's positions on the issues haven't looked at his website or attended one of his speeches, where he compellingly advocates what he would do, if elected President. Stop relying on the media to tell you what position a candidate does or does not have, and what he will or will not do once he gets into office. Obama has handled scores of legislative issues, and in his time in the Senate has worked on important matters (health care, arms control, ethics reform). Besides, do you want another 8 years of whitewater, filegate, "I did not have sex with that woman?"
    Jwilliams

    • Posted By: Bhambelle @ 01/30/2008 10:24:41 PM

      I've looked at his website. He says he wants to do all the right things, but doesn't say how he plans to do them, and he has no experience getting things done in Washington. And there are things that are just plain misrepresented in his history, like the idea that he took the job with a civil rights firm and gave up a six figure salary. All you have to do is check what he paid for his home to know he wasn't taking much of a cut in pay to take that job. Civil rights lawyers make six figure salaries too. And the website says he litigated civil rights cases, but you can't find a single case he tried. He wasn't a litigator. About the time he might have started trying cases he took a leave of absence to run for the legislature and then pretty much quit to be a politician. IMO he took the Civil rights job for the same reason he converted to Christianity, because it would be better for his political carreer.

  • Posted By: ruthbethinger @ 01/30/2008 9:48:04 PM

    I'd like to say to folks like DCSteve that while I agree that you might be disillusioned with Obama talking about hope and such, it's incorrect to assume from that that he has no substance. (The Clinton campaign likes to push that false logic.) Because of the way the primaries go, only Iowa voters really got to see the policy wonk side of Obama - because when he introduced each of his policy proposals, he gave a 60 minute detailed speech on it - of course, only covered on C-SPAN (because no major network cares about that sort of thing).

    Here's why Obama talks about hope: because he knows that if he can't get enough people out to vote the status-quo politicians out of office, anyone who is elected president will be stuck with an obstructionist senate, and even if Clinton is capable she won't be able to get anything more through than anyone else.

    Oh, and the thing about Obama's health plan not being universal while Clinton's is - that's just spin. The real truth is neither is truly universal, and they'd both leave about the same number out - they'd just be different folks. Kucinich was the only one to propose a truly universal plan.

    • Posted By: Bhambelle @ 01/30/2008 10:05:37 PM

      We won't be stuck with an obstructionist senate if we get a few more Democrats elected to the Senate. Let's stop the fillibustering that way, not by breaking something down that has worked successfully for two hundred years. Besides, how is he proposing to change anything significant? He can't make the two party system go away, he can't eliminate spokes people for business and environmental and healthcare interests. That would be a violation of our Constitution. He can't eliminate anything without the support of all those political hacks you are complaining about who have been elected to office and are serving the people of this country. If he does win the nomination, and he does get elected, he won't be a king or dictator, he will be the head of ONE branch of government that has to work with OTHER branches of government to get things done.

  • Posted By: Ngouabe @ 01/30/2008 10:04:57 PM

    The "Kennedy Airlift" also brought to the USA a young Kenyan woman named Wangari Maathai. In 2004, she became the first African woman and first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize; Indeed the dream stills leaves on.

  • Posted By: mjno @ 01/30/2008 9:40:51 PM

    I am an over 40 Roman Catholic. Caroline isn't swaying me to drink the Kool Aid. I just want to know, where are the headlines on RFK JR and Kathleen Townsend's endorsements of Hillary. This Kennedy endorsement is part of 4 men who overtook the Democratic party: Gore, Kerry, Dean, and Ted Kennedy. They have it out for the Clintons that is what this is about NOT the messiah coming. As a Catholic we do not worship false gods.

    • Posted By: 2bizzylizzy @ 01/30/2008 9:59:01 PM

      Hello, I agree here, the media is biased against Clinton's campaign. I too wondered about
      RFK Jr went online and found that he, two sisters and his mom Ethel Kennedy have supported Clinton, no mention in the mass media at all. I have not made up my mind who to vote for but am looking closely at what is being said by whom and then checking out facts before buying the whole package. It's still too early to tell who the real Obama is, but we have seen Hillary face tough issues. I am too a staunch Democrat and a Catholic and a Kennedy admirer but don't feel we should just line up behind them or anyone else.

  • Posted By: denisemalone07 @ 01/30/2008 9:56:57 PM

    Many of these negative comments are sickening. Even if you don't support Barack Obama, there is no need to be nasty. I have found that many Hillary Clinton supporters resort to name calling and just uncalled for nastiness. The story was a great one and very inspiring. Can you at least admit that? Whether you believe it or not, the Kennedys are relevant, regardless of how you feel. Grow up!!!

  • Posted By: margaret.cook @ 01/30/2008 9:54:32 PM

    I greatly admire Caroline Kennedy Sclossberg's intelligence. I especially admired her book on the Bill of Rights and how it connected to present day issues. As a middle aged, caucasion woman, I looked forward to supporting Hillary Clinton; much as I have looked forward to supporting most women in elected leadership rolls. Very seldom have I felt discouraged with those choices. However, I now am considering voting for Barak Obama, simply because the prospect of a Clinton White House (and Bill Clinton's prescence, disturbs me greatly. I hope Hillary can replace his very public prescence with her daughter for the rest of the campaign.

  • Posted By: ROSEBUD4752270 @ 01/30/2008 9:54:32 PM

    I AM AN OVER 40 ROMAN CATHOLIC, AND WILL VOTE FOR THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE, MOST CAPABLE, MOST MARRIED TO BILL CLINTON, AND MOST ABLE TO LEAD THIS NATION... WE NEED A BRILLIANT WOMAN LIKE HILARY, GET PAST THE MUSHY STORY IT MEANS VERY LITTLE, OBAMA HAS NO HISTORY OF BEING A GOOD LEADER OR EVEN BEING MORE THEN A JUNIOR POLITICIAN

  • Posted By: teacher83 @ 01/30/2008 9:52:45 PM

    Personally, I believe Barack Obama is what America needs. He has fresh ides and he has a way of making people believe in him. All politicians talk and say their views in the debates but, I believe he will truly fight for change. Regardless of who in the democratic party gets the nominee as the lead candidate, there are two people who would serve our country well as President of the United States.

  • Posted By: llimdlo @ 01/30/2008 9:51:35 PM

    One would imagine that based on time and place that the best leader would be chosen. In this election the person who contemplated, paused, and made a decision is the deserving. Not the one who used a flow chart to make a decision. Lets look at the charisma, the courage, not the political heritage. Clinton was a new brand when he became president, no more so then Mr. O.

  • Posted By: mjno @ 01/30/2008 9:48:23 PM

    I hope that this is NOT all talk here. I read each and every comment, there is a lot of support for Hillary here, NOW go and do something, get at least one other person to vote for her. Do your homework first. She needs you, we need you.

  • Posted By: dkoehler43 @ 01/30/2008 9:45:03 PM

    The excesses of the 60's that Obama refers to and that people had become tired of included the drugs, disrespectful behavior, rioting, taking out legitimate dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War on the returning troops, and an overall contentiousness between radical element and conservative elements of society. Obama is saying that there is a constructive way to bring about change. It involves bringing people together with an optimistic purpose, not inciting bitter acrimony and using the bitterness as an excuse for destructive behaviors and apathy.

  • Posted By: dkoehler43 @ 01/30/2008 9:43:04 PM

    The excesses of the 60's that Obama refers to and that people had become tired of included the drugs, disrespectful behavior, rioting, taking out legitimate dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War on the returning troops, and an overall contentiousness between radical element and conservative elements of society. Obama is saying that there is a constructive way to bring about change. It involves bringing people together with an optimistic purpose, not inciting bitter acrimony and using the bitterness as an excuse for destructive behaviors.

  • Posted By: bobbymangat @ 01/30/2008 9:41:04 PM

    This country is not belong to either Bobby Kennedy or emotional stories of anyone's family, we need to see who can take the responsibilties, we need a president who is fiscal responsible and who can bring back our credit around the world. I think Clinton's are the only one who can do this job.

  • Posted By: chefmikel @ 01/30/2008 9:38:22 PM

    Are the Kennedys even relevent anymore?

  • Posted By: chefmikel @ 01/30/2008 9:37:33 PM

    Are the Kennedys even relevant anymore?

  • Posted By: maxstar212 @ 01/30/2008 9:27:31 PM

    Obama is JFK, RFK, MLK and Reagan. Obama loves Reagan. Read why he believes people voted for him. "
    "I think they felt like with all the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think people, he just tapped into what people were already feeling, which was we want clarity we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing."

    The excesses and growth of the government were what the Democrats did. It was the Great Society, The Environmental Movement, Medicare, Civil Rights, Progressive taxation, Government Regulation of Corporations and Gay Rights. Calling them excesses is Republican language. Most Democrats didn't think they went far enough. And the "clarity" was against the honest soul searching that Americans had after Vietnam and Watergate of our place in the world.

  • Posted By: rosieinalbany @ 01/30/2008 9:24:24 PM

    Very nice stories. Very elitist also. I have teenagers and they don't go to Harvard. They went to wonderful and crappy schools and mingled with the masses. We are realists - and former radicals. We are for Hillary. When the Obama campaign asked for my support and $300 (last night) I LOL. Get real America, another snow job, another Republican administration. What, a recession isn't enough, you want a depression?

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