An Apt Comparison

Three Kennedys endorsed Barack Obama today, and there was much rejoicing (from me at least) and gnashing of the teeth (from Clinton supporters). How huge is this for the Obama campaign? Well, I don't know, how huge is it for Hillary to have Bill on her side? Bill brings his popularity and political savvy. The Kennedys bring their name and pedigree and, more importantly, their authority on who most closely embodies all the things that made John F. Kennedy one of our greatest presidents. Oh, and they know a little something about getting elected to public office. Watch the speeches of Caroline and Edward Kennedy and see how JFK gets name dropped so often and how Obama is compared to him. Obama himself isn't comfortable with that comparison, but let's be honest here; who is the last candidate for president that has inspired this kind of enthusiasm, that has called people to action and had them come forth in droves? Senator Kennedy really got into his endorsement and went at the Clintons, but not necessarily by name. Tim Russert says, and I believe, that he's putting Bill on notice. If they want to keep doing the terribly negative campaigning, he's going to step up and take Bill on. That would be a sight to behold, but I think Bill has gotten the message from South Carolina.

Anyway, Obama's acceptance speech was phenomenal, as usual. Not as good as his South Carolina victory speech, but still goose bump inducing. I don't see how anyone can watch him and not feel something, anything that will stir your heart and make you believe that his message isn't just about words, but also action. Action that we can all take, that proves we can make a difference in our country. It's not just empty rhetoric. Even people staunchly on the other side, conservatives like Joe Scarborough, have felt the inspiration and hope that Obama is espousing, and they can feel like I feel that America is ready for what Obama brings to the table. It's going to be a tough rode to November 5th, but I believe now, more than ever, that we will make Obama the next president and turn the page on the destructive politics that have defined Washington for as long as I've been able to vote. And I'm committed to convincing others that he is the right man and that this is the right time for him to be president.

This is something I posted verbatim on the Penny Arcade forums. You'll not likely find a more classy and informed set of fellows on the internet than you will in the Debate and Discussion section there (okay, the classy bit may be stretching the truth a bit). After posting it, I realized that it was a good thing to record here, as it really captures what I've been feeling and saying for some time about Barack Obama.

I had a conversation about Obama with my aunt, who is Hillary's age. She didn't say if she'd vote for him or not, but she did say that she didn't think white people would. I argued with her, pointing out all of you guys here and some of my white friends who are receptive to Obama. It's so sad to me that racial politics ground down my parent's generation so badly that they just can't have any optimism or hope or enthusiasm that maybe, just maybe things have changed and that we're ready to move on. I guess me and my wife will have to have enough hope and optimism between the two of us to cover her mom and my aunt. The boomer generation desperately needs the kind of change that Obama represents, if for no other reason than to validate all the struggling they did in their youth to change our nation.