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Contrary to what many polls indicate, Senator Obama does indeed have allies and supporters in West Virginia. Today, the Charleston Gazette announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
We hope [West Virginians] support the brilliant, inspiring, eloquent frontrunner in the race, Barack Obama.
Sen. Obama is a rare figure in U.S. politics - a deep thinker who rises above partisan sniping and makes statecraft seem noble. He raises hope that, after the disastrous Bush years mercifully come to an end, Americans can again be proud of their national leader.
I admit that I am somewhat surprised by the Gazette's endorsement --- especially while the West Virginia Democratic primary is over a month away. But, I must applaud their actions.
In endorsing Obama, Sen. Jay Rockefeller pointed out that the young Illinois lawyer had to work hard - "there was nothing sheltered about his life" - but he rose to national stature. Rockefeller said Obama was far-sighted enough to oppose President Bush's unwise plan to invade Iraq while most others, including rival Hillary Clinton, supported the invasion.
"The indisputable fact is, Barack Obama was right about Iraq when many of us were wrong," the West Virginia senator said. "It was a tough call and the single greatest national security question - and mistake - of our time. ... What matters most in the Oval Office is sound judgment and decisive action. It's about getting it right on crucial national security questions the first time, and every time."
In an accompanying article today, Senator Rockefeller defends his early and unexpected endorsement of Senator Obama. In it, I caught one interesting comment:
"Obama is simply unflappable. He takes questions carefully and makes you a believer. My whole family is united [behind a candidate] as never before ..."
Rockefeller has been the target of some scathing remarks in letters to the editor and in the Gazette's so-called reader's voice. His defense included several reasons that may inspire more West Virginia white men like myself to support Senator Obama.
From the Gazette's endorsement:
"The indisputable fact is, Barack Obama was right about Iraq when many of us were wrong," the West Virginia senator said. "It was a tough call and the single greatest national security question - and mistake - of our time. ... What matters most in the Oval Office is sound judgment and decisive action. It's about getting it right on crucial national security questions the first time, and every time."
AND
Obama appeals to the innate decency in all groups of people, beyond party lines, without personal grandiosity. He fosters a desire to restore America's finest values of honor and fairness.
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