UPDATE: Now, Caroline AND Ted Kennedy endorse Barack Obama

(UPDATE: On Sunday the Associated Press, quoting "party officials," was the first to report that Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts would endorse Sen. Barack Obama at a news conference in Washington on Monday. As an influential party elder, Kennedy's endorsement has been eagerly-sought and long-awaited in Democratic circles, not least for its accompanying connections to his broad national political and fundraising network.

(And its loss is a blow to the Clinton campaign, although perhaps not a surprise after Caroline Kennedy's endorsement reported below.

(The Times' Maria LaGanga confirmed the impending Ted Kennedy endorsement, which will come on Monday in Washington during a joint appearance at American University with his niece, Caroline. According to Times sources, Sen. Kennedy will actively campaign for Obama around the country with special emphasis on labor and Latino groups, where Kennedy is strong after his ardent advocacy of immigration reform.

(The other two big Democratic endorsements much-sought in this campaign were Sen. John Kerry and former vice president Al Gore. Kerry has already also endorsed Obama. Gore has yet to take sides, although his relationship with Hillary Clinton during their White House years was often fraught with friction.

(Sen. Clinton was in Memphis at a black church service when her spokesman, Doug Hattaway, sought to downplay the Kennedy endorsement by issuing the following statement: "She has a great deal of respect for Sen. Kennedy and is very proud of the endorsements she's received from her Senate colleagues. At the end of the day, people will select a candidate based more on their merits than on their endorsements.'')

A very, very good night for Barack Obama just got better.

Just minutes before the Illinois senator officially claimed his victory in South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary to an adoring crowd, his campaign publicized what readers of the New York Times will learn in Sunday's edition -- Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the president whose aura Obama has sought to capture, wants him to win.

She begins her Op-Ed article thusly: "Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and....

hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama."

That's music to the ears of the Obama campaign, which from the start of his White House bid has sought to cast him in the role of John F. Kennedy.

That effort received a bit of a boost this summer when the man we described at the time as "the most devout keeper of the assassinated president's legacy, Theodore Sorensen," promoted him as Kennedy's logical heir. But Sorensen, at this point in his long life, is known mainly to historians.

An embrace from Caroline Kennedy -- who a vast swath of the American public has watched grow from a pixieish little girl who brightened the White House to an accomplished middle-aged woman who has weathered the early deaths of her dad and brother -- is quite another matter.

Her piece also contains some backhanded slaps at Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Kennedy extols Obama for "running a dignified and honest campaign." She writes: "And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning."

And then there's this, an assertion that likely will garner the most attention (and surely will cause Bill Clinton to grimace):

"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

Her move will no doubt intensify speculation about whether her uncle, party stalwart Ted Kennedy, will come off the sidelines in the primary race. It was reported earlier this week that he was among the party heavyweights who, in private conversations, urged ex-President Clinton to soften the barbs he's been directing at Obama -- advice that initially, at least, was ignored.

-- Don Frederick 

Comments

[James]

I support Barrack Obama because he is the truth and he represents "We the People..." God has sent us another true leader of the people and we must embrace him. The great leaders of the people are Abe Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Barrack Obama.

Rock the Vote!

[Retired FDNY]

I was 10 years old when my mother dragged me down to Jamaica Avenue in Queens, NY to see the late Bobby Kennedy. He was looking to become our next President at the time. Unfortunately, his dreams of a better America were cut short. Let's get behind OBAMA.......he will unite this great nation, unlike Clinton(s).

[donna and dan bearden]

I also wasmoved this year by Obama. After many years of waiting for a chance to believe again.db

[verycold]

Barack and John Kennedy shared the ability to move the masses. I think that is what Caroline was referring to. So if the message is hope, it is possible to bring people up to become better people when the messenger is so inspirational. I would beg to differ with Caroline about how similar both men are when it comes to their resume. John Kennedy was youthful as well but packed a much thicker resume. As we all know, Barack is very short in the experience department. It doesn't mean he can't learn, but he will be doing that as president of a super power country. The fact that Barack was against the war is really a mute point at this time. I would bet Caroline, a liberal democrat, would be opposed to just about any war, and thus she might differ with Barack about that. He has said publicly that he would use force to find OBL. To be clear, he was against THIS war not necessarily any wars to come. I seriously doubt Caroline would say the same. I am not sure I would want to be compared to Kennedy as a presidential hopeful either. We all loved JFK for his inspiration but he was not a great leader by any stretch. He made lots of mistakes in the short time he was there and most certainly was a very flawed man personally. I am sure loads of people have written Caroline over the years to tell her how much her father moved them. I feel very much the same. My concern about Barack is putting all that inspiration into a practical solutions with issues that need addressing. Since he has very little history to showing me this can happen, I just have to hope. At this point in our country should we be relying on hope or looking to elect somebody with a history we can judge?

[Liana and Rama Martens]

Hey Brother we support you here in Canada...All the Best to you in your Campaign your doing a good job love and love Mr. Rama Martens

[George Thomas]

The bigotry below is what many of us in this country are tired of dealing with. Blacks can be just as bigoted as whites and whites can be just as bigoted as blacks. But the post below shows a basic lack of critical thinking and represents a close minded nature that has become the hallmark of America. What's the fact that Barack Obama have to do with anything? Oh, and by the way, I don't think that Hillary Clinton ever donned fatigues and carried a rifle in the infantry either. Idiot.

Sad that Caroline would endorse Obama. Kerry was probably behind it. I don't think her mother (Jacqueline) would be happy. If he beats Hilary, the Republican's will turn out in a force unheard of.

I would not be proud to have someone who is unknown in the White House. A White House with a Black President who has never been in the military. Woe is us.

Kerry couldn't win and neither will this arrogant Obama who thinks he is another Lincoln and a David Palmer like on 24.

genadoll@yahoo.com

[Ellen]

I am an Independent that leans Republican. Caroline's endorsement gave me pause simply because Caroline up to this point has stayed out of politics. For Caroline to step forward is an event in my opinion. Opinions seems to think the endorsement is no longer relevent because no one cares about the John Kennedy legacy anymore. I wonder. Caroline's brother John was in the political spotlight and seemed to generate a great deal of interest before his tragic death.
I watched Obama last evening give his victory speech. He impressed me with the first part of the speech but sort of lost me when he listed the typical Democratic platforms for the party faithful towards the end. That said, I will pay attention to Obama simply because I believe Washington needs to change. I am sick of business as usual in both the position of President and in Congress. Both the Office of President and Congress are responsible for policy and problems the Nation needs to resolve. Political Endorsements usually hold no weight with me for this reason. I always wonder what was promised behind closed doors to win a political endorsement. This is not the case with Caroline Kennedy.

[Robert Stein]

In an interview after her husband's death, Jacqueline Kennedy told me she was disturbed that JFK was being remembered for how he died rather than what he had lived for. Forty years later, their daughter is doing something about that.

It's curious timing to have the New York Times run Caroline Kennedy's OpEd two days after the paper endorsed Hillary Clinton in the NY primary. Is there ambivalence on the part of its editors?

http://ajliebling.blogspot.com/2008/01/president-like-my-father.html

[molly]

i always admire the kennedy's. got good respect to caroline. but after endorsing obama, i had my second thought of her now. i didn't think it is a good idea endorsing him at all, i must say she should have gone neutral instead and vote for obama if she likes. now she is giving it away her divisiveness.
caroline please, don't get carried away. i've seen obama's victory speech in sc and honest i was moved by it. he is articulated, a good preacher, very good public speaker. but after that i said, hang on a minute, yah, this is america, not a hollywood.
i have read hillary clinton about what she had done for everyone, her perseverance, hardwork, vision, courage, intelligence, experience, and many more i wouldn't change for helping her to go on power.
if only she could make a speech as good as obama, or michelle i would say hillary is perfect in the campaign.

[Zandra]

I am excited about this election because it is finally forcing America to honestly assess our racial bias. Blacks love[d] and support[ed] Bill Clinton for many years. Now that the likelihood of a third term is not guaranteed for Bill he is pulling off the gloves. Having once been called the first black president and proudly wearing that title he is now a few primaries short of calling blacks the N-word. Obama will be a great president.

[ROSS KELLY]

Barack Obama - this is the future of America.

He is a man raised by God, with the right sense of judgement to move the US to the next level. America is going down, cant Americans see - In Europe,
there is a seeming connection with Baracks message. He inspires us here as we listen to him, he always commands attention and his words are always loaded.

America wake up!

[Paige Goodpasture]

I am thrilled by Ms. Kennedy's endorsement of Senator Obama for several reasons. First, I support Senator Obama as the best possible candidate for the presidency and any high-profile endorsement such as this is good news for his candidacy, especially in light of the inexplicable endorsement of Senator Clinton by the New York Times last week.
But second, Ms. Kennedy gives eloquent voice to the main reason I support Senator Obama -- his character. The citizens of this great country have suffer through seven administrations -- yes, 28 years -- of both parties who have repeatedly lied to us to further their own agendas at great cost to this country. Where once we were the heroes of the world, we now are viewed as bullies who will stop at nothing to impose ourselves on the rest of the citizens of the Earth. There was Iran-Contra and related disgraces that stretched through two administrations. There was the regretable Lewinsky affair. Finally, there is the Iraq war. All involved boldfaced lies to the American people by the president that we elected and who holds in trust the values on which this country is built.
Well, we are tired of presidents who tear this country down, brick by brick, in the name of personal or partisan agendas. Senator Clinton is clearly made in this mold, as her campaign over the last three weeks has shown. Senator Obama, on the other hand, has shown himself to be made of the strong stuff of true leadership, refusing to step in the pile left behind by the Clintons' ugly tactics and instead continuing to talk of what presidential campaigns should be made of -- values and ideals and how to make those a reality. Ms. Kennedy puts all of this into words much better than I. What we need is NOT the kind of experience that Mrs. Clinton claims, but instead a true leader who is sure of himself and of what he and this country stand for, and who will make his decisions as president from that place. Vote for Barack Obama, and be proud of this country's government again.

[Peter207]

Are we talking about the drunkin murderer who was given a "pass" for driving Mary Jo Kopeckny to her death while in a drunken state?

The same Ted Kennedy who, after driving the young women in his car OFF a bridge into the waters...Mr. Kennedy got out - saved himself "ONLY" went home changed his clothes then decided to have someone call the police?
Did I remember that correctly?

Or what about the Kennedy nephew(The Rapist) in florida? Did he also support and endorse him? No. Only supported and assisted in covering up the rape.

The same Ted Kennedy sitting in the Senate while his collegues regularly molested young boys thru their special "page" system yet pretended no to be aware.

Who this man endorses is meaningless.
I have absolutely no respect for him at all.

Who Caroline Kennedy endorses? She was a mere child when her father was alive. What does she know about his policits, character or lack thereof(sleeping with every woman he could within reach)integrity or lack thereof, honesty....

She s a young woman who only can judge from that which people have told her.

As a matter of fact, JFK 's lack of knowledge got us in the Viet Name war(another needless war) his passing left LBJ with the dirty task of cleaning it up & hoping to bring the troops home. (VIET NAM?)JFK didn't have a clue how to get out of Viet Nam.

So Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy endorse Brack Obama? Who cares.

Is that supposed to make me stop thinking for myself?

To be honest - Why would we want another administration that either of these people endorsed?

I thought Mr. Obama was campaigning with the thought in mind" Leaving behind the past of the old regime..forging forward with new thoughts and ideas"

What's new about Senator Ted Kennedy or Caroline Kennedy? I don't see either as a koo.

[brandon]

I think there have been defining personalities in American history--John Kennedy is one of them and became a touchstone for an entire generation. As a woman, I want to support the first viable female candidate for president, but I also like to think that there will be plenty of better female candidates to support in the future. Why must I choose along gender lines? Like Caroline Kennedy, I think Barack Obama is a much more powerful agent of change at this particular moment in history. It's time to shed the generation that came of age during the sixties and look towards something new--someone who will define this particular moment and move us forward.

[G. wright]

ENOUGH OF THE CLINTONS!!! GIVE US HONOR AND BRING BACK SCRUPLES TO THE COUNTRY. CLINTONS ARE DISGUSTING POLITICIANS AND OUR COUNTRY NEEDS HONESTY AND RESPECT FROM THE WORLD. EINSTEIN QUOTE: YOU CAN NOT SOLVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SAME KIND OF THINKING THAT CREATED IT. GIVE US A NEW - FRESH - UNCORRUPT PRESIDENT.

[Zandra]

I am excited about this election because it is finally forcing America to honestly assess our racial bias. Blacks love[d] and support[ed] Bill Clinton for many years. Now that the likelihood of a third term is not guaranteed for Bill he is pulling off the gloves. Having once been called the first black president and proudly wearing that title he is now a few primaries short of calling blacks the N-word. Obama will be a great president.

[Sophie]

To JohnSmith.P

Confronting Yugoslavia/Serbia for the horrific genocide carried out against the Bosnian Muslims is about the only thing which B. Clinton did worthy of redemption, in my book. However, it was too little too late. There was a slew of resignations of career State Dept officials from Clinton's administration as protest over their complicit inaction during the Bosnian holocaust. Madeline Albright, when asked if the deaths of nearly 500,000 Iraqi children were an acceptable direct consequence of the devastating and inhumane "sanctions" against Iraq (a collective punishment on the Iraqi people for the former CIA-buddy Saddam Hussein), replied "Yes." She needs to be tried as a murderer.

[Ravi D]

I had great admiration for the Kennedys.But do I see envy on the part of the Kennedys towards the Clintons.Kennedy was overrated as a President and served only three years as President before the unfortunate assasination.Clinton not only had two terriffic terms as President but became "the first black President" with great respect from the black community.

Ted Kennedy could never become a President because of his mistress who was killed in his car at Chipaquidiq and he failed to report to the police in time.Clinton had become even more popular during his Monica Lewinsky problem.Kennedy had started the Vietnam War which was many times worst than the Iraq war.

If Hillary still wins after so many celebrity endorsements against her then the Kennedy legacy rather than the Clinton legacy would be at stake!

[veritas]

Hey Everyone -Get a grip- Obama is no JFK nor Lincoln -read yesterday's OP ED by Presidential Historian "Obama's Misuse of History" http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-wilentz26jan26,0,5561702.story

Democrats have a way of finding candidates that lose. Here we go again. Caroline & Ted will split the Democratic party. Racism is far less acceptable than the rampant sexism that has permeated this campaign. Woman got the vote 50 years after African American men. That's a sad fact and we have allowed Obama to characterize HIllary's foreign policy as having tea with leader's wives-where's the outrage? We need some push back against the media trashing of a woman who has done the hard work to be ready to deal with the enormous problems facing our country. Massachusetts has a governor that used the same political operative as Obama-exact same words of hope and change-unfortunately since he's taken office he has gone from "yes we can" to don't give up on me. Bright Star of Mass. Tarnished by Lapses
'Don't Give Up on Me,' Gov. Patrick Pleads
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2007 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701005.html
This is the prototype for what we can expect from someone with very little experience.

[Donzi]

sf chronicle endores Barack Obama.....Go Bama!

[Donzi]

I respond with evidence ... Dick Morris statements in an effort to set the record straight on Hillary's history.
For those of you who don't know Dick Morris was the political advisor to Bill Clinton during his White House years. He was about as close to the Clintons as anyone during that time. I am reposting his comments concerning Hillary.
"If you happen to see the Bill Clinton five minute TV ad for Hillary in which he introduces the commercial by saying that he wants to share some things we may not know about Hillary's background . . .
beware .
"Bill says: "Hillary didn't succeed at getting health care for all Americans in 1994 but she kept working at it and helped to
create the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides five million children with health insurance."
The facts are: Hillary had nothing to do with creating CHIP. It
was included in the budget deal between Clinton and Republican Majority Leader Senator Trent Lott. I know; I helped to negotiate the deal. The money came half from the budget deal and half from the Attorney Generals' tobacco settlement. Hillary had nothing to do with either source of funds. "
by Dick Morris

[John]

Wow, after reading these posts, I am really sad for my Democratic party. I have been a lifelong Democrat because I believe in the core principles of our party, especially economic and social justice for all.

As each of the three leading Democratic contenders are light years ahead of all the Republican contenders on issues like Iraq, health care, tax policy, and immigration, I will vote for the eventual Democratic nominee, even if it is not the candidate that I vote for in the California primary.

However, when I read many of the posts from Senator Obama's supporters, I am struck by the vile and contemt they spew against Senator Clinton and President Clinton. The Clinton's are honorable and patriotic people who have served our country well.

I do not see the same level of garbage posted against Senator Obama by Senator Clinton's supporters. If Senator Obama truly is trying to run a "clean" campaign, it is certainly being undercut, in my view, by the vile hatred and negativity being spewed by his on-line supporters. These "supporters" use derogatory words like "Billery", "HillBill" and others. I am disgusted by such tactics and they only tend to turn me away from supporting Senator Obama.

In the last debate, Senator Edwards was able to show us that in the last few weeks, his campaign is the only one that really ran a "clean" non-negative campaign. To bad that was not reflected in the racially-charged South Carolina primary.

For our party's sake, and that of the eventual Democratic nominee, I hope the hate spewers stop poisoning the well and just shut up.

[Hillary Ready For Change]

With all due respect for Mr. Obama and the campaign he has run I'd have to agree he has alot of good things to say, who can argue with that? but the major difference is, Obama has nothing really but his words so far, what has he actually accomplished? nothing much in his 2 very short years in the Senate. He skipped on 130 Senate votes, no one does that and gets things done, seriously. Change happens when you TAKE ACTION and sitting back and not voting 130 times, is not taking action. You know I have nothing against Obama's ideas, but Hillary and Edwards both have alot more to back up their promises. One step at a time, I think Obama is an impulsive choice and the wrong choice for what America needs right now. Change is great! of course it is, we ALL want change and no one wants it and can make that change happen more effectively for what we all need to restore America right away quite like Hillary Clinton starting on her first day in office. Hillary has my vote and support all the way and John Edwards is my second choice, I wish Edwards would be Hillary's running mate in fact, those two would be just awesome together. I would consider Obama another time but he is way too young, untested and inexperienced still for what we need done now. Do the right thing and vote for what we KNOW will work at a time in America's history when we cannot afford to lose another another child, another job, another business, another family, another home, another day. Hillary already knows exactly what to do and how to do it, you cannot just promise that or say 'yes you can' make change, it takes hard work. You have to actually have the skills and know how to get it done like Hillary absolutely does. Bottom line, you don't hire an amateur to do a professional job. Vote for Hillary for real serious, immediate change, she is the sure thing and she will not let us down.

Hillary All the Way!!!!!!

[Coming Awakening]

To all against Barack, please go see him in person. I just got back to DC from my trip to SC where I saw him in person. I had chill running up and down my spine and I am no political dummy. I saw Whites, Blackc, Hispanics and more importantly young people (college, high school, and younger) all engaged in hugs and positivity.

It's time for us to turn the corner and mature as a company.

Barack is no dummy. You can't do what he's done unless you have the brain power to support it.

With Hillary, it will be another 4-8 year of Bill's girfriends, Monica, White Water, S&L scandal, and nothing getting done. Republicans will block or argue everything she tries to do. Obama will work with them and they will work with him to some extent because he does not have a negative track record.

Inspired....

[R Delacroix]

I am so disappointed with Mister Kennedy's choice, but not surprise, really.
I think Obama and his surrogates played the race card big time, "Oh how dare you to ask about Obama's past, you must be a racist... why do you need to know about Obama 130 present votes, oh you must be racist,... "
I am so bloody tired of self righteous liberals believing that any question directed to Obama is of a racist nature, but where are you guys, when Obama's camp are blatantly sexist
Where are you when Obama was touring South Carolina with reverend Donnie Mc Clurkin, a self proclaimed ex homosexual, who believe homosexuality is a choice and with a little praying, and some therapy they can all become straight. so where were you, you Hillary haters..... Where were you when Obama work against the gays, lesbian to secure the black evangelist votes. That Obama surrogates believe that the black evangelist support was contingent on latent homophobia, No one, I guess sexism and homophobia is ok among Obama supporters. Well I am outrage, and I am a proud democrat, but I will never ever vote for Obama.
NObama is my new motto