Obama gets key L.A. labor endorsement
In a coup for Barack Obama, The Times' Robin Abcarian has learned that Los Angeles labor leader Maria Elena Durazo, one of the most sought after endorsements in local Democratic circles, will support his presidential bid.
Durazo is executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which represents more than 800,000 workers.
Also, this afternoon the Las Vegas Review-Journal announced in an e-mail to subscribers that it will be endorsing Obama in its Wednesday editions.
--Andrew Malcolm
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
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In my entire life, I haven't seen a candidate for president with such integrity and core honesty as Barack Obama. His soul is in grassroots organizing and in the US Constitution. He knows the institutional challenges involved in gathering disparate voices together to bring substantive change to peoples' lives. I will be moved to tears to cast my primary ballot for Barack Obama. I am ready to believe again.
Posted by: Sean | January 15, 2008 at 05:48 PM
I am so happy Sen. Obama is running for President. It seems like the last 12 years, the same people have been running, the same issues are around (health care, immigration, terrible education system, etc...)
WE NEED A CHANGE & NEW DIRECTION!
The reason everyone is coming down so hard on Obama is because he is someone that could unite this country, bring new ideas and help dismantle the politics as usual, special interest, Washington culture and government.
Do we want the old version of politics or the NEW, FRESH, FUTURE POLITICS?
GO OBAMA '08 ALL THE WAY!!!
Posted by: Robyn | January 15, 2008 at 08:23 PM
GO OBAMA! It is time for a change, some inspiration and a new way to do things in this country.
OUT with the old style, keep it in the family politics.
Lets turn the page for a NEW, FRESH DIRECTION for our country!!
GO OBAMA!
Posted by: Robyn | January 15, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Sen Obama is the most magnaimous candidate in this field. It is no surprise that diverse groups all over America are flocking to support him and join in the movement toward change we all can believe in. People all across America hunger for the leadership that Sen Obama will provide.
Yes We Can!
Posted by: Tara Brownlee | January 15, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Thank you for your support of Senator Obama. I, too, am a supporter because I believe he has the leadership qualities that this country not only needs but hungers for. I am working hard to see that he is our next President and am inspired daily by the coalition he is building. Thanks again.
Posted by: Jessica | January 15, 2008 at 09:41 PM
There is no reason to believe, except to believe, that Obama can turn anything around. He has never turned anything around in his life and lacks the proven skills to suggest he can. So, he calls on his followers to hope he can. His messianic call beckons the hopeful who gather around like close encounters of a third kind. Scarry.
He/She who offers hope based on substantive knowledge and experience and is wise to how things are accomplished gets my confidence and my vote.
Posted by: Tony | January 15, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Tony
I was undecided until last night but now, I'm squarely behind Obama. Obviously, you're a Clinton supporter and that's cool, but I want to ask you something real.
Where is she going to find an additional $30,000,000,000 to bail out sub prime victims when all three candidates have committed $150,000,000,000-$200,000,000,000 to healthcare?
On what planet do you get banks to commit to a 5 year freeze on adjustable rate mortgages resulting in HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of DOLLARS in INSTITUTIONAL CHARGE OFFS?
IT WOULD THROW OUR FINANCIAL SECTOR INTO A TAILSPIN!
A MULTI-HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT!
At most someone may get a voluntary 2 or 3 year freeze.
Looks like Obama was the only one willing to be real with the voters; no empty promises and pragmatic enough to vote for the 2005 energy bill if only to get green energy technology research started. That is the adult track; don't forgo what progress you can make now in favor of attaching something to your name later.
America doesn't need campaign promises that 'experienced' candidates should well know they CAN NEVER DELIVER.
We need the American people somewhat united during the next presidency. Unless there are 60 Democratic Senators on January 20th, 2009, the Republicans in the senate will break this year's record 62 filibusters.
John Edwards, bless his heart, is declaring war on capital. Hillary already lost on his track in 1993. Now, she gets all the establishment money and on top of that, Republicans run for office on having opposed her. She sends my right wing in laws into grand mal seizures. We will not gain seats with her at the top of the ticket.
We need to build a wide movement of citizens to spur our government into action on climate change, war, energy and terror. The parties can't keep behaving like the other doesn't exist because no bill will become law. What do you propose we do with Republicans? Banish them from the kingdom?
Posted by: Victor Shaw | January 16, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Barak Obama speaks well. So did Ronald Reagan. What else? I just think White liberals want to tell their friends the voted for a black guy. This is their chance. God know they don't live in the same neighborhoods tovote for a Black person for school board, city council, etc.
Give me a break. I have not met a Barak Person who can name 3 things he's done. "He is a uniter." Is that a new airline?
Clinton is a corporate moderate. Were skrewed, again.
Posted by: Javier Gonzalez | January 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM
If Obama is such an agent of change then why are most of his foreign policy advisers former members of the Clinton or Carter Administrations, most of whom have blood on their hands? See the excellent reporting by Allan Nairn featured on Democracy Now! for a rundown of militarist warmongers and advocates for bombing civilians advising the corporate media anointed frontrunner Obama.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/3/vote_for_change_atrocity_linked_us
Posted by: Paul Burton | January 16, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Victor -
You are correct that politicians always offer the sun, the moon, and the stars to whomever they are talking to. Bill Clinton was a master. And every election year, voters swallow it. So, what else is new? Do you think Obama is any different? You are also correct that our nation's problems can only be addressed in a bi-partisan way. Good idea, but at the end of the day, Democrats ridicule Republicans and Republicans fear where Democrats want to take this country.
The goals are good, the obstacles are mighty, but when our home needs repair, I don't go to the man who offers me hope, I go to the man in whom I have confidence, the man with a resume of fixing homes, one who has demonstrated achievement in working with the opposite party. Someone with skill and experience to take on Washington, but is not part of its tangled web. That's my view.
By the way, though it may be cool to be a Hillary fan and even more cool to be an Obama fan, I am just too practical - I am in fact, a ROMNEY MAN.
Posted by: Tony | January 16, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Victor Shaw, well said! Obama 08!
Posted by: Billg | January 16, 2008 at 04:27 PM