South Carolina's biggest paper backs Obama
The largest and most influential newspaper in South Carolina, where the Civil War began, endorsed an African American, Barack Obama, for the state's Democratic primary late Tuesday.
The State newspaper in Columbia, which endorsed Sen. John McCain before he won the state's Republican primary Saturday, said Obama's campaign "is an argument for a more unifying style of leadership" and, as a son of Africa, he has "the best chance to repair the damage to America's global reputation."
Reviewing the field that Democratic voters will evaluate come Saturday, the State praises Rep. Dennis Kucinich's "bold plan on health care, but his platform is unlikely to endear him to many in South Carolina." The paper said former Sen. John Edwards "has morphed away from ...
the optimist who won South Carolina in 2004 ... is angry now, and pushing hard to turn working-class angst into political opportunity." It also criticized his Iraq withdrawal plan as "the least prudent."
The editorial also devotes considerable space to making a case against a Hillary Clinton presidency. It called her "a policy wonk" who "has intelligence and a deep understanding of many issues."
But, it argued, "the restoration of the Clintons to the White House would trigger a new wave of all-out political warfare.... Clinton doesn't pretend that it won't happen; she simply vows to persevere, in the hope that her side can win. Indeed, the Clintons' joint career in public life seems oriented toward securing victory and personal vindication."
The State praises Obama for his careful talk of winning over independents and even Republicans. "He is harsh on the failures of the current administration -- and most of that critique well-deserved," the newspaper says. "But he doesn't use his considerable rhetorical gifts to demonize Republicans ... for him, American unity -- transcending party -- is a core value in itself."
Calling Obama "a groundbreaking nominee," the paper's editorial calls him "the only Democrat who plausibly can say that he wants to work with Americans across the political spectrum to address such subjects."
-- Andrew Malcolm
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. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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The Billery Clinton campaign is so transparent in it's dishonest attempts to "Swift Boat" Barack Obama that the only way you could vote Clinton would be to lower your own integrity to the same level. This country has a unique chance to move forward and pursue a path where cooperation may actually accomplish our goals of freedom and prosperity that we have squandered over the past 8+ years. It is proven in past elections that what you are seeing now is what you will get for the next 4 years. Are you ready for more half truths and deceptions? That is the personality trait being displayed by Hilary Clinton and her loving husband. This time THINK before endorsing your candidate.
Posted by: Ron | January 23, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Elian Gonzalez was used By Bill and Hillary Clinton to Destroy Al Gore Chances to Win Minority Voters.
Eight years ago, Bill Clinton and Hillary decided to backstab Al Gore by dramatizing the Elian Gonzalez incident for the sole purpose of upsetting the minority voters. Al Gore had to loose according to their strategy to avoid the public's fatigue toward democrats. Eight years of Bill Clinton and another eight years of Al Gore would have been too long for Hillary Clinton to have any chance to becoming President. People already forgot.
King Bill and Queen Hillary will do anything to go back to the White House so they can have their revenge on the republicans like W did with Saddam. Hillary will be worse than W. If Hillary gets the nomination we will vote republicans. We do not agree with McCain all the time but we know he is honest. We want an honest President for this great nation of ours.
Good Luck!
The Average Voter.
Posted by: The Average Voter | January 23, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I am not from South Carolina. I am an African American who lives in Chicago and was raised in Detroit. For so long, I have was torn between Hillary and Obama. I am so pleased to see the main South Carolina paper backing Obama. These recent weeks have convinced me that the Clintons are willing to play dirty politics to win. I agree with the paper that there is a very strong chance that Bill and Hillary will get elected and go after the Republicans who tried to impeach Bill. What a waste of time. Obama is the way - let's start new and repare our relationships with the rest of the world. Obama was man enough to compliment Reagan during his presidential bid. What courage. The Clinton cowards tried to turn it against him. Let's show the Clintons that we, the average Americans, won't let our country be abused by egotistical policticians. Thank you South Carolina. You went from selling slaved right off the boat to possibly putting an African American in the oval office. I hope to show you love in return one day. This is what makes this country great!
Posted by: Andrew | January 26, 2008 at 12:23 AM