Breaking News: Ethel Kennedy, La Opinion endorse Obama

As predicted here on The Ticket early Friday morning, Ethel Kennedy, the widow of slain Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, has just endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic party's presidential nomination.

She joins Ted, Caroline and Patrick Kennedy in choosing primary political sides while some of her children have gone another way in their party and endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton. And the influential Spanish-language daily newspaper La Opinion also came out for Obama.

In an unusually enthusiastic statement that calls Obama "a magnetic force" and compares the freshman Illinois senator favorably to her husband, a senator from New York when he was gunned down in Los Angeles campaigning for the California Democratic primary in 1968, Ethel Kennedy said:

“Over these past few years, I’ve watched Senator Obama inspire....

Americans from all walks of life to believe in real change and a new sense of hope and possibility. He’s a magnetic force, drawing the nation together for the common good and galvanizing us all to help shape our country’s future.

“Barack is so like Bobby, who struggled for the rights of the poor in the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia, traveled to California to stand in solidarity with Cesar Chavez and farm workers, and fought to end another war that cost so many lives.

“Today, we crave a leader with vision who can help us regain our lost humanity and rekindle our inherent generosity. With courage, caring, and charisma, Senator Obama is leading us toward a kinder, gentler world."

Do you think she's for him?  But wait, there's a little more:

“Senator Obama’s candidacy sends out ‘ripples of hope’ that can build a ‘current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.’  I am proud to support Barack Obama, and look forward to him leading this country toward a brighter, more hopeful future.”

No coincidence they saved this big endorsement for the weekend before Super Tuesday when more than 20 states vote or caucus. Nor that she mentions her husband's close ties to the Latino community, especially California's, where Obama is hoping to cut into Clinton's support.

Though probably not a surprise to Clinton operatives after Ted Kennedy, Ethel's brother-in-law, spurned Bill Clinton's last-minute pleas not to endorse Obama last weekend, it is an unwanted blow to her campaign, especially in California and in the closing hours of that state's big race.

To compound the sense of momentum for Obama, the editorial board of La Opinion, with a readership of 500,000 the largest Spanish-language daily in the country, endorsed Obama today, praising his "inclusive message of hope" and his "conciliatory style that can reverse the vicious cycle of rancor which has paralyzed (the country's) ability to come together on major decisions."

And another surprise endorsement: Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of Republican Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower, issued a statement supporting Obama: "We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists," she said. "I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again."

But Clinton didn't slow down today. Before flying off to Arizona and New Mexico this afternoon, she spent the morning campaigning aggressively in L.A. Latino neighborhoods. At a Cal State rally of thousands of blacks and Latinos, where she was introduced by a string of blacks and Latinos including Fabian Nunez, the former first lady said she is the best pick to work for struggling families.

Aides say they expect her to win California's big packet of delegates on Tuesday, but admit Obama is closing.

Obama himself stopped in Idaho, which hasn't voted for a Democratic president in nearly a half-century. Yet he gathered 14,000 in the Idaho State stadium in Boise for his standard message of hope and optimism before smartly slipping in acknowledgement of the passing and day's funeral for Gordon Hinkley, president of the Mormon church, which has many members in the state.

To get the background of Ethel Kennedy's growing support for Obama, read our item from Friday morning here. For a whole bunch of other endorsements in the last 24 hours, read our item from last evening here. To see the endorsements of The Times' Editorial Board for each parties' primary to be published in Sunday's newspaper, read this.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Larry]

Every person in this country named Kennedy could endorse him but I don't think it matters. However, if you like endorsements. My uncle Leon has endorsed Hillary and plans to campaign for her. I hope that helps you decide.

[Felipe Mendez]

I remember 1968 like it was yesterday. King, Kennedy ... hopes and dreams were consumed by a nightmare. I pray the dream is back. God bless you Barrack Obama. God bless America.

[Mo]

To the Undecideds,

I'm writing to respectfully request that you vote for Sen. Obama. In the last year, Sen. Obama has grown the Democratic party beyond anything any party has seen since before Reagan. While his oratory has inspired America, he has backed those words up with details and action proposing detailed solutions to America's most vexing problems. From health care to immigration to the economy and the war in Iraq, Obama has answers — and he has the broad appeal necessary to implement those answers. While Sen. Clinton is extremely intelligent and ground breaking in her own right, she does not promise the kind of change Obama does. A first woman President would be as inspirational as a first African American one. But beyond either of those things, we need a president that can for the first time in over a decade govern effectively. That is the change we need. Regardless of race or gender, Obama promises to grow the party and command the consensus needed to implement the solutions we so desperately need out of Washington.

Our country faces a choice of immense importance on Tuesday. I respectfully ask that you please cast your vote for Sen. Obama.

[Olivia Jimenez]

Who cares about the Kennedy's endorsements. The three combined can't outshine Bill Clinton especially in the hispanic communities. JFK was president for 3 years - Robert didn't even make it. Bill was our president for 8 Years - and is one of the best presidents our country has ever had. The Clintons have done more for hispanics.

[Jonathan Richard]

So Obama is all the rage.
Sometimes I think he is the beneficiary of a Hollywood style publicity campaign that he is neither complicit with or quite understands. Somehow I get the feeling that it is not Obama's campaign managers in control of the marketing of a possible future president.
What surprises me, in review, is that it is the establishment press of Los Angeles, New York and Washington that are really pushing his candidacy. What could these bastions of conservative Republicanism possible want in seeing an Obama candidacy succeed? Sometimes I think the forces behind the pro-Obama endorsements are actually trying to mitigate a victory by a Democratic Presidential candidate who really understands power politics.
Its not just some democrats who want to stop Hillary.

[hanksf]

I lost my taste for politics the night RFK was shot. I was there that night along with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. It has taken this long to regain my enthusiasm and commitment for another candidate. I feel that Dolores Huerta captures RFK's passion and spirit better than Ethel Kennedy that is why I'm have joined her in supporting Hillary Clinton for President.

[MARTIN EDWIN ANDERSEN]

Hillary Clinton, under fire about her commitment to civil rights due to her race-coding campaign, has lately been loudly proclaiming her fealty to the Democratic Party's best traditions on human rights.

However, just two years ago, Hillary--the purported "expert" on international relations--said there should be "lawful authority" for torture in some cases.

(See, for example, www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Hillary_and_torture_audio_version.html )

Her stand was opposite to that of every other major Democratic presidential candidate in 2007-2008, and the heat she took for it caused her to make one of her famous "flip flops."

[Aguilar]

The endorsement of La Opinion is a big deal and as convincing as the L.A. Times endorsement. They both point out how wonkishness and inspiration don't have to be mutually exclusive, and that inspiration has its practical affects in moblizing a country. Obama took a risk on immigration while Hillary played it safe, as she played it safe voting for the Iraq invasion. I ask Los Angelinos not to ruin the momentum for the county and vote for Hillary because her name is familiar. The last time they voted for a familier name we got George W. Bush. Latinos in the midwest are counting on you to open your mind.

[Joe Don]

I urge everyone to vote for Senator Barack Obama. Simply because he gives the Democrats the best chance to win in 08. Hillary Clinton is a effective technocrat who will make the trains run on time. However the people who seem to be the most united by her campaign are members of the republican party. Right now the GOP is fractured unsure of getting behind John McCain. They are underfunded and facing a wave of retirements in the Congress. There ideas are old. They offer no solution to the war in Iraq. And the leader of their party is one of the most unpopular presidents in history. In this enviroment the only thing that the conservatives agree on is how much they hate the Clintons. Obama on the other hand , could bring conservatives to our side and form a working majority. Obama is simply the better candidate and would be able to form a better coalition for America.

[Barbara Stam]

Olivia, Bill Clinton was a decent President, not a great one. He passed NAFTA which caused middle class American jobs to disappear but you probably don't care about the American middle class. You only care about identity poltics. So here is some identity politics for you:

Xavier Becerra, Gloria Romero, LA Opinion and many other respected Latino leaders (not Villaraigosa) have endorsed Obama. Why? Ask yourself that.

Great Presidents: Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Eisehower, Kennedy

Competent Presidents: Bill Clinton, George Bush, Sr, Harry Truman

You might want to tell your friend Bill to watch his behavior on the campaign trail.

[I agree]

I grew up in a latino neighborhood back east, and La Opinion was sort of the New York Times of the latin-reading world. Contrary to what some people think, (read Clinton's staff) Latinos are extremely active politically. Even now, when trapped on a Metro Bus with those stupid tvs, I learn more about the world from the spanish broadcast (violence in Kenya), than I do from the english one (Britney Spears).

This is a *major* endorsement. The spanish version eloquently states that while both Democrats are worthy, what sets Obama apart is his inclusive and hopeful message.

Personally I thought his defense of immigrants (illegal or not) during the debate was the highlight of the night. He used the word *Scapegoating*, and I truly admire his bravery for not playing the black-mexican blame game. California needs this, so does the rest of the US.

[Harold ross]

I think every one should take a day off
and watch the super bowl .

(I agree. Excellent idea. Alas, no days off for us bloggers. We'll be here watching for any big stories. Just don't tell me the score. Thank God for TiVo.)

[CBW]

..."They speak of humanity." "My humanity is in feeling we are all voices of that same poverty..." -Jorge Luis Borges

I too will support Sen. Barack Obama. Now assured that on January 20th, 2009, he is just the leader America needs to deliver our nation from the darkness of eight years past. And...as once proclaimed by former President Ronald Reagan, we all can shout: "It's morning again in America!" He's a change "we the people" can believe in...finally!

God Bless all the Kennedy's,
And God Bless the United States of America

[Peter]

For all those undecided, I ask you to consider Clinton. All this "change" that Obama was talking about, this is the same campaign that George W. Bush ran for. It has no bearing. Clinton is concrete in her policies and can actually work with both Democrats and Republicans in Washington to achieve great things. Obama is far to the left and will certainly alienate a lot of people. Voting for him means higher taxes. The low taxes that we have been enjoying will be a distant memory with Obama in power. Obama has a naive world view in thinking that we can holds hands with a dictator like Kim Jong Il. Obama is a good orator no doubt, but if you look deeper into his policies, there's no question there's not a lot of substance there. Clinton has the substance to make universal healthcare work.

[CoCo]

The leopard can only hide his spots BUT cannot remove them. Bill and Hillary Clinton are corrupted. It is in their bone and blood. There are enough proofs of such corruption during the time Bill served as Governor of Arkansas (Cattle deals, Whitewater etc), as the President of the USA (does the Lincoln Bedroom renting remind us of anything?), as the ex-president (the uranium deal with KAZAKHTAN). Does he behave like the expected stateman? Of course not are we surprised? How disgusting. Our Constitution calls for only 2 terms of Presidency. Bill is going to get a Third term with Hillary in the White House. We, Americans, are not ignorant and naive. Our country needs new ideas, new leadership instead of the STATUS QUO with 35 years of BAGGAGES.

[Juan Carlos]

Olivia,
Thanks for your insightful message. It speaks directly to the arrogance and self-aggrandizing that the Clintons have unfortunately come to represent.
Barack Obama is true inspiration to us all, including Hillary Clinton. Just look at her new speech, it is peppered with sound bites of what Obama has been so eloquently saying since day one. Hillary is the experienced candidate that is truly learning from the inexperienced candidate…

[Ronald Loui]

Congratulations to the LA Times for its fine endorsement of Senator Obama.

I had thought our St. Louis Post Dispatch had written one of the best endorsements of Obama (it was the Pulitzer family paper, for most of its life), but I think the LA Times did an even better job. If I could sell short an interest in the NY Times and buy long on the LA Times, I would do it. I've said so repeatedly. Bias is ok, but agenda is not ok for the country's nominal leading newspaper.

I do however dispute the bone thrown Clinton's way. Every shred of factual evidence I can accumulate says that Hillary Clinton would be an ineffective legislative leader and an abrasive executive. I base this on her record in the Senate, and on first-hand reports from people in former administrations (of all genders, ages, and races). She has many, many excellent professional qualities, mostly as an advocate, ally, and agitator. But she is by no means a safe choice for even a modestly performing four-year administration. Even if she could win, her coattails would be very short. Really, her best future is to be a partisan Senator with national prominence, like Ted Kennedy. Ted Kennedy long ago realized the Presidency was just not going to happen for him, no matter how much history had made it "his turn," and Senator Kennedy instead made a life of accomplishment in the Congress that equals or betters that of many Presidents.

My trivia for today: John Gardner, who also attended Barack Obama's high school, Punahou, was offered Bobby Kennedy's Senate seat after the California horrors. Gardner declined. Sometimes the right thing is not to want the job, especially under adverse circumstances.

I believe Obama would decline an offer to join a Clinton-Obama ticket, because even though he could help and find ways to be effective in such a role, and even though he famously turns pig's ears into silk purses, he just does not want the job for himself that much, and there would be other ways to contribute equally well. It would be too much of a compromise on principle to join the Clinton style of politics.

So the HRC fans who are stuck on H but see the logic of Obama really should make up their minds. They want to tell themselves, "it's OK if I vote for Hillary, even if I have reservations about her divisiveness and electability, because she'll pick up Obama. So we'll get our historic-first AND all the benefits of the movement for change, the talent, the hope, and the bipartisanship. Obama will help her get elected." Yeah, I think that's quite a fairy tale.

[jh]

The rest of the world is watching California. All our newspapers, tv news channels, and talk-radios are fixed on the California Democrat Primary.

For all of you who have friends and relatives we implore you to contact them before you vote. You may be surprised how they are thinking.

Briefly, all the foreign media who are not pro-Bush or pro-Republican, are wanting before anything a change of political orientation in the US administration and the White House.

So, if you poll those millions, it looks like an 80-20% pro Obama. Many would have liked to see a woman politician win. But they are thinking of tough women
who know world politics like poor Benazir Bhutto (assasinated), Mary Robinson (Ireland), Indira Gandhi, perhaps Maria Arroyo (for her strength), Megawati Sukarnoptri, Golda Meir, Angela Merkel, Michaela Jean (Canada),
even Yuliya Tymoshenko (Ukraine), or Eva Peron, Aung San Suu Kyi (for her resistance against reactionary colonels).

Hillary Clinton is not like them, is she? Admit it. She is smart wife from the US provinces, who has worked hard and tried to learn politics. It would have been fortuitous if she were also wise and capable (away from her husband).
But we can see when she stumbles for clear policies through a mountain of everyday words that she is struggling. Even judge Judy can do better than that.

Meanwhile this Afro-American has appeared, and Obama really impresses us with his way, with his enormous strength and potential. For us its chalk and cheese.

We beg you down there in California, to think of us in the rest of the world,
with our daily lives conditioned by your White House. If the dmocrats win, it should be Obama.

jh
Asia

[sjl106]

It is a shame that the media isn't giving coverage to what obama is really about. His voting present over 130 times while in the IL. state senate, his conveinently making mistakes in voting. This article from the NYTs investigative report on Obamas backing down from his previous statement on Nuclear Power and his own bill, because of his over 250,000 dollar donation from exelron and his campaing manager David Axelrods connection to the very same nuclear power company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1202051345-WrQtClLACVYBKLqCr5L94Q
I wonder if Ethal would be endorsing obama on what appears to be he has no conviction and will not take a stand when it doesn't benefit him personally. It would be nice if the media would vet obama before people make a serious mistake if nominated. He won't win the general, the republicans will squash him.

[Shergardner]

To elaborate further from some of the Pro-Obama comments, this is what we need to think about.
Obama talks straight without the convulated political talk - which you go away wondering did they answer that question or not?
We, the people have got look further than right now, we have got to look torwards the future of this country! Obama can stop the hemorrage of this country's economy. Don't we know by name the choice of any leader is hsi or her ability to get the majority onboard.
How successful can a leader be if you have so many that hate you. A bill brought before congress from a President will not move to a law if a large portion of the people with the power cannot look pass their personal affront of you to give it a chance.
There are still Republicans in the House and Senate, how can you influence them to vote on what you present and to bring both parties together for the greater good if most are reminded of their dislike of you and your husband.
I believe it is possible to have a Politican in office without all of the politics!
Vote for OBAMA! becuase we are sick and tired of the Politics! We just cannot afford it anymore!

[sjl106]

I would urge those to vote for Hillary. Obama isn't what he claims to be which isn't much except for a "uniter" we heard that from bush. Obama's accomplishments are small compared to the accomplishments of Hillary who stands for conviction and this country of ours. Obama is seemingly more and more looking as though he is in it for himself, he is arrogant and seems to think he is entitled to the presidency, seriously what has he done to demand the presidency? I see his record questionable on taking affirmative stands that benefit the American people as with his lacking ability to stick with hard decisions that would put the people first over corporations.
It is a shame that the media isn't giving coverage to what obama is really about. His voting present over 130 times while in the IL. state senate, his conveinently making mistakes in voting. This article from the NYTs investigative report on Obamas backing down from his previous statement on Nuclear Power and his own bill, because of his over 250,000 dollar donation from exelron and his campaing manager David Axelrods connection to the very same nuclear power company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1202051345-WrQtClLACVYBKLqCr5L94Q

WAKE UP DEMOCRATS! OBAMA WON'T GET VETTED UNTIL THE GENERAL, HILLARY HAS ALREADY BEEN VETTED. THE RIGHTWING WILL NOT PLAY NICE.

[Julia]

After watching and listening to Mr. Obama, I'm still not convinced. Many of those following him seem to be those who are jockeying for a place in history or have, for some silly reason, sour grapes for Hillary Clinton. Let's examine why: her husband lead the most fiscally responsible time this nation has seen in YEARS. Period. She's worked in politics since the mid-60's. She's not a baby kisser. She's not cute. She's a 60 year old, well educated White woman with a lot of national and international political experience. With Obama, you get smiles and handshakes and a suit. I listen to him and find him, while articulate, to be immature and somewhat nasty. He hides it behind that smile. And MANY people aren't buying it. If we make the mistake of putting that silly, inexperienced man in office now and he doesn't correct the multitude of mistakes and lies and problems that have crippled this country by the current administration for the past 7 years, we'll have a Republican president, congress and senate for the next 30 years. AND White America will say, "we gave this articulate, charming, well educated black man who appeared viable a chance and he blew it" and it will set any African American viable candidates back another 100 years. Obama is better for this country in 8 years. Right now, we need someone who knows the world, knows Washington, and can do the job. As to the Iraq vote: once again, Senator Clinton voted for the resolution. She did it based on the information given to her. Senator Obama, with little experience, didn't vote for it and spoke out against it and that's GREAT. Few did at that time. Given that kind of insight and with more wisdom and time, he could be a great president and run in 2012. As to the Latino and Afrcian American vote: NONE of us can say that the Clintons haven't looked out for both groups and the middle class for over 20 years. They've stood by us. And she will continue to do so.