Obama can unite nation
Jan. 27, 2008 12:00 AM
This is historic. Savor it.
For the first time, a Black man and a woman are within striking distance of the U.S. presidency. That is a remarkable statement about how far this country has come toward the goal of equality. It is shining testimony to the world that the United States continues to move toward the "more perfect Union" our Constitution envisions.
These two candidates for president do not want their efforts to win the Democratic presidential primary to be defined by their gender or race. That, too, is significant, and it signals a level of national maturity that would have been unthinkable not so very long ago. So we will consider Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on criteria other than gender and race.
First, we need to acknowledge that there will be other candidates on Arizona's Feb. 5 Democratic primary ballot. The most significant of these is John Edwards. As the son of a mill worker, he also exemplifies the promise of America. But his populist appeal relies too much on demonizing big business, and his death knell for the middle class is premature. He doesn't measure up.
This contest is between Obama and Clinton.
Their Senate voting records and political philosophy about the role of government are not appreciably different. Both are intelligent and competent individuals who can be trusted to surround themselves with top-notch advisers.
What sets these two apart is the likelihood they can deliver on the promise of change.
We believe Barack Obama has the best chance of moving Washington and the nation beyond the poisonous partisanship of recent decades. He appeals to independent voters and Republicans, in addition to members of his own party. His promise to unite is convincing.
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0127sun1-27.html
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