Of all the endorsements Obama has received...this one resonates the loudest!

[RiverStone]

An Endorsement of the Movement Barack Obama Leads

Tom Hayden
1/27/08

<snip>

That leaves Barack Obama. I have been devastated by too many tragedies and betrayals over the past 40 years to ever again deposit so much hope in any single individual, no matter how charismatic or brilliant. But today I see across the generational divide the spirit, excitement, energy and creativity of a new generation bidding to displace the old ways. Obama's moment is their moment, and I pray that they succeed without the sufferings and betrayals my generation went through. There really is no comparison between the Obama generation and those who would come to power with Hillary Clinton, and I suspect she knows it. The people she would take into her administration may have been reformers and idealists in their youth, but they seem to seek now a return to their establishment positions of power. They are the sorts of people young Hillary Clinton herself would have scorned at Wellesley. If history is any guide, the new "best and brightest" of the Obama generation will unleash a new cycle of activism, reform and fresh thinking before they follow pragmatism to its dead end.

Many ordinary Americans will take a transformative step down the long road to the Rainbow Covenant if Obama wins. For at least a brief moment, people around the world -- from the shantytowns to the sweatshops, even to the restless rich of the Sixties generation -- will look up from the treadmills of their shrunken lives to the possibilities of what life still might be. Environmental justice and global economic hope would dawn as possibilities.

Is Barack the one we have been waiting for? Or is it the other way around? Are we the people we have been waiting for? Barack Obama is giving voice and space to an awakening beyond his wildest expectations, a social force that may lead him far beyond his modest policy agenda. Such movements in the past led the Kennedys and Franklin Roosevelt to achievements they never contemplated.

We are in a precious moment where caution must yield to courage. It is better to fail at the quest for greatness than to accept our planet's future as only a reliving of the past.

So I endorse the movement that Barack Obama has inspired and will support his candidacy in the inevitable storms ahead.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/an-endorsement-of-the-mov_b_83478.html

[Bicoastal]

1. ResoNATES, RiverStone...it resoNATES the loudest.

[RiverStone]

5. Spelling has never been my forte...

Corrected.

Yikes, hope I got "forte" right :hi:

And with all do respect to the Kennedy's - Tom's endorsement means a lot more to this voter!

[NYCGirl]

2. That's pretty damned sweet.

:thumbsup:

[grantcart]

3. everyone should read the entire column k an r

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Too bad he did not even mention John Edwards. Guess he missed the debates.

[tekisui]

8. Edwards was mentioned, just barely:

"I respect John Edwards' campaign and the role he has played in driving the Democratic Party towards a progressive agenda. At this point, however, I cannot foresee a primary he will win."

However much I love John Edwards, and I do, I don't see him winning a Primary, either.

[bunnies]

6. This is perfect. Thank you for posting it! nt

[aquart]

7. Yes. In the saddest way.

He endorses the enthusiastic "movement" that "Obama has inspired" and then he gets around to supporting the candidacy. Except he's still not sure if Barack IS "the one we have been waiting for." "The one"?

Well, sure, all it takes is ONE messiah and all will be well.

Tom's endorsing vitality and enthusiasm. He remembers when the youth of America aggressively participated in American democracy. He is thrilled to see it again and, just in case Obama "is the man," he's all for the guy who got them all het up.

And I see the fervent mobs. I do. And, like him, I've wished to see it again. But he also thinks there's courage there. He hopes it's there. But I notice he's not sure.

I don't see it either.

[madrchsod]

9. tom is correct in his assessment

[samdogmom]

10. Wow--that's impressive. I admire Tom Hayden.

I'm an Edwards supporter and will stay this way through my state's primary, but Sen. Obama has attracted some pretty impressive endorsements. I'll have no problem supporting him in the general election.

And, I do believe he is the most inspirational speaker/thinker of the group. Sen. Edwards speaks from the heart--but the message is pretty nuts and bolts. Sen. Obama always manages to sound lofty and one step above the others. I do believe he's cut from a different piece of cloth than the normal politician.

[Big Blue Marble]

11. I read that last night.

It is a great endorsement. This is what got me:

"Is Barack the one we have been waiting for? Or is it the other way around? Are we the people we have been waiting for? Barack Obama is giving voice and space to an awakening beyond his wildest expectations, a social force that may lead him far beyond his modest policy agenda. Such movements in the past led the Kennedys and Franklin Roosevelt to achievements they never contemplated."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/an-endorsement...

Tom Hayden would see this. It is what I see as well.

[riverwalker]

12. profound

"Is Barack the one we have been waiting for? Or is it the other way around? Are we the people we have been waiting for? Barack Obama is giving voice and space to an awakening beyond his wildest expectations, a social force that may lead him far beyond his modest policy agenda. Such movements in the past led the Kennedys and Franklin Roosevelt to achievements they never contemplated."

[GoldieAZ49]

13. thanks, just saw that

add another one!

[UALRBSofL]

15. Old school endorsing new school

Interesting piece. He seems to think the other candidates are divisive and as such I'm not very hyped on the article. That said, it's just his opinion. I hope it didn't upset the women voters. Just my opinion.

[jaysunb]

14. Very well reasoned

:thumbsup:

[progressoid]

16. It's a great endorsement, but I dont think it will resonate the loudest.

I bet 75% of America couldn't tell you who Tom Hayden is.

And of those that know the name, a lot will either think he's that guy from the TV show 'Coach' or that guy that was married to the traitor Jane Fonda.

Kennedy's endorsement means more IMO.

[RiverStone]

17. Maybe not with star power...

But with integrity.

I know, the Kennedy name and all....

But Tom fought the good fight against the establishment crowd for years, and he is not part of the beltway elite gang.

I just really appreciate his perspective and the fact that he is going with Obama says a lot, IMO.


peace~:)

[goodhue]

18. I agree!

[goodhue]

19. see here also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4235391#4248670

[goodhue]

23. .

[Scurrilous]

20. K & R

:thumbsup:

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. Tom Hayden supports stealth conservatives!

:sarcasm:

[Serial Mom]

22. Very well written....

With Edwards out, I will review this more than a couple times!