From John Edwards to Barack Obama - Democratic Underground

Orangepeel

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Sat Feb-02-08 06:53 PM
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From John Edwards to Barack Obama

written by my husband and me, who decided separately but came to the same conclusion

Today, we took off our John Edwards bumper stickers and replaced them with ones for Barack Obama. It wasn’t an easy decision for either of us. We’re both sad that John suspended his campaign and are proud to have supported him since 2004. His voice has been the main force in shaping the debate. He has set the agenda and he has been the one to put the most important issues front and center.

But, as sad and disappointed as we are that John and Elizabeth will not move into the White House next year, we have to face the fact that he is no longer running. As tough as it is to accept, we can only imagine how hard the decision to stop the fight for the nomination must have been for them. But they concluded, as John said in New Orleans, that it is time for him to step aside. For a variety of reasons, his message was not getting across the way that it needed to in order to break through. He had more success in shaping the message than in broadcasting it. That is no small accomplishment and one of which John, Elizabeth and all of his supporters can be proud.

We could still vote for John as he will be on our ballots. But that’s not the best way to honor his campaign. It’s not the best way to turn his ideas into action. John Edwards is not going to get any more delegates. He was having a hard time getting delegates while he was running, which is why he decided to step aside. So now, it’s also time for us to move on. It is time to switch our allegiance, energy and support to the best candidate still running. We believe that candidate is Barack Obama.

We supported John Edwards yesterday and Barack Obama today because we agree with both of them that our country is in need of positive change. We agree with both of them that we all need to join together as a country to bring power to the people and reject the forces of the status quo.

Obama is far and away the best person to continue to carry that message of change in conjunction with a message of hope. For a variety of reasons, Obama has had more success than Edwards in reaching a critical mass of voters. Importantly, he has committed to us all, through John, that he will make ending poverty and economic inequality central to his presidency. To be fair, Hillary Clinton gave John Edwards that same pledge. However, in combining the commitment to ending poverty with the ability to inspire, Obama has earned our support. He has already shown an ability to fight the status quo by bringing new people into politics, by energizing those felt like they had no role to play, and by giving a voice to those that thought they had none.

Today, we’re supporting a candidate who will lead the world to combat the threats of the 21st century – nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. Today, we’re supporting a candidate who will bring our troops home, close Guantanamo, restore habeas corpus, and improve our relations with our allies. We’re supporting a candidate who will provide access to health care for all who want it and monetary assistance to those who can’t pay for it alone. Today, we’re supporting a candidate who wants to recognize full civil unions for LGBT couples, repeal the so-called “defense of marriage act,” and end “don’t ask, don’t tell”. Today, we’re supporting a candidate who will create a “green” job corps, support a living wage, and invest in clean energy. Today, we’re supporting a candidate who has the vision to lead, the power to inspire and the ability to effect change.

Today, we’re supporting Barack Obama.