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10-19-2008, 09:11 AM
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=8
Shocker from Texas: Houston and Austin Papers--Former Bush Backers--Endorse Obama
By Greg Mitchell
Published: October 19, 2008 9:35 AM ET
NEW YORK As chronicled by E&P in recent days, a, overwhelming trend from big city newspapers in editorial endorsements has favored Barack Obama with several papers that back George W. Bush in 2004 switching over to the Democrat this year. But few expected that would happen deep in the heart of Texas.
Now it has, with the Houston Chronicle and Austin American Statesman coming out for Obama today.
That brings to at least 17 the number of papers that have made the switch. The Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News did stick with the GOP candidate John McCain but he has lost papers all over the country, from the Chicago Tribune to the San Bernardino Sun to the New York Daily News.
Other major papers for Kerry in 2004 just came out for Obama, including the News & Observer in Raleigh and the Orlando Sentinel, both in key swing states. See our complete endorsement tally elsewhere on our site and several other stories.
Here is an excerpt from the two T for Obama editorials.
*
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
After carefully observing the Democratic and Republican nominees in drawn-out primary struggles as well as in the general campaign, including three debates, the Chronicle strongly believes that the ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden offers the best choice to lead the United States on a new course into the second decade of the 21st century.
Obama appears to possess the tools to confront our myriad and daunting problems. He's thoughtful and analytical. He has met his opponents' attacks with calm and reasoned responses. Viewers of the debates saw a poised, well-prepared plausible president with well-articulated positions on the bread-and-butter issues that poll after poll indicate are the true concerns of voters. While Arizona Sen. John McCain and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have struck an increasingly personal and negative tone in their speeches, Obama has continued to talk about issues of substance.
It is true that Obama has served less than a term in the U.S. Senate and that his previous elective experience is confined to the Illinois Legislature. However, during that public service and his previous role as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago, he has developed an appreciation and understanding of the real-life concerns of middle- and low-income Americans.
On the Iraq war, Obama was an early voice of opposition to the initial invasion and his plan for a phased withdrawal of combat forces has been embraced by American and Iraqi policymakers. His partner on the ticket, Biden, is one of the leading foreign policy experts in Congress. They pledge to rebuild America's diminished standing in the world and restore our reputation as the leading defender of democracy and human rights.
Obama's health care plan mandates health insurance for all American children, an issue of vital importance to Harris County and Houston, which has the highest rate of uninsured youngsters in the nation. By contrast, the proposal by McCain to offer a tax credit to Americans to purchase insurance while taxing health benefits for the first time will further discourage small business owners from providing employee health insurance.
One weakness Obama has shown is a tendency to demonize the energy industry, which will be an indispensable ally in developing alternative fuel sources in the future. He would do well to rethink some of his positions and apply his consensus-building skills to an essential bulwark of the Texas economy. On another issue of vital importance to the Houston area, Obama supports the U.S. space program and has wisely backed off an earlier proposal to delay NASA's moon and Mars missions to save money.
McCain has an illustrious record of service to America, first as a pilot taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese, and then with a distinguished Senate career. To his credit, he has broken with his own party in the past to fight for campaign reform, oppose the sanctioning of torture and acknowledge the threat of human-induced global warming. However, in his bid for the presidency, he has aligned himself with a more conservative political base and disappointed moderates.
Perhaps the worst mistake McCain made in his campaign for the White House was the choice of the inexperienced and inflammatory Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. Had he selected a moderate, experienced Republican lawmaker such as Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison with a strong appeal to independents, the Chronicle's choice for an endorsement would have been far more difficult.
AUSITN AMERICAN STATESMAN
A vote for Obama would be a vote for change on an array of fronts. Obviously, he would become the first U.S. citizen of color to hold the nation's highest office. But more important than his biracial bloodline are his ideas.
On taxes, on foreign policy, on energy and on health care, Obama shows a firm grasp on the problems and a solid grip on solutions.
Obama would not isolate our nation's enemies but talk to them. There is no dishonor in diplomacy, as President Nixon demonstrated when he went to China.
Obama, an opponent of the long, expensive war in Iraq, wants to withdraw troops from that country — not a retreat but a phased withdrawal over 16 months. Iraqis want us out, and we should accommodate them as quickly as is practical. That would free up resources to confront the growing dangers in Afghanistan.
On energy production, McCain spotlights a false promise of cheap gasoline. He mentions renewable resources, but almost in passing. Obama concentrates his discussion of energy on moving the country beyond the talking stages of diversifying its energy sources and making that talk reality. Offshore drilling alone won't lower the price of gasoline immediately — and maybe not ever.
We can't wait any longer to diversify the nation's energy production, and we can't base our energy future on pining for the long lost days of cheap gasoline.
On the economy, McCain offers warmed-over tax cuts and an economic policy that is contributing to the credit crisis that is rocking Wall Street and putting stress fissures on Main Street.
While McCain would continue tax cuts for the affluent, Obama's tax plan makes the much larger middle class — the people on whose spending the economy relies — the beneficiaries of tax cuts.
Now that's change.
Beyond the wonkism, however, is a fundamental question of who is best equipped to lead.
Truth be told, neither McCain nor Obama could be expected to deliver 100 percent of his agenda. What economic reality won't limit, the vagaries of getting legislation through Congress will.
McCain, whose heroic military service to the nation we enthusiastically salute, is a fellow who built a political career saying "no." He served two terms in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate in 1986. His accomplishments are mixed, but the Washington he vilifies rubbed off on him. For example, his effort to bring about comprehensive immigration reform was truly a bold, bipartisan move. But it died. So he turned his back on it because a comprehensive approach is politically incorrect with his party's right wing?
Greg Mitchell ([email protected]) is editor.
Shocker from Texas: Houston and Austin Papers--Former Bush Backers--Endorse Obama
By Greg Mitchell
Published: October 19, 2008 9:35 AM ET
NEW YORK As chronicled by E&P in recent days, a, overwhelming trend from big city newspapers in editorial endorsements has favored Barack Obama with several papers that back George W. Bush in 2004 switching over to the Democrat this year. But few expected that would happen deep in the heart of Texas.
Now it has, with the Houston Chronicle and Austin American Statesman coming out for Obama today.
That brings to at least 17 the number of papers that have made the switch. The Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News did stick with the GOP candidate John McCain but he has lost papers all over the country, from the Chicago Tribune to the San Bernardino Sun to the New York Daily News.
Other major papers for Kerry in 2004 just came out for Obama, including the News & Observer in Raleigh and the Orlando Sentinel, both in key swing states. See our complete endorsement tally elsewhere on our site and several other stories.
Here is an excerpt from the two T for Obama editorials.
*
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
After carefully observing the Democratic and Republican nominees in drawn-out primary struggles as well as in the general campaign, including three debates, the Chronicle strongly believes that the ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden offers the best choice to lead the United States on a new course into the second decade of the 21st century.
Obama appears to possess the tools to confront our myriad and daunting problems. He's thoughtful and analytical. He has met his opponents' attacks with calm and reasoned responses. Viewers of the debates saw a poised, well-prepared plausible president with well-articulated positions on the bread-and-butter issues that poll after poll indicate are the true concerns of voters. While Arizona Sen. John McCain and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have struck an increasingly personal and negative tone in their speeches, Obama has continued to talk about issues of substance.
It is true that Obama has served less than a term in the U.S. Senate and that his previous elective experience is confined to the Illinois Legislature. However, during that public service and his previous role as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago, he has developed an appreciation and understanding of the real-life concerns of middle- and low-income Americans.
On the Iraq war, Obama was an early voice of opposition to the initial invasion and his plan for a phased withdrawal of combat forces has been embraced by American and Iraqi policymakers. His partner on the ticket, Biden, is one of the leading foreign policy experts in Congress. They pledge to rebuild America's diminished standing in the world and restore our reputation as the leading defender of democracy and human rights.
Obama's health care plan mandates health insurance for all American children, an issue of vital importance to Harris County and Houston, which has the highest rate of uninsured youngsters in the nation. By contrast, the proposal by McCain to offer a tax credit to Americans to purchase insurance while taxing health benefits for the first time will further discourage small business owners from providing employee health insurance.
One weakness Obama has shown is a tendency to demonize the energy industry, which will be an indispensable ally in developing alternative fuel sources in the future. He would do well to rethink some of his positions and apply his consensus-building skills to an essential bulwark of the Texas economy. On another issue of vital importance to the Houston area, Obama supports the U.S. space program and has wisely backed off an earlier proposal to delay NASA's moon and Mars missions to save money.
McCain has an illustrious record of service to America, first as a pilot taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese, and then with a distinguished Senate career. To his credit, he has broken with his own party in the past to fight for campaign reform, oppose the sanctioning of torture and acknowledge the threat of human-induced global warming. However, in his bid for the presidency, he has aligned himself with a more conservative political base and disappointed moderates.
Perhaps the worst mistake McCain made in his campaign for the White House was the choice of the inexperienced and inflammatory Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. Had he selected a moderate, experienced Republican lawmaker such as Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison with a strong appeal to independents, the Chronicle's choice for an endorsement would have been far more difficult.
AUSITN AMERICAN STATESMAN
A vote for Obama would be a vote for change on an array of fronts. Obviously, he would become the first U.S. citizen of color to hold the nation's highest office. But more important than his biracial bloodline are his ideas.
On taxes, on foreign policy, on energy and on health care, Obama shows a firm grasp on the problems and a solid grip on solutions.
Obama would not isolate our nation's enemies but talk to them. There is no dishonor in diplomacy, as President Nixon demonstrated when he went to China.
Obama, an opponent of the long, expensive war in Iraq, wants to withdraw troops from that country — not a retreat but a phased withdrawal over 16 months. Iraqis want us out, and we should accommodate them as quickly as is practical. That would free up resources to confront the growing dangers in Afghanistan.
On energy production, McCain spotlights a false promise of cheap gasoline. He mentions renewable resources, but almost in passing. Obama concentrates his discussion of energy on moving the country beyond the talking stages of diversifying its energy sources and making that talk reality. Offshore drilling alone won't lower the price of gasoline immediately — and maybe not ever.
We can't wait any longer to diversify the nation's energy production, and we can't base our energy future on pining for the long lost days of cheap gasoline.
On the economy, McCain offers warmed-over tax cuts and an economic policy that is contributing to the credit crisis that is rocking Wall Street and putting stress fissures on Main Street.
While McCain would continue tax cuts for the affluent, Obama's tax plan makes the much larger middle class — the people on whose spending the economy relies — the beneficiaries of tax cuts.
Now that's change.
Beyond the wonkism, however, is a fundamental question of who is best equipped to lead.
Truth be told, neither McCain nor Obama could be expected to deliver 100 percent of his agenda. What economic reality won't limit, the vagaries of getting legislation through Congress will.
McCain, whose heroic military service to the nation we enthusiastically salute, is a fellow who built a political career saying "no." He served two terms in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate in 1986. His accomplishments are mixed, but the Washington he vilifies rubbed off on him. For example, his effort to bring about comprehensive immigration reform was truly a bold, bipartisan move. But it died. So he turned his back on it because a comprehensive approach is politically incorrect with his party's right wing?
Greg Mitchell ([email protected]) is editor.