Obama:
Abilene Christian University Optimist:
Only one of these men is the leader this country needs as it faces unprecedented domestic problems and inevitable foreign policy decisions: Sen. Barack Obama.
We believe Sen. Obama has risen above Sen. Mc-Cain in the race to the White House as the leader that is more qualified to address the host of difficult decisions this country's next leader will face come Jan. 21. We endorse Sen. Obama as the candidate this country needs in its time of economic and foreign crises.
The primary issue on voter's minds is the current status of the global market and the future of the American economy. Neither candidate has lain how they exactly plan to approach this problem nor how they would trim their proposed budgets to address this issue, but Obama has earned our confidence and the confidence of the American people when it comes to the economy, according to several national polls.
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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Advance-Titan:
More importantly for college students, Sen. Obama has shown he is committed to providing affordable higher education for all Americans and has proposed the American Opportunity Tax Credit, where students would receive a $4,000 tax credit in exchange for 100 hours in a year community service or military service.
The Advance-Titan editorial board is proudly endorsing Sen. Barack Obama to be the 44th president of the United States of America.
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University of Wisconsin Madison Badger Herald:
This country will forever be indebted to John McCain. From his bravery and courage as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to his decades of service in the United States government, McCain is truly an American hero. However, we question some of his actions during this campaign, particularly the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. While a first-term governor may have the capabilities to serve as president, Palin does not, and she has proven that during recent weeks. Her lack of knowledge and inability to articulate policies in an interview shows she is simply not prepared to lead. To be qualified to be vice president, a candidate must be qualified to be president as well. Palin is not, and has proven she would likely be incapable of serving in either role at this time.
Throughout the course of his campaign, Obama has been able to rally support from young people and those who have never voted before. Much of this can be attributed to Obama’s eloquent oratorical abilities, which we feel Obama has been given too much credit for. His never-ending calls for simple “change” were able to propel him through the primary process, but we hope Obama will take his words and turn them into action if elected.
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UC Berkeley Daily Californian:
Eight years has been too long to endure incompetent management of our country. On the eve of a momentous election, any hope to change the course of our government rests largely on our generation's shoulders. And heading into the general election, the choice for the White House is clear: that one. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has proven countless times that he is best suited to be the 44th president of the United States.
On the top of the incoming president's to do list: implement a plan for economic recovery. Obama's proposals champion the middle class. Besides being aware that the tax system needs an overhaul, Obama also suggests raising the minimum wage and advocates for unions' rights. Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain suggests tax cuts for the wealthy, which can't stray any further from the right remedy.
When it comes to environmental issues, it's clear Obama has a better understanding of the steps necessary to fight climate change. While his ideas are not absolutely flawless, the alternative is the possibility of adopting the short-sighted "drill, baby, drill" mantra presented by McCain.
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Daily Northwestern:
The Daily endorses Sen. Barack Obama for U.S. President with Sen. Joseph Biden as his running mate. As a college newspaper in Obama's home state, our support may be unsurprising.
Obama has long been hailed for drawing the most enthusiasm from youth voters since President John F. Kennedy. The Illinois senator's youth and superb public speaking ability certainly help in inspiring student voters. But he also consistently delivers on the issues that matter to youth whereas Sen. John McCain does not.
Obama's proposal to start a civil service program has the potential to energize apathetic students on college campuses like NU. The program would allow college graduates to volunteer while helping them with their debts from student loans. Serving the country would also give students an increased stake in political process.
For students entering the workforce, Obama offers the most solid economic policy. He has been unwavering in his calls for corporate oversight and in his opposition to Bush tax policy.
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Daily Pennsylvanian:
Senator Obama is not our savior.
He will not solve all our problems in his first hundred days. He will not restore the economy overnight.
But while Senator McCain is a candidate with a compelling history of public service, Obama offers a compelling vision for the direction of this country. It is for this reason that we endorse him for president.
During this historic election, the Illinois Senator has demonstrated a willingness to build consensus and engage intellectually with people who disagree with him. In the debates, we saw a thoughtful and prudent leader who could back up his policy proposals with hard evidence.
When we endorsed Senator Clinton for the Democratic ticket in April, we expressed concern over Obama's ability to back "Yes we can" with "How we can." In the past few months, he's shown us how.
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Hunterdon Review:
While Obama was calm and worked the phones to get his colleagues on board with the financial rescue plan, McCain was frantic, putting his campaign “on hold” to rush back to Washington, suggesting he would cancel out of the scheduled first debate, then suddenly deciding to take part, even when the first bailout deal faltered.
He said the fundamentals of the economy were strong, then a few days later said he would take names of those responsible for the financial crisis.
There is a tendency to dismiss Obama’s capacity to inspire as mere “rhetoric,” but the ability to inspire was an integral part of the success of presidents like both Roosevelts, Kennedy and Reagan and should not be underestimated.
Witness the effusive response of hundreds of thousands of people during Obama’s swing through Europe.
Our standing in the world has never been lower thanks to the arrogance and incompetence of the sitting administration.
Clearly, our allies are eager to work with a U.S. President ready to engage in a serious diplomatic dialogue of shared interests, not black or white unilateral policies and uninformed “cowboy” gut instinct.
There may be sacrifices we need to make as we strive to restore the pVote for ower and prestige of the world’s greatest democracy. We will need inspirational leaders to ask us to make them as both Roosevelts and Kennedy did.
We need an intellectual, steady and articulate approach to the incredibly challenging times that lie before us.
Vote for Barack Obama on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
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Indian Country Today:
Indian Country Today endorses Barack Obama for president. This election is a remarkable opportunity for change in policy direction and leadership style. As a person, Obama exhibits humility and grace, and his story inspires creativity and action. As a candidate, Obama redefined American politics. The first African-American candidate for president deftly inspired legions of disenfranchised and first-time voters to participate in the democratic process. His campaign avoided divisive politics, instead finding common-ground issues like education and the economy to bring minds together. American Indian voters, especially those who support Obama, seized their right to vote like never before and have embraced political participation as a new ethic. We are certain that Native voters will make a noticeable difference in the presidential race and in local ones as well. Barack Obama demonstrated confidence and composure throughout this long season and forged an image of a new kind of American leader.
Throughout this long campaign, Obama did not just talk about Indian issues; he talked with Native peoples and brought their messages to the national stage. Sen. John McCain made no appearances in Indian country during his campaign despite requests by several tribes. Obama’s successful outreach efforts that included visits with tribal councils and speeches on reservations rendered McCain practically invisible.
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Monterey County Weekly:
Barack Obama is smart, contemplative, understands the complexities of the economy, has an ambitious health-care initiative and a smart plan to get us out of the Iraq War, quickly. Plus, he has raised his campaign money from more individual donors than any other candidate in our history, which (we hope) will make him less beholden to traditional corporate influences. John McCain, on the other hand, is an unpredictable candidate who bears little resemblance to the independent of eight years ago. He’s shifted his positions to the right– and further right– to win over the arch-conservatives of his party and is now running a campaign of personal attacks, not policy. That’s disheartening; we deserve better.
Most disturbing was his choice to put Gov. Sarah Palin on the ticket, which completely undermined the seriousness of his candidacy. He’s 72, and has had health issues in the past. Palin is completely unqualified for the office (of VP or president). In our country’s history, a sitting VP has inherited the chief’s chair nine times. That means Palin has a 21 percent chance of becoming your president if McCain is elected.
That is all of it.
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San Diego CityBeat:
McCain would likely win this election four years ago—before the public realized how wrong the invasion of Iraq was, before the Republican Party imploded amid scandal after scandal (Cunningham, Foley, Abramoff, DeLay, Craig, Stevens, et al.), before the current president became radioactive and before the economy descended into unimaginable crisis.
So, it’s the right time for you moderate Republicans and you independents to give our guy a chance. McCain’s thinking is no different than Bush’s in the key areas—costly military interventionism, trickle-down economics and free access for lobbyists—and if you really think about it, you’ll realize that it’s unsustainable. Please vote for Barack Obama.
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Sylva Herald & Ruralite:
Despite McCain’s new mantra of “change,” we don’t see much of it happening if he’s elected. He’s surrounded himself with many of the same “neocons” who have directed the current president’s failed strategy. In a time of recession, with two wars continuing, he’s not only embraced the Bush tax cuts, which he once opposed, he’s calling for more sweeping cuts.
The Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, has offered a clear vision and a consistent message of hope and inspiration. While he’s pointed out the inconsistencies in his opponent’s record, he has not assailed McCain’s character.
In these trying times, with the country in its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, we need a leader with new vision. Some may say he lacks experience, but he’s shown that he will surround himself with good counsel. He demonstrated his sound judgment when he chose as his running mate Joe Biden of Delaware – a veteran senator with extensive foreign policy experience. McCain, on the other hand, showed a cynical disdain for his country with his woefully inexperienced choice – Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska – as he continued to pander to the wing of his party he derided in 2000.
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Taos News:
We can thank the Bush administration for the mess our country is in today. First, it did a great job of scaring people to justify the war in Iraq. Now, the economy is officially in the tank. At this time, the nation needs an inspiring leader, and Barack Obama is the right person for the job. In the midst of all the politicking, Obama has stuck to the issues that matter most to working people. The next president isn’t going to be able to fix everything at once. He may not be able to fix it all. We’d be naïve to think anyone could; the Bush legacy is that bad. But we have a better shot of turning this country around with Obama than John McCain who, despite his heroic background, is just more of the same from the Republicans. Then, there is the matter of McCain’s vice-presidential pick. We shudder to think whom else he would choose to run the country. We favor Obama for president.
That's all of it.
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Tidewater Times:
Finally, the 2008 race for the White House is coming to a close. Finally, if we haven’t already visited one-stop, we get the chance to vote. Finally, we can stop thinking about what direction our country should take and act on what direction our country should take.
And make no mistake – Barack Obama would point our country toward the path of economic recovery. It is painful for some of us to admit, but John McCain, a principled man and war hero, has failed to provide us with a clear vision of how he would rev up America’s economic engine. Instead, he promises only to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration. We just can’t afford that.
There are other issues, the war in Iraq and health care. As for Iraq, that government wants us out and there is little doubt that no matter who sits in the Oval Office, the task of crafting an exit strategy will – hopefully – rest primarily in the hands of the greatest military leaders in the world, ours. As for health care, both candidates are proposing sweeping change. However, Sen. Obama’s plan has the advantage of being endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
But when you get down to it, as James Carville pointed out 16 years ago, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
And that is where Sen. Obama has a decided edge over his Republican rival.
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Tucson Weekly:
Barack Obama represents real change--a health-care proposal that does more than offer tax credits, a tax plan that does more than offer big breaks to the same wealthy Wall Street cheats who have nearly wrecked the economy with their greedy wizardry, and an international policy that may not alienate the rest of the world.
Once upon a time, we admired John McCain's principled stand against the insanity of the Bush tax cuts, his willingness to speak out against religious bigots like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, and his sincere belief in crafting a real solution to America's border mess. But unfortunately, as long as he remained a maverick, he wasn't going to win the GOP nomination for the presidency of the United States. And so this man, who wants us to believe he wouldn't put politics before the welfare of the nation, tossed aside those principles in pursuit of the White House.
The absolute worst example? His decision that of all the people in the entire nation eligible to be president, the best qualified to be his running mate was Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. This was nothing more than a political calculation designed to excite the GOP base. It certainly had nothing to do with finding the best and the brightest to take over the country should something happen to him. Palin can't even handle an interview with the press corps--is she really able to handle negotiations with other countries?
Vote Barack Obama for president.
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University Daily Kansan:
We don’t agree with all of Obama’s positions, but his outlook is refreshing. He recognizes our country’s problems — the economic inequalities, the failed healthcare system, the misguided foreign policy — and has proposed solid plans.
Obama may not have McCain’s experience, but he has much better judgment, whether it be in opposing the Iraq War or in picking an acceptable running mate, and we consider that to be much more important.
We also evaluated the candidates on individual issues. We did that because there is no perfect candidate. Although we can pick one to endorse, others may have better ideas in different issues.
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John McCain:
Frontiersman:
Since her announcement Aug. 29 as Sen. John McCain’s running mate on the Republican ticket, Gov. Sarah Palin has dominated the political headlines. From her personal life to her sudden rise into the national spotlight, America and the media cannot seem to get enough Palin.
While the clamor over Palin has been revealing and entertaining, it’s time for voters to focus on the choice we have to lead the United States for the next four years.
We endorse John McCain as that leader.
As many have turned a tabloid eye to McCain’s running mate in the weeks leading up to the election, we urge voters to remember that McCain, not Palin, is the Republican candidate for president, and it’s because of McCain’s proven leadership and integrity we urge Alaska and the Mat-Su to vote McCain.
Unlike his Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama, McCain has a track record of voting his conscience above party. If put in the Oval Office, McCain can be trusted to make a decision because he believes it is right and not because of party expectations. He’s not afraid to stand up to his own party when necessary.
In contrast, Obama has a track record of toeing the Democratic Party line more than 95 percent of the time. While Democrats may herald him as their “leader,” should Obama win the White House the nation will not have gained an independently thinking president as much as a rubber-stamp for the ultra-liberal Pelosi-bots in Congress.
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Paradise Post:
Obama, in his short stint as a U.S. Senator, never took a leadership role against his own party on major issues. That's important because the country may give his party a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and Obama get sent to him worthy of a veto. We've seen what a rubber stamp Congress can do with a filibuster threat, we can only imagine what one party can do without it. That brings us to McCain, who isn't a darling of the conservative movement, though he's clearly been trying to campaign as one. However, it makes sense that without conservative support, he can't win. His choice of Gov. Sarah Palin made some sense because without a motivated base, winning was nearly impossible and she provided that.
She set a new course within the party and we think despite some of the more over-the-top treatment of her, she'll be a fine vice-president. She'll certainly provide improvement over the current occupant. But the important record is McCain's, which is one that has disappointed conservatives. Just as we believe Obama's voting record reveals how he will govern, we believe McCain's does as well.
In the last eight years, McCain has clashed with the Bush Administration on several issues ranging from torture to campaign financing to his original opposition to Bush's tax cuts on the grounds that spending reductions weren't accompanying them. McCain has a record of bi-partisanship and he'll need that skill because he will be working with a Democratic majority in both houses.
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Woodburn Independent:
We are endorsing John McCain for President of the United States.
The last thing this country needs right now is an inexperienced tax-and-spender running it. Barack Obama wants to raise our taxes and have government-sponsored health care (socialism).
He says universal health care is necessary and the only way to pay for it is to have everyone pay more taxes.
We live in tumultuous times right now and we need a strong leader. We believe John McCain is that leader. Barack Obama runs on the theme of “change” and yet he named a 30-year career politician as his running mate.
John McCain does what he believes is right, regardless of what his party thinks and he will deliver real change.
His running mate is not a Washington insider and does not have decades of baggage. With two ongoing wars, the threat of Iran, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda still out there, we need someone with experience who isn’t going to push more of the tax burden onto its citizens, cut military spending or run and hide from terrorists.
That person is John McCain.
That is all of it.
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