Women for Obama

In discussing last Sunday's high-profile Obama event here in L.A., Andrew Rosenthal writes for the New York Times: "Forty-eight hours before the closest thing America has ever had to a national primary, four extraordinary women put on the best campaign rally I’ve seen in 20 years of covering presidential politics." The praise continues to flow as Rosenthal calls the event "pitch-perfect" and effusively recaps the program, which featured a powerhouse lineup of Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, and Maria Shriver.

It seems like a smart move for Obama's campaign to highlight such esteemed women who deeply support the candidate since women are a group that may yet rally for Clinton. Oprah, a living legend whose devoted followers treat her every word as edict, took the opportunity to re-frame the "gender versus race" issue. Instead of feeling tied to one candidate by biographical stats, Oprah urged voters to celebrate these landmark circumstances and consider that they actually "are free from the constraints of gender and race." It will be interesting to see how women vote tomorrow considering the recent upswing of Obama momentum.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04mon4.html?em&ex=1202360400&en=2b69974241588f95&ei=5087%0A

Kennedy v. Clinton

Monday marked a shift in the discussion within the democratic party. Instead of people talking about Clinton and Obama, they began to talk about Clinton, Kennedy, and which prominent political family would control the future vision of the party.
For nearly five decades it has been the Kennedy's who have been America's first family. Since his assassination, President Kennedy has been the standard bearer for all potential candidates in terms of strength and vision. Even Bill Clinton, head of America's newest political family, was eager to roll out a picture of himself shaking the President's hand as a teenager.
Now, with the endorsement of Obama by both Ted and Caroline Kennedy, two of the greatest American political families will face off for control of the party. Who's vision will endure? Does the Kennedy endorsement of Obama mean an end to the Clinton legacy, or is it a desperate attempt by the old torchbearer to stay relevant? These are just a few of the questions being asked.
I believe this is a fight that the Clintons cannot and will not win. Hillary's message of returning to the success of a Clinton presidency has no resonance when pitted against the possible return to a Kennedy presidency. With African-Americans and Latinos owing a great deal of gratitude to the Kennedy family, and white men avoiding Clinton like the plague, Hillary finds herself in a tough position. White women will not be enough to secure her the nomination.
So, the Clintons will no doubt attempt to further divide the electorate along any lines they can in order to win. It is my hope and my belief, however, that America will not stand for politics as usual. Instead, they will look to Obama for the politics of past. They will reject the division of one era and replace it with the hope and inspiration of another. The Kennedy dream will endure.

A notable endorsement

As I watched coverage of the South Carolina primary results, several commentators brought up an op-ed piece by Caroline Kennedy appearing in tomorrow's New York Times in which the daughter of President John F. Kennedy endorses Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination. I have often heard people compare Obama to JFK and this endorsement might lend greater legitimacy to such comparisons. Obama is Kennedyesque in his youth, charisma, and optimism; further, much of his rhetoric celebrates ideals while aiming to bring people together for the national good and inspire people to participate in the political process for the first time.

Caroline Kennedy suggests that "qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual" in this race because the candidates' policy positions are very similar. I tend to agree--with platforms being so similar, Democrats are more choosing between different styles of leadership and symbolic notions attached to each candidate. Tonight Obama spoke of the diverse coalition of support he has built; his success in SC across many demographic groups provides evidence that he has a real ability to be a uniter.

What do you think? Do comparisons to JFK hold up or is Obama a totally new breed of politician?

GS note - The link has been updated and corrected.