At a time when America is facing great economic turmoil, we need a president who is steady, mature, responsible, thoughtful and clear-thinking. We need a president who is deliberate, not volatile.
We also need a president who can inspire Americans to listen to their better angels — who understands that the hopes that unite us are greater than the fears that divide us. We want someone who not only will restore our confidence in government but also in ourselves. By experience, track record, temperament, values and vision, Barack Obama is that man. He has the potential to be one of a handful of great presidents — like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who turns a serious crisis into an opportunity to move the country in a new and positive direction.
In endorsing Senator Obama, former secretary of state Colin Powell recognized his extraordinary leadership qualities. Powell called Obama a “transformational figure” who has “displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge.”
Americans know that our country has been mismanaged, and our values compromised, during the last eight years of Republican rule. We are worried about losing our jobs, health care, pensions and homes. We are angry about the rising costs of gas, food and college tuition — and about having to live paycheck to paycheck. We want government and business to do more to protect the environment, consumers and workers. We are embarrassed that the United States has the highest levels of child poverty, infant mortality and income inequality among the world’s well-off nations. We want to improve our public schools. We want to protect a woman’s right to choose. We worry that our civil liberties and the constitutional separation of church and state are under assault.
Obama’s own story reflects America’s best virtues. It is a story with which we, as Jews, should be very familiar. He overcame racial prejudice and his family’s economic disadvantages to earn the best education the country has to offer. After graduating from Columbia, he chose to work as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago for $13,000 a year, helping ordinary people meet extraordinary challenges, a period during which he discovered his vocation. Graduating from Harvard Law School — where he served as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review — he rejected numerous lucrative offers in order to live a life of public service, improving society from the bottom up as a civil rights lawyer, law professor, state legislator and U.S. senator.
At each phase of his career, he has helped translate people’s hopes into concrete improvements in their lives. With this background, it isn’t surprising that Obama is committed to making government more accountable to ordinary people. But he knows that government alone cannot solve all of America’s problems. To fulfill our nation’s potential, we must be active citizens, not passive bystanders. We must engage with others in our communities, civic groups, workplaces, unions, schools, PTAs, congregations, environmental groups and other voluntary activities that are the strength of our democracy. One of the hallmarks of an Obama administration would be this invitation to work together to address our greatest challenges.
As American Jews, we have a proud tradition of fighting for social justice, prosperity that is widely shared and support for individual rights. Obama has not only demonstrated a moral commitment to this vision but also has put forward a detailed policy agenda to move America forward, not backward. His economic policies would create millions of new jobs, including “green” jobs that save energy, protect the environment and break our addiction to foreign oil. His domestic agenda would provide affordable health care for all, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and protect Social Security from the Republicans’ risky privatization schemes. He would protect families from foreclosure and expand housing choices at all income levels. He would strengthen workers’ rights on the job. A consistent supporter of protecting a woman’s right to choose, his appointments to the Supreme Court will restore balance from the increasing rightward turn that not only jeopardizes abortion rights but also civil liberties and civil rights.
Obama offers a sharp change in direction from the morally irresponsible and disastrously incompetent policies of the Bush administration.
Yes, Obama will provide a steady hand in these unsteady times. But, as he has already demonstrated in his extraordinary campaign, he will also be an inspirational leader who, like Lincoln and FDR, will use the power of his office to bring out the best in the American people. Like John F. Kennedy, he has already encouraged numerous young people to translate their pent-up idealism into the work of making America a better country.
Obama understands that it won’t be easy to reform health care, strengthen labor laws, tackle global warming, restore job security, regulate banks to make them more consumer friendly, improve the standard of living for the middle class, lift millions of working families out of poverty, and require the very wealthy and big business to act responsibly and pay their fair share of taxes. Like FDR and other great presidents, his success will depend on working with congressional allies to enact a progressive policy agenda. But it also will require Obama to use his leadership skills and bully pulpit to mobilize public opinion and encourage Americans to regain a voice in their own government in order to overcome the influence of powerful special interests and their friends in Congress.
“Nothing in this country worthwhile has ever happened except when somebody somewhere was willing to hope,” Obama has said. Change comes about by “imagining, and then fighting for, and then working for, what did not seem possible before.”
Barack Obama has clearly touched a nerve in America’s body politic. Americans are hungry for hope and ready for reform. We want a president who can solve immediate problems but also help bring out the best in America. At stake in this election is what kind of country we aspire to be. Obama is asking us to put aside our cynicism and work together to build a better future for ourselves and for coming generations.
Peter Dreier is the E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics at Occidental College.
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
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Move On .org is already purchasing large tracts of land in rural America to re-educate those who did not accept the Messiah. Confessions and auto da fes will help bring out the best of us. Vigorous action is required
Naaah, no need there, buddy. Trust me, no one has any interest whatever in interfering with your ability to wallow in a toilet of ignorance and fanaticism for the rest of your life. You see, Jeff, with more and more prominent rightwing rats scurrying off the deck of the S.S. Palin everyday, we’re headed for one of the most stunning and thorough repudiations of a political ideology in American history. In other words, no need to “re-educate” you, since you’re about to become nothing but an ugly memory, the punch line to a bad joke, your very existence a matter of total indifference to anyone who matters. Notwithstanding the disgusting racist campaign by the Republican Jewish Coalition and other neocons meant to suggest the existence of a “Jewish problem” for Obama, the only thing everyone will remember after the election is that the Jewish community supported Obama, perhaps in even greater numbers than in the past few elections.
Jeff, Paul-Cut the Political Correctness. Obama isn't an enemy of the Jewish people. Ignorance is the enemy of the Jewish people. If you want to vote for John McCain do so for positive reasons. For myself, I have already, through Early Voting, cast my ballot for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party for President. He is a gentleman who is above negative campaigning!
I see one of the re-educators has just shown up-sounds like a cultural revolution
What? It's a cultural revolution to behave like a human being? It's time to end the polarization and start the Menschelekeit! If Gen Robert E. Lee could refer to the Union Army as only "those people" and never the "enemy" Jeff Cohen and his neo-con friends can be a little more respectful of those who don't agree with their angry agenda! As Rabbi Brad Hirschfield has said in his new book" "You don't have to be wrong,for me to be right!"
What sophomoric drivel ... Obama is a clear and present danger to the Jewish State of Israel and the Jewish people. ... Obama will NOT bomb Iran's nuclear weapons facilities ... Jesse Jackson is a virulent antisemite, but he is no idiot, and he has described what an Obama administration will mean for Israel. ... Now, even French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of Obama's positions on Iran, according to a senior Israeli government source ... Sarkozy views Obama's stance on Iran as "utterly immature" and comprised of "formulations empty of all content." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031943.html If Iran's nuclear weapons facilities are not bombed, Tel Aviv will be incinerated, millions of Jews will die, and Israel will be destroyed. ... It seems too terrible to contemplate, and we can understand how European and American Jews could not bring themselves to believe what they were faced with in the 1930's. This is the most important election for American Jews in modern history. ... If we fail to act to protect our people, we are confronted with a nuclear Iran and a second Holocaust.
Eric R, I saw Thomas Friedman on Bill Maher's show last week and he likened increased oil drilling to someone in 1985 coming out for more carbon paper as opposed to better PC's. I think he had a point. At it stands Obama is certain to be our next president anyway.
I would like to see the tapes that the Los Angeles has on Obama's meetings and dinners with Rashid Khalidi, the PLO spokesman who justifies killing Jews as cool. Perhaps ds and sephardiman could help me obtain them. Im sure that Khalidi's books will be required reading in re-education camps. One of the camps will be called New Manzanar
This is the most important election for American Jews in modern history. ... If we fail to act to protect our people, we are confronted with a nuclear Iran and a second Holocaust. WE MUST VOTE FOR McCAIN, OR CURSE OURSELVES FOR FAILING TO FIGHT FOR OUR PEOPLE'S SURVIVAL -- NEVER AGAIN!
I would hope that Obama wouldn't bomb Iran if he is elected. I would hope that McCain won't bomb Iran if he is elected. Mr. Lee would do well to read Robert Baer's new book "The Enemy We Know" which shows that Iran, which already controls Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates, is quite willing to deal constructively with Medinat Yisrael and the US. The Shiites in fact represent religious moderation in Islam today and any American president would do well to parley with them. Most likely, Obama will be our next president and I'm sure Klal Yisrael will carry on quite well with him in the White House. All of this anti-Obama hysteria is beneath us as a people and brings shame to Hashem, His Torah, and Bnei Yisrael!
"Joe the Plumber" is right: Obama means "Death for Israel". You know things are bad when even the French President agrees: From Ha'aretz (a left-wing Israeli newspaper): "Sources: Sarkozy views Obama stance on Iran as 'utterly immature' By Barak Ravid French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel's government. Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France. But according to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate's stance on Iran as "utterly immature" and comprised of "formulations empty of all content." Obama visited Paris in July, and the Iranian issue was at the heart of his meeting with Sarkozy. At a joint press conference afterward, Obama urged Iran to accept the West's proposal on its nuclear program, saying that Iran was creating a serious situation that endangered both Israel and the West. According to the reports reaching Israel, Sarkozy told Obama at that meeting that if the new American president elected in November changed his country's policy toward Iran, that would be "very problematic." Until now, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have tried to maintain a united front on Iran. But according to the senior Israeli source, Sarkozy fears that Obama might "arrogantly" ignore the other members of this front and open a direct dialogue with Iran without preconditions. Following their July meeting, Sarkozy repeatedly expressed disappointment with Obama's positions on Iran, concluding that they were "not crystallized, and therefore many issues remain open," the Israeli source said. Advisors to the French president who held separate meetings with Obama's advisors came away with similar impressions and expressed similar disappointment. According to the Israeli source, Sarkozy plans to begin intensive negotiations with the new American administration, regardless of whether it is headed by Obama or Republican Sen. John McCain, even before the new president takes office in January, with the goal of persuading him to continue the current policy on Iran. But Sarkozy's pessimism does not stem only from Obama's stance; it also stems from the overall behavior of the international community toward Iran's nuclear program, and particularly its inability to agree on a fourth round of Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic. This foot-dragging will make it impossible to effect a change in Iran's nuclear policy, Sarkozy believes. The French intelligence community believes that Iran has already obtained about 40 percent of the enriched uranium it would need for its first bomb, and that at its current rate, it will obtain the rest of the uranium it needs in the spring or summer of 2009. However, French agencies are divided over what Iran is likely to do once it has this uranium. One view is that the Iranians will immediately make a nuclear bomb, in order to demonstrate their capability. The other is that Iran will continue enriching uranium without making a bomb - at least until it has enough enriched uranium for several bombs." Here is the link for confirmation: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031943.html By the way, not only did Iran's Parliament Speaker, Ali Lalrjani, who reports to Iran's Ruling Ayatolla Ali Khamenei, endorse Obama two days ago, but now Hamas is running phone banks out of Gaza, calling American Voters urging them to vote for Obama. I'm afraid Sarkozy and Jesse Jackson agree on what an Obama administration will mean for Israel.
An Obama administration can't be any worse for Israel than a Bush administration whose insane invasion of Iraq made Iran the Super Power of the Middle East. Enough of these hysterias Mr. Lee. Senator Obama is most certain to be our next President and if your loyalties were to the United States you would find it in your heart to get behind him during these very dark times.
The GOP has been a disaster for 6 of the last 8 years. Bush didn't hold to GOP values and has ruined any chance for 2008. McCain can't run from his past. Geez, standing up to Bush on torture tactics!! That's a no-brainer (but it didn't help). It will be a landslide election for CHANGE - the likes haven't been seen in decades. If you don't like it, I welcome you to move abroad. You won't be missed.
Well said Jason! To paraphrase Phil Ochs to the Obama haters in the Jewish community: "FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER COUNTRY TO BE PART OF!"
Any rational observer will recognize that Obama is dangerous for Israel. There are "progressive Jews" who care more about their far-left ideologies and dogmas than they do about the Jewish State of Israel and the Jewish people. They are "Jews" in name only. If their vitriol is "the best" that Obama has "brought out" in them, it is a sad commentary on Obama and their far-left political ideology. Rather than urging McCain supporters - particularly those who see in Obama a clear and present danger to the Jewish State of Israel and the Jewish people - to leave the country, perhaps it is time for them to recognize that they have already left the Jewish people.
Mr. Lee-I respect your right to vote for Mr. McCain. I don't respect your right to vilify Barack Obama or any other public official. For the record I voted for Chuck Baldwin for President on the Constitution Party line because I believe he has the best program for America. Furthermore, I resent your assessment that only folks who think the way you do are still connected to Klal Yisrael. It's interesting in that I get slammed from both McCainites and Obamaniks for my presidential choice this year. This only validates my decision to vote for Rev. Baldwin.
While not as important as the preservation of the Jewish State of Israel, there is a secondary issue here, which is expressed in Dreier's ode to Obama. It is the frightening willingness of some Americans to mindlessly embrace an almost religious movement, based on their projection of dreams and myths onto one man. Dreier believes that this messianic figure will "bring out the best in us". The great leader "can solve (our) immediate problems." Adolescent infatuation and hero worship by the body politic in times of economic stress is a dangerous thing. It can breed a totalitarian socialist state. Fouad Ajami today published a particularly insightful observation on "Obama and the Politics of Crowds". He likens the situation to Third World societies where, "the crowd comes forth to affirm its faith in a redeemer: a man who would set the world right. ... and the devotees sustain the candidacy of a man whose public career has been a steady advocacy of reining in the market and organizing those who believe in entitlement and redistribution." Because the true believers project their fantasies on their political messiah, "A leader does not have to say much, or be much. The crowd is left to its most powerful possession -- its imagination." Here is a link to the article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122533157015082889.html Obama's economic and social policies are indeed socialist. Contrary to the Forward's Editorial today, calling this a "Socialist Smear", the Forward actually affirms and justifies that reality, and outs itself as a socialist (in modern parlance "progressive") publication in its Editorial: "Democratic socialism emerged here at the same time it was spreading through Europe. The year 1897 saw the founding of what became the Socialist Party of America, led by Eugene Debs. This newspaper was launched that same spring as a voice of the new movement." It goes on to claim that it is now "a dominant voice in the Jewish community." (Readers of the Forward should keep all this in mind when reading its offerings, including the subject article.) We should be concerned when "progressive Jews", blinded by their far-left ideologies and dogmas, are drawn into a political movement which they do not understand, or worse, are unconcerned about the flashing red danger signals. Jews have seen their share of false messiahs and the madness of crowds, and the results have been disastrous.
I am a Naturalized citizen and I will vote for McCain, although I am not very excited about him. Why ? Because one Gorbachev is more than enough for my lifetime. You know, It started exactly like here in America. Old farts from Politburo Vs young charismatic leader, who had promised change By the way “PERESTROYKA” also means change, literally re-building. Crowds of supporters were asking for Change. Even a song of the famous rock band “Change, We want Change!!!” A lot of words…. A lot of promises…. Great expectations…. Excitement abroad… Speeches in the foreign capitals… And then a Collapse…. Economy crash…. Poverty, starvation, crime, local wars…. The fate of 2 generations, everybody who at that time was older than 40 , was doomed. It’s easy to read about all of that in newspapers, Much worse to see it by your own eyes. Please, understand me correctly. I am not trying to defend a communist system. Yes. it should disappear. I am just trying to present point of view average Joe, or average Ivan. People who became mass victims of a giant meat-chopper, which we called a CHANGE once. It looks like American believe that they are somehow protected by GOD and all changes are going to be for good. It’s not always true. People please be careful with changes you wish for.
One seriously wonders in neighborhoods that are predominately Jewish and black, if Obama, a black President, would give back/owe more to his black electorate at the expense of Jews. There is no question that Obama will get the Jewish vote because most Jews wish to have the abundance of social services that is purportedly offered by Obama. Can Jews trust Obama? They must make this decision election day.
As an American Jew who is concerned about the future, I disagree with you and your opinion of obama. Obama has many, many question marks about him, plus being unqualified to run this country. The characters his is associated with should have ruled him out to run for president. If he were a caucasian who associated with the klan or john birch society he would have been gone. McCain is ten times more qualified to lead our country then the unknown socialist.
As long as I've been voting, it was always considered important to back national candidates who are staunch allies of Israel. (I'm a Christian.) Now I read that more than half of all American Jews will back Obama. Evidently, it is time to abandon our concern for Israel -- if it isn't important for you any more, why should it be important to me? And four years from now Israel won't be important to anyone -- it will no longer exist.
Barack Obama has now been elected our President. We must now join with him to bind our nation's divisions and re-unite our country!
mr. Obama, I hope you can be a good leader for USA.... I hope no terrorist, no war,,,and be the best....