Three prominent members of perhaps America's most prominent political party yesterday endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president at a rally today at the American University in Washington, D.C. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy, Senator Ted Kennedy (Democrat from Massachusetts), and Congressman Patrick Kennedy (Democrat from Rhode Island) all spoke yesterday on behalf of Obama, the first-term Senator who has won two states thus far in the race, including the destruction of Hillary Clinton in South Carolina on Saturday night. Ted Kennedy, perhaps the most important Democrat to endorse a specific candidate, said that Obama will “show the world a different face of America.” Kennedy said “this is another time…to move America forward,” and “in Barack Omaba I see not just the audacity, but the possibility of hope for the America that is yet to be.” Leadership, Kennedy said, is “about the reach of our spirit…With Barack Obama, we will close the book of the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay.” Kennedy touted specific policy decisions of Obama, including opposing the war in Iraq; providing healthcare as a basic human right to all Americans; and rolling back tax cuts that help only the wealthiest Americans. He said that the United States needs “the courage to choose change. Barack Obama is the one person running for president that can bring that change to this country.” Obama, after taking the podium from Kennedy, praised the Kennedys for their dedication to public service, and thanked them for their support, before telling the audience that this election “is about the past versus the future.” He said that “one day, we can tell our children that ‘this was the time that we healed our nation.'”
