The Brian Lehrer Show

in regards to ted kennedy's comments...

how is putting a brown man in the white house going to magically change the world?

Obama seems to be living under this illusion that his election will somehow make racism magically vanish, the same illusion that makes him think that the islamic fundamentalist world stop hating up . . . he is a politician playing politics as usual using the mantra that he is not...

just because you say something doesn't make it so

. . . but just in case it does "if i eat a salad for lunch today, i will win the lottery"

I think the interpretation of Obama as a Dem running to the center is mistaken.

Instead, Obama's magic is that he is able to make left-ish politics palatable to those who wouldn't naturally align themselves with the left. And this is, in part, why Obama's words really do matter -'the issues' are defined as much by their packaging as the policies that aim to address them.

39

MEANS NOTHING

Doesn't anyone remember Mary Jo Kopechne & Chappaquiddick?

Kennedy pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended sentence of two months in jail.

So this guy drove drunk, killed a woman and then fled the scene.

Great endorsement!

Why only listen to those under 30? JFK died 44 years ago.

Brian, you have left out a segment of the population. I was born in '65, after JFK but beyond my 30's.

Regarding Ted Kennedy's endorsement, he's entitled to his feelings, but I've lost respect for him for it. Hope without substance will not push our nation forward. I just haven't seen any substance from Sen. Obama. I have seen a lot of substance from Sen. Clinton.

I am 39, and resent that you've broken this into those who lived through JFK and those under 30. My generation has been force-fed Kennedy necrophilia our entire lives. Honestly, Teddy Kennedy's endorsement actually has a negative effect on me. The Kennedy legacy to me is claiming greatness on thin accomplishments and the promise of "what might have been," even in the face of facts (wiretaps of MLK, anyone?) Obama claims to be taking politics to the next generation; by appearing with Ted Kennedy, he shows he's more of the same.

If I hear one more liberal pundit on npr or all the other networks for that matter I will puke.!! Teddy is a good man but a loser ..big time!, he ran against Carter and lost!! and every 4 years gives a rousing speech endorsing the Democrat and every year [with the exception of Bill] they go on to humiliating defeat, Mondale, Dukakis, Kerry etc. Of course RFK's kids endorsing H C gets no coverage or NY N.O.W. chapters reply to Teddys verbal diarhea is totally ignored...The bias is astounding!!

I'm under 30 and the Kennedy endorsement means something to me. Hard to believe but some of us know that RFK was the greatest American of all time.

I like JFK - he cut taxes and reached out to all Americans. I don't care much for Teddy.

My Age: 30.

The Ted Kennedy legacy? Liberalism, alcohol, death and failed presidential aspirations. Get real -- the republicans are dying to see Ted Kennedy involved in this election.

Step back and truly let America decide.

Who is he to decide?!

The illusion of bipartisanship is a fool's paradise. The United States faces unprecedented crises caused by REPUBLICAN leadership. We need the most experienced DEMOCRAT possible. You think the Republicans will play nice?

Grow up and then run for President.

I'm 28, and already an enthusiastic Obama supporter. (I called in during the "Democracy Clubs" segment, undecided between Obama, Richardson and Edwards. What ever happened to those clubs?)

The Caroline Kennedy Op-Ed was great ammunition in my battle to sway my Mom, who's a Hillary supporter. I don't know too much about the Kennedy's besides what's famous, but that was the most convincing, eloquent endorsement I (or Obama) could have asked for.

I'm 25. The Kennedy legacy really is nothing more than a fairy tale to me. JFK and Bobby were romanticized in the same way as Marilyn Monroe or James Dean.

I normally like Ted, but I am disappointed in his endorsement. I think he's looking at the concept of Obama but not the hard facts of Obama's politics.

Kennedy was shot a year before I was born, so I don't know the JFK years. But I do know the years afterward, and for someone my age, there's no nostalgia at all! I equate the Kennedys with dynastic tendencies, corruption, adultery, alcoholism... for Ted Kennedy to endorse Obama means nothing at all to me. In fact, I'm afraid it might even be detrimental.

I'm 35 and so did not experience the JFK era. I do hope, however, that we don't try to align Sen. Obama too much with JFK and therefore with the Kennedy-esque sex scandals, tragedies, and liberal elitism that also is their legacy. We can't look at one aspect of the Kennedy legacy without the other.

the comparison between Ike and JFK is instructive. it marks the transition of our culture from substance to trash and flash (and the resultant downward trajectory of the Democratic Party).

the difference between Ike and JFK, in the most serious responsibility the Constitution charges our president with, can be summed up as the difference between D-Day and Bay of Pigs. (no doubt, Senator Obama is every bit as qualified as Ike to launch a D-Day of his own.)

the notion that Senator Obama will unite us reminds me of a similar promise by former Mayor Dinkins. however, i don't think Mayor Dinkins was any great boon to the Democratic Party, nor, for that matter, the aspirations of blacks to advance in electoral politics.

i'm still for Senator Clinton.

I'm over 30 and expect more from a president than star power and hope.

I'm not a senator or a TV personality and I endorse John Edwards- the hidden candidate, who has kept focused and the real issues on the table.

I'm 27, and I don't have the slightest idea who this Ed Kennedy guy is. I am not generally swayed by endorsements in general, especially if they're from senators that have nothing to do with my geographical area.

Now, if they got Kanye West or Jerry Springer to endorse them, I might take more notice.

Can you confirm that Toni Morrison, who coined the phrase of Clinton being the "first Black President," has thrown her support behind Obama?

I am tired of the Clinton's call for a return to the nineties, I couldn't vote in the nineties and prefer the idea of looking the future head on, rather than askance. That's why the Kennedy support for Obama is important to me: in my mind JFK's presidency was about forward momentum.

(I am just 30).

age 38

will Obama fight for democratic principles while making deals with republicans?

when did democratic principles stop being worth fighting for.

is it really time to end the culture wars, when did we win?

I've already committed my vote for Obama, the Kennedy endorsements only reaffirm my belief that he's the only candidate capable of rousing what's left of the idealism in today's youth. The speech where he announced he candidacy was the first time in my life I was actually excited about a political race. I described this feeling to my mother and her first response was "That's exactly how Kennedy made us feel."

NOW's press release that Ted Kennedy betrayed women because he endorsed Obama, was triggered by a partisan gut-reaction, the quintessential Clinton action. Hillary is the symbol of a decaying Washington, and Obama is the symbol of change.

-Liz, 24

I'm neither a Kennedy survivor nor under 30, but I was a child during the assassination hangover of the '70s and a young woman who lived through the Reagan's Republican "revolution" of the '80s. As a black woman, I am torn between supporting Hillary Clinton, who has represented New York ably and proved herself an agile politician, and Barack Obama, who offers a fresh perspective and perhaps is the person to propel the U.S. back to the leadership position in ideas and ideals.

I lived through the Kennedy years. I was the Youth for Kennedy campaign leader in my high school.

I am appalled by Teddy's endorsement. It think his timing was inappropriate, with each of the main candidates having won two primaries. I think his speech was unbelievably offensive, twisting her campaign slogans to suit Obama. Obama is NO Jack Kennedy. He is too young; he is too inexperienced, and it was not his turn. It was Hillary's. With all of this talk of race, how about the gender slur of the patriarch of the party rushing in to carry along yet another man? As for Caroline's endorsement, I found it overly sentimentalized, not addressing any of the issues, and most disappointing.

I am very aware of the power of these endorsements. They will be bad for Hillary. I think it was a mean spirited thing to do. and, I think the picture of Obama turning away from Hillary says it all about his character and his unreadiness for the presidency. He doesn't much like to face the hard, difficult realities and choices, such as voting anything but "present", pretending to have voted against the war when he wasn't a senator then, and now--turning away from Hillary because he doesn't have the guts to face her and greet her. That's a poor endorsement for the presidency in my 64 year old opinion.

Pat

I am 24. For, me Kennedy represents the power of appearance. That is in part why I am voting for Obama. This country needs to be inspired, and I think Obama can best achieve this end. Moreover, Obama can change the image of the US worldwide. I've been paying attention to blogs in many countries, and folks keep on being cynical whether Obama could win a national election; will Americans really vote for a black man? In regards to experience, thank goodness dealing the president doesn't have to make sense of the executive office blinded and muted! Obama has sufficient experience, and will surround himself with a competent staff.

why is it that both obama and hillary do not address Food Safety or the Farm Report as does Edwards? i want to know about Food Safety and what O and H will do about it.

organic girl in

bushwick

I was a 6th grader in Massachusetts when JFK was elected and a college student in CA when Bobby was assassinated (my future husband & I had gone to a rally to see him in Oakland just days before)so the Kennedy endorsements mean a lot to me- particularly Caroline's.

I had been leaning towards Obama but now I am firmly in his camp. I am so disillusioned by Hilary & Bill's recent behavior that if she receives the nomination I may have to vote for a Republican! (I have been an independent for years, but registered as a Democrat to vote in the NJ primary)

I was just 12 years old when Kennedy was shot, and I remember crying all the way home from school, and never really feeling safe again. Kennedy's endorsement of Obama has absolutely won me over to his campaign, and I plan on donating time and money to support him. The Clinton hijinks of last week were totally disheartening - we can't go back to the bitter, unfair smears of the Clinton/Bush years - we must go forward to a fresh start - and Obama is it!

I was alive during JFK but don't remember him. Its interesting that the man who claims to be an outsider(Obama)has been ordained by the ultimate insider.

Its also interesting that the womanizing Kennedy's choose not to endorse the first serious women candidate.

Maybe their trying to make up for JFK's failure to pass Civil rights legislation despite all of his rhetoric.

Brian

I think Kennedy's endorsement is more about sexism than about anything else. Poor Hilary, America is just not ready for her, and this subtle and not so subtle bias against her, including subtle but detectable bias against her in the media (across the board), will continue. Hilary has received alot of momentous endorsements, but i dont recall an entire show being devoted to her successes.

Barry

I'm 28 and at a loss to see the historical ramifications of the Kennedy endorsement.

The JFK legacy to me is very comparable to the band Nirvana: There is talent and accomplishment there, but the legends magnify what actually happened.

xo,

Kevin

the Kennedy era was more of a feeling - and maybe what Ted Kennedy is going for is a reinstatement of those values. I have to agree with this, we are now pretty bankrupt on so many levels. I hope they are right about Obama.

Anybody who works on Capital Hill knows that sins aside Ted Kennedy's leadership is revered.

I'm 27, and I think the Kennedies may solidify Obama's winning the Democratic nomination. I hope this ensures that Clinton does not win the nomination, because I do not think she would win in the general election.

As I see it, I would not want to put Clinton up against McCain in the general election, becuase I fear Americans would tend to vote for McCain as a gut reaction to Clinton.

I've been watching and reading everything regarding Hillary and Obama and waiting for it all to crystalize and leave me with a clear decision. Bill Clinton's comments over the past few days have infuriated me and made me realize something that has been roiling around in my head for awhile. Maybe it has something to do with being married to a family therapist but the past 8 years remind me of an abusive marriage, obviously the Bush administration being the abusers. We feel helpless and hopeless about the world and our furure, like a battered wife who sees no good choices out there. This is what I feel Obama offers that Hillary cannot, a new vision, genuine hope for change. Each time I see Bill Clinton I am reminded of his role in all this and the fact that his out of contol behavior created the scenario that has led to 8 years of war, countless deaths of our soldiers and Iraqi civilians and I realize that I just don't want to see or hear him anymore. It's now clear that Hillary's presidency will be a shared one. As a 56 year-old who lived through all the pain and agony of the last three decades I know in my heart that Obama will be a healer.

I was born in 1965. I am jaded about politics and have never been moved by one. I do vote.

Ted Kennedy's endorsement was not a sway to me but Caroline's made me think.

I support Clinton but am thinking about Obama because Im excited to see a generation or voters hopeful. My excitement is not about the politicians but to see a stir in what was predominately apathetic. Who am I to stand in the way and not at least investigate their candidate.

The Kennedy endorsement is meaningless to me. Talk about embedded, static rarefied politics, the Kennedy's epitomize it. We seem to forget that JFK was not that different then the people who proceeded him ala Truman and Eisenhower. How was the Bay of Pigs different then the 1954 overthrow of Arbenz or the Cold War Politics of Truman?

The Kennedy's were never as progressive as suggested by the reactionaries on the right.

And regretfully, liberals appear to subscribe to this faulty memory.

Stephen

Eric,

Since you are inspired by RFK--a noble inspiration, I might add--what do you think about his children endorsing Sen. Clinton?

Brian - In your interview just now you once again exposed your generational lens -- clinging to a bifurcated view of politics. I am a person just over 30 and am perplexed these past months by your inability to "get" this new approach (despite the fact that it does not correspond with the candidate you support).

Josh (comment above) - Obama never claimed that his race has anything to do with what would change if we take back government to elect a president who will work to minimize the power of special interests in politics. For people in my generation, we are not concerned with Obama's race (or Hillary's gender - of course woman is the equal of man - I need no woman president to prove it to me). We are moved to ACTION by Obama not by what he IS but what he will DO alongside us and anyone else who catches the vision.

Hey.. am I the only one feeling a certain

pro-Billary leniency in Mr Lehrer reporting?

This is how influential the Kennedy name is: my father was just graduating from college in Shanghai, China when JFK was assassinated. More than 10 years later I was born in Beijing. This is even farther than Brazil and yet I was very proud of Barak Obama when he got the endorsement!

Brian, Ted Kennedy is a great senator. JFK was charismatic and a mediocre President who went ahead with the Bay of Pigs invasion and got us deeper into Viet Nam. Almost all of the major legislative accomplishments of the 1960's were achieved by LBJ (with all his flaws and disasterous role in Viet Nam.

Posted by Marvin in Brooklyn

The Kennedy endorsement comes with a wide network of workers in the field, fundraising resources, connections. The "mystique" matters less than the cash and connestions

there is a struggle in the democratic party (also in the republican party)

Kennedy is part of the old guard fdr to carter.

the Clintons gore Lieberman are centrist DLC people

obama is the younger generation we'll see him again in 8 years

In his own remarks, Obama framed the passing of the torch in explicitly political and personal terms, saying that JFK had passed the torch to his brother Ted.

Obama's message to America couldn't have been clearer: JFK passed the torch to Ted -- now, Ted is passing it to me.

If Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy do not have a fight on the phone the other day, does this endorsement still take place?

I think....

Sarah - age 25 - you cannot imagine what your life would have been had you been 25 before John, Bobby, teddya and Martin came along. Then followed the Women's movement. You just cannot imagine, as a woman, what has been fought for and accomplished for your benefit by those who have gone before you. Please explore this before you dismiss your forbears.

Its at times like this I really wish Steve Post had this show

Hope and change could be dangerous. With the existing conditions, change could become mob rule.

Let's be careful.

Stephen

Mistaken identity, Ted's a joke! This is political concumerism/branding, the only similarities are in the genes and accent. Remember Chappaquiddick, or right you're all too young!

chestine - I honestly don;t think your in any position to tell me what I can or can't imagine or what I do or do not know about history.

I am in no way dismissing my "forbears" with my comment. I was expressing my feelings on the subject. Certainly, JFK, RFK, Marilyn and Ted weren't the only people who impacted the world and certainly Not leaders of the women's movement.

The Kennedy's offer a generational link, a step forward. Caroline Kennedy's willingness to admit the influence of her own children on her endorsement, show that our elders are beginning to recognize that they now share this world with us, and can learn from our ideas as we did, and continue to do, from theirs.

I think that Ted Kennedy's endorsement, though certainly gesturing toward partisan consolidation, actually highlights the need felt even by major politicians (such as Ted kennedy) to circumvent the tedious, rigid politics we've experienced since Ken Starr in the late 90's, which has placed a higher premium on getting in line than working to a consensus for the betterment of the nation. Obama, while a good choice based on the fact that he's a charismatic, pragmatic, and extremely intelligent individual, is so popular and stands to be so effective due to the fact that the nation yearns for (and here comes that word again) change.

I find this endorsement especially interesting considering in light of the recent criticism that Bill Clinton has been facing in regards to Hillary’s campaign- it is as though the most controversial endorsements come from those already part of a Washington dynasty. The key difference is the relevance that Ted Kennedy speaks of the wishes of our generation- I feel that the issues of the Clinton 1993-2001 appeal largely to the baby-boomer generation, and has been too recent to appeal to young voters.

I am listening now to the discussion and I appreciated your asking for call-ins from those who lived through the Kennedy Admin. (I am one of those.) One man expressed an opinion that the Kennedy endorsement of Obama, now, sets up down the road that he could be the force that brings all the Democrats together. I liked that idea at first but why then, did Kennedy have to use Hillary's phrase "on day one!" That seems to be a clear dis of Hillary, with a lot of anger to boot. That's not a look forward to healing the divide.

Hey all... do you hear the silence. That song is gone! ;)

Spoke too soon... It's back... :(

Sarah it is apparent in that expression that you don't know the value of the legacies of that bygone era. How many times has a potential employer taken one look at you and asked, "can you type?" or how many wpms?

Right on #3. Hey all you Dems, get ready for President Romney (Romney is actually much closer to JFK in all respects than Obama: political family, education, appearance, tax philosophy, foreign policy.) Teddy's endorsement is the kiss of death for Obama.

By the way, all you Dems who think Republicans are racists and mean-spirited, I'll let the Clinton Attack Machine speak for itself. It's a reminder of the pitbulls the Clintons unleashed on their real and perceived enemies in the 90's.

Ted's a pluralizing figure, no doubt. But Obama's strength is that he can both weather it and benefit it: attractive to Kennedy supporters, but not overly detrimental for the support of those who think Kennedy embodies the evils of the extreme left.

To the guy who called, Bill Clinton did not NOT

insult/denigrate Obama or Jackson with his comments after the SC primary. Has political correctness gone totally mad in this country!! He mentioned the fact that they both won that state and ran very good campaigns, the fact that they are black is irrelevant...except to those who create a story out of it, its inevitable that B O would get a majority of Black support, there is nothing wrong with that, just as more women may vote for H C. Media of America, cut out the partisan crap!! and report the news!!

Re: Comment #9

Remember that Kennedy proposed an income tax cut when the top marginal federal income tax rate was 90%--a far cry from today's top bracket of 35%.

I think I've commented before on this show's page that I look at Obama and think of one word: naivete.

He's completely naive to think that the Republicans are going to join hands with him, sing a song, and then vote to increase taxes (however small) to fund universal health insurance. That's just not going to happen. Republicans have a philosophical opposition to the idea and they're not going to be persuaded by Obama. Univeral health insurance can only get through Congress with Democratic votes. Hillary knows this; that's why I think only Hillary can be an effective center-left president right now.

As for the somehow scandal-ridden '90s: I'm 28 and I started college and started paying attention to the news circa the late-1990s. I saw how the Republicans wouldn't do a d*** thing for Clinton and instead were always trying to manufacture a phony crisis (it's too bad Clinton gave them Lewinsky). I also remember starting college at a time when there were decent jobs even for liberal arts students. That all had disappeared when I graduated and it hasn't recovered since.

I admit I've thought about defecting to Edwards if the Clintons go overboard with false attacks, but I'm staying with Hillary.

But I'll consider Obama in 2016.

I find it hard to believe that Obama makes the claim that this election is about "the past versus the future" yet gladly accepts the endorsement of Ted Kennedy, a relic of the democratic past. I'm 27 years old and the Kennedy's have held a space that's quite historical to me, not contemporary or hip. Everything about the Kennedy's is something old: WWII, old money, the Daley machine, Bay of Pigs. Ted Kennedy joined the Senate when Hillary Clinton was still in high school. THEY ARE THE PAST.

It's a way to continue the mainstream narrative about the Kennedys and I personally find it unattractive.

I was a 28 year old democratic town chairman in CT when John Kennedy was nominated, and I can identify with the excitement that Obama is generating with the under 30 voters!

Caroline's endorsement is HUGE. She has to be motivated totally by her emotions since she has little to gain personally by her public statement.

Ted Kennedy has developed into a real statesman today...we have too few of these left. His endorsement is very significant as well.

Chestine -

So you're saying that because I think JFK has been romanticized, I disregard the struggle of the women's rights movement?

I really don't see how you can jump to that conclusion.

I'm a foreign journalist based in NY , my second posting to the US in ten years. The first time was in early 90's and based in LA. There was an election back then too.

This election started out like no other - the US has been at an interesting juncture for the last couple of years. Voters fueled by their discontent with the current administration is what's driving them to ballot boxes and not the Hillary or Obama factor. The media's coverage and reaction (excluding NPR)has been astonishing, they're caught up in "I have a dream" euphoria - not the voters. So far voters have displayed a great deal more judgement and sensibility than the pundits.

The media's coverage is so skewed towards the Obama camp it's hard to take them seriously. Kennedy's endorsement is one case in point: Obama is campaigning on new politics versus old politics - well you can't get more "old" than the Kennedy politics...but the media is caught up again with "the dream" and now "camelot" to take any notice.

Brian, those who disparage Obama's youth and inexperience should examine Lincoln's resume when he ran and won the presidency.

I tried to get on your program yesterday as a John Edwards supporter; however, the lines were busy. I was pleased to hear a caller who echoed my view that Edwards is the most electable in the general election, no matter how exciting or glamorous the other candidates may seem.

I am concerned that there are people in this country who will never vote for a black man, and there are some who will never vote for a woman (or a Clinton)and will see McCain as a moderate (he is not) alternative.

The media have done Edwards a severe disservice by acting as though he doesn't matter.

What is this tendency to underplay Obama's experience, especially with respect to legislative work? And compared to whom? John Edwards (6 years in the Senate)? Hillary Clinton (7 years)?

The assertion of Obama's inexperience (and its powerful concomitant, his alleged lightweightedness) comes right out of the Clinton play book. And sadly, it is a charge that has largely gone unchallenged by the media, including Brian.

Fact is Barack worked 8 years as a state senator in Illinois, and has put in 3 years in the US Senate. This is not chump change.

Nor was he just treading water. Illinois is one of the toughest political and legislative arenas in the country. Obama cast more than 4,000 votes, sponsored scores of bills and played an absolutely critical role in passing quite significant legislation with respect to health care coverage and ethics reform, to name just two.

And Obama has had the experience of getting his but kicked in a failed effort to take on an incumbent U.S. congressman. I've heard Clinton and media people try to discount the value of this loss.

An informed electorate may still judge Obama's experience to be less than that of his competition, but Brian and other media people need to do the informing.

And the media also need to cast a critical eye on Clinton's self-proclaimed experience, which they have largely failed to do so far in the campaign.

no it's dismissing the real impact of a time that is romanticized more than it is understood - socially an awful lot got done during that time. I think a good picture of how it was to live in American society just before that time is the astonishing movie "Far From Heaven," (Dennis Quaid, Julianne Moore) which was made by someone who was not alive at the time and has told us more clearly than many what it felt like to be anything but upper-end white male. I forgot that your closest friends would drop you if you... I won't tell you, don't want to wreck the movie, if you want to see it. Even I forgot how incredibly rigid, repressed and segregated - inhumane - we were before the civil rights movement came along.

Both candidates are more conservative than I would like. Hillary has years of controversy and centrism behind her. Obama's policies are much the same-nothing groundbreadking. So what's the change?The endorsement of Obama by Kennedy is disturbing for someone who’s based his entire platform on looking forward and on change. Isn’t the Kennedy era completely of the past, and isn’t Ted the ultimate Washington insider? For all the storied romance, let us not forget that there was considerable controversy around JFK as well - there are still some who argue that he essentially stole/bought his election against Nixon. The Kennedys personify the dark side of American greed, corruption, alcoholism, and illegality that matches any Republican. Do I think this endorsement carries significant weight? Yes. Do I think that's a good thing? No. The Kennedy family itself is split in their endorsements - half for Obama, the other half for Clinton, but this is ignored by the press. The most striking thing about this election coverage is the undeniable bias against Hillary. We're surprised that she'll fight to the death? Obama himself said that there is a certain amount of megalomania that's involved in considering yourself a worthy candidate. The press doesn't take him to task for that nor should they. I’ll put my money on substance, the candidate, and not on some stupid endorsement.

I think people should understand the real implication of Ted Kennedy's endorsement. It was both an acknowledgement that we democrats and AMERICANS

I am part of the in-between demographic that was omitted in the story about Kennedy endorsement (I am 47, technically alive when JFK was assassinated but too young to remember the actual event). I am writing to register frustration with the lack of attention being paid by the media to the symbolic importance of Hillary's campaign for many women. As remarkable as Barack's candidacy is, Hillary has equal significance as a viable candidate yet the media seems to gloss over this aspect, as was even reflected in the discussion today between three male speakers concerning the Kennedy endorsement and the historical importance of Barack's candidacy. It is unfortunate that we have two strong candidates, who are not white males, and who have an actual shot at winning running against each other. Women comprise over 50% of the population and have had a constitutional right to vote since 1920, yet we have never had a female executive or even a vice president. Indeed, it has been a long time since Geraldine Ferraro's campaign blew up (ironically also at least in part as a result of her husband's difficulties). So for many women like myself who might not find Hillary the perfect candidate, she is a potent symbol of what women might, but have not yet achieved. It is astonishing to me that I may hit the half-century mark and there will still never have been an American female president.

I think people have to understand the real reason for the Ted Kennedy endorsement. First, it was an acknowledgement that we the democratic party and AMERICANS need to be motivated to take back our country. That we have allowed ourselves to let this partisan squabling to go on for too long.

Second, it was a warning shot to the Clintons that they are fracturing the democratic party. That their actions were not viewed as just trying to win over Obama but distroy Obama. Whether you like it or not, Obama is a shining star in the democratic party and the Clintons went overboard.

Third, Ted Kennedy using Hillary's ready on day one was a definate confrontation. I think he was saying, run a clean campaign or I will expose you for what you are.

Ted Kennedy will now be a counter weight to Bill Clinton if he should get out of control.

We have had a "if you are not with me, then your are against me" attitude instead of looking for common ground. Only Obama can bring us together for many reasons. One he is new, second even if you want to dismiss his speeches as simply words you have to admit that they are powerful and stirring and not by just democrats. Second, even republicans speak well of him. They don't agree with his liberal politics but respect him. WOW that's saying something. Even being a black american is significant to America and the world. We would be saying that not only have we pass the partisan fight but our racial intolerant. Believe me the world is watching. Hillary and Bill are too entrenched with the fight of partisanship. The Clinton's kennedy endorsement in the LA TIMES uses language like "her (hillary) two fisted willingness to enter the brawl" or that she is "battle tested" only underscores that she will keep this partisan fighting. Plus the republicans are waiting for the BILLARY FIGNT. We'll get lost in it again. AREN'T WE TIRED OF THIS as democrates and AMERICANS? Hillary can still be a great politician for us BUT right now we need OBAMA to energize and increase the ranks of democrates. Someone said recently that Obama can make liberalizism cool again in america instead of a republican curse word. And I agree. Please Vote for Obama if you care about AMERICA

Where as this idea come from that Hillary and Edwards have superior experience over Obama? It is the most ridiculous assumption to date. If Billary supporters think that this is going to stop the movement, think again.

What experience did Edwards have 4 years ago, 2 years in the senate? I don't remember all these questions? gimme me a break!