Ted Kennedy writes Karita Hummer, and she writes back

by Karita Hummer

http://passionateprogressivepatriot.blogspot.com

Dear Karita,

Barack Obama inspires me.

That's why I'm about to take the stage with him here in Washington and endorse his campaign to become the next president of the United States.

It's that simple. Through Barack, I believe we will move beyond the politics of fear and personal destruction and unite our country with the politics of common purpose.

All Democrats in this race have strong ideas to address the challenges before our country. But Barack is the candidate who can inspire Americans to act and bring us together to achieve those goals -- an economy that works for everyone, health care for all, and at long last ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home.

Join me and become part of the Obama campaign today:

http://www.democraticmajority.com/obama

I remember another leader who inspired the nation, especially our youth, to fulfill a promise of change. Those inspired young people marched, sat in at lunch counters, protested the war in Vietnam and served honorably in that war even when they opposed it.

That leader challenged them to ask what they could do for their country and, together, they changed the world.

So in the words of that leader, John Kennedy: "The world is changing. The old ways will not do... It is time for a new generation of leadership."

I have found that next generation of American leadership in Barack Obama.

Take a moment to join his campaign:

http://www.democraticmajority.com/obama

I respect the strength, the work and dedication of two other Democrats still in the race, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. They are my friends; they have been my colleagues in the Senate. Whoever is our nominee will have my enthusiastic support.

But I believe there is one candidate whose extraordinary gifts of leadership and character match the extraordinary demands of this moment in history.

Barack will be a president who refuses to be trapped in the patterns of the past. He sees the world clearly without being cynical. He fights for the causes he believes in -- but refuses to demonize those who hold a different view. He's tough-minded, but he also has an uncommon capacity to appeal to "the better angels of our nature."

In Barack Obama, I see not just the audacity, but the possibility of hope for the America that is yet to be.

I love this country. I believe in the bright light of hope and possibility. I always have, even in the darkest hours. I know what America can achieve. I've seen it. I've lived it -- and with Barack Obama, we can do it again.

Sincerely,

Senator Edward M. Kennedy


My letter to Senator Kennedy, in response to his letter to me regarding his endorsement.

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Dear Senator Kennedy,

If you see all those good qualities in Barack Obama, good, but I can tell you I do not think he has lived up to those ideals on the campaign trail in Iowa against John Edwards. There was one man who showed the gift of character and leadership in Iowa, and throughout; and that was John Edwards. He showed the greatest degree of ethics, whereas Obama was very unfair in characterizing John Edwards' record as newly populist, and showed questionable ethics in bussing all those students in from Illinois and Indiana. Don't think he was so ethical toward Ms. Palmer in Chicago some time ago either. No, there has been one person who has not compromised his principles and ethics and that has been John Edwards.

It is not unethical to fight for what you believe in; no, that is an obligation. When the debacle of the election in 2004 occurred, with all its irregularities, anomalies and disenfranchisements, on the night of that fateful "election", one man opposed capitulating so soon, and was ready to fight the irregularities, that was John Edwards.

That is not the politics of destruction; it is backbone. And you should know the difference. Obama, on the other hand, went in to the Senate and made very little more than a whimper about all the election fraud that your nephew, RFK, Jr. has since so clearly identified in his report and that so clearly disenfranchised so much of the African-American vote in that election.

(I do wonder if Obama, as he entered the Senate, had not already set his sights on 2008, and the election of 2004 was far behind as far as he was concerned.)

Senator Kennedy, Obama may remind you of John Kennedy. But John Edwards, because of his commitment to economic justice, reminds me of Bobby Kennedy, who I supported (and whom I helped draft to become a candidate.) By the way, I supported your own candidacy when you ran for President.

This year I support John Edwards because of his conviction and determination to give our country back to the people. He has diagnosed the problem correctly and has the right idea for what kind of remedy is required to bring about economic justice in this country.

For me, economic justice and greater opportunity for all are the most compelling reasons to support a candidate, and this year the candidate with the greatest promise for achieving such ends is John Edwards.

Karita Hummer