‘I Feel Change in the Air’: Sen. Kennedy Backs Obama for President

It is Monday morining and two generations of Kennedys — the Democratic Party's best known political family — have now officially endorsed Barack Obama for president, with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy calling him a "man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character," a worthy heir to his assassinated brother.

"I feel change in the air," continued Sen. Kennedy, "I have marveled at his grit and grace," the senator made his comments at a crowded campaign rally.


Sen. Kennedy was intruduced by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, who said Obama "offers that same sense of hope and inspiration" as did her father.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy also endorsed Obama from the stage before a boisterous crowd at American University.

In his remarks, Sen. Kennedy sought one by one to rebut the arguments of Obama's biggest critics, the Clintons.

"From the beginning, he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth," he said, an obvious reference to former President Clinton's statement that Obama's early anti-war stance was a "fairy tale."

"With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion.

"With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay," Kennedy said.

Lately, according to several associates, Kennedy became angered with what he viewed as racially divisive comments by Bill Clinton.

"There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a new frontier. He faced criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party," Kennedy said, referring to Harry S. Truman.

"And John Kennedy replied, 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do. ... It is time for a new generation of leadership.
"So it is with Barack Obama," he added.

"I believe that a wave of change is moving across America," Kennedy said.

Carlos Carbajal, Public Relations Advisor to the Obama 08 Campaign.
cacarbajal@ucdavis.edu