Obama and McCain Split on Affirmative Action

An Arizona ballot initiative to ban affirmative action is bringing into focus another clear difference between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

The affirmative action ban is sponsored by Ward Connerly, an African American conservative from Sacramento who spearheaded a ban in California and is campaigning for the cause in other states.

McCain supports the initiative, something Obama has characterized as a flip-flop from the senator's earlier position in which he supported affirmative action in some cases. In 1998, McCain opposed state legislation to end affirmative action in Arizona.

Obama reiterated his support for affirmative action at the Unity Convention of minority journalists yesterday.

"I am a strong supporter of affirmative action when properly structured so there it is not a quota, but it is acknowledging and taking into account some of the hardships and difficulties that communities of color may have experienced, continue to experience, and it also speaks to the value of diversity in all walks of American life," he said.

The issue could become an important one especially in the neighboring battleground states of New Mexico and Nevada, where there are large Latino and Native American populations.

Rep. Raul Grijalva endorses Barack Obama

Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva is switching his endorsement from John Edwards to Barack Obama.

"The best opportunity to win in November rests with Senator Obama," Grijalva said. "I am proud to support Senator Obama as we move forward toward the nomination. This election is not merely about moving the pieces around in Washington D.C., but to fundamentally change the rules of the game. I am proud to help Senator Obama work toward that change."

From neighboring New Mexico, Gov. Bill Richardson said that if he decides to endorse a candidate it will be by the end of the week. His nod could help Obama in winning over Latino voters.

It is worth noting that a great many of Richardson's Latino supporters have now openly endorsed Barack Obama.

Make calls to February 5th voters

Organize your community

Action Center

Obama Mobile

Arizona Republic backs Barack Obama

The Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper is endorsing Barack Obama.

Obama can unite nation

Jan. 27, 2008 12:00 AM

This is historic. Savor it.

For the first time, a Black man and a woman are within striking distance of the U.S. presidency. That is a remarkable statement about how far this country has come toward the goal of equality. It is shining testimony to the world that the United States continues to move toward the "more perfect Union" our Constitution envisions.

These two candidates for president do not want their efforts to win the Democratic presidential primary to be defined by their gender or race. That, too, is significant, and it signals a level of national maturity that would have been unthinkable not so very long ago. So we will consider Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on criteria other than gender and race.

First, we need to acknowledge that there will be other candidates on Arizona's Feb. 5 Democratic primary ballot. The most significant of these is John Edwards. As the son of a mill worker, he also exemplifies the promise of America. But his populist appeal relies too much on demonizing big business, and his death knell for the middle class is premature. He doesn't measure up.

This contest is between Obama and Clinton.

Their Senate voting records and political philosophy about the role of government are not appreciably different. Both are intelligent and competent individuals who can be trusted to surround themselves with top-notch advisers.

What sets these two apart is the likelihood they can deliver on the promise of change.

We believe Barack Obama has the best chance of moving Washington and the nation beyond the poisonous partisanship of recent decades. He appeals to independent voters and Republicans, in addition to members of his own party. His promise to unite is convincing.

Fierce political divisions have made it impossible to enact needed reforms in such areas as immigration policy, Social Security and health care. In addition to making domestic challenges untouchable, the partisan antagonism has made it more difficult to deal with international issues - from trade to terrorism.

The natural tension between branches of government and political parties is built into the system because it provides brakes and checks. Yet deeply entrenched opposition based on personalities is corrosive. Sadly, that type of active hostility has become a hallmark of Washington.

In addition, many Americans are cynical and frustrated because they perceive that special interests exert undue influence on government decision-making.

Hillary Clinton, though highly experienced, is very much a part of the current gridlocked system. She is a polarizing figure who would face instant opposition from those who continue to have a visceral reaction to Bill Clinton's administration.

To make matters worse, the combative stance the former president has taken during the campaign is more than just unseemly. It reaches beyond the primary, and will be answered growl for growl by Republicans in Congress if Hillary Clinton becomes president. Partisan politics will continue as usual.

Hillary Clinton is tough, and she might demonstrate the skills to overcome the opposition. But that will take time and energy, and prevent her from hitting the ground running, as she promises to do. In all likelihood, the lingering ill will from her husband's administration would cripple Clinton's presidency.

Obama is free from that baggage. He promises to move politics beyond the past two decades of screaming heads to something more productive. His campaign's tone is one of cooperation and bipartisanship.

Obama's call for Americans to believe in their power to change things is Kennedy-esque in its idealism. But it is also solidly rooted in an understanding of how badly the nation needs to remember its true strengths. He wants to provide tools, such as an accessible Internet database of lobbyist activities, to bring more openness to government and encourage public participation.

Obama represents a fresh, optimistic approach. His youthful voice calls for fundamental changes and a return to "an America that believes again." His oratory soars. While talk alone isn't enough, it has been a very long time since Americans had a leader who appealed to their better nature.

Democrats would do well to let Barack Obama carry their hopes into November.

Obama ads to air in Arizona and California

The Obama campaign is launching its first ads in Feb. 5 states it was revealed today by the Associated Press and CNN.

In Arizona, the television ad "Mother" will begin airing apparently focused on the state's large retirement population. The ad tells of the problems Obama's mother faced in paying for health care when battling cancer:

“My mother died of cancer at 53. In those last painful months, she was more worried about paying her medical bills than getting well. I hear stories like hers everyday,” says the Illinois senator in the 30-second spot, titled “Mother.”

“For 20 years, Washington has talked about health care reform and reformed nothing. I've got a plan to cut costs and cover everyone. But unless we stop the bickering and the lobbyists we will be in the same place twenty years from now. I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message because to fix health care we have to fix Washington.”

In California, the campaign will air “Quiet,” were the candidate identifies oil as both an environmental and a national security issue:

“I don't accept that we should be still sending eight hundred million dollars a day, part to hostile nations because of our addiction to foreign oil. And in the bargain we're melting the polar ice caps."

“I went to Detroit to insist that we have to increase fuel efficiency standards. Now, I have to admit, the room got kind of quiet. We can't just tell people what they want to hear. We need to tell them what they need to hear. We need to tell them the truth.”

Gov. Napolitano to endorse Obama in Las Vegas

Many sources are now confirming that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano will travel to Las Vegas today to announce her support of Sen. Barack Obama together with the candidate.

For those who wonder about the importance of endorsements, they can sometimes act as one of many factors in voter's decisions to support a candidate.

Maybe just as important, endorsements can help with fundraising, getting new volunteers and additional endorsements and in boosting the morale of a candidate's troops. They help create the appearance and/or reality of momentum at least for a brief period of time.

An endorsement from a governor is generally a good thing as it acts as a vote of confidence in one's leadership ability from the chief executive of a state.

Buzz: Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to endorse Obama?

Some sources are reporting that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano may announce her endorsement as early as tomorrow and that it looks more likely she will endorse Sen. Barack Obama according to the political blogs. That would be yet another superdelegate for the Illinois senator.

"And right now that buzz, from Tucson to Phoenix, is pointing heavily toward Obama rather than his archrival Hillary Clinton."

StarNet Politics Blog (Arizona Daily Star)