The Greenville News endorses Barack Obama in Democratic primary
The Greenville News | January 24, 2008
Greenville News Editorial Board
...In this race that's ultimately about giving the Democratic Party its strongest candidate for the November general election, Barack Obama has emerged as one of the most attractive candidates on the political scene in decades. He has a refreshing lack of political guile, and he inspires with his words and with his life's story. His father came from Kenya, his mother from Kansas, and Obama was born in Hawaii. He has moved easily between different cultures, and he has said before that his life built on diverse experiences has prepared him to be a political leader devoted to uniting people and seeking common solutions.
Obama brings characteristics to this primary that lift up many people and elevate their sense of hope. He is not a hardened ideologue. While he does not minimize his Democratic Party roots, he talks openly and encouragingly of wanting to get "Democrats, Republicans and independents to work constructively on problems instead of (trying) to score political points."
He could help Washington move past its stubborn and destructive partisan politics. As he said in an editorial board meeting at this newspaper, "The politics we have seen and grown accustomed to over the past 20 years have not been productive." That's so true.
...Obama's approach to governing would be based on openness, inclusiveness and transparency. That approach would serve our country well.
