John Nichols: Robert Byrd's Anti-War Vote for Obama

[babylonsister]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/322310

Robert Byrd's Anti-War Vote for Obama
posted by John Nichols on 05/20/2008 @ 09:17am

snip//

Despite the sentiment that may exist for Clinton in his home state, Byrd is of the view that the election of a president is about the future of the nation and the world. The senior senator explained this week that he held off from making an endorsement earlier because he had "no intention of involving myself in the Democratic campaign for President in the midst of West Virginia's primary election."

"But," the Constitution-toting senator added, "the stakes this November could not be higher."

With that in mind, Byrd gave his endorsement to Obama.

"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," said the senator who has been involved in Democratic politics long enough to have made the long transit from supporting segregation to supporting an African-American for president.

Byrd's support for Obama is related to what for both men has been a signature stance in recent years: opposition to the war in Iraq.

Describing Obama as "a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history," Byrd explained that, "As people all across this great nation know, I have been one of the most outspoken opponents of the Bush Administration's misguided war in Iraq and its saber rattling around the globe. With the Bush Administration's latest request to fund this on-going war in Iraq without any attempt to start bringing our troops home, the issue of the upcoming presidential contest has been weighing heavily on my heart. The loss of life continues and the sons and daughters of tens of thousands of American families remain in harm's way every day."

Leaving little doubt that it is Obama's record of opposing the war that makes the Illinoisan preferable to Clinton, Byrd concluded, "After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for President."

[snappyturtle]

1. Funny..I just described Byrd and Kennedy as statemen and here

Byrd calls Obama one....which I think is true. K&R