From The Road
By

Steve Chaggaris /

CNET/ January 28, 2008, 1:19 PM

Kennedys Come Out for Obama

From CBS News Producer Erin Lyall:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It was quite the photo op: Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois, flanked by members of the Kennedy clan, bastions of the old guard. Sen Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., his son Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and JFK's daughter Caroline Kennedy took the stage with Obama to the cheers of thousands packed into American University's Bender Arena.

"Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wish they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president," said Caroline.

"Fortunately, there is one candidate who offers that same sense of hope and inspiration and I am proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President."

Caroline introduced her uncle, the second-longest serving member of the Senate (elected when Obama was just 15 months old), to offer his highly-sought endorsement.

In a speech peppered with quotes from his brother and Martin Luther King, Ted Kennedy called Obama the most "inspiring candidate" in the race. And despite his respect and admiration for Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, and his commitment to "seeing a Democratic President in 2008," he said Obama is the one candidate "who has extraordinary gifts of leadership and character, matched to the extraordinary demands of this moment in history."

In a sign of just how much of Ted voters can expect to see over the next several weeks, Kennedy offered "my help, my voice, my energy and my commitment to make Barack Obama the next President of the United States."

In his remarks, Obama said, "Today isn't just about politics for me. It's personal. I was too young to remember John Kennedy and I was just a child when Robert Kennedy ran for President. But in the stories I heard growing up, I saw how my grandparents and mother spoke about them, and about that period in our nation's life – as a time of great hope and achievement. And I think my own sense of what's possible in this country comes in part from what they said America was like in the days of John and Robert Kennedy."

In contrast, several members of Bobby Kennedy's family endorsed Hillary Clinton this week. And some who have been drawn to Obama's promise of new politics might not appreciate this endorsement by the oldest of the old school of Democratic politics.

But for now the Obama campaign folks, who were all smiles on the flight to Washington this morning, hope the Kennedy endorsement and upcoming appearances on the campaign trail will build upon the momentum of their candidate's overwhelming win in South Carolina.
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
5 Comments Add a Comment
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linkelly-2009 says:
A judge revoked the $2 million bond Monday for indicted businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who has raised thousands of dollars for Barack Obama.
U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve said she grew concerned after learning Rezko received $3.5 million from a company in Lebanon; he had claimed that he had no income. St. Eve said she feared Rezko could be a flight risk.
An FBI affidavit said Rezko actually received $3.5 million from a Lebanon-based bank account of General Mediterranean Holdings, a Luxembourg company owned by London-based Iraqi billionaire Adhmi Auchi.
The Obama campaign declined to comment on Rezko''s arrest Monday.
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awkeup says:
As an honest person with integrity, I would have said, "No thanks Teddy". Remember Chappaquiddick, where he not only killed a girl, but he was drunk and then left the scene, leaving her to drown. Real upstanding kind of guy I want in my corner. NOT!

Think outside the (TV) box. Check out Ron Paul. Talk about honesty & integrity. Plus, he''s extremely intelligent. He knows how we got here & knows how to get us out quickly & safely. Just check him out, please, for your kids & grand-kids sake. Media Blackout=Federal Reserve Owners. America was never meant to pay interest on their own money. We must get rid of the Federal Reserve & arrest them for grand theft. Every last one of them. They want us to be poor & broken. Don''t let it happen!
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deborah08-2009 says:
John Edwards is the most Honest,Moral and electable Candidate we have that also has Great Integrity!

It should be plain for all to see that Hillary Clinton is bought and paid for and most definitely is STATUS QUO


and what''''s even more plain to see is how the Democratic Party and the MSM is CREATING obama as the front runner
with all these "big" endorsements in such "big" ways.....it''''s obvious that he is the next Washington puppet on a string.


BUYER BEWARE!!!
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realpatriot1 says:


That sound you hear is not an earthquake..it''s the Ted vs. Bubba Sumo smackdown!
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gunownerdan says:
"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

www.A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com
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