Obama Says Lawyers Are The Solution

Democrat Barack Obama's solution for some of the crises he believes the nation faces? Lawyers.

It may be expected, considering that the Illinois senator and presidential hopeful is a Harvard-educated lawyer. His comments come in an inspirational introduction to the January edition of the Law Review at the Charleston School of Law, which has about 600 full- and part-time students and opened in 2004.

"This is a moment when America needs its lawyers to look outward and ask what they can do to be the catalysts and architects of a better world," Obama said in the essay, which was posted online Thursday. "Lawyers should help make real the American dream and protect people from abuse and injustice around the globe."

Obama, who was elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, also reiterated criticisms of the Bush administration.

"Our constitutional system has been assaulted by an overreaching Executive Branch cloaked in secrecy and hostile to precedent and evidence-based, decision-making," Obama wrote in the 1,000-word essay. "Our image and influence abroad has been weakened, and our ability to pass on to future generations a world that is more free, more fair, and more secure is threatened - even as the world most needs America's vision and leadership."

Obama spokesman Kevin Griffis said the law journal contacted the campaign during the summer.

"He's taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He has great respect for the law. He also has a real belief that lawyers are in a unique position to serve the community," Griffis said of Obama.

Charleston Law Review editor Matt Kendall, an Obama supporter himself, said the senator was the only candidate the journal approached. But he said the staff also would approach a Republican presidential candidate about writing for the publication.
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