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Author Toni Morrison Endorses Obama
January 28, 2008 7:23 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein and Sunlen Miller Report: Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison -- who famously declared Bill Clinton to be the nation's "first black president" in a 1998 essay -- today endorsed Barack Obama for president, via letter from Morrison to the Illinois senator.
In it she writes, "this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it."
Morrison writes of her admiration for Hillary Clinton but says she "cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration".
"Nor do I care very much for your race[s]," Morrison continues to Obama, "I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me 'proud.' "
"In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom.
"Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.
"There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time," she concludes.
In an October 1998 essay in The New Yorker, Morrison wrote: "Years ago, in the middle of the Whitewater investigation, one heard the first murmurs: white skin notwithstanding, this is our first black president. Blacker than any actual person who could ever be elected in our children's lifetime."
Morrison's endorsement letter to Obama comes as Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., also announces his support for Obama on Monday, at a rally in Washington.
January 28, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (148)
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Interesting thought Cash. Maybe then Hillary could use that to make a graceful and gracious exit and we could put this whole mess behind us.
I don't think either will happen though.
Posted by: kimbers | Jan 28, 2008 8:33:12 AM
Did BILL GATES have experience when he had a vision for Microsoft? Did the "boys" from Google?
They brought in people around them who had the experience they didn't have.
You hire to your weaknesses...That's what Obama will do!
Posted by: Experience NOW | Jan 28, 2008 8:34:57 AM
Nice comparison about the Google guys--you need vision to lead--not proximity or longevity to the white house--I think the cooks there should run--they have been there for decades and decades
Posted by: Dave | Jan 28, 2008 8:37:14 AM
Dont you guys get it? Obama can be as racist or unracist as he wants. The MEDIA is controlling the whole show. The MEDIA decides how to SPIN every article to flatter a candidate and put down another. Its totally obvious the HIGH POWERED people who own the media outlets are trying VERY hard to make a Manchurian Candidate out of Obama.
Posted by: tom | Jan 28, 2008 8:38:48 AM
Experience NOW!! This is not a Burger King...this is the most powerful nation on earth...What has Barrack Hussein ever done to prove he can lead? Name one thing. I won't sleep until I get your answer..He is a great orator though!
Posted by: ChrisClark | Jan 28, 2008 8:39:32 AM
This person Morrison sounds like a fool "skin color withstanding". More evidence of what a joke the nobel peace prize means.
Posted by: DK | Jan 28, 2008 8:41:40 AM
BArrak Hussain Obama.OOOOPS did I say his middle name im sorry.I can think of 2 other leaders who came to power promissing hope and change with his same views.Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.
Posted by: Ty | Jan 28, 2008 8:42:43 AM
Obama is the best thing what ever happened to American politics.. he reflects and represents the new generation and the diversity of America.
Obama for president.
Posted by: herman | Jan 28, 2008 8:43:51 AM
President Clinton, despite the punches from the right, achieved more in his presidency than any other president in my life time. This is easy research. When it comes to Obama there is no substance and that's why none is being written. You can spin it anyway you want, he won SC because of his color. There are important positions in the government suitable for someone who can speak and uplifting speach, President, isn't one of them.
Posted by: bmacs52 | Jan 28, 2008 8:44:34 AM
Americans are wakign up and seeing they are tired of the Clintons Hate-Politics! Hillary cant lead this Country without Bill backing her, and we dont need that!
Posted by: Listen Up | Jan 28, 2008 8:45:32 AM
It is sad to think that the Clintons, with as much education as they have, deem it necessary to smear another candidate, Republican or Democrat. The two of them have finished themselves politically and will be moving south of the border to check on their stashed money. Say good-bye to the grifters.
Posted by: Richard | Jan 28, 2008 8:46:33 AM
When was the last new endorsement for Hillary?
I think we may have reached the tipping point. Those who sneer at Toni Morrison in the posts above, sorry, but she's a Nobel Prize winner and a heck of a lot smarter and more imaginative than you guys. Try reading some of her writings or interviews. She has a real brain, and doesn't just robotically repeat ideological mantras: ("Less government, lower taxes. Less government, lower taxxes. Less government, lower taxes.")
No Restoration of the Clinton Dynasty. Obama in the White House. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Let's take it.
Posted by: GH | Jan 28, 2008 8:46:39 AM
Of course she had to endorse him. What would happen to her standing in the black community if she didn't? As for Kennedy and Kerry...those endorsements are good things???
Posted by: Gomer | Jan 28, 2008 8:47:25 AM
"If you you want at least the promise of less government and less taxes, vote Republican."
If there was an ounce of truth in the statement above, I would vote Republican. You also should add "and large deficits" and "endless, illegal and immoral wars" to the list of Republican goals. Bloomberg, Nader, anyone, please declare soon. Oh yeah, Clintons are scum.
Posted by: Honcho | Jan 28, 2008 8:47:34 AM
herman. The kool aid must be flowing in the land of Oz. Come on dude...this isn't American Idol, this is our country...you can't be serious...Barrack Hussein Obama, Commander-in-Chief? Are you kidding me? Barack Hussein 2012!!!
Posted by: ChrisClark | Jan 28, 2008 8:48:09 AM
I think Bill Clinton, and I am a fan, stooped to low race politics. He should be ashamed and Hillary should be defeated.
Posted by: RichardS | Jan 28, 2008 8:49:07 AM
p.s. It's not the Nobel PEACE Prize, it's the Nobel Prize for LITERATURE. Get your prizes straight before you sneer at someone who has a real brain like Toni Morrison.
Posted by: GH | Jan 28, 2008 8:49:16 AM
dwash (8:31:19 AM), you can't be serious. Bush simply hired blacks because Clinton did? That's grossly unfair.
Has it ever occurred to my African-American friends that senior cabinet position in the Bush White House (Secretary of State) has never been held by a white person?
That's leaps and bounds past what President Clinton did - putting Ron Brown in as Secretary of Commerce the position that traditionally goes to presidential friends and political hacks. He did make Betty Currie was his scheduler, but partially because she wouldn't talk. It's not even close which President gave African-Americans more senior responsibility in his White House; it's Bush by a country mile.
Someday, more folks will understand that the black allegiance to the Clintons went largely unrequited; the Clintons were happy to receive that loyalty, but did very little in return.
Posted by: Carthage | Jan 28, 2008 8:51:12 AM
Re Dwash - He wrote: "OK, Bush only hired more blacks because he HAD TO follow up with what Clinton did. He would have looked bad to come in behind Clinton and not hire blacks in his cabinet. The reason he hired more blacks is just to say "I hired more blacks in my presidency" So, i don't commend Bush for hiring more blacks than Clinton, it was a political move."
Why do you think that the Clinton motives were pure but the Bush motives were to win a contest? What is it with you? Can't you see that at least progress is being made? How many black people were in the Kennedy administration?
Stop with the racism.
Posted by: Terry | Jan 28, 2008 8:52:37 AM
Whomever the dems choose they will be beaten by the rep mitt romney because over time the american people will realize that he is the best choice.
Posted by: Kevin | Jan 28, 2008 8:52:48 AM
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