After the debacle of 2004, when the Times-Picayune punted on the endorsement, they came out with an endorsement today that has been praised in some quarters, and vilified in others. Today, they came out for Democratic candidate Barack Obama:
A president must navigate by an inner compass. Mr. Obama's steadiness and his ability to weather political storms bespeak self-confidence and a sureness of purpose. We are riding out a tempest, and he is, quite simply, even-keeled. He possesses expertise that should endear him to the New Orleans area.
He knows cities -- historic cities, gritty cities. He came by his knowledge pounding the streets of Chicago's South Side as an organizer, grappling with the needs of poor people. For our own great and complex city, we could use a national leader who appreciates that we are more than a sentimental memory of a college romp on Bourbon Street; that we are a culturally rich American treasure, filled with resilient citizens and worth protecting from the encroaching forces of nature.
As the child of a black father and a white mother, Barack Obama also understands the diversity that is the foundation of our area's culture. As an African-American man from a modest background, he understands and can speak to the plight of underprivileged black youth. He would have a large audience here.
Sen. Obama knows what it means to be an underdog. That should draw him to help in the recovery of metro New Orleans, the underdog city. When he spoke at Tulane University last February, he gained a firsthand understanding of the rebirth of our school system. He also spoke of the need to restructure FEMA and protect our area from future storms.
"I promise you that when I'm in the White House I will commit myself every day to keeping up Washington's end of this trust, and I will make it clear to members of my administration that their responsibilities don't end in places like the Ninth Ward -- they begin there," he said.
Surprisingly, the Shreveport Times, a paper I have long considered to be a conservative one, joined the Times-Picayune today:
Obama initially made his mark with the American public as an eloquent communicator and gifted politician. For almost two years his campaign has reflected grace and poise, whether inspiring thousands who flock to his rallies or addressing the blistering attacks launched from both inside and outside his party. He is reminiscent of past gifted leaders, whether FDR or Ronald Reagan, who were able to both project calm in uncertain times and to exhort Americans toward our potential to build a better future.
But the presidency demands not just image and rhetoric but substance. We believe Obama can deliver. In his first major decision as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Obama demonstrated more mature judgment than his opponent in choosing a running mate. In selecting a long-time U.S. Senator, foreign policy veteran Joe Biden, Obama answered the experience issue and reassured Americans they would have a vice president on standby who understands the levers of power.
Obama's controlled style also makes him the best choice for succeeding in a new political understanding that our problems can't be solved by distrust and disrespect, but through collaboration and compromise.
I wonder if Baton Rouge's Advocate, Lafayette's Daily Advertiser, and Monroe's News Star will show the same foresight, or will they join the American Press of Lake Charles and the Town Talk of Alexandria in looking backwards? (Note: Neither the American Press nor the Town Talk have endorsed ... but I fully expect them to endorse McCain.)
