The Des Moines Register, Iowa's largest and most influential paper, endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. You can read the endorsement through the link below, but here are some highlights:
"Beyond their personal appeal, the candidates have outlined ambitious policy proposals on health care, education and rural policy. Yet these proposals do little to help separate the field. Their plans are similar, reflecting a growing consensus in the party about how to approach priority issues.
The choice, then, comes down to preparedness: Who is best prepared to confront the enormous challenges the nation faces — from ending the Iraq war to shoring up America’s middle class to confronting global climate change?
The job requires a president who not only understands the changes needed to move the country forward but also possesses the discipline and skill to navigate the reality of the resistant Washington power structure to get things done.
That candidate is New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."
http://desmoinesregister.com/...
"Indeed, Obama, her chief rival, inspired our imaginations. But it was Clinton who inspired our confidence. Each time we met, she impressed us with her knowledge and her competence.
The times demand results. We believe as president she’ll do what she’s always done in her life: Throw herself into the job and work hard. We believe Hillary Rodham Clinton can do great things for our country."
I know the Hillary haters outnumber the supporters on this site (at least in terms of diary threads and postings). But I don't think that those who support other candidates should hate Hillary or regard her with the level of suspicion accorded to Republicans. As the Register noted, there are many great candidates on the Democratic side and the policies they espouse are similar. This should be viewed as a strength. The brightest minds in the party have thought about the issues of the day, consulted the voters, and have arrived at a similar range of conclusions.
The issue then is who is best able to deliver the results that each of the candidates has promised to achieve? Is this the time for candidates with relatively less experience (Obama/Edwards) or candidates who view the challenges in Washington as a turf war (Edwards)? Or, is this the time for a candidate who has the respect of all interests in Washington and can leverage that experience and respect to achieve the goals that candidate has plainly outlined? The latter is what I want, and I believe Hillary Clinton best fits that description.
Few would be able or willing to work with others who tried to destroy one's spouse and marriage by dragging private matters into the public sphere for political gain. Hillary Clinton has done so. By any standard of character evaluation, the way she has conducted herself in this regard is nothing short of remarkable.
There is an unfortunate degree of suspicion about Hillary by many on the left that is usually reserved for Republicans. Many of these people have bought into the frame that the GOP created for her in the 1990s: cold, calculating, soulless, power hungry, corporate. Many of these same people bought into similar GOP framing of Al Gore in 2000 and voted for Nader. These same people have begged Gore to get into the 2008 Presidential race.
Hillary is a politician and is no less compromised than any other candidate in this race. Obama and Edwards have also made compromises, but they don't get attacked the way she does. Obama once led the anti-war opposition; Now, he has faded to the background while Congress languishes and espouses proposals on health care and social security which leave a lot to be desired (as Paul Krugman would note). Edwards has more flip flops this side of Mitt Romney, yet somehow he is seen as more trustworthy. I don't believe any of the candidates is any more or less trustworthy than the other.
I would urge everyone to take a second look at Hillary Clinton. Even if you don't vote for her, you should respect her dedication and professionalism. Every Democrat should support her in the General Election if she is the nominee of the party.