The Charleston Gazette reports that Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) has endorsed Barack Obama for President.
Senator Byrd is a giant in West Virginia. His reach even extends across state lines to Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Federal office buildings located in Martinsburg are largely there because West Virginia has one of the best Senators to ever grace the halls of the world's most deliberate body.
Senator Byrd vote for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in the 1960s. Four decades later, he was the leader of an anti-war group of Senators. He took to the Senate floor to give speeches warning about the disastrous consequences of a needless War in Iraq. The media derided his speeches. But those of us who opposed the war listened with amazement as Senator Byrd spoke the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts; Senator Byrd criticized the Senate, the very institution he holds dear:
"Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing."
Byrd continued his speech. Taking aim squarely at the incompetence of the Bush administration. Byrd criticized the Bush administration's reckless fiscal policies and international arrogance, which he (rightly) claimed would lead to a reduction in American power abroad.
There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11.
"Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling. Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher.
This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal.
In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders."
At a time when the President was popular, and opposing the war was thought to be political suicide, Robert Byrd--an old lion of the Senate--lived up to our highest chamber's reputation. His displayed leadership.
Now, in the waining moments of his career, Byrd is doing the right thing again. He is backing a candidate who opposes the War in Iraq. He is backing a candidate who will restore sanity to our nation's finances. And he is backing a candidate who will be competent President--something we haven't had under George W. Bush. And, as always, Senator Byrd is doing so with the class that has earned him admiration from generations of Americans. The Gazette reported Byrd's endorsement this way:
Byrd praised both Obama and Hillary Clinton, saying their "integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect...
"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," Byrd concluded.
Amen, Senator.