The Trinity Tripod Endorses Barack Obama

As "Super Tuesday" (Tuesday, Feb. 5) and a slew of presidential primaries approach, Democrats face a difficult decision. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, members of The Trinity Tripod staff caucused to officially endorse a Democratic candidate, in the hope that our selection process might help readers make their own choice. Following this caucus in Mather Hall, the collective members of the Tripod staff voted Illinois Senator Barack Obama as their Democratic nominee for the 2008 Presidential Election.

A charismatic speaker who presents solid values, Obama is often criticized for his inexperience. However, the Tripod believes his relative inexperience is one of his greatest strengths. He is young, vigorous, and has yet to turn bitter from a lifetime of compromising and deal-making. And he is more in touch with the interests of a generation that the majority of the other candidates have neglected. With a campaign rooted in change, Obama has attracted and excited younger voters unlike any other recent candidate.

Obama offers more than comprehensive solutions for America's issues. Unlike Hillary Clinton's proposal, Obama's health care plan gives Americans options for more affordable health insurance without infringing upon the decision-making capabilities of his constituents. Rather than simply mandating health care, which siphons funds from all citizens, Obama offers choice. One can choose whether or not to invest in his newly-affordable health care options. Obama understands the importance of fulfilling the individual needs of his voters without overextending his role as a leader.

Obama has pledged, and demonstrated, his dedication to obtaining the energy independence of the United States. He has aggressive proposals to raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and reduce our national emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Furthermore, he seeks to double research and development funding for clean energy, targeting American innovation at one of the fastest growing problems facing modern day America.

He will also work towards responsibly removing the American presence in Iraq in a safe and timely manner. While some have criticized this policy as vague, it is actually considerate and realistic. By refusing to be tied down to an exact time table, Obama allows himself the necessary flexibility to remove troops as quickly as possible while taking into account the instability of the Iraqi government. He also plans to involve the United Nations in helping Iraq to hold a conference to rebuild their government, as opposed to current President Bush's much more United States-focused involvement. More to the point, Obama is the only Democratic candidate remaining that has actively opposed the war from the beginning, which shows a great deal about his foresight and ability to think through a situation in a moment of crisis.

The United States economy has suffered in the recent past. By simplifying our tax codes and closing up loopholes for wealthy Americans, Obama will provide an economic plan that will not only benefit the middle class, but that will also promote a more positive global economic interaction, paired with improved trade policies.

One of the most appealing aspects of Obama's bid for the presidency is strong bipartisanship, which helps explain why he polls so well among independents and moderate Republicans across the country. With this level of broad-based support, he becomes an even more formidable opponent that any Republican would be hard- pressed to defeat in the general election. Whereas Hillary Clinton seems to antagonize large sections of the electorate, Obama stands out as the candidate that could transform politics by working with leaders from both parties to finally end the gridlock surrounding tough issues such as immigration. He has established a solid plan to address this politically divisive subject. His plan not only preserves the work force that immigrants provide, but also clarifies and simplifies the current dysfunctional path to citizenship.

Finally, Obama's inspirational speaking goes well beyond mere oratory skill. This is a man who truly believes that he can do what is best for his country - our country. With his outstanding ability and willingness to move beyond partisanship and Clinton's old-guard style of divisive politics in favor of a strong, united government, his refusal to shy away from tough subjects, his honesty, and his modernizing solutions, Obama is by far the most qualified nominee for both the Democratic candidacy and for the presidency.