Senator Ted Kennedy, "The Lion of the Senate" Endorses Barack Obama.

Yet another seasoned, experienced politician putting their name and reputation on the line to back up Obama's campaign. Ted Kennedy is perhaps the most powerful Democrat in the Senate and has been championing the cause of people of all races, religions and income level for 45 years. Someone of that caliber brings years of experience and clout to the Obama campaign and help calm the fears that Barack doesn't have enough experience. If pillars of the Senate such as Kennedy and Kerry believe that Obama can lead on day one then I don't know how you can doubt them and their years of experience. These are people who know how politics and presidencies work and wouldn't lend their support to someone if they honestly thought that person isn't experienced enough or able to lead.

The other important aspect to this endorsement is that it gives true credence to all those voices who have said that it is a little too much to compare Obama to either JFK or RFK. Well, here you have the brother (Ted) of those two great American leaders saying that indeed, Obama reminds him of them.

I think that this is bigger than any of the other endorsements that Obama has received because Kennedy has great influence with the Latino communities across this great country. Not to mention Kennedy's extensive network of contacts and contributors. Perhaps the only great endorsement left to gain out there is that of Al Gore and that would be just as massive as Kennedy's endorsement.

Kennedy's endorsement has to be a major blow and embarrassment to the Clinton's as they looked up to JFK and RKF when running for politics. In addition, they doggedly lobbied Senator Kennedy to no avail. Kennedy was sickened like the rest of us of the dirty pool of the Clinton camp during this election and Ted chose to stand on the side of the future by passing the torch to Barack Obama.

You may not get through the entire clip/speech so I thought I'd post a few snippets that impressed me. Go here for the text of the entire speech:

So let us reject the counsels of doubt and calculation.

Let us remember that when Franklin Roosevelt envisioned Social Security, he didn’t decide—no, it was too ambitious, too big a dream, too hard.

When John Kennedy thought of going to the moon, he didn’t say no, it was too far, maybe we couldn’t get there and shouldn’t even try.

GOI: And this one which you can change the name Truman to Clinton:

There was another time, when another young candidate was running for President and challenging America to cross a New Frontier. He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic President, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed “someone with greater experience”—and added: “May I urge you to be patient.” And John Kennedy replied: “The world is changing. The old ways will not do…It is time for a new generation of leadership.”

So it is with Barack Obama. He has lit a spark of hope amid the fierce urgency of now.

I absolutely loved that moment in the speech when Ted looked straight into the camera as if to confront the Clinton's and said, "And I know, that he's ready to be president on DAY ONE!!

Perhaps this was the most touching and poigniant moment of the speeches:

Obama personalized his connection to the Kennedy legacy through the stories he said his grandparents and his mother told of that hopeful era in American politics. And in a poignant moment, he referred to his father, whom he rarely mentions on the campaign trail. He told the story of how his father was only able to study in the United States because of the Kennedy family's foundation that provided scholarships for foreign students to come to the United States.

Forward we go!!!

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