Claire McCaskill: Obama a leader of vision and courage

Once in a generation, a leader emerges with the unique vision and courage to rally Americans around a common purpose. Barack Obama is such a leader, and our party and our country must not miss this opportunity.

Here in Missouri, we know what’s at stake in this election. Too many families are struggling to afford health care, to give their children a quality education, to own a home, and to live their American dream. Our troops are fighting tour after tour of duty in Iraq. Meanwhile, Americans are fed up with the partisanship and special interests in Washington, and have lost faith that fundamental change is possible.

Barack Obama gives us a reason to believe again. He began his life in public service more than two decades ago, bringing jobs and hope to laid off steelworkers as a community organizer.

As a state senator, he brought Democrats and Republicans together to expand health care and to give a tax cut to working people. And in Washington, I joined with Sen. Obama as he took the lead in fighting for, and passing, the farthest reaching ethics reform since Watergate.

To make a difference in people’s lives, Barack Obama knows that we need to have a different Washington. He is not committed to winning the partisan food-fight that has become business as usual; he wants to put an end to it so that we can start doing the people’s business.

To finally make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans, we need to push back against the special interests and bring Democrats and Republicans together — that’s what Sen. Obama has done throughout his public life.

To end the war in Iraq and keep America safe, we need leaders with the judgment and courage to reject the politics of fear that has infected our national security decisions — that’s what Sen. Obama did when he stood up and opposed going to war in Iraq.

On issue after issue, I have been impressed by how Barack Obama draws on his intellect, integrity and optimism to bring people together. Where some focus on our fears, he appeals to our hopes; where some focus on our difference, he speaks to our common goals.

It was my 18-year-old daughter who helped convince me to support this extraordinary leader. In seeing how this candidacy had helped awaken her hopes and her commitment to her country, I realized what Sen. Obama means when he quotes Dr. King’s “fierce urgency of now.”

We have a chance to choose a leader who can inspire our daughters and sons, and turn the page to a new chapter of American politics and policy.

Now is the time to stand for change. Now is the time to stand for Barack Obama.


Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, is a U.S. Senator from Missouri.