An Endorsement That Matters

By froggermarch
I was sticking with John Edwards as long as I could. I’ve been angry with what the Republican Party has done to our nation and I didn’t really feel like making nice with everybody, or of backing a senator who had not, at the least, completely renounced a vote to authorize George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq. I also felt that Edwards had the best chance to ensure the Democrats recaptured the White House, with a real chance at making inroads in the Deep South that could be significant in the long term.

Then came the endorsements, and I started to waver. Surprisingly, to me given that I have yet to watch a complete edition of her show, Oprah first got my attention. She seemed to both capture and catapult the inspirational quality of a man we were all inspired by at the Democratic Convention. Kerry jumped in, but that didn’t mean a whole lot to me. As I received his fundraising letter on Obama’s behalf, however (made ironically possible by my donation to the Kerry/Edwards campaign) I realized the significance that such a mailing list would have on the financial viability of the Obama campaign. I began to cry “Uncle” at the same time Caroline followed the word with “Teddy” as she invoked her father’s memory and spirit. The only record album I can recall my mother ever buying was a commemorative edition of JFK’s speeches in 1963, and the words of the Kennedy’s and the candidate they endorsed reminded me of how those words—and more importantly the ideas behind them—had shaped my family’s and my country’s path.

But, in the wake of the Edwards withdrawal the endorsement that has put me over the top and cleanly into the Obama camp was this one from Ann Coulter.

Sen. John Kerry On 2004: 'Knocked On My Ass In Defeat'

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Sen. John Kerry did a q-and-a with Coping, a magazine for cancer survivors, and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate said he was floored by his loss to President George W. Bush. Kerry beat prostate cancer, and said picking himself up after the presidential loss was his toughest challenge since being diagnosed. The cancer was discovered while he was seeking the nomination.

"You know, there are a lot of challenges at my age. You lose friends and family to illness and death. And, in my case, I lost a pretty close election. The learning gained from getting knocked on my ass in defeat is not my favorite way to gain insight and knowledge, but it is an event that sticks with you, I'll tell you that much. I was forced to confront my shortcomings, figure what I did wrong, listen, and in defeat I also was reminded what really mattered to me."

Kerry said his father was lost to prostate cancer, and that African-American men are 80% more likely to die of prostate cancer than white men. He said his daughter, Vanessa, is in her final year of medical school.

Kerry said he was an advocate in the war against cancer, just like he became an advocate for ending the Vietnam War.

"Thirty-five years ago, I used those extra days to stop that war. I realized I had a responsibility to stop others from getting killed. I have extra days after cancer as well, and I use my anger about the disease to do what I do: be an advocate, keep fighting."