Joe Mallahan: Why I Support Barack Obama

Barack Obama is the most inspiring and capable person to run for President of the United States in decades.  While I'm excited about the man, I'm even more excited by the movement he's created.  All kinds of Americans have joined his campaign and have instilled in it a vision of hope and progress that is far larger than any one candidate could carry alone.  The size of this movement is extraordinary.  1.5 million people have donated to this campaign.  Millions more have organized to bring the message to the Country and the World.

The American people need to send a very strong message to the international community that America stands for liberty, human dignity and human rights for all people.  America’s influence in the world has traditionally been founded on the power of our ideals and the example of our good works.   This 232 year tradition has been squandered by the Bush Administration, both through its behavior overseas, and through how it has treated its own people.

America also needs to protect its working people and ensure a dignified wage for all laborers in our country.  Barack Obama is committed to raising the minimum wage and to renegotiating free trade agreements that have given trade partners an unfair cost advantage by ignoring workers’ rights and disregarding environmental protection.

Electing Barack Obama is an historic opportunity for our citizens to stand up and declare, “America is compassionate, America is free, America wants to lead the World in the promotion of the human spirit.”