Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), who was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Senate, is the latest Republican to back Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Pressler is an ardent supporter of Israel.  He sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which became law in 1999.

Pressler is also a man of the utmost integrity.  He is the only member of Congress to refuse to take a bribe from undercover FBI agents and then to report the bribe attempt to the FBI during the Abscam investigations in 1980.

You can read more about Sen. Pressler’s endorsement at politico.com.

July 14, 2008

TAMPA — U.S. Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz today addressed the 94th National Convention of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, in Los Angeles, on behalf of Senator Obama’s campaign for president. Below are excerpts from her remarks as prepared for delivery:

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Congratulations, Detroit, on the Red Wings victory in the Stanley Cup finals.

I speak to you this evening as a citizen of the United States. I speak to you also as citizen of the world, because the outcome of this election will affect the future of our planet. For America to lead the world through the dangers we’re facing and to seize the opportunities before us, we’ve got to have new leadership. Not only a new president, but new policies. Not only a new head of state, but a new vision for America’s future.

I want to begin with a few words to my fellow Democrats. We have just concluded an historic contest among the strongest field of candidates any political party has ever offered for the presidency of this country.

An inspiring group of men and a woman with experience and vision, confidence and boldness. Their vigorous competition has attracted record numbers of voters in every part of America, reinvigorated our democracy and helped to rekindle the spirit of our country. And now we’ve made our choice. (more…)

Just in from the Sun Times. Congressman Emanuel could not endorse a candidate during the primary because he is friends with both democratic candidates, having worked at a high-level in the Clinton admininstration before being elected to Congress, where he has held several leadership positions.  After the primary was over, he endorsed Obama to Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

He has a very high popularity in the North Chicago district he represents, being re-elected with 78% of the vote.

Transcript:

BLITZER: Joining us now from Capitol Hill, Rahm Emanuel, the congressman from Chicago who has now come out and endorsed Barack Obama.

EMANUEL: As I’ve said, Wolf, there is a process, that I was going to wait for voters to issue a verdict. They have made that decision, and Barack Obama is our nominee.

As you know I was neutral because I worked for President Clinton. Hillary is a good friend. Barack is a good friend. But we have to get ready for November. We’ve just gone thru the first phase, what I refer to as “spring training,” and now we have to get ready. For 5 months from today is the election. We got to have an election that is about change versus the status quo and we don’t have a day to waste, in my view, about making sure people know what we want to do as democrats, and I want to help Barack get moving on that process. (more…)

Rep. Henry Waxman	Rep. Howard Berman

Chicago, IL - Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman Howard Berman, major committee chairmen and California superdelegates, endorsed Barack Obama today, citing his ability to unite the country and put and end to eight years of failed Bush policies. Congressman Waxman chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; Congressman Berman chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Both are respected leaders in the American Jewish community and major voices in Democratic policymaking.

Read more…

Former Sen. George McGovern, an early supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, urged her to drop out of the Democratic presidential race and endorsed her rival, Barack Obama.

After watching the returns from the North Carolina and Indiana primaries Tuesday night, McGovern said Wednesday it’s virtually impossible for Clinton to win the nomination. The 1972 Democratic presidential nominee said he had a call in to former President Clinton to tell him of the decision, adding that he remains close friends with the Clintons.

Read more at Yahoo! News…

Why I Am Supporting Barack Obama

Today, I am announcing my endorsement of Barack Obama for President.

This wasn’t an easy decision for me. Democrats were blessed this year with many talented and capable candidates, and I believe both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama would make fine presidents. But Sen. Obama’s proven judgment, his hopeful vision for America, and his unmatched ability to motivate millions of Americans eager for change made the choice for me. (more…)

Senator Bingaman said, “Today, I am announcing my support for Barack Obama for president and declaring my intention to vote for him at the Democratic convention.

“Our nation faces a daunting number of critical challenges: reasserting America’s leadership in the world, meeting our needs for energy independence, addressing global warming, making healthcare accessible and affordable, positioning our economy to effectively compete globally, and extricating ourselves from the war in Iraq, to name a few.

“To make progress, we must rise above the partisanship and the issues that divide us to find common ground. We must move the country in a dramatically new direction.

“I strongly believe Barack Obama is best positioned to lead the nation in that new direction.”

From source

“America remains the strongest nation in the world, but we can only be successful in tackling our toughest problems if we gain cooperation at home and abroad. Our next president - working across party and economic lines - must restore and strengthen our national purpose, our credibility, our competence and our spirit.

“We need a president who has the temperament of a leader - a sharp, incisive, strategic mind, a rare capacity for self criticism, and a willingness to hear contrary points of view.

“Based on my conversations with Senator Obama, reading his book and his speeches and seeing the kind of campaign he has run, I believe that he is our best choice to lead our nation… (more…)