Santa Barbara Independent Endorses Obama

Now, I know that the Independent isn't a big time paper like the Washington Post or the New York Times. It's just a weekly freebie (as a competitor likes to call it), but it generally speaks from a progressive perspective. They have taken -- as they point out -- the unusual step of taking a position in the upcoming Democratic Primary.

For a number of reasons, they have chosen Barack Obama. Here is a snippet from the editorial today:

The primary on February 5 is the first chance Californians will have to help set the nation on the right path. The Independent rarely endorses in party primaries, but this year we endorse with confidence one candidate who is uniquely qualified to be president: Barack Obama.

What impresses us most about Obama is his ability to inspire hope in those who've learned to dismiss the political process as a cynical joke. And his gift goes beyond speechifying, which he does with uncommon grace. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has charged that he is short on experience. We disagree. He has had more years of legislative experience than Clinton, with three years in the U.S. Senate and eight years in that rough-and-tumble body known as the Illinois Legislature. During those 11 years, he successfully brought together Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation benefiting ordinary people - from tax credits for children to ethics reform in Congress.

. . . .

The groundswell of support for Barack Obama is based on the belief that he has the ability to inspire hope and define our aspirations as a nation in a way that reaches not only Americans but also the world. We believe this as well, and urge you to vote for Barack Obama in the Democratic primary on February 5.

You can read the whole thing here.