Richard M. Daley, Chicago, Illinois
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 05:00 PM As mayor of the city of Chicago, I know something about Barack Obama. Barack Obama came to Chicago to help working families. And he continued to fight for them for almost 10 years in the state Senate. He passed important laws to extend the Earned Income Tax Credit and provide tax relief to people and families. He set up job training programs in the neighborhoods and after-school programs for children. And he extended health care coverage to thousands of working families across Illinois. For me and millions of Americans from every part of our nation, Barack Obama stands out because he understands that people want government to work for them again. During these tough economic times he is deeply concerned for our children, our families, and those who have been left behind. In all these things and more, Barack Obama has accomplished important goals by reaching out across the barriers that divide people. Barack Obama didn’t care about what party you belonged to or what part of Illinois you were from. He knew that all of our people share common hopes and common dreams, and he found ways to move us forward together. It’s time we had that kind of leadership in Washington again. Americans know that our problems are too complicated for divisive politics. People are concerned about feeding their families and holding onto their houses. The American people are looking for change—and for leadership. They know that the same old politics won’t work. I believe that leadership means bringing people together to meet the common challenges we face. And it means listening to people. Leadership means having the vision and courage to pursue real change. And that’s why Barack Obama is a leader, not just for our party, but for our country. He has the vision we need to break free from our dependence on foreign oil, to create millions of new jobs in communities across our nation, and to make sure that all people get the opportunities they deserve to pursue the American dream. He has a record of putting those good ideas into practice—by bringing people together and considering other points of view. I’ve seen him reach out and accomplish great things for Chicago and Illinois. And I’m confident that he can do the same for our country. And with our help and support, he will! Thank you.