Newspaper Makes Obama First Democrat Endorsed In 72 Years

Calling him the right man at the right time when "our nation desperately needs an inspirational leader" and declaring that he is "the clear choice," the Stockton Record in California's conservative Central Valley has made Barack Obama its first Democratic presidential endorsement in 72 years.

"For the first time in 72 years, The Record is endorsing a Democrat for president," says a sidebar to the paper's endorsement in which they explain why they have selected Obama as their first Democratic choice since Franklin Roosevelt in 1936.

Here's an excerpt from the endorsement:

Barack Obama is our choice for president of the United States.

He has demonstrated time and again he can think on his feet. More importantly, he has demonstrated he will think things through, seek advice and actually listen to it.

Obama is a gifted speaker. But in addition to his smarts and energy, possibly his greatest gift is his ability to inspire.

For eight years, American politics has been marked by smears, fears and greed. For too long, we've practiced partisanship in Washington, not politics. The result is a cynicism every bit as deep as that which infected the nation when Richard Nixon was shamed from office and when Bill Clinton brought shame to the office.

This must end, but John McCain can't do it. He can't inspire, nor can he really break from a past that is breaking this nation.

The Record's editorial also blasted McCain's judgment and cited as Exhibit A, his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

"And that brings us to McCain's most troubling trait: his judgment," reads the Obama endorsement. "While praiseworthy for putting the first woman on a major-party presidential ticket since Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, his selection of Palin as a running mate was appalling. The first-term governor is clearly not experienced enough to serve as vice president or president if required. Her lack of knowledge is being covered up by keeping her away from questioning reporters and doing interviews only with those considered friendly to her views."

The endorsement also rips the Republican party for their ridiculous attempts to define Obama as "an elitist."

Republicans have tried repeatedly to paint Obama as an elitist.

Hardly. He grew up in a single-parent home and, by the sheer force of his desire and cerebral horsepower, ended up at Harvard Law School, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.

He could have gone for the money. He didn't. He went to Chicago, where he worked to give a voice to those who didn't have one.

That's hardly the mark of an elitist.

He hasn't lost touch with regular people, whereas McCain doesn't even know how many homes he owns.

This would be an outstanding endorsement from any newspaper but coming from the Stockton Record, it shows us yet more evidence that a big wave is building.

You can find the Record's entire endorsement here.