Unite Behind Barack Obama

There has never been a more important election in my lifetime -- with a war waging, gas prices at record highs, our health care in crisis, and our nation's standing around the world severely diminished. I spent the last year traveling across the country talking to great Americans in Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, South Dakota, Indiana and many other places. They all agree on one thing: This country needs new leadership, and it's time for change.

Many of you in the Clark community answered the call. Some of you worked tirelessly for Senator Clinton while others poured hours into Senator Obama's campaign. You did this because you were willing to sacrifice your time and energy to bring the change we so desperately need. I can't thank you enough for all you have done.

Now I am asking you to come together and make sure Barack Obama is our next president. This is a critical mission.

Hillary Clinton ran an amazing race. She inspired millions. Our party is a better party because of her campaign, and our nation is a better nation because of her service. She is and will always be a friend whom I admire.

I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on securing the nomination. His historic campaign has touched lives and his message has moved people in every corner of America. I believe he is not only ready for the challenge but will be a great President.

It's time our party comes together to stand behind Senator Obama as we move forward in this election season. I look forward to doing everything I can to help Senator Obama's campaign. While I respect John McCain's service, I know exactly what he stands for -- Bush's third term. America is a great nation, and our people deserve more. We need Barack Obama to be our next president.

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Giving thanks


Tomorrow, Americans will sit down together with friends and family across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's the most American of holidays -- a tradition that we trace back to our pilgrim ancestors who gathered with the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in 1621 near Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Thanksgiving continued to be celebrated occasionally through the 17th and 18th Century, but it wasn't until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln set aside the fourth Thursday of November as a national Thanksgiving Day that the annual holiday formally took root.

I think President Lincoln's words from his first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation, during America's Civil War, are especially appropriate this year as we pause to reflect on the blessings that have been bestowed upon us even while in the midst of our current conflict:

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Introducing the Clark Policy Brief

I'm really enjoying the opportunity to build a dialogue with people around our great country, through my travels and speeches across America as well as online.

In particular, I really appreciated Josh Marshall's invitation to join TPM Café as a guest blogger during the last week of August. It was a tremendous experience for me, and I hope it was a good one for you as well. While coping together with the aftermath from Hurricane Katrina and figuring out how best we could help, we were also able to discuss issues related to Iraq, American values, energy policy, and the need for leadership as well as my visits in Wisconsin and Iowa.

These were stimulating and thought-provoking discussions that allowed us to talk and debate directly in the finest tradition of American politics -- and in a way that has not been possible in this age of mass media and mass politics. I want to continue and expand that dialogue to include even more people. That's why I am starting Clark's Policy Brief.

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