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Why I Support Senator Obama

By Rep. Patrick Murphy - Aug 21st, 2007 at 4:39 pm EDT

Why have I decided to support Barack Obama for president?

I’m inspired.

I’m inspired by Senator Obama’s call to change how business is done in Washington and transform this country. I’m proud to be one of millions of supporters in this national grassroots movement for change. And I believe Barack Obama is our best chance to change the direction of our country.

I take my role as an Iraq war veteran very seriously. Four years ago, in August 2003, I was in the middle of Baghdad . As a Captain with the 82nd Airborne Division, I was a witness to our foreign policy. As a Congressman, I believe that we need to change the direction in Iraq, start bringing our troops home, and refocus on the real War on Terror. And I believe that Senator Obama is best suited to lead in this effort.

I joined the military in 1993 and worked my way up to become an attorney, and then a JAG attorney. I was a professor, teaching constitutional law at West Point and then after 9/11, I deployed twice for our country. I saw with my own eyes the mistakes that were made in Iraq , and when I came home, I spoke out about it. That's a big part of why I ran for Congress. Now people tell me that they appreciate the fact that I'm trying to end the war and change the culture of Washington and that what I say is what I believe.

Public service comes in many different forms. For me, it came by wearing the military uniform, and I'm proud of that. Senator Obama was a state Senator for many years – serving a decade in elected office. He also worked at the grassroots level as a community organizer, which is inspiring, especially to the younger generation. Actions speak louder than words, and that's also why people have been so inspired by Senator Obama. He comes out and he tells you honestly, this is where I stand; you might not agree with me, but maybe we can work on our differences.

Most importantly, Barack Obama has the judgment to lead this country. His grandfather joined the Army after Pearl Harbor was attacked and served in Patton's Army, and he understands that when we engage in wars, we have to treat our returning veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve. That’s why he went to the VFW conference in Kansas City today and spoke about a zero tolerance approach towards allowing our veterans to become homeless. This is absolutely critical, especially when you consider that there are 1,300 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have come home in the past three years and entered into homeless outreach programs, and that on any given night in America , there are 200,000 veterans on the streets in America . That's immoral, and that's why I've introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to take a zero tolerance approach towards allowing our veterans to become homeless.

Senator Obama understands that we owe our troops the best public policy and the best foreign policy that we can give them. He understands that we need a tough and smart approach when we talk about Iraq and when we talk about fighting al Qaeda in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We need Senator Obama's comprehensive approach to foreign policy and we need to make sure that we are fighting on the right battlefields.

Barack Obama is the best candidate to lead our country in a new direction. That's what is resonating all throughout America. That's why you're seeing so much grassroots support for Senator Obama. And that's why I'm honored to endorse his candidacy.

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