Edward I. Koch endorses Barack Obama

Edward Irving Koch, former United States Congressman (1969-1977), the Mayor of New York City (1978-1989) and a supporter of President George W Bush Jr. endorsed Barack Obama for President last week. In his commentary, which is e-mailed periodically to roughly 4,000 subscribers, Mr. Koch, wrote that “the country is safer in the hands of Barack Obama” and that Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, is “a plucky, exciting candidate, but when her record is examined, she fails miserably with respect to her views on the domestic issues that are so important to the people of the U.S., and to me.” it “would scare me if she were to succeed John McCain in the presidency.” Mr Koch also added that "Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks. It includes defending the public with respect to their civil rights, civil liberties and other needs, e.g., national health insurance, the right of abortion, the continuation of Social Security, gay rights, other rights of privacy, fair progressive taxation, and a host of other needs and rights." . He also commented on former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's speech at the Republican convention saying "I noticed a verbal tic intruding into the former mayor’s hatcheting performance. It was a kind of maniacal laugh appearing before or simultaneously surfacing as he delivered his slashing attack on Sen. Obama." Read more...>