http://www.politicsnj.com/goldstein-backs-clinton-9463Steven Goldstein backs Clinton
June 14, 2007 - 11:37am
The leader of New Jersey's largest gay rights organization has endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Steven Goldstein, the Chairman of Garden State Equality, said that Clinton is his personal choice, and that his organization will not make an endorsement before the February 5, 2008 New Jersey primary. Friends, I endorse Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. The organization I lead, Garden State Equality, is staying out of the Presidential primaries. First, Garden State Equality's primary mission is to affect statewide public policy, and secondly, many leaders and members in our organization support different candidates. That's a good thing for the LGBTI community.
But for me personally, the choice is clear. Whereas each of the leading Democratic contenders would make a fine president, it's ultimately about bringing competence and maturity back to the Oval Office. I want to see a return of seasoning, superstar staff, up-close knowledge of the Presidency and of executive power as a force for tremendous good. Our country's next leader must end George W. Bush's Romper Roomification of the Presidency.
Senator Clinton is one of the most experienced, well-credentialed leaders who's ever run for the presidency of the United States. Her depth on public policy issues is the most impressive in the current field of candidates, as she proves in the debates. It's not enough to speak of hope or of two Americas. I want details, not salesmanship. I want the ultimate anti-Bush, which Senator Clinton personifies.
She won't have to learn on the job -- we have that kind of disaster in the White House now. Senator Clinton has the skills to hit the ground running on Day One to repair the havoc wreaked on Washington by national Republican radicalism. She's already earned the scars from being a national leader at the cutting edge of progressive public policies. She was a visionary ahead of her time on health care, and never stopped fighting for it. She was an advocate for children decades before fighting for children became a fashionable cause and clause. And she's been one of the Senate's leading advocates for an aggressive national environmental policy that addresses global warming.
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I am proud to support Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. She's among the most tested and proven people who have ever run for President. She'll make a great one.