Winona Daily News endorsements
By Daily New editorial board

A note about our endorsements: The Winona Daily News and many newspapers have viewed endorsements as part of our leadership function in a democracy. This is the second of two sets of endorsements.

As in years past, we will endorse candidates we view as most fit for the role, regardless of party. Our editorial board — which consists of publisher Rusty Cunningham, editor Darrell Ehrlick and online editor Jerome Christenson — has spent hours interviewing candidates for local, statewide and national office and examined their records.
Endorsement editorials — like all editorials — reflect the institutional view of the newspaper and include a consensus approach through discussion and editing of the final draft.

Presidential pick: Sen. Barack Obama

It’s amazing that all politics really are local. And, in this case, the Daily News editorial board values collaboration and transparency. And Barack Obama has proven over the course of the last several months that he knows how to bring a broad coalition of people together to share a vision of a more united future.

For at least four years, we’ve endured a president whose plans about the war in Iraq have been veiled in doublespeak while the billions have rolled into Iraq — a country now economically sound enough to provide for itself. Meanwhile, back here in the United States, the economy has crumbled, thanks to an amazing lack of oversight and restraint, encouraged by an administration that warned the only thing to fear was federal oversight.

It’s time for a change in the White House. We continue to ask whether folks are better off today than four years ago. For many, the answer is no. And we’re not so sure that folks can afford another four years of the same policies.

And that’s just here at home.

Abroad, we’ve fallen from first in diplomacy to nearly worst. What we need now more than anything is a leader who understands that there’s more to diplomacy than talking tough — true diplomacy is talking with our enemies, building coalitions and admitting that domestically we face huge challenges, including energy, health care and education.

We believe that Obama is that rare leader who can bridge some of the deep divides in politics and also restore some honor to our tarnished worldwide reputation.

U.S. Senate: Al Franken

Norm Coleman has grown in his job. The Norm Coleman of 2008 is not the neophyte of 2002, marching in political lockstep with the Karl Rove White House.

In the second half of his term, Coleman has broken ranks with Bush on many occasions to get things done for the country and for Minnesota. He has reached across the aisle to work with his Minnesota colleague, Amy Klobuchar and other Democrats, drawing the ire of his own party while getting very little credit from the other side. All of this is to Coleman’s credit, evidence that as circumstances change, individuals learn and change.

That brings us to Coleman’s opponent, Al Franken. The Al Franken of Saturday Night Live would have been as out of place in the U.S. Senate as a professional wrestler in the governor’s office. But like Coleman, Al Franken has learned, changed and grown into a new role. We needed to remind ourselves it’s not Stuart Smalley running for the Senate, but Al Franken who grew up in Albert Lea and St. Louis Park, Harvard graduate, three-time Emmy winner and author of five New York Times best-sellers. As Ronald Reagan demonstrated, a career in show business is no bar to distinguished public service.

In an election overshadowed by world-wide economic tension and uncertainty, it is Franken’s proposals that set him apart from his opponents. With talk of another round of economic incentives to spur the economy, Franken’s proposal goes beyond another round of government checks.

Franken advocates immediately moving ahead with funding for infrastructure projects — roads, bridges and the like — that have already been approved to spur job growth and consumer spending and to aggressively invest in alternative and renewable energy research and infrastructure. In the face of rising unemployment, he proposes measures to keep homeowners in their homes; provide tax incentives for companies creating American jobs; and take away the tax breaks to companies moving jobs offshore.

Over the two years of this campaign, Franken has demonstrated his seriousness as a candidate and a grasp of the issues facing our country and the world. The proposals Franken has offered in response are forward looking and address the need for long-term investment and economic reconstruction and merit his election to the United States Senate.

House of Representatives 1st District: Tim Walz

Two years ago, Tim Walz surprised many Washington insiders by knocking off incumbent Rep. Gil Gutknecht. Today, Walz has established himself as one of the up-and-coming stars of Congress because of his plainspoken and down-to-earth politics that have served the 1st District and the country well.

Walz wasn’t afraid to break with his party to vote against the bailout package. He worked hard for a new farm bill. When the Winona bridge was shut down, he brought the chairman of the U.S. House Transportation Committee to Winona. And, when southern Minnesota flooded, he rushed to do what he could to help.

While Walz has more than earned another trip to Washington on our behalf, we would also be unfair by not pointing out that Walz’s opponent, Dr. Brian Davis, is certainly one of the sharpest, most insightful candidates we’ve seen in quite awhile, and we hope that he continues to campaign to use his formidable intellect on the public’s behalf.

Another good measure of Walz’s character happens rather quietly, yet it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Walz continues to send staff into the field several times a month in a mobile unit to meet with constituents — where they are, in their hometown. This isn’t just some gesture, it’s politics at the most local and most effective level.

Clean Water Amendment: Vote No

The Clean Water Amendment is a noble piece of legislation. It has all the right intentions.

Then again, the path to hell is paved with good intentions, according to the old cliché.

And it’s a hellish thing to hem the Legislature and hamstring the state constitution. But, that’s exactly what this amendment does.

The idea of preserving the natural beauty of this state is something that we must do. However, we also must elect legislators to make decisions about our spending. The state constitution is the wrong place to mandate spending patterns and policies. If taken to the logical conclusion, then we should be able to just amend the entire state constitution to decide the budget, thereby leaving little else for the House and Senate to work on.

But we know that a Legislature and good policy are shaped by the times and the needs of the people. What may be a priority today, won’t be as pressing tomorrow.

We need to preserve Minnesota, but we don’t do that by destroying its constitution.

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