Lee Hamilton endorses Obama

Thanks to Hoosier 1st for the heads up. Former, long-time Congressman Lee Hamilton is endorsing Barack Obama. I’m not one to think that endorsements are huge things, one way or the other, in terms of motivating voters; but, in terms of endorsements, this is a big one. Hamilton is a significant and well-respected figure in the world of Indiana politics and national politics.

Hamilton, who co-chaired the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and headed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said he was impressed by Obama’s approach to national security and foreign policy.

“I read his national security and foreign policy speeches, and he comes across to me as pragmatic, visionary and tough,” Hamilton said in an interview yesterday. “He impresses me as a person who wants to use all the tools of presidential power.”

Hamilton, 76, also sided with Obama, 46, on two foreign policy stances that have been criticized by Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, Obama’s rival for the Democratic nomination, and Senator John McCain of Arizona, 71, the presumptive Republican nominee. Both have dismissed the Illinois senator, saying he doesn’t have the experience to deal with critical foreign policy matters.

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Hamilton said he agreed with Obama’s position on meeting with U.S. adversaries such as the leaders of Iran without conditions. Also, Obama’s consideration of unilateral military action against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan is already U.S. policy, Hamilton said.

If you have Hamilton on one side of a foreign policy debate and McCain and Clinton on the other side, I think the smart money goes with Hamilton.