Bill Supports Barack: An American Moment

It was one of those quintessentially American moments, the governor who may someday be the first Hispanic president endorsing the senator who may well be the first black president.

It was an American moment, another bridge across the racial divide toward a new sense of unity, another bridge between the past and the future, another bridge between the forces that pull people apart and those that bring people together.

It was an American moment, when a guy like Bill Richardson, whom I know and admire greatly, and with whom I have traveled to meet leaders of foreign nations seeking to build a better world, shows the meaning of real leadership.

It wasn’t the easiest hour to endorse Barack Obama. He could have waited, put his finger to the wind, but leaders lead, and Bill Richardson is a leader.

When Bill Richardson spoke to Barack in Spanish, he said, not only to Barack, not only to Hispanics, but to Americans: Barack will give us respect.

Respect. That is a word we need more of in American politics. That is a value we need more of in American life. Respect. That is a notion we need more of in the media, in the Congress, in the presidency, and in world affairs.

Bill Richardson respects Barack, because Barack respects us all. He is no angel, he is no saint, but Barack Obama is a leader who elevates our discourse and raises our spirit, and Bill Richardson is a leader who appeals to the better angels of the American nature.

More superdelegates will follow, I predict.

Today was one more golden moment on the long road to real change. It was about true leadership, it was about coming together, it was about elevating the discourse and spirit of our democracy. It was about respect, and it was an American moment.