Today I am announcing my personal endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. During the last nine months, I have closely observed the presidential campaigns, analyzed the issues and platforms of the major candidates, and have had substantive discussions with Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. From the sidelines of the primaries and debates,I have been particularly inspired by the fact that Senator Obama has builtan unprecedented, national movement comprised of people from all ethnic,racial, political, social and economic backgrounds.In particular, the response to Obama by young voters across Americacontinues to be monumental. Obama’s leadership, passion and demand for achange resonates effectively with the aspirations of millions of people whowant a better quality of life. This is truly a transcendent and historicmoment in American politics and I am obligated not to remain on thesidelines. Although I have great respect for the accomplishments of SenatorClinton and I have personally worked with Senator Clinton successfully onissues concerning education, prison reform and poverty, I am now compelledby my own personal conscience to publicly state, ‘I support and endorseBarack Obama for President.’As the Chairman of the non-partisan, nonprofit The Foundation for EthnicUnderstanding, it is my personal opinion that Senator Obama’s campaign forPresident has and will continue to transcend race in America and have aprofound positive impact on the very issues I have been fighting for mywhole life. Many of you know my work as Chairman of the non-partisan,nonprofit Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. Hip-Hop as a cultural phenomena isalso about transformation and taking action to end poverty, war andignorance. While I am endorsing Senator Obama as a private citizen, I am incomplete solidarity with the transformative consciousness of the growingnumber artists and young people from the hip-hop generation that areoverwhelmingly supporting Obama. Russell Simmons
