Matt Zeitlin: Impetuous Young Whippersnapper

The entire argument over whether Obama’s “present” votes on a variety of abortion-related bills in the Illinois State Senate seems to have cooled down — it was, after all, a strategy conceptualized by Planned Parenthood — and, in a final confirmation of Obama’s pro-choice bona fides, Kate Michelman has endorsed him.  She doesn’t mention women’s issues or abortion more than tangentially, instead, the nut of her endorsement is Obama’s leadership abilities and his capacity to inspire activism and involvement:

Senator Obama is not just prepared to lead ­ as our beloved Teddy and Caroline Kennedy have said, he is prepared to lead in a way different than we have seen for decades. Not out in front with us behind him, but rather with us beside him.

And that difference is all the difference. That difference separates just any president from a great president; and right now, we need a great president.

Barack Obama will be that great president. He will bring us all together. And together, we will change our country.