A group of 61 Nobel Laureates have gotten together to endorse Barack Obama for President. Their letter and the signatories are below. This is the largest number of Nobel Laureates to ever endorse a candidate for office, more than endorsed either Gore or Kerry. (Kerry had 48 total.) That is a remarkable statement. Here is the link to the original letter of endorsement.
An Open Letter to the American People
This year’s presidential election is among the most significant in our nation’s history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.
We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him.
During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country’s scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government’s scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.
We have watched Senator Obama’s approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation’s competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take – through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research – to meet the nation’s and the world’s most urgent needs.
Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world’s leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November.
Alexei Abrikosov
Physics
2003
Roger Guillemin
Medicine
1977
John L. Hall
Physics
2005
Leland H. Hartwell
Medicine
2001
Dudley Herschbach
Chemistry
1986
Richard Axel
Medicine
2004
Roald Hoffmann
Chemistry
1981
H. Robert Horvitz
Medicine
2002
Louis Ignarro
Medicine
1998
Eric R. Kandel
Medicine
2000
J. Michael Bishop
Medicine
1989
Walter Kohn
Chemistry
1998
N. Bloembergen
Physics
1981
Roger Kornberg
Chemistry
2006
Michael S. Brown
Medicine
1985
Leon M. Lederman
Physics
1988
Linda B. Buck
Medicine
2004
Craig C. Mello
Medicine
2006
Mario R. Capecchi
Medicine
2007
Marshall Nirenberg
Medicine
1968
Stanley Cohen
Medicine
1986
Douglas D. Osheroff
Physics
1996
Leon Cooper
Physics
1972
Stanley B. Prusiner
Medicine
1997
James W. Cronin
Physics
1980
Norman F. Ramsey
Physics
1989
Robert F. Curl
Chemistry
1996
Robert Richardson
Physics
1996
Johann Diesenhofer
Chemistry
1988
Burton Richter
Physics
1976
John B. Fenn
Chemistry
2002
Sherwood Rowland
Chemistry
1995
Edmond H. Fischer
Medicine
1992
Oliver Smithies
Medicine
2007
Val Fitch
Physics
1980
Richard R Schrock
Chemistry
2005
Jerome I. Friedman
Physics
1990
Joseph H. Taylor Jr.
Physics
1993
Riccardo Giacconi
Physics
2002
E. Donnall Thomas
Medicine
1990
Walter Gilbert
Chemistry
1980
Charles H. Townes
Physics
1964
Alfred G. Gilman
Medicine
1994
Daniel C.Tsui
Physics
1998
Donald A. Glaser
Physics
1960
Harold Varmus
Medicine
1989
Sheldon L. Glashow
Physics
1979
James D. Watson
Medicine
1962
Joseph Goldstein
Medicine
1985
Eric Wieschaus
Medicine
1995
Paul Greengard
Medicine
2000
Frank Wilczek
Physics
2004
David Gross
Physics
2004
Robert W. Wilson
Physics
1978
Robert H. Grubbs
Chemistry
2005
The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens. They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The Medicine award is for “Physiology or Medicine.”
September 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
[...] septembre 25, 2008 par Oldcola Qu’est-ce qu’ils ont en commun ? [...]
September 25th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[...] votes from 61 American Nobel Prize winners, [...]
September 25th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
It’s funny that Watson is on there, because he got in trouble for racist comments, saying that blacks weren’t as smart as other races.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:02 am
It seems not a single modern Nobel prize winner US economist signed the letter.Does it mean something serious or it is a simple omission?
September 26th, 2008 at 2:46 am
[...] list of 61 Nobel Laureates issued an open letter to their fellow Americans Thursday urging them to vote for Barack [...]
September 26th, 2008 at 6:13 am
You’ll note that the title is 61 Nobel Laureates *in Science*, hence no economists…
September 26th, 2008 at 9:54 am
It would have been more appropriate if youz scientists slammed Bush a lot harder.
Kathleen M. Dickson
http://www.actionlyme.org
September 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I think the scientists have been very wise in issuing this letter, however, I doubt if sufficient Americans will see it their way, for I think voters often use emotion, not facts or accurate information in deciding a president. In fact, from my vantage point of experience many of the electorate will vote based on everything but the issues. I hope I am wrong, but the history of this country tells the story of the ending from Reagan Democrats to “the Bradley Effect”.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:51 am
[...] September 27, 2008 61 Nobel Laureates in Science Endorse Obama - Scientists & Engineers for America Action Fund [...]
September 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
[...] Meanwhile, as the party of Sarah Palin argues to include narrow, laughably disproven fundamentalist opinions into the body of legitmate natural science education, a record 61 Nobel Laureates penned a letter to endorse Barack Obama for President in its entirety at Scientists and Engineers for America: [...]
September 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Mrs Bolli:
this was probably an initiative by scientists and the letter talks a lot about science policy. So maybe that’s why economists are not here. Also there was a separate endorsement of Obama by many economists including some Nobel prize winners.
September 27th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
[...] 61 Nobel Laureates have officially endorsed Obama for President. That’s more than have ever endorsed a candidate before. I don’t know if it’s [...]
September 27th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
[...] do they know, anyway? Just a bunch of elites: A group of 61 Nobel Laureates have gotten together to endorse [...]
September 28th, 2008 at 4:14 am
61 Nobel Laureates in Science endorse Obama…
On Friday, 61 respected Nobel Laureates in Science, who probably are gasping for air after 8 years of suffocating under the bush administration’s education policy have officially endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States.
This is …
September 28th, 2008 at 6:41 am
[...] they don’t want you to know that barack obama has been endorsed by a record number of nobel laureates. [...]
September 28th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I wish to point out that there is no such things as the Nobel prize in economics. It’s a prize given by the central bank of Sweden, not by the Nobel foundation.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
The Bush administration has gone to war with science. The Republicans are against science.
* Ignoring global climate change.
* Preventing women from choosing what to do with their bodies in the name of God.
* Teaching creationism in school instead of evolution.
* Outlawing potentially significant stem cell research.
Vote Obama. The Nobel Laureates know what’s up!
September 28th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
[...] 61 Nobel Laureates in science endorse Obama. Obama is pro-science, generally, and McCain’s VP pick and other anti-science pandering make this a no-brainer if science is your issue. Eight years of the Bush administration have made this issue more important given the damage done. [...]
September 29th, 2008 at 12:28 am
[...] [via] addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fscience.kukuchew.com%2F2008%2F09%2F29%2F61-nobel-laureates-endorse-obama%2F’; addthis_title = ‘61+Nobel+Laureates+Endorse+Obama’; addthis_pub = ”; [...]
September 29th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I would hope this is because they had limited information to go on. I would expect these men of science to be good at researching and perhaps they are yet to do their research. Once they look at what the candidates are saying I think they will find they are saying the same thing and voting almost identically. If they really want a change then I would think they would look to a third party candidate. … Ralph Nader, he seems to be the best candidate that supports the democratic principles.
See for yourself, do your own research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WiE6MnmCM
September 29th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
[...] treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.” 61 Nobel Laureates in Science Endorse Obama, SEA, September 25, 2008 (via and via) addthis_url = [...]
September 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
the only thing this shit will do is further drive the ignorant masses into mccain’s arms. that sucks i know, but seriously, non-monetary endorsement amounts to jack-shit when the entire voting intelligentsia is already voting for obama, and all of the ignorant voters are voting for mccain, and using anti-intelligence “rhetoric” to win more voters. good work assholes.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
what has science done ! ? !
September 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
[...] list of 61 Nobel Laureates issued an open letter to their fellow Americans Thursday urging them to vote for Barack [...]
October 1st, 2008 at 6:53 am
[...] om det i sig i det här fallet, för jag erkänna, väger rätt tungt. Om en nobelpristagare stöder en sak och en predikant stöder en annan är det för mig en indikator på vad jag ska [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
[...] About how the Walmart moms, pregnant teens, and single mothers are voting for Palin. As opposed, of course, to the high-browed elitists who are voting for Obama. Oh yeah, those, what was it, double digit numbers of Nobel prize winners who endorsed Obama? [...]
October 4th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
well i knew Obama was the most intelligent choice …but now im SURE…thanks Laureates for backing the best candidate to support intellient work rather then oil profits for dad and his mates.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:44 am
S0?
October 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
[...] 61 votes from 61 American Nobel Prize winners, [...]
October 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
this is really great.
obama the best
October 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Even after this there are still Mccain supporters who think Obama supporters have been brainwashed. It’s incredible! Do they think the last 8 years were good?!?!? Do they really want more of the same? I honestly and sincerely question the mental capacity of Mccain supporters. Is that kind of ignorance a choice or were they born that way?
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
if you’re concerned about what economists think, the non-partisan economist did a survey of academic economists and found that the overwhelming majority believe that obama “has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers.”
you can find the article here:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12342127
October 28th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
[...] displayed such curiosity and shown at least a level of understanding which won the endorsement of over 60 Nobel laureates. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Sciencedebate [...]
November 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Thanks for the info and being able to pass it on .
November 19th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
[...] and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy“—but most American scientists believe that his efforts have been focused on something other than what those jobs require. That something, [...]
December 12th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
[...] But separation of church and state is certainly not the only issue of importance to the Community of Reason. The outgoing administration seems to be, as Stephen Colbert would say, factose intolerant, preferring truthiness to truth and ideology to reason-based policies. In contrast, Obama seems more reasonable and pragmatic. He was endorsed by 61 Nobel Laureates in science (http://sefora.org/2008/09/25/61-nobel-laureates-in-science-endorse-obama/). [...]
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 am
[...] when the presidential election seemed up for grabs, a group of more than 60 Nobel Prize-winning scientists endorsed Barack Obama. One important reason: his plan to increase federal funding for research, which they argued would [...]
December 27th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
i think that Obama has moral, intellectual, and social capital. Will he connect it with financial capital depends upon us. With mutual trust we will have win-win outcome.
December 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
[...] when the presidential election seemed up for grabs, a group of more than 60 Nobel Prize-winning scientists endorsed Barack Obama. One important reason: his plan to increase federal funding for research, which they argued would [...]
December 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
[...] when the presidential election seemed up for grabs, a group of more than 60 Nobel Prize-winning scientists endorsed Barack Obama. One important reason: his plan to increase federal funding for research, which they argued would [...]
December 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
[...] when the presidential election seemed up for grabs, a group of more than 60 Nobel Prize-winning scientists endorsed Barack Obama. One important reason: his plan to increase federal funding for research, which they argued would [...]