The Rise Of The Obamacons

TNR:

The New Yorker is hardly the optimal vehicle for reaching the conservative intelligentsia. But, last year, Barack Obama cooperated with a profile for that magazine where he seemed to be speaking directly to the right. Because he paid obeisance to the virtues of stability and continuity, his interlocutor, Larissa MacFarquhar, came away with the impression that the Illinois senator was an adherent of Edmund Burke: "In his view of history, in his respect for tradition, in his skepticism that the world can be changed any way but very, very slowly, Obama is deeply conservative."

As The New Yorker's assessment shot across blogs, many conservatives listened eagerly. A broad swath of the movement has been in open revolt against George W. Bush--and the Republican Party establishment--for some time. They don't much care for the Iraq war or the federal government's vast expansion over the last seven-and-a-half years. And, in the eyes of these discontents, the nomination of John McCain only confirmed the continuation of the worst of the Bush-era deviations from first principles.

Read the whole story: TNR

Comments

[vsign]

I think the Democratic Party has been taken over by the religious left like the religious right took over the Republican Party in 2000 and gave us Bush. Religious ferver like this seems antithetical to democracy. Hopefully, the party will reject them as the Republican Party did - to save itself.

[going2ireland]

The religious block is entitled to vote for whomever they choose - after all, they ARE citizens of the US. I do not think it anyone's business to reject them. But, they should not be touted as being representative of the Democratic party. Best just to let them alone, allow them to recruit more for the Democratic Party while not making them the religion of the Democratic Party.

[bellecloche]

Just proves that one person's fellow conservative is another person's radical liberal. Whenever you strongly agree or disagree with someone, you cast them as either in the same or opposite political category as you.

[CanadianAmerican]

Perhaps not all conservatives are evil after all.

[Phylmom]

I am so glad to see this. Although I am liberal in many ways I also have some strong conservative tendencies. Obama seems to be able to hold this together.

[egal]

The liberals have long been the only ones trly espousing conservative virtures..­.the so-called conservatives are too busy benefitting through the free pass being labeled conservative gives them to do morally, politically, and economically radical and destructive things nothing near conservative.

[globalcitizenlinda]

Obama will win by a landslide when all these closeted supporters come out in November. I hope McCain has some votes left after he is deserted by Obamacans, Obamcons, evangelicals, black Republicans, first-generation American etc

[illinoisan]

I've seen in a lot of Hillary's supporters and closet racists (two not particularly overlapping groups) clutch despirately for some legitimate reason to spurn Obama. This article, however, reveals an opposite group: conservative Republicans who are so drawn to Obama's magnetism that they clutch despirately for some reason - any reason - to support him.

Obama's real genius is in building these kinds of bridges. He's just what America needs in a leader.

[devadasi]

You're right. They're a lot more republicans than we realize who will vote for Obama. In the past two weeks, I had two dr. appointments. I told them that I was campaigning for Obama; and they both said to me: I'm a republican but I'm voting for Obama. His statesmanship like qualities appeal to smart people. As an Obama supporter, I do't

[milo9]

Obama, if elected, has three years to stop the slide into decline. If he can't do it, we'll have to get someone who can.

[olivia]

If he cannot do it, no one can.

It won't be easy.

It is up to us to do our part.

To start, he needs a strong majority in the House and in the Senate.

[RIPHRC]

Am I the only on that thinks this election is going to be an ass whooping in Obama's favor? I have been for Obama this whole time, but when I take the most objective perspective I am capable of, I see the republican party caving in on itself. I see a boring republican candidate that isn't well liked by the party's core constituancy. I see a country that has been driven to two wars and economic peril by the worst president in the history of our country(literally) who is a republican. I see republicans leaving their party in droves and I see republican politicians losing elected positions across the country. To say nothing about the McClellan scandal.

And the dems? Look at the voter turn out and new registered democrats. Our candidate is young, wildly inspiring, intelligent and constantly compared to JFK, RFK, and MLK. These are some of the most cherished fiugures in american history! We just had the most facinating primary between to of the most capable candidates in memory. Sure, some Hillary supporters are going to stray from the democratic party, but to assume that there are going to be enough people that crazy(and that IS crazy) to sway the election in favor of the walking embodiment of the ways of old??? I just don't think thats possible. I'm not suggesting we let our guard down, I just think we are about to deliver a left hook that the republicans will feel 100 years from now.

[vernonbc]

Good post RIPHRC but I am concerned about the media. They are all so enthralled with their old buddy McCain that they'll never publicize all the negatives about him and of course will play up any old press release McCain and the Republicans put out against Obama. It's terribly obvious already how the media coverage is going to go. Hopefully the new media, the bloggers, can work doubly hard to get the word out to counteract the media's bias.

[KarlaElisa]

I am a proud Obama - CRAT, thank you very much.

[MariaHopeful]

We just seem to love applying these labels to ourselves. Truth is almost nobody is just one thing or the other. I am very liberal or even far left with some issues and could be described as a rabid conservative with others. The important thing is as Obama says: When all is said and done we all want the same things. To be able to take care of our families, to live about the poverty line and to be able to pursue our dreams.

[KarateKid]

I have long believed that the diverse makeup of our society, as well as the complexities of the issues of the late 20th and early 21st centuries almost makes the two party system obsolete.

Which way, for instance, do the people who have these beliefs vote?

--people who believe in fiscal responsibility, who believe that the government should not spend more than it takes in.

--people who believe in smaller government and greater states' rights; that a state can better take care of its citizens than a bureaucrat in Washington D.C.

--people who personally are Pro Life, yet do not wish to impose their personal views on others, especially in cases of incest and rape.

--people who believe NAFTA is a disaster for American jobs.

--people who believe the massive amounts of illegal aliens should be given a path to citizenship, and become tax payers like the rest of us.

It's getting harder to distinguish one party from another, when parties don't practice what they preach.

[ThunderclapNewman]

If you cannot tell the difference between Dems and Repubs, then you need a keeper.

[azch]

I've been an Obama supporter since way before Iowa, however I'm surrounded by conservatives and Republicans in my family, friends, and work.

Like the article describes, I'm seeing many of them either secretly rooting for Obama or at least curious and not dreading the prospect of him winning the general. This is mostly because not everyone judges a candidate on his traditional partisan platform policies.

Many are completely sick of national politics today and know the proposed changes for traditional issues such as social security, health care, abortion, welfare, immigration, etc. will mostly likely end up quagmired in congress and typical partisan politics.

So instead of worrying about Obama imposing his liberal agenda on them, they're looking forward to, and hoping that he can implement the changes that both parties agree on:

-lessening the influence of K street (lobbying)
-restoring the USofA's world image
-improving the economy
-making Iraq less of a nightmare
-etc.

These are the same reasons I initially supported Obama over Clinton, I feel he's the only candidate capable of actually making *any* real change happen. I know there's a vocal minority out there that absolutely hate and fear him, but from my perspective the majority are starting to HOPE regardless of their partisan affiliations.

[Gma11]

WOW!! This comes as a surprise.

But, then again, maybe not . . .

I know of quite a few Republicans who are planning to vote for Obama. But they're not the "elite" Republicans represented here. They're just ordinary people who think Bush has really screwed up and McCain is going to continue Bush's agenda. They KNOW it's time for a change. And are EXCITED about Obama.

[illinoisan]

I know those types as well. They are looking for redemption for their own political malfeasance and they shall have it.