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

[Matt7]

Bottom line: If you take away your own pre-conceived ideas of race, class, gender, age and party affiliation, you'll clearly see that this man's vision for the country's possibilities, his ideals, personal integrity, gifts and ability to lead (galvanize others to work together for the highest, best interests of all), outshine the competition.

People have chosen party labels in the past for their own reasons. I think this man, and this campaign have caused us all to revisit our priorities, commitments and goals for ourselves and for our country.

Let's do this. Together.

[personalpolitical]

I think it is likely that these people are in for a rude awakening when they find that Obama isn't just saying things for the sake of saying them, and he actually follows through on what he says. He has a way of framing issues and solutions to make them seem appealing a wide swath of the ideological spectrum, but this certainly doesn't make him conservative by any means, or even what I'd call a moderate. But hopefully many of these people will learn from this, and come to see the error in their ways.

In the meantime, I'd urge those on the left to not get their underwear in a bunch over articles like this, because Obama is one of us. Don't underestimate him. Let the man work.

[LeoMarvin]

That's a false dichotomy. It's possible to be, relatively, a "Burkean" liberal, both in terms of which policies one pursues and how one goes about pursuing them. I think that accurately describes Obama. And I'm all for it. And ideologically, I'm what most conservatives would consider a socialist.

[Pammy1151]

Maybe this election season we will see an end to both of the parties as we KNEW them. Almost like having a third party but it will take the place of one of the parties. Sound confusing!!! No Let us see an somewhat of a new party in the Democratic Party. I have always wanted a third party. Not in the sense of the green party or libertarian party because they never CAN win. So maybe this election will be won by a reajusted party.

[conniedogs]

I agree

[thepoliticalcat]

He knows that pandering to one political faction or the other is doomed to fail. Instead, his gift is that he makes us all long for unity and the common interest of all. He makes us want the best interest of the nation, as opposed to this group or that group.

[blaqntelligence]

Amen to that!!!


It is also that gift of unification that left hillary clinton in the dust, and has the republicans scratching their heads.
They are also finally waking up to the reality that "business as usual" is over.

[XME]

Yup, and you can be sure it has them shaking in their books, especially after 8 years of Bush and a candidate like McCain!

[conniedogs]

I agree

[CJGibson]

For some time I've wondered why democrats shouldn't be able to merge social liberalism with fiscal responsibility to appeal a lot of old-school republicans who were conservative largely because of the economics of it.

As they say, the center has shifted.

[Pammy1151]

Sounds like a great party for me!!!

[conniedogs]

I agree with you too

[SCG]

It's called the DLC.

[wm1066]

I think the Republican Brand is dead.
And I also feel the Democratic party is changing.
I think the Clinton DLC group has lost its influence, Thank God!
Obama is bringing more people into the party and the Rich Big Business groups are going to get pushed out. I think alot of Republicans are switching to Obama because he is disavowing big corporate money, and building a party from the ground up.

[conniedogs]

Wow.....I'­m in agreement with you too

[speeddeeps]

what is the name of the obama equivalent of dnc????

[mahoner]

Fired Up! Ready to Go!