William F. Buckley's Son Endorses Obama

The Daily Beast:

The son of William F. Buckley has decided--shock!--to vote for a Democrat.

Let me be the latest conservative/libertarian/whatever to leap onto the Barack Obama bandwagon. It's a good thing my dear old mum and pup are no longer alive. They'd cut off my allowance.

Or would they? But let's get that part out of the way. The only reason my vote would be of any interest to anyone is that my last name happens to be Buckley--a name I inherited. So in the event anyone notices or cares, the headline will be: "William F. Buckley's Son Says He Is Pro-Obama." I know, I know: It lacks the throw-weight of "Ron Reagan Jr. to Address Democratic Convention," but it'll have to do.

Read the whole story: The Daily Beast

Comments

[Bitsko]

Now that's one elitist I don't mind. For now...

[PuddyKatz]

God, he looks like his father.

[MissingAmerica]

Thank you. This is a brilliant article.

[seabass]

this says it all!

[craneman]

as a lifelong democrat, I always admired WFB's logical comand of the english language, and logical thought. I see he has passed this on to his son. well done pops!!!

[RRG64]

Thank you Christopher Buckley for recognizing the real issues at hand.

You now have a privilege and a duty to use your influence and wealth to further this cause .

[SEQUOIABISON]

I very rarely agreed with papa Buckley accept when he was thinking like a Libertarian instead of a neocon.

But ultimately papa was honest and always tried to present his point of view intelligently never using jingoistic demagoguery to scare people to his side of the argument, so essentially Jr is a chip off the old block, using his brain instead of party loyalty to make a decision.

Welcome to the thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent side of the aisle Mr Buckley.

Obama/Biden

[JScott]

It's just getting even for his father not recognizing his illegit young son, let's hope that young son becomes a super champion of liberal causes. BTW he did seem to inherit his father's writing style and some of his intellect, so God does work in mysterious ways.

[ContraEgoiste]

Although I strongly disagreed with WF Buckley Sr. views, I have to admid the man was intelligent and a excellent wordsmith. Unfortunately for the Republican party it was taken over by a group of anti-intellectuals, militarists and "free marketeers" that called themselves NeoCons (meaning New Conservatives) or Vulcans. These NeoCons turned their backs on the likes of Buckley and dubbed them Paleo-Conservatives to mock them.

Given the direction the NeoCons have taken it was inevitable that a "Palin", a vacuous uneducated ultra religious individual, would eventually rise to represent them, and be needed to shore-up their dumb-down base. They are now reaping what their greed and lust for power planted. And instead of a permanent majority they are now looking at the destruction of their party. And this wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't that they are taking the rest of the country down with them.

Anyway, I don't know much about Jr. but at least he is seeing the light.

[RRG64]

and may many,many others see the light and jump off the USS Titanic that is the McCain/Palin/Schmidt/Davis Campaign.

The only captains in a turning point of American and World history that would sacrifice the crew and passengers THEY WORK FOR so they could secure the life boats for themselves.

May other "conservatives" like Christopher Buckley step out and call them about by their real names. Hate,Fear,Envy,Cowardice.

Inaction is a choice. I urge each of us to personally hold all who stand idly by on the sidelines and slink in the shadows accountable for their inaction or non-response.

[NotMcCain]

Insightful, honest, and thoughtful (not words I would have ever used to describe the elder Buck;ley's work).

Very interesting, especially considering his personal ties to McCain. We here in the public are not the only ones to say this man has changed. So many are saying it--including well-known Republicans--that you wonder what McCain himself makes of it (or does he just angrily blow it off? I wonder).

Yes, Obama has a first class temperament, first class intellect and should be a remarkablel presiident. Thanks to Mr. Buckley for courageously stepping forward with his views (even if he IS unwilling to put it in the NRO and get 12,000 negative emails!!!!!)

[VladdyTrout]

Times are changing indeed. The Conservative movement has gone way beyond the Right and into some bizarro twilight zone of nutty obsessions with the "culture war" and noise that really doesn't affect everyday American life. Let's discuss ecomonics, health care, and security without a whole lotta screaming and yelling. Intelligent discourse, people. Modern folks calling themselves conservative, like Hannity, Coulter, Ingraham, don't have the verbal skill and intelligence to discuss their point of view but resort to mudslinging and screaming and acting all superior to us scummy little folk.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Aside from the fact that I welcome his endorsement, Buckley Jr. is a very good writer and a thoughtful person. An amazing time time to live through.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...thoughtful people support their own children!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

WOW....his father is probably spinning in his grave at this point.

It is great to hear, though. Kudos!

[wanj]

There is hope in humanity...

[wordvarc]

William F , like George Will, despised the w/cheney rovian neocons and thought they poisoned conservatism.

He may have voted for Obama.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...william F. also despised his own grandson.

[leftintheoven]

I sent this article to my hard core conservative father-in-law to see what his reaction will be. I am sure he is fuming right now. It just brings a smile to my face.