Obama And Conservatives Break Bread At George Will's House

Barack Obama took the next big step in his Republican charm offensive on Tuesday night, when he dined with several of the nation's most prominent conservative pundits.

The president-elect arrived at the Chevy Chase, Md., home of syndicated columnist George Will shortly after 6:30 p.m., according to a press pool report. Greeting him at the residence were other luminaries of the conservative commentariat, including the Weekly Standard's William Kristol, New York Times columnist David Brooks, and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post.

The odd-couple gathering led to speculation that Rush Limbaugh, who said that he was in D.C. for a "secret meeting," was also in attendance. "I'm just offering, a personal trip, nobody even has to know about this," the notorious and combative talk show host wrote on his website.

Alas, a source close to the transition confirms, Limbaugh was definitely not in attendance during the dinner affair -- likely disappointing some in the conservative blogosphere, knowing full well the fury that would have caused among progressives.

Nevertheless, Obama's choice of dining partners seem likely to cause its fair share of hair-pulling and eye-rolling. As the pool reporter, Ken Bazinet of the New York Daily News, penned in his write up: "This is for real, folks. The bloggers are going to love this one."

Obama has pledged to be a uniter once in office. He's also said he is willing to take policy suggestions from any source, regardless of ideological affiliation, as long as they work. So far, he's living up to his word.

Comments

[kotexbarbie]

05:07 AM on 01/19/2009

The stench of George Will's panties still lingers over this entire thread. I smell change .....I smell change..

[Eames123]

10:22 PM on 01/18/2009

I had really wanted Obama to choose the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Charles Krauthammer for Secretary of State, and I even went on the radio and said so. I am therefore so very, very pleased that Obama dined with him - he could not have chosen a more brilliant guest.

[love4eternity]

01:48 AM on 01/18/2009

God Bless our new President, Barack Obama! Finally there is a feeling of hope for our nation!

[love4eternity]

01:42 AM on 01/18/2009

God Bless our new President,Barack Obama!

[kotexbarbie]

05:09 AM on 01/19/2009

And God Bless Pastor Rick!

[designingwoman]

07:11 PM on 01/16/2009

George Will is a good writer, as is David Brooks. I may not agree with alot of what they write, but they are a marked improvement over wastoids like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. I am glad that Obama met with them--it also shows that Will and Brooks are reasonable enough to listen to the President-elect. It will be interesting to see what Will and Brooks have to say in their columns about their meeting with Obama.

As one poster said, the nutcases were isolated out from the meeting. YAY!!

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

07:11 PM on 01/17/2009

If I may say so, you are still suffering a little bit of disassociation - Eight Bush-years induced.

You may not have noticed, but you praised columnists for being reasonable enough to listen to the president-elect.

Notice something now?

[Sheridan1]

06:41 PM on 01/16/2009

I see that it's hard for us to imagine...a man of his word actually BEING a man of his word! Get ready for all hands on deck.

[Trafalgar12]

05:45 PM on 01/16/2009

George Will? Bill Kristol? who elected these guys?.., one had NO idea last summer when I watched him on the Sunday shows and the other writes for a clueless rag, (The Weekly Standard),...B.O. show spend his time and MY money doing other things that REALLY mean something.

[Rosey]

03:33 PM on 01/16/2009

Well, now our fabulous new Prez can say he tried to talk to these folks who wear blinders to protect themselves from seeing the real world, the real truths and the real opinions of the people of the world! Dubya would never do that because he is so small minded..... just like his brothers and sisters at Fox News, Rupert Murdoch's papers and Weekly Standard, American Spectator blah blah blah.

[tpfahler]

03:29 PM on 01/16/2009

This is exactly what I was hoping for when I voted for Obama. Only fools reject EVERYTHING the conservatives have to say. I Bush had listened to his "enemies" we wouldn't be in this swirling pit of despair.

[AndThenOneDay]

01:10 PM on 01/16/2009

As a subtext, I like that this gathering tended to isolate bomb-throwers like Coulter and Rush. There needs to be dialog, and those people don't want it. They're all about the money, and being responsible citizens contributing to a national dialog instead of pandering to the worst instincts of their audience doesn't produce the same amount of money. So they can't be bothered.

So effem.

[hemnebob]

08:47 AM on 01/16/2009

i think it a good move towards a more mature and better understanding that
Pres. Obama isn't what they are going to be used to. As with most of us, we
know that there will be a change that no other has seen up to the present.
George Will is a true conservative and draws distinctions between being
a true conservative vs. a republican. I think we all have conservative views
and ideals but usually compassion doesn't ride high with a true conservative
which separates a liberal mind from those who cannot understand compassion.
(and i don't mean that they are vacant of compassion, they just don't believe
in sharing it with everyone.) to be a liberal means you are compassionate and
empathetic towards all...
to be conservative, in my minds eye, is to be free of government and to return
to older more traditional ways...and i don't believe they handle change very well at all
unless it is all the way in their favor, i think they also have a control problem towards
the government and even in their own lives...they can be very self righteous and
combined with a christian attitude, they can be mirrored closely with
a society living in a martial law like environment...
while they want government out of our lives, they still want to control your every movement
that fits into their belief system.
all in all?
i think no matter what,
they are going to like him alot!

[lmatthe]

03:30 PM on 01/16/2009

well said

[thesporture]

03:31 AM on 01/16/2009

Why is this even news, why can't a man have both Liberal and Conservative Friends? Obama uses Charmin ULTRA is the next headlines...

http://www.thesporture.com
SPORTS LINKS DAILY

[KDelphi]

07:58 AM on 01/16/2009

PE Obama cannot even CALL his Dem colleagues,. when he decides on an appointee, but, he has meals with, and visits with neo-cons??? Hasnt he "given" them enough already? (ie backing down on Iraq, tax cuts, etc.) Why in hell didnt he run as a GOP?

Please name me a "liberal;" on his staff--just one.

When is his meeting with Kucinich, Nader, Zinn, Krugman, etc.

He is looking like a fraud. Looks like Dems were conned--glad I wasnt.

[AndThenOneDay]

01:12 PM on 01/16/2009

Everyone is deliriously happy that you weren't conned.

[Nitalia]

02:55 PM on 01/16/2009

What is wrong with the President of the United States trying to bring all groups together? For those of us who supported Obama- understood that unity was a big part of his platform and I for one am glad that we finally have a President that understands that all Americans must unite if America is going to be all that it can be! I am sick of partisan politics that has polarized this country. But I agree- Obama should not have ran as a Democrat. Independent better describes his politics, but no independent has won now have they?

Those of you still mourning over Hillary, just don't get it. Which is why you are still mourning over HIllary. Her politics were outdated and so was she.

[KDelphi]

07:59 AM on 01/16/2009

BTW--Obamaa usese "Charmin Ultra"?? NO! When he voted for FISA Amend, he used Constitution Gone-Bye-Bye!!

[StephenJK]

02:43 AM on 01/16/2009

Yawwwnnnn.....

Wake me up when Barack announces everyone is required to get the RFID chip implant.

[Donald Gillies]

11:43 PM on 01/15/2009

He sat down WITH NO PRE-CONDITIONS, after his aides had done the groundwork FOR THE HISTORIC MEETING! Hah !

[VisitorFromMars]

10:37 PM on 01/15/2009

Alas, a TRUE politician..