Former Publisher of William F. Buckley's National Review Backs Obama

Wick Allison, founder, publisher and editor in chief of D Magazine in Dallas, has written a short essay in support of Barack Obama's candidacy.

D is a slick monthly featuring a mélange of ads, reviews and occasional in-depth articles. As for Allison, he's a life-long conservative, and he starkly lays out his bona fides in the piece. They're impressive. Suffice to say, anointment by the late Bill Buckley lasts a lifetime.

In brief, Allison thinks the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and '03 -- which John McCain promises to expand -- were "a solution for which there was no real problem." He thinks they were downright egregious once the nation went to war. He also believes that McCain's bellicosity about how it's America's job to defeat evil is a "theological expansion of the nation's mission that would make George Washington cough out his wooden teeth."

Taunting Russia at a time we need them as an ally, and impulsively considering another war regardless of whether or not America's interests are directly threatened, are two more reasons the Republican Allison has broken with his political party.

He finds Obama "a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man," someone who will "be a realist" and who has "actually read the Federalist Papers."

Who knows, maybe Allison is just bucking for an Ambassadorship in the British Virgin Islands. There's more than one road to Damascus.

Seriously though, his thoughts appear genuine. Here's hoping others on the Right see the same bright light.

Comments

[FirstShirt]

Shows conservatives are a big tent allowing diversity of thought as well as politics. There are pro choice republicans, antiwar republicans, civil rights activists, etc. And, with Palin, there are advocates for the disabled.

[Jackson Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Interesting how you chose to word that: "conservatives are a big tent allowing diversity of thought."

In the first place, I hardly think the former publisher of Bill Buckley's "National Review" requested permission from Party Elders to be diverse; ergo, they didn't "allow" it.

In the second place, the Republican "big tent" is one of life's more enduring myths. The guy has caught holy hell from rank and file conservatives who have hammered him from the moment his Obama endorsement appeared in print, accusing him of "drinking the kool-Aid" of the Left, when what they really mean is that he's no longer drinking THEIR Kool-Aid. Pointing out that the emperor has no clothes is simply not allowed on the Right.

Of the 200 or so Republicans in the House of Representatives, I bet not more than a handful are pro-choice. Of the 48 Republicans in the Senate, I think there might be one or two who are pro-choice. As for anti-war or civil rights activists, that's not a Republican characteristic. Indeed, there isn't one single Republican of color in either the House or Senate. Not one, from across this entire country. Not one!

L'affaire Schiavo is more the defining characteristic of the modern Republican Party. There's no "big tent" of diversity and never has been. It's barely a pup tent, and it's kept out back.

[fuzzywuzzy6]

Many people on the right have made statements criticizing Obama for his intelligence, education and calm deliberation in making policy decisions or his refusal to be baited, as though refusing to be volatile and hot-headed were somehow more masculine and decisive.

I think the Dems should put out an animated ad (on tv--not just the internet) showing a person trying to get his car fixed by 2 different mechanics. One is an "expert" in pre 1980's cars, cusses a lot, throw tools around and blames the driver for a poorly made car. The other is younger, has a stack of Chiltons and very calmly works thru the various problems the car might have, eventually getting the car in good working order. He gives the driver good advice on how to keep the car running and says he hopes he/she will be a long-time customer.

Intelligence, calmness, perseverance and application are desirable qualities in all areas of human striving. Education helps too. And they have no bearing on a male's masculinity.

[benali]

As one who identifies as Republican, I'm surprised that more of us aren't echoing Mr. Williams.

There was a time when most Republican candidates were respectful of the law, competent, and fiscally responsible, and used military force only in response to threats against our nation.

But the NeoCons hijacked the Republican party and took it in a direction that has little relationship to traditional Republican principles -- or even basic American political values.

The present adminstration has systematically undermined our form of government. They don't believe in the separation of powers enumerated in the Constitution, nor do they believe in the rule of law.

Their incompetency is indisputable (Katrina and Iraq). They've busted the budget for a generation (see the graph at http://www.scribd.com/doc/3015540/US-Budget-Deficit-or-Surplus-1960present).

They started a war under false or inaccurate pretenses in Iraq. Now it appears they look forward to another war against a nation with which we have no intractable differences (Iran).

I disagree with liberals and Democrats on most issues. But Mr. Obama is our only hope to restore constitutional government. I pray he leads us back to responsibility in fiscal and military matters as well.

Mr. McCain certainly won't. He's spent the last two years changing his positions on nearly all major issues to conform to President Bush's (from taxes to torture). What a tragedy it will for all of us if we continue such policies.

[fuzzywuzzy6]

Benali, a beautiful comment. By the way, I'm a liberal democrat.

[valleygent]

Benali, your words here seem very sincere and quite informed...please go to those you know that are Republican and tell them these thoughts, most of us here at this site are already on the same page.

[JScott]

Where have you been the last 8 years or actually since Reagan was governor?
A few sane ones left.

[editrix66]

Wow. I am impressed with the number of Republicans and conservative intellectuals who are coming out for Obama. I think they may be key to convincing swing voters to vote for him. I'm just happy that my 83-year-old mother-in-law from Missouri is voting for Obama. She told me "we need a change."

[StillIRise]

It's interesting that true conservatives - not just those who call themselves conservatives because they're Republicans - are supporting Senator Obama over Senator McCain.

As I've said before, Palin has "energized" only one faction of the Republican base, the so-called social conservatives or religious fanatics, but both she and McCain have turned off many true conservatives and many moderate Republicans as well. These are the Republicans who do not place their partisan allegiance above their philosophical values nor above their country. They also have the insight and intelligence to recognize that good government, especially at this time in our nation's history, is not predicted by the color of a man's skin. In fact, some of them may be as racist as the Americans who will never vote for a black man, but even this will not deter them from making the right decision for their country. They too, though Republicans, have suffered under eight years of Bush, and they're as afraid of McCain/Palin as the rest of us are! I may not agree with them on most issues, but I appreciate and respect them for their integrity in this very crucial election decision.

[Jackson Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Good point about what I call "old line" conservatives. Many are aghast at how their Grand Old Party has run the ship of state the past few years.

And also, with both a woman and a person of color on the tickets, we're going to take some sort of temperature on November 4th regarding how the American public sees itself and its place in an interconnected 21st Century world.

I know a Republican doctor, still practicing in his early 70's, who simply doesn't like the idea of a woman as president, doesn't think they have the guts to stand up and make the tough calls, so the possibility of Palin succeeding McCain is a big issue for him. I know a housewife in her 50's, a lifelong Democrat who has never voted for a Republican, but she has an issue voting for a presidential candidate with darker skin.

Thus I'm seeing sexism and racism at play, yet it's the repub who is leaning toward the dem and vice versa! While this is mainly an older voter phenomenon, it's the older voter that historically participates in far greater numbers on election day.

I don't believe either of these "ism's" is truly measurable by pollsters because people instinctively lie about this sort of thing when asked by strangers. Hopefully, at the end of the day, issues trump societal prejudices. Dems win on points; we have to win some hearts, too.

[RumiSouth]

I work in a call center and deal with people 55 and up all day long. What shocks me is how many of them express conservative values, but wail endlessly about the price of their medicine. They can't seem to put two and two together.

[jinjinpinti]

More proof there are good Republicans who must be mortified at what has transpired in their party. Gives one hope for an end to this awful, mean spirited, red/blue divisiveness.

[Mayoyo]

I read this yesterday.....the last line in the article is a very powerful statement coming from a conservative.
Very impressive indeed.

[lucite]

Hey Sarah did you read this article?

[BlueAsh]

*THIS* article is way above Palin's grade level.

[trollslayer]

Ah, so not everyone at the National Review is a putz.

[PLUMPLUM]

Thanks to Mr. Allison. On one of his concerns, I am trying to figure out why there has been no dialogue with Russia and everyone is fawning over Georgia. Where does this administration think this is going to lead us?

[IForgotMyName]

This was a great thoughtful article

[CaptainStormfield]

Thanks for posting this article. We need to buzz this one up.

[flatus]

The truth can not be denied (except by supporters of the Palin/McCain ticket).

[proudamericanblkwoman]

You have to admire those conservative Repubs who speak out about Obama as the intelligent and right choice for America and McCain's reckless nature as to his policy beliefs, warmongering and Palin pick and his lack of knowledge about the economy.

That is truly putting Country First!

[Hare]

I support Obama and I approve of Obamas' description by Wick Allison. "thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man," someone who "will be a realist" and who has "actually read the Federalist Papers."