Why a Staunch Conservative Like Me Endorsed Obama
Who cares?
That's what I wondered when George Packer (ace of the New Yorker) asked whether he could post my intention to vote for Obama on his blog.
So I duly ignored him. Only when he bugged me two days later did I say okay, and responded in quick, instinctive emails back.
Little did I know the splash this would make. Not until a day later, when my wife and I were up in Philadelphia to teach leadership via scenes from Shakespeare's Henry V for the Wharton Business School. When friends joined us for dinner at UPenn, they said their taxi driver had talked about my "endorsement of Obama," having read it online during a break.
What's most fun about unexpectedly "breaking through" on an issue is not feeling powerful, that you're molding minds out there. People make up their own minds, based on lots more information than my personal inclinations.
Okay, this type announcement can give (maybe a few) conservatives some cover -- not publicly to use with others, but privately to assure themselves that it's actually okay to break away. To break with the most conservative, or Republican, candidate and vote (in my case, the first time ever) for "the other guy."
And it's not most fun dealing with longtime friends, fellow conservatives. Most are polite and say they understand, and they'll get over it. Yet a few do get heated, show their disappointment, and say they can't understand my taking a public stance (even if I privately stray).
I don't enjoy those discussions, since I've long prided myself in being a staunch conservative.
Not a neo-con, since I was never liberal along the way (having campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964, when at that hotbed of lefty politics, Grinnell College). I'm really a con-con.
And not a staunch Republican, as I've never been to a Republican rally or convention (I came closest in 1980, after writing Don Rumsfeld's speech and after we drove there; but I left Detroit before the convention opened).
So I've considered myself less of a partisan than an ideologue. I cared about conservative principles, and still do, instead of caring about the GOP.
Granted, McCain's views are closer to mine than Obama's. But I've learned over this Bush era to value competence along with ideology. Otherwise, our ideology gets discredited, as it has so disastrously over the past eight years.
McCain's temperament -- leading him to bizarre behavior during the week the economic crisis broke -- and his judgment -- leading him to Wasilla -- depressed me into thinking that "our guy" would be a(nother) lousy conservative president. Been there, done that.
I'd rather a competent moderate president. Even at a risk, since Obama lacks lots of executive experience displaying competence (though his presidential campaign has been spot-on). And since his Senate voting record is not moderate, but depressingly liberal. Looming in the background, Pelosi and Reid really scare me.
Nonetheless, I concluded that McCain would not -- could not -- be a good president. Obama just might be.
That's become good enough for me -- however much of a triumph (as Dr. Johnson said about second marriages) of hope over experience.
Now what's most fun about the media breakthrough is hearing from gobs of people from previous lives. Many long forgotten, reminding me of long forgotten times together. People emerging suddenly, from the dark matter of time, into the recesses of the brain.
These folks were important at various stages of my life -- grammar school playmates, Grinnell classmates, Indianapolis cousins, Dan Quayle, Dick Allen, colleagues from the Reagan arms control agency (chuckling over my quip to Packer that I wouldn't have hired Sarah Palin to a mid-level job there).
A veritable stroll down memory lane, to see a line of people who have touched my life at various times, in its varied stages, reconnecting in a most unexpected (even bizarre) manner.
Now that's fun.
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Interesting post. At one time, I considered myself a moderate to conservative voter. I was raised by two Republicans. I've always researched the issues carefully, and I like to research the candidates even more carefully (which is why Sarah Palin deeply troubles me -- I've hardly had a chance to get to know her, and she refuses more candid interviews). So far, all I can say is that Palin looks very nice in her very expensive designer clothing while she talks "folksy" to plumbers and socker moms. I have no doubt she could run our local church bazaar or the PTA. But my country? Not so much.
Moreover, for the past 8 years, I've grown increasingly disturbed by the Christian Right and its bullying tactics in the name of the GOP. These fundamentalist Christians have hijacked the GOP and turned it into a Church Lady nightmare that has less and less to do with the real political concerns of our country. And please ... I'm tired of being made to feel like a sinner and a heretic for not allowing my faith to impact my political decisions. After posting an Obama sign in my front yard, I received several nasty, extremely racist e-mails from my predominantly neo-con neighbors and compatriots. And hey -- I go to church too. But these folks are really turning me off.
Senator Obama epitomizes dignity, common sense, and shows strong family values. Just for starters. He's got my vote and my admiration.
"And since his [Obama's] Senate voting record is not moderate, but depressingly liberal...
What?
Republicans say Obama is the biggest liberal in Congress. Wrong! His voting record is quite conservative. A real liberal would never vote for FISA, for example.
John, neo-cons like to paint Obama's voting record as liberal because a) they're desperate and b) they don't realise that the votes that one casts is direct relationship to the party and individuals who are setting the tone for the legislation. If Obama is one of the Senators most likely to vote against Bush-inspired policies during his time in office, then that doesn't make him the most "liberal", that makes him the most anti-Bush which is reason enough to vote for him. The vast majority of the bills he has supported have to do with environmental concerns, veteran affair's policiies, and a lot of post-Katrina rebuilding. These are not overwhelmingly liberal policies. They should be considered mainstream agendas.
I am just wondering whether your thoughts on this aren't very similar to what is going on in the minds of such visible and highly regard conservatives as David Brooks (my favorite conservative of them all) and George Will (I think he's a bit too rigid). I should disclose that I am NOT a conservative except that I appreciate some fiscal conservatism along with moderate to liberal values, sort of like the Clinton who was president. So having disclosed that, I have to say there aren't too many of the con-cons I like to listen to. Observing this election unfold over two years I wonder how indeed my luminaries, David Brooks and George Will, can actually vote for McCain. It's like they must vote; they are responsible citizens; they cannot stay home about it, right? I even suspected the Bushes of voting for Obama since there seems to be a little favor there among their young adult children. But it's all speculation. I can tell for sure that Elizabeth Hasselback with vote for McCain. But thinking conservatives? What will they do?
What's so "depressing" about being Liberal?
All the best things about America seem to have been
initiated by Liberals.
Funny, but I never heard of McCain making reference to God and Country...
Ken Adelman is 'dripping' in 'slimy conservative corruption' and his opportunism to 'cash in' is NO SURPRISE to those who have watched the 'CONservative CONscription' of our government treasury in the support of wealthy elitism and private possession of our nation's MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES:
LAND, PUBLIC LANDS, SEA COASTS, FORESTS, MOUNTAIN RANGES and ENERGY/COM
Adelman has NO INTEGRITY! Adelman has NO CONSCIENCE! Adelman ONLY seeks compromise and collusion with POWER and WEALTH....
Not even a 'good try', Mr. ADDLE-MAN! But does provide a smile to millions who have seen this 'collapse of collusion' of the CONservative CONscription of America's TREASURY and FUTURE!
Perhaps my Helen Woods speed reading is rearing off, but I found this article boring! Did he ever say why he endorsed the BO-JB?
Now, now Ken. We understand
Ken is a smart Conservative this is why he joined some of the Republicans who saw future in Obama,we do understand that we are all worried that if the Hockey mom wakes up in the morning and become the President they will be disaster. She failed 3rd grade Civic Question, how can I trust Palin? I do agree with you JohnTalbutt, I am scared of Mccain and Palin even to see their faces, I have nightmares.
I am a long time Dem, after I was a Goldwater girl, and I, too , appreciate competence over ideology (within limits, of course: no Stalins or Hitler types need apply, only to be jailed or otherwise kept WAY from power: something theywere quite competent at). I am one of thos Dems who would have accepted John McCain as second on the ticket to Al Goe, for example. But we don't have the same John McCain. Yesterday on Meet the Press he looked like a wind-up doll with a pre-recorded voice and a plastered on grin, except that his recording wouldn't let him go on to the next question until he remembered the name of that fifth former Secy. of State who endorsed him. I feel bad for him, but worse for us were he to be elected. I think he really is past his prime, and probably age has not treated him as well as others his age because of his heroism in Vietnam. At times I sense he is still fighting that war and wants to "win" in Iraq because he didn't quite manage it in Vietnam, whether consciously or not. He frightens me, but his choice of Palin really makes it worse. A Romney is obviously competent, though I don' t agree with his ideology much. He well educated, been around, and it got him where he is. But Palin.....
AMERICA - all you have to do is one thing, unless you've already watched it. Last night's Hannity's America on Fox tells it all. 10 Reasons NOT to vote Dem. Nothing more to say. I admit Hannity is far right - however, watch that episode over and over - and think about everything you've seen and heard in that episode. Just watch it, and you'll really learn about this Dem nominee, I promise. Take that episode with you the next 8 days. It says it all.
Steve, you too have been brainwashe
Obama/Biden 08'
steve 23; No, watching "Hannity's America" is not all you have to do. Take your/hannity's 10 reasons and research each independently. Research his sources, research his assertions and you'll find serious problems with pretty much ALL of them. Hannity does not "say(s) it all." In fact, he says precious little.
SB
You actually believe anything put out by anyone on faux news?? Hannity?? geez You might want to check out anything they give out as facts backing up what they say, if they give any.
He is using scare tactics and most of what he is saying is either not backed up by fact or just plain old ignorant statements based on his lack of knowledge about how things really work. All this besides being scewed to the right too! I'm sorry to tell you - you haven't learned a thing about the Dem nominee by watching that episode!
I remember when Tiger Woods come on the scene years ago, so many others stuck their noses up wondering what was this black man doing on the greens with all those whites. After all, this is a white mans sport! Not only did he take the sport by storm, he proved himself a great role model for other blacks that they might be able to succeed as well.
Barack Obama grew up without his mother or father and was able, thru scholarships, to graduate both from Columbia and Harvard with a law degree. He was a Constitutional Lawyer for 12 years but was still not afraid to help the poor and less fortunate.
I find nothing "unusual" about this man, at all, other than his great accomplishments. He has gone thru this election called Muslin, Terrorist, Socialist, Marxist, Anti-American and every other name you can think of.
Every single thing that has been lobbied at him has been shot down and no investigations have ever had him involved in anything people have thrown at him. One the other hand Obama has not even mentioned several things that could have been brought up about his opponent. Crawling around in the mud is not his style.
Whether you want him for President or not, he has not deserved these attacks by people who will not bother to look up the facts.
Old white woman Obama supporter
Adelman is endorsing Obama to save his skin. All neocons including Adelman have commited war crimes and have blood on their hands. This type of people always pretend to back the powerful inorder to gain something and stay on the safe side.
"All neocons including Adelman have commited war crimes and have blood on their hands."
This kind of all-inclusive, inflammatory, boilerplate statement is no different that the type of stuff that comes out of Hannity or Ann Coulter. It adds nothing to your actual comment - take out this sentence and your post still gets it's point across without stirring up a pot of distraction.
It always cracks me up when people put the words conservative and principles together.
Bottom line for me? IMHO the GOP has been working overtime to blur the line of separation between church & state----something I am VERY uncomfortable with!
This was a big factor that lead me away from the GOP, after years of being a born and raised Republican! I have no desire to have a "national clergyman" instead of a president.
Their illogical love affair is the republican rights freudian distortion of the classic"old man gets hot young babe" mentality, nothing more, nothing less, even freud would cringe.
One reason a "staunch conservatve" like you may have endorsed Obama is that there isn't a conservative running for President. Not one with a chance of winning, anyway. McCain certainly doesn't qualify as a "conservat
Sterling Greenwood
Aspen Free Press
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