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.

Comments

[pup sydney]

So I guess was Bush fault and not the ideology and ideologues maneuvering him that gave us a free ride intoTorture, removal of protections at every levels as long as an industry gained, denial of global waming, denial of evolution and science, extremely incestuous relations between corporations and members of the administration, a recession, two wars , a banana republic etc etc in a mere 8 years, right?
Sorry I do not think this republican con-con understands what is happening here.
Is the con in con-con that failed not only an unequipped and unqualified supreme court appointed president. Things do not happen in a vacuum without a past and a culture behind them; give the con-con and neo-con and new-cons power and you have seen what happened in the me-generation.

[Tom Christianson]

Do not confuse intellectual conservative thought with the anti-intellectual totalitarianism of the Bush Administration. David Brooks (a conservative) also supports Obama simply because he believe Obama will tend to the center when he is elected President due to his pragmatism and his intelligence. They are hoping that the "intellectual elite" label is true.

I am hopeful that ALL of the current Republicans are defeated! They may have taken this country down so low we may not recover. Intellectual conversation has evaporated. Even some of the liberals are dogmatic and reactionary. When I look at some of the reasoning behind the posts at this site, it is hard to make any claims of superiority over Fox News.

However, after the election, I believe Obama will govern by consensus and reason. He must make a clean break from the fear, repression, and hate of the Bush Administration.

I was alive during the Kennedy Administration. Even if you did not agree with him, he was respected.
I believe Obama can be the next Kennedy in bringing the country back together.

[GZLives]

Great post and I couldn't agree more. Just had to say that.

[hyla9]

Great post!

While I am progressive in my outlook and values, I can at least appreciate the viewpoints of intellectual conservatives. Intelligent discourse and a grudging yet understanding acknowledgment of different positions is possible.

Increasingly, it seems like Republicans have come to disparage intellectuals on the left AND on the right. It used to be only the leftist intellectuals that were disdained. Now, intelligent debate itself is seen as 'elitist'; expecting people to be able to intelligently defend their positions is seen as the superiority complex of a snobbish 'gotcha' media.

I believe that the rise of disrespect for intellectual thought is a direct consequence of the conscious courting of extreme evangelical fanatics. When you encourage and empower people at the extremist edges of social and religious ideology, even if they are a large voting block, you are automatically discouraging tolerance, the value of ideas, open debate and discourse. These people see everything through the filter of their church and pastor’s beliefs... rigid ideology prevents them from considering other ideas or modifying their positions. How can you truly have an intellectual discussion with people who don't understand why the separation of church and state is vital in a democracy? How can you have an open-minded discussion on educational policy when they have already assumed positions (creationism, abstinence­...)? Ideologues don't care much for practicalities or pragmatism, scientific research or proven evidence. One could argue that the ascendancy of the religious right within the GOP has stifled thought and reason.

[hyla9]

The rise of FOX TV, Rush Limbaugh et al: This type of TV channels Jerry Springer on a political soapbox. It 's the antithesis of programmes that stimulate thought or discussion. Like Jerry Springer, FOX caters to the lowest common denominator: our fears, rather than our minds; our prejudices and narrow-mindedness rather than our tolerance and inclusivity; put-downs and red-baiting subsitute for reason and logic.

While the Republican Party may not be responsible for FOX TV’s programming, they ARE responsible for embracing it, bar the consequences. In doing so, they give credence to its message and enhance its credibility (among some).

By embracing FOX TV because it ideologically supports them, the Republican Party embraces its tactics and xenophobia. In so doing, the Party openly appeals to all the yahoos, bigots and rednecks who feel they have a natural, important place in the Party. These are the kind of people who have felt empowered by the more recent incarnations of the GOP, and who've been attending Palin’s rallies.

The Republican Party cannot have it both ways: They cannot continue to appeal to yahoos and rednecks and bigots, religious fanatics, people who oppose abortion even in cases of rape and incest, people who would bring in creationism to be taught equally with science in the schools... without turning off the more moderate and thoughtful people from their party, those who may define themselves as conservatives, but who are independent-minded and not driven by a religious agenda.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

I'm so glad that you and your pals can get a little fun out of this entire nation's misery.

[RockySoldier]

you don't have to walk around with a raised fist 24/7. your arm has to get tired sometime.

try smiling once in a while. you don't have to frown for the struggle for your entire life.

[magicwanz]

It's truely amazing how much incompetence it takes to really reveal the corruption at the foundation of an ideology! Conservative ideology will have to wait another eighty years to once again fleece an unsuspecting electorate with historical amnesia. It took a lot of damage before you came out of the closet, but bless you for finally coming to your senses.

[Beninn]

Ken Adelman, P.N.A.C. signatory and zealous salesman for war in Iraq, now discards the neo-con uniform he so proudly has worn for a couple of decades, run from the discredited ideology he helped advance, and tries to hide behind the skirts of the con-con.

Adelman is no different than the pedophiles who hide within the Catholic church, donning collars and passing themselves off as priests. Will the real holy men of the GOP allow them to do so? Will Adelman and the other neo-cons get sanctuary from Republican Party elders?

The Republican party has much to make up to the American people for, and the world. Kicking Ken Adelman and others like him to the curb would be a good place to begin.

[joebiz]

Bravo Ken.

The country is at stake. The party and ideology must take a back seat. Maybe under in a different political climate or under a better candidate. But not now.

[pbfishtaco]

Thank you for the gut check endorsement Mr. Adelman.

Is it me, or do Republicans who come out against the party in some way, say something to this effect: "I've always been a conservative; there were things I didn't like about the party, or the party left me."

This leaves the purity of their ideals intact. It's not "Conservatism" that's at fault, only the mere mortals who mucked it up this time. This leaves the holy ideal of Conservatism intact for it's eventual resurrection.

I say (to quote Cenk Uygur) "Have at it, Hoss!"

How about Palin '12?
It hasn't worked in the last 30 years. Why would it work next time?

Even if it doesn't work next time, the people who promote it pay well, so what the hell?

[jmundstuk]

This is great. Mr. Adelman seems like a person I would enjoy knowing, even though I may be a con-lib of questionable consistency.

[NPA]

Obama supporters let's not get complacent we can't afford to lose! Can you volunteer? Please contact the Obama campaign or MoveOn.org in your area. I've volunteered with my daughter this weekend we still need plenty of help.

[musicisourhigh]

I am always glad to see another endorsement for Obama. I also like reading the thought process that goes into making a decision.

I am hoping to see more thoughtful endorsements in the upcoming days for Senator Obama. Clearly the best choice for uniting this nation.

[thebeerdoctor]

Is it not strange that the McCain camp wants to keep painting Barack Obama as a wild radical, when his entire biographical background reveals nothing of the sort. Had he gone from president of the Harvard Law review to some comfortable corporate law firm with plenty of perks, he would be regarded by this very same crowd as "an outstanding young man". Back in March of this year, I wrote a piece called "Thoughts on Obama" where I pointed out that the Illinois Senator's appeal is not about ideology or even race. It is primarily because he presents himself as a reasonable, politically centrist person, who seems to understand the responsibilities involved in leading the country. A reasonable person. That might not seem like much, until you consider all the shrill nothingness being uttered by McCain and company.

[RockySoldier]

welcome aboard. thank you for putting your country first.

[breezyholler]

I too was brought up a staunch republican, in a republican neighborhood, in a mostly republican small town. Haven't voted since Reagan. I suppose there is a bit of irony in the fact that as a retired white male , my first democratic vote ever .will be for an African American..­I recall the words of Bob Dylan.."th­e times , they are a changin"..­.THANK GOD FOR THAT !

peace@wellness

[HTooley]

I was raised by in a mixed household. My mom was a Republican and my Dad a Democrat. As a result my political philosophy has been to think liberally and live conservatively.

Never give up on the possibilities and the potential that can be. Spend money as an investment. Ignore the faddish. Think about function, not the form.

My love of politics comes from my dad. My perserverance in the face of adversity comes from my mom. My love of country and striving to be the best that you can be comes from both. This is the yin and yang of my life and thoughts, and I hope for the sake of the nation that our common goals outweigh our differences.

[Frannyvida]

Mr. Adelman: I suspect that many more of your colleagues will privately do the right thing in the voting booth. Isn't it powerful to do the right thing? I don't mean abuse of power, I mean the good kind. I think the darkest matter you'll find is the state of the economy and our getting filthier by the minute world amospheret I mean that literally and figuratively. It's too bad the word "liberal" has become an ingrained dirty word in your world. Thanks to the era of AIDS, free love is out of the question and one must wear ones London Fog in any season. Education and thoughtfulness and measured thinking mean alot to us Liberals.

You may find this ammusing, but Janine Garafollo hit the nail on the head in a recent TV appearance. As the Republican to her left kept interrupting at every turn, (notice this on every news/ pundit/interview show you watch, you'll be amazed) she reminded him why we have tended to lose elections. We're just nicer, we don't interrupt, we feel better about telling the truth, in general a fair world just feels good to us. So if even for a day or 10 days or a month you have decided to hop the fence, welcome to my world.

[janpradder]

I have some close friends and family who are, as Mr. Adelmen defines himself, "con-con's". They tell me the party left them and not the other way around. I would hope in a similar electoral situation I would do the same as they are doing, voting for the good of the country vs. just the party we are most closely aligned with.

These people are to be applauded.

[Krankil]

why is this deleted?

Judgement, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is all that matters. Obama has all 3. McCain displayed poor judgement and lack of intellectual curiosity to learn about Iraq (Sunnis Shias etc..) before he backs Bush in his war (certainly by his own admission he doesn't know much about the economy either after 26 years in public service!).
Palin? I'm not sure she even understands the meaning of those 3 qualities that a President needs. Let alone discussing her intelligence (I can see Russia from home therefore I know foreign policy), judgement (the list is long here from asking about banning books as a mayor to landing in the McCain camp and accepting to be coached and KEPT from making any JUDGMENT call) or intellectual curiosity (Joe-Six-Pack and hocky mom is all she says!!)

this is a good video that can be used for an ad. The line from a Staunch Conservative about "country first and judgement" is better said by him than any other Democrat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzI_UQbSq2Y