Obama the Conservative Choice
Huffington Post progressives should look to the conversation that is going on among traditional conservatives if they are seriously interested in nominating a candidate who would be both electable and good for the country. As a conservative, it is frankly incomprehensible to me that anyone would want to go back to the sleaze, constant political triangulation, sense of aggrieved entitlement, and low-life characters like Sandy Berger that characterized the Clinton White House. Nor is it possible to understand why anyone would want to cast a vote that would seem to establish a dynastic principle in American politics in which the White House alternates between people named Bush and Clinton. The American people and the country surely deserve something markedly better than the Bushes and Clintons that we all have experienced. Jeb and Chelsea, step aside please! Find a real job.
Taking aim at the deficiencies of the Clintons is not to exonerate George W. Bush, who has been a far worse, more corrupt, and much more dangerous president than Bill Clinton ever was. But let's face it, as presidents go, Clinton was an ethical mess, actually making George Bush look good on the personal integrity scale. Hillary is in the same mold as her husband as she lies, dissimulates, and misspeaks her way through her campaign and makes clear that, in her own mind, she was born to rule. There is also the practical issue of electability. If Hillary is the nominee it would surely galvanize the Republican Party base, which despises both her and Bill. If progressive Democrats want to do something to bring out the GOP vote to produce the ultimate horror of a President John McCain, nominate Hillary.
Many traditional conservatives (not the neo-con subspecies) are embarrassed by George Bush and are looking for a way out of the foreign and domestic policy nightmare that he has engineered. They also understand that John McCain would be more of the same or even worse. There is a lively discussion of Barack Obama that is taking place both in the blogosphere and in the media directed at a conservative audience, and much of the discourse is surprisingly receptive to the idea that Obama, though a liberal, could bring about genuine change that will benefit the country. A recent article by Boston University professor and former army officer Andrew Bacevich appeared in The American Conservative magazine and is available on the internet at www.amconmag.com. It is entitled "The Case for Obama" and makes the point that Obama is a candidate that is certainly no conservative, but he is the only real hope to get out of Iraq and also avoid wars of choice in the future. Bacevich rightly sees the Iraq war and its consequences as a truly existential issue for the United States, one that should be front and center for voters in November. Any more adventures of the Iraq type will surely bankrupt the country and destroy what remains of the constitution. Bacevich also notes that the election of John McCain, candidate of the neoconservatives and the war party, would guarantee an unending series of preemptive wars as U.S. security doctrine and would validate the disastrous decisions to invade Iraq and wage an interminable global war on "terrorists." Electing Obama instead would be as close as one could come to making a definitive judgment on the folly of Iraq and everything that it represents, a judgment that is long overdue. Many conservatives would agree that the Obama commitment to leave Iraq is the right way to go and long to return to the days when America only went to war when a vital interest was threatened.
Other conservatives have observed that Obama might also seriously address the hemorrhaging of America's manufacturing base that has taken place under the auspices of President George W. Bush, a trend that would undoubtedly continue under either McCain or Clinton, both of whom are either ambivalent about or committed to globalism and free trade. America must put its own house in order first and it is time to challenge many of the economic and social assumptions that have driven policy over the past 15 years.
In short, Obama for president is beginning to look pretty good to many conservatives and that means that a Barack Obama administration might actually bridge the gap between right and left, finally bringing together American citizens who are intent on righting the foundering ship of state rather than preserving the status quo. Clinton and McCain represent little more than two nightmarish visions of an out-of-touch political reality that has manifestly failed and should be rejected.
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Obama should be viewed as progress on the abortion debate.
From http://med
In his April 2 Washington Post column, Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for President Bush, claimed that Sen. Barack Obama's "record on abortion is extreme," citing as evidence Obama's claim "that he would not want his daughters to be 'punished with a baby' because of a crisis pregnancy -- hardly a welcoming attitude toward new life." Gerson went on to write that Obama "could take the wise counsel of evangelical Democrats such as Amy Sullivan and come out strongly for policies that would reduce the number of abortions -- support for pregnant women, abstinence education, the responsible promotion of birth control." Gerson failed to note, however, that in the same remarks in which he said that he "would not want his daughters to be 'punished with a baby,' " Obama advocated the "policies" Gerson suggested he "come out strongly for" -- specifically, "education" that "include[s] abstinence" and "information about contracept
The comparison here is odious. Whatever anybody thinks of Bill Clinton, the current administration is the standard bearer for complete moral bankruptcy. Drawing conclusions about a Hillary administration based on assumptions about that of her husband is silly and pointless.
Almost everything I'd like to say about this was said well, already, in a blog post by John Cole:
http://www
The difference between Bill and George is this:
Bill is a lot smarter than George. ( Were George's last name not BUSH, he would never have made president. He can't even speak English, which doesn't say much for Yale.)
Bill is totally morally bankrupt and he knows it.
George is a dangerous moron who sincerely believes he means well trying to protect America all the while repealing habeas corpus, eavesdropping on us while undermining the constitution.
Only a moron would go into Irak when Colin Powell warned him " you braek it, youown it."
Only a moron would have his vice president run the show.
Are you saying that both conservatives and liberals are tired of the bullshit?
I think he's saying WE'RE all tired of the bullshit, and did a nice job saying it.
Earthlings Unite!
I agree!!! Hillary on the ticket will enliven the republicans. It will excite participation among republicans. If by some insane manner, Hillary became the nominee they would stop her for us by attacking her on all the fronts that her democratic political opponents will not. They will bring up how outrageous it is to allow a DISBARRED, IMPEACHED FOR LYING EX-PRESIDENT to move back into the white house as first husband!!
They will bring out every unresolved scandal and every lie. They will go through her taxex, schedule, they would annihilate her for her poor judgement and lack of integrity!!!
There is no way McCain will lose....
in part because I will not even be able to vote for HIllary precisely because I could not trust for a moment that her integrity, her presidency would actually be any better. Her character is too dramatically flawed.
I am so grateful that we have the opportunity instead to elect a brilliant man like Senator Obama and bring real change to american politics.
Obama '08
Thank you for the article. And there are those that, looking at Obama's economic plans, consider him more of a 'left libertarian' as well.
I appreciate hearing this good news from a true conservative. Nice to know that there are 'Republicans' that are neither neocons nor members of the right-wing religious fanatics.
1. Last week Mr. Meeks called white American mayors "slave masters" and referred to black preachers and politicians who "protect" the "white man" as "house n-ggers."
He was recorded telling the mostly black congregation any "white Christian" who doesn't vote for him is a "racist."
Obama attends Bible Study Classes with Pastor Meeks. Meeks is one of Obama’s Super Delegates and is listed on Obama’s campaign website as prominent black supporter
2. Mr. Wright pastor of Trinity United Church which is theologically closer to Karl Marx and Black Nationalism, than to Christianity.
Mr. Wright violent rhetoric against whites, gays and the American government are reminiscent of Hitler hate speeches.
3. Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn were members of the Weather Underground, a group that killed police and tried to bomb the US Capitol.
Obama served with Ayers on the board of a small, leftist foundation, the Woods Fund from 1999 until 2002 and received several thousand dollars annually as compensation.
According to the 2001 annual report, the fund made a $6000 discretionary grant to Rev. Wright's Trinity United Church "in recognition of Barack Obama's contribution of services."
In a recent interview with the New York Times Mr. Ayers said: "I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough."
5. Merrill A. McPeak is Obama’s military adviser and national campaign co-chairman. Mr. McPeak said that American Jews are the "problem."
McPeak has claimed “Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq.”
Sorry, I'd rather watch 'Amerian Idol' than read your bullshit. Have a good life.
Ron Paul when questioned in a debate "who do you most identify with on the democratic side?" to which Dr. Paul answered Barack Obama! Ron's still my man, but Barack will certainly do! Maybe Obama will appoint Paul as the Secretary of the Treasury. Chuck Hagel for VP?
I wish Ron Paul would endorse Obama. That might upset those unreconstructed Confederates he allegedly was involved with, but they need to get updated anyway. As an Alabamian, it would make living in a red state more interesting come November.
Ron is still in the 19th century in terms of government, so he needs to stay in the H of R. Chuck Hagel is a Republican, and is therefore unacceptable as VP. Maybe as Sec. of Defense.
Who said there was no truth to the idea known as "white guilt?" It exists in both the Democratic and Republican camps. Elect Barack Obama and we will all be absolved as a country. Kumbaya!!!
Your comment implies that it is so incomprehensible that a black man could be qualified to become president, that the only explanation is white guilt, or as some others have said, affirmative action, or whatever. Last year i looked into all the democratic candidates (and most of the repub) and decided i liked Obama's record and policy proposals the most. (specifically foreign policy and healthcare). Obama has held office years longer than Hillary, and is absolutely as qualified as anyone else running. Your comment, is totally racist- and i don't use the term lightly- in it's implying the only reason anyone would choose Obama is rooted in race- theirs or his, and not in his real qualifications and policy.
Yes. Maggie, do some looking 'inside'. You might find some paper dragons there that need addressing, dear.
The more I observe Obama and study his policies the more I like him. He has the capacity to see the broad picture of what needs to change in our country. He is the one we need to get America turned back around.
slc20 For your information, I am a 100% Black woman who is not doubting whether Obama is qualified to be Pres, even though they are strong arguments to the contrary. I am not convinced that his "record" which incidentally cannot be verified, is anything when compared to Hillary Clinton. I could have taken the easy way out and gone along with the hype......
"Clinton was an ethical mess, actually making George Bush look good on the personal integrity scale"
if you mean personal integrity as in not getting a beej, sure. although one might argue that being glib and making jokes about WMD's when your invasion of choice has killed 4000+ americans and anwaywhere from 10,000-500,000 Iraqi's and injured far many more doesnt show much personal integrity. but that's why you're the conservative.
That line stood out for me as well. How is it even possible to compare the two? I'm not sure it would be possible to find individuals more morally bankrupt than the sitting President of the United States or the trash he brought in with him.
Yep, we're on the same page on that one. It sounds like a lot of us are calling B.S. on the twisted Republican logic of the poster.
I'd also like to know where all these Republicans against the Iraq War are. If anyone could have smacked some sense into Junior Bush, it would have been those imaginary Republicans. Oh, yeah, they were busy denigrating the patriotism of the rest of us to have a word with Bush/Chene
Or the trash that put him in!
Bill Clinton was a dog and still is. Infidelity is a character flaw. You support that crap, where does it end? Bush is a bastard in the worse way, but that doesn't excuse Bill for being a total ass. Sounds like a bunch of Redstate/Bluestate crap here.
I doubt that anyone approves of Bill Clinton's character flaws, but there is no comparison possible between marital infidelity and treason. One divorces adulterers, one puts traitors in front of a firing squad. There are literally miles of legal/moral increments separating the two.
He's talking about the perception of conservatives. Conservatives thought Clinton was "an ethical mess, actually making George Bush, etc..." We progressive or nonconservative types all knew this was insane and now the conservatives--not the neo-cons, have figured it out, too.
Obama will unite America and restore some honor. Clinton will bring division and unethical conduct back into the white house. McCain will guarantee the further decline of the United States. Hillary is far worse than a true conservative as she is a corrupt neocon.
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