My mother-in-law (a Republican) told me Sat. night several of her GOP friends were backing Obama

wyldwolf

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Mon Jan-07-08 10:46 AM
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My mother-in-law (a Republican) told me Sat. night several of her GOP friends were backing Obama

Now, many Obama supporters on DU, especially a few who are newcomers, will have to forgive those of us who look at Obama's "can't we all just get along" nature with suspicion. Many of us who are loyal not only to the Clintons but also other party institutions still have open wounds, teeth marks, from past experiences of extending our hands in friendship to the modern (post 1980) Republican party.

What we wanted in 2008, and still do, is someone who can inflict those wounds on the opposition in return. We're tired of our poodles getting mauled by their pit bulls. Be want a pit bull or two of our own.

Would I like to see a return to the time when politics was just a day job and Democrats and Republicans broke for dinner and drinks together afterwards? Sure. Can Barack Obama do that? Maybe - with a little help from an extended and expanded hold on Congress and the Senate from the Dems and the GOP brand's sinking public support.

Could Hillary? Probably not, but I base that on the admittedly cynical yet realistic belief the GOP isn't ready to play nice with anyone just yet, especially a Clinton.

Which brings me back to the conversation with my mother-in-law. After she dropped that bombshell she said they'd all read "The Audacity of Hope" and like what they read. She swore there was no strategic mission from Republicans to deny Hillary the nomination by backing Obama, and even asked if there was, wouldn't (white, Southern) Edwards be more palatable to Republicans? (I'm sure she was referring to the "old" Edwards.)

Interesting?

I have posted on several occasions on DU that I believe Obama is a new Democrat at heart, DLC without actually being a member of the DLC. If you think I'm insulting him, I am not. For the most part, the policies of the DLC are very close to what I personally believe politically.

In his book, Obama touts welfare reform of the 90s, recommends some kind of private investment accounts as a companion to Social Security, condemns single-issue advocacy (what some call special interest) group politics Dems have pandered to for decades, and praises free market capitalism. More recently, he's proposed a form of National Service. All things the DLC have pushed for 20 years, all things I agree with to some degree, and all things rank and file Republicans can live with, obviously.

And before I'm accused of taking anything Obama has written in his book out of context, believe me, I have studied "New Democratic" politics for six years or so. It is a fact - Obama is pushing many DLC bread-and-butter policies. Others on DU and other progressive sites have also pointed this out as a negative. To me, it is a positive.

With another senate term or two under his belt, Obama would be close to the perfect candidate for me. If he should go on to win the nomination, I will have no problem supporting him with my time and money.

But as long as Clinton is still in, I still support her.