Some argue this could never have been a Republican year. The eight year itch, a long but successful war plus a shattering economy with big government intervention. John McCain was the most moderate nominee since Jerry Ford. Still Republicans need to account for those who call themselves Republicans but endorsed Obama.
Just to keep the record clear the following are noted Republicans who gave their reputations to Obama. Their support will be noted for the rest of their lives.
Benedict Arnold : First RINO
Former Governor Massachusetts, William Weld.
Former Rhode Island Senator, Lincoln Chafee.
Former Governor Minnesota, Arne Carlson.
Former Governor and Senator Connecticut, Lowell Weicker.
Former Governor Virginia, Linwood Holton.
Former Governor Michigan, William Milliken.
Former South Dakota Senator, Larry Pressler.
Former Iowa Congressman, Jim Leach.
Former Maryland Congressman, Wayne Gilchrest.
Former Bush Secretary of State, Colin Powell.
Former Bush Press Secretary, Scott McClellan.
Former Reagan White House Chief of Staff, Ken Duberstein.
Former Reagan Solicitor General, Charles Fried
Former Reagan White House Counsel, Douglas Kmiec.
Former Los Angeles Mayor, Richard Riordan.
Jeffrey Hart, National Review Senior Editor
Christopher Buckley, son of the founder of National Review.
A disappointed father.
My thanks for Dan Engler for providing the documentation.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/24/obamacans-prominent-republicans-line-up-behind-obama/ Wall Street Journal
http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=node/3341
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/13/opinion/main4347525.shtml
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020102621.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cc-goldwater/why-mccain-has-lost-our-v_b_137150.html
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I guess noone commented because everyone on this blog is a RINO? That, or has abandoned the circular firing squad that resides in the echo chamber or bad ideas.
The real question is, how do we live with the Neocons & radical religious whackjobs that have deteriorated the credibility of this party for ’10 or ’12?
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
What’s more important? Loyalty to the party or loyalty to ones beliefs? I, for one, could not in good conscious support the ticket this year. Am I to be forever shunned? Personally, I am loyal to myself before I’m loyal to my party.
Regardless, they’re all “former” (save Buckley and Hart) and won’t be begging for forgiveness.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
PS perhaps this ‘for us or against us’ should just be an ‘us’?
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
Colin Powell has earned the right to endorse whomever he damn well pleases.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
Hey Brian:
Instead of hiding behind the words “Neocons” and “Religious wackjobs”,
why don’t you cowboy-up and say “Jews” and “Christians” because
that is who you really mean.
Gutless AND a bigot. Nice combination.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
“Gutless AND a bigot. Nice combination.”
Cue the circular firing squad.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I’m a Christian, but not a neocon or a religious wacko determined to communistically dictate how others live their lives…I save that for the communists that insist on regulating whether someone else can legally get married or not.
Thanks for the confirmatino JD. Sounds like drawing fire here is pretty easy when you haven’t yet drank the Kool Aid.
Chris
Colin Powell took it in the shorts for this party & especially for Dick Cheney. How is it you exclude your SOS & NSA from your meeting where you make a decision to go to war? And from that, how is it anyone can wonder why he resigned in anger and now supported a successor that isn’t a warmonger?
Guess logic is lost on this reich, I mean, blog.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
You forgot all the elected Republicans who endorse Democrats in local elections. You very rarely find Dems endorsing Reps.
That is where it all begins, at the local level.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
They used to. But now instead of being Reagan Democrats, or Blue Dog Democrats or Moderate Republicans. They are now just plain Democrats.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I understand not supporting a Republican nominee because I disagree with them but what I can’t understand is supporting a Democrat who I agree with even less. I have many times turned my back on RINO candidates to vote Libertarian but voting Democratic is insane. In the grand scheme most Republicans agree in limited government and Democrats agree on an all powerful government and never the two should cross. Those who do cross over seem to me to be self serving and void of a true commitment to principle. I don’t agree with liberals on much but at least if they are consistent I can respect them. It is those who lack a consistent philosophy and blow in the wind that are hard to respect.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Boil it down this way. Many approach politics like shopping. They want the best product for the best deal. Not everybody joins the political Army, and brand loyalty is not an absolute.
Would a struggling business continue to struggle if insulted its dissatisfied customers because they took their business elsewhere?
Would it take less resources to have innitially retained those customers rather than attract new ones, dispite having the added baggage of a bad reputation brought on by other dissatisfied customers.
I simply do not understand how the mindset that compares Colin Powell to Benedict Arnold will serve to reatract voters who left the party, or maintain the moderate republicans who like the fact Obama is reaching out to them.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Excellent point Chris
What is needed is inspiration and not perspiration. I just don’t see how admonishing your previous customers as to why they don’t drink your poison Kool-Aid brings added appeal to the party.
It all starts with enthusiasm and it must be directed to something appealing and relevant to the voter.