The Conservatives' Case for Obama

by Cliopatria

Here and there on the internet, there's an emerging conservative argument for Barack Obama's candidacy. Here's a preliminary bibliography of citations. I'd welcome suggested additions to it in comments:

Andrew Bacevich,"The Right Choice? The Conservative Case for Barack Obama," American Conservative, 24 March 2008.

Stephen F. Hayes,"Saint Barack of Iowa," Weekly Standard, 17 December 2007.

Douglas Kmiec,"Reaganites for Obama," Slate, 13 February 2008.
___________,"Endorsing Obama," Slate, 23 March 2008.
___________,"Faith and Obama," Talking Justice, 23 March 2008.
"Kmiec's Obama Endorsement: What He's Thinking," BeliefNet, 25 March.
"Doug Kmiec's Inbox," BeliefNet, 25 March.

Howard Kurtz,"Even Conservative Media Chorus Sings Obama's Praises," Washington Post, 8 January 2008.

Eli Lake,"Some Republicans Emerge to Endorse Obama," NY Sun, 31 March 2008.

Peggy Noonan,"A Thinking Man's Speech," WSJ, 21 March 2008.

Michael M. Rosen,"Conservatives for Obama?" Politico, 27 November 2007.

Andrew Sullivan,"Goodbye to All That: Why Obama Matters," Atlantic, December 2007.
_____________,"The Unemotional Case for Obama," Daily Dish, 8 February 2008.
____________,"Conservatives for Obama," Daily Dish, 24 March 2008.

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More Comments:

Kevin C. Murphy - 3/27/2008

I might include this December piece by Stephen Hayes in the Weekly Standard. It's news-reporting, but on page 2 Hayes delves into why Obama's rhetorical inclusiveness is appealing to conservatives.

Ed Schmitt - 3/26/2008

That is an interesting hypothetical. Of course the key difference is that the primaries then served a somewhat different purpose. They were not nearly the most important mechanism for amassing delegates and far fewer states held them, so Kennedy approached them as a way to prove popular appeal that would sway party bosses on the electability argument. In a way it is a similar dynamic between superdelegates and pledged delegates today, but now the balance of power is with the latter rather than party titans. But this also goes to the key question of anger on the part of either Obama or Clinton supporters toward the other side. Will they "sit it out" as many on the left did, even with Kennedy gone and no plausible alternative.

Oscar Chamberlain - 3/26/2008

I wonder what the reaction would have been if Bobby Kennedy had not been killed but Humphrey had still won the nomination? If I remember correctly, that was possible and perhaps even likely despite RFK's last primary victory in California.

Mitch Lerner - 3/26/2008

I certainly think we should give Rosen's political analysis much credibility because of his personal expertise on the subject. Like when he says, near the end of the cited article, "Ultimately, this conversation is probably moot. Despite recent hiccups, Clinton is cruising to the nomination in unprecedented fashion." I suppose he is technically correct; if Hilary does win the nomination, it will be in an unprecedented fashion.

Ralph E. Luker - 3/26/2008

He's never said he was a Republican in the first place.

Nathanael D. Robinson - 3/26/2008

Self-hating republican, or something?