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Change even we can believe in: GOP should vote for Obama
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This is an open letter to my fellow Americans in the Republican Party who are registered to vote in the Wisconsin primary this Tuesday. For those who are not aware, an “open” primary allows registered voters of one party to request and vote upon the ballot of the other party. This is a truly powerful and progressive privilege, and in this year’s election, with John McCain as your party’s de facto nominee, you should consider the rare opportunity you have to venture across the party line, albeit temporarily, to vote for Barack Obama. It might be enough for some of you that a vote for Mr. Obama could effectively guarantee that Hillary Clinton is blocked from reaching the general election, but I will ask you to consider voting for Mr. Obama on the basis of a higher plain of reasoning.
On principle, I am not registered with either party. As an independent, I voted for Bush in 2000, Kerry in 2004, and in this election I support Mr. Obama. Recently, I have spoken with a handful of Republican friends and relatives who have expressed not only a respect for Mr. Obama, but even a willingness to consider voting for him (one direct quote: “He’d be the first lefty I’ve ever voted for!”). Every time I hear something like this, I smile. I can’t help it. And I can’t help thinking: If there are 10, there might be 10,000 who hold a similar secret — or not-so-secret — admiration for Mr. Obama.
Now, much has been made of the inspirational note he strikes in his speeches, and rightfully so. But the next time you’re watching coverage of an Obama rally, turn down the volume and observe two things. First, watch his face and especially his eyes. For those who pay attention to such things, there is — despite the grueling schedule of his whirlwind campaign — a consistent mark of intent yet patient intelligence, a visible directness that seems to meet the audience halfway. Second, look beyond Mr. Obama, and see how the crowds that gather around him forge a powerful tableau of American diversity: The faces in the bleachers blend in a display of the mottled beauty that is our diverse heritage. There are men, women, senior citizens, babyboomers and droves of the oft-reputed apolitical generations X and Y. And now, imagine adding to this tableau a contingent — even if it is a small one — of Republicans not afraid to recognize a leader with the ability to bring a universally desired change to the earmarked halls of Washington.
One can see the potential power of a message by its ability to attract a large crowd. But one will know the true transformative power of a message by the diversity of the crowd that gathers to listen. And the world is listening to Mr. Obama. Here is an individual who has reengaged large swathes of the American populace with the American political process, and who — as a prospective national figurehead — possesses the rare potential to reengage the goodwill of the world community and introduce to them a renewed American identity.
Consider, for one, Mr. Obama’s bold assertion to hold diplomatic discussions with foreign leaders branded by our current president as members of the “axis of evil.” The current administration’s policy of “diplomatic embargo” and isolating unfriendly nations is a modern phenomenon based upon a new wave of false patriotism and xenophobia. Recall that throughout the Cold War, American presidents communicated directly with their Soviet counterparts — Kennedy with Kruschev, Reagan with Gorbachev — and it very well might have been this direct communication that kept the Cold War from ever heating up.
On the more immediate level, I believe that if you cast your vote for Mr. Obama in the open primary, you would be voting in favor of a more enlightened debate in the general election. Mr. Obama has made a policy of not attacking Ms. Clinton on anything other than what is based on fact. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, the Clinton campaign showed its willingness to bring a knife to a boxing match as former President Bill Clinton put on a shameful display of race-baiting. Mr. Obama kept his head up and weathered the assault with a tremendous amount of grace. After Mr. Obama’s recent eight-state winning streak, Ms. Clinton is spinning yet another yarn, calling him a candidate of speeches and not a candidate of substantive policy. If you go to his website, you’ll find Mr. Obama’s “Blueprint for Change,” which lays out in plenty of detail his position on 15 major issues, the first and foremost of which is ethics.
Needless to say, I suspect an election between Mr. McCain and Ms. Clinton would deteriorate into a montage of Bill Clinton, red-faced and jabbing his finger in the nose of anyone who criticizes his wife, and Mr. McCain raising the specters of the Rose Law firm, Whitewater and Bill’s Oval Office infidelities. Personally, I dread the idea of five months watching the dirt fly as the political steam shovel we’ve all grown to detest digs up skeletons from the 1990s.
On the other hand, I would welcome the opportunity to watch a debate between Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama. Although it would be just as vigorous and heated as any election, I believe the trajectory of the debates would be more enlightened, more forward-looking and issue-driven. Furthermore, with respect for the candor of both Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama, I believe each of these candidates would be mutually elevated by the other: two strong, vigorous competitors making for a strong, vigorous competition.
And I smile when I think of this. I can’t help it. This would be the kind of debate the American people deserve. So I remind you once more of the rare opportunity you have to bring this forward-looking debate to the stage by casting your vote for Barack Obama in your state’s open primary. And then, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after the great debates have ended, we’ll all line up for the same ballot, free to rejoin our respective party lines.
Or not.
Rev. John DeLore Bauer
UW alumnus, 2001
johndelore@gmail.com
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how is your hating of gay people coming?
Great article and makes a lot of sense. Hillary Clinton will absolutely destroy this country if she is elected President. Look at what she has done to her own party? Can you imagine the destruction she will cause all of us with her vindictive and sleazy politics?
I’d rather let the Democrats settle their own primary. I’m voting McCain, even though I think Obama is a much better person than Clinton.
Hey, it’s off-topic, but I came upon this site at htt://obamawill.com and it’s wonderful and funny. And…my wife, a Clinton supporter, read it and said it’s the first thing she’s seen that inclines her towards Obama. Go figure.
What you reap Rev you will sew.
“We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.”
1:43 and 11:54 have nothing to do with the content of this article. Where is the moderation?
On to the topic at hand, I am very excited to see what happens in Wisconsin today. All substance arguments aside, Barack Obama has done what many would consider a very difficult task. He has inspired the uninspirable generation. New voters in this country have only seen 2 names in the White House. I myself have seen 3, but was cognitively unaware of the Reagan years. I make no claims as to whether it would be legitimate or fair, but at it’s basic level, this is change that Obama can promise and deliver.
As a UW alum, I read the Herald and Cardinal to keep tabs on what provided me with a great 4 years. This article gives me hope that real thought is being put into election season. The comments here dampen that a little bit, but like I said before, I look forward to what Wisconsin will add to the discussion happening nationwide.
Republicans and independents will be how Barack Obama wins this election.
what are you all going to do when it comes out that the man who’s discreetly made his black racial history a huge part of his life is actually a decendent of arab slave traders (who shackled blacks and enslaved them) and that he is only 6% black? barack hussein obama. think about it.
Good article. I don’t understand why the comments veered off subject and started discussing homosexuals and homophobia. The fact is, Hillary has run a dirty campaign and has actually used her inclination towards dirty politics as some badge of honor. If you Wisconsiners are serious about getting out of Iraq and are serious about an enlightened foreign policy, you will vote for Obama. To think that Hillary has chided Obama for his willingness to open up to dialogue is reprehensible. Come on Madison, I know you guys can do better.
Nothing to lose by voting for Obama, as the GOP nomination is sewn up.
“I ain’t votin’ for no black man named Osama.” - middle America (and actual response to Obama campaign speech).
Considering how badly Bush trashed the image of the Republican Party, McCain is doing surprisingly well. Which means that Obama and Clinton are both epicly failing.
Anonymous, 4:09. I’ve thought about it, and frankly, that is one of the stupidest and most offensive comments I’ve read in a long time.
An Obama/McCain election will be a new thing for this country and I will be happy with whoever wins. Get ready for clean campaigning, meaningful debates, and a welcome change to the White House, finally!