Obama finding new allies: Republicans
http://www.suntimes.com/news/hunter/433292,CST-NWS-hunter19.article
Many cite war in Iraq, spirit of political unity as issues
June 19, 2007
BY JENNIFER HUNTER Sun-Times Columnist
There is an interesting phenomenon that has arisen over the last few
months: a trend of moderate Republicans who want to vote for Barack
Obama. It may seem counterintuitive, conservatives supporting a
candidate who wants to tax the wealthy and embrace the conventions in
the Kyoto Accord, but there is something in Obama's message about
ridding politics of partisanship that is appealing to these
Republicans.
He doesn't carry the baggage of a Hillary Clinton. He is new; he seems
authentic -- although his connection to indicted fund-raiser Tony
Rezko has made some previous supporters wonder -- and he has more
gravitas than pretty boy John Edwards. The Republicans who like him
may have supported John McCain in the past, but after eight years of
the Bush White House they feel they can no longer support the
Republican field. The idea of a congressional glasnost -- a harmonic
nonpartisanship in Washington -- is an Obama goal they endorse.
Republicans for Obama?
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/06/republicans_for_obama.html
Posted by TOM BEVAN | E-Mail This | Permalink | Email Author
In the Chicago Sun-Times, Jennifer Hunter writes:
There is an interesting phenomenon that has arisen over the last few
months: a trend of moderate Republicans who want to vote for Barack
Obama. It may seem counterintuitive, conservatives supporting a
candidate who wants to tax the wealthy and embrace the conventions in
the Kyoto Accord, but there is something in Obama's message about
ridding politics of partisanship that is appealing to these
Republicans.
Is this true? Hunter doesn't cite any poll numbers to support this
"phenomenon." Instead, she constructs her story around quotes from
three people: Kenneth Wehking, 38, a Denver man who works for a
software company; Randy Cooper, a 60-year-old lawyer from Eaton, N.H.;
and Chicagoan Dian Eller, a person whom we learn nothing about except
for the fact that she voted for George W. Bush in 2000 but not in 2004.
.
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