Reply #89: Two things are at play here............ [View All]

[PaDem]

and neither should worry you.

First, Obama has genuine crossover appeal. It's not entirely dissimilar to the crossover appeal that Ronald Reagan had. Part of the genius (I think it's probably genius, though we won't know for sure until November) of the Obama campaign is that he's not said all that much of substance. He's not given the other side much to define him with, and you see now that they're focused on the lack of substance in his campaign. What's genius about this one might ask? The genius is that Obama this summer can begin to define himself as opposed to having the GOP do it for him (See Kerry in 2004, Gore in 2000). The GOP talking heads will keep at this "Hope doesn't trump substance" meme, and Obama will begin to define more concretely what he stands for in the lead up to the GE. But let's get back to Reagan for a second. He made people feel good and made them feel proud to be Americans. People who didn't agree with many of his policy positions voted for him anyway. Obama has the capability to do this, and I think some of the crossover is indicative of that.

Secondly, the "movement conservative" wing of the Republican Party hate the Hillary and her family so much that they can't help themselves from switching over in the primaries in order to support Obama. This in my view is good news for any progressive who is actually interested in taking the White House in 2008. These rabid crossover conservatives are hurting their party's chances in the general election with their impatience. I think they fear a Clinton presidency so much that stopping her now is worth the risk of losing the general election. They don't want to chance it.

Committed Clinton supporters on DU and elsewhere will tell you that GOPers are crossing over because Obama is the one they want in the general election. This is beyond absurd in my view. There is no logical reason for anyone to think that Hillary has a better chance to beat McCain than Obama. None whatsoever.

So many members of our party voted for Reagan and were complicit in whatever his administration accomplished (virtually all of it destructive). I for one welcome any Republicans who want to return the favor 28 years later.