They're Republican red, and true blue to Obama

[babylonsister]

They're Republican red, and true blue to Obama


GOP renegades seeking a candidate capable of ending the Washington partisanship are surfacing in the senator's campaign in surprising numbers. 'Obamacans,' he calls them.

By Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
February 25, 2008


DELAWARE, OHIO -- Chatter bounces off the bare walls and checkered linoleum floor as Josh Pedaline and other Barack Obama supporters burn through their call sheets.

A map of Delaware County splays across a tabletop. Another table is laden with cookies, pretzels and other snacks. Volunteers sit elbow to elbow, pecking at cellphones and pitching the Illinois Democrat in advance of Ohio's March 4 primary. The scene is a typical campaign boiler room.

Except that four of the 13 dialing away are lifelong Republicans, including Pedaline, 28, who reveres Ronald Reagan and twice voted for President Bush.

"I am so sick and tired of the partisanship," Pedaline says before starting his night shift at Obama's outpost in this affluent Columbus suburb. "I don't want to be cheesy and say, 'He'll bring us all together.' But he seems like someone willing to listen to a good idea, even if it comes from a Republican."

Pedaline and other GOP renegades are part of a striking phenomenon this campaign season: They are "Obamacans," as the senator calls them, and they are surfacing in surprising numbers. Though some observers question their commitment, they are blurring -- for now, at least -- the red-blue lines that have colored the nation's politics for the last several years.

"I'm a conservative, but I have gay friends," Pedaline explains over dinner at a Columbus diner. "I have friends who don't believe in abortion, but I don't condemn them for it; I don't feel like Obama is condemning me for being a Republican."

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-gopobama25feb25,1,5400701.story?ctrack=5&cset=true

[caseycoon]

1. K&R Thanks for posting this babylonsister!

Nice article!
:hi:

[Norton]

2. What would it take...

To ever make me vote for a Republican? When I see stories like this I always wonder about that? I can't even imagine such a scenario, and I hope I never experience one!?!

[babylonsister]

3. How about 8 years of a psychopath in charge who doesn't care

that he's ruining our military, getting our troops killed, and bankrupting our country, while shredding our Constitution? That might convince me to rethink my political leanings.

[mwb970]

5. Non-crazy Republicans abandoned bush long ago.

The 19% who still claim to approve of him represent a highly concentrated mass of the mentally ill, the ignorant, and the un-American. What a snake pit.

[progressoid]

7. I know a few Democrats that seriously considered voting for McCain back in 2000

(that was before he went all coo coo)

[mwb970]

4. Here's a non-subscription link.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-gopobama25feb25,1,7852005.story

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks for the link! nt

[CanonRay]

8. We had five Republicans volunter to man our check in on caucus night.

And they did a great job. One of them went out in the cold and directed traffic all night.

[depakid]

9. Come November, they'll all be back with McCain

Pandering to the right in hopes of Republican votes doesn't work- it only alienates the base. If every election since 1994 hasn't taught the candidates that much, then the party's destined to keep on losing- again and again.

[Voice for Peace]

10. I know alot of Republicans

who are NOT blind party loyalists. They're actually intelligent & compassionate, thoughtful human beings. Although some cynicism about this may be warranted, there's too much of it around. People genuinely like Obama. Many people see the old party system dissolving.

Maybe the parties should be renamed "Darkness" and "Light."
Some look it as "antiwar" and "war" parties.

In the antiwar, anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-torture, anti-imperialism, anti-ignorance camp are Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans, Greens, Independents, and others. There is more that binds such people together than divides them.

[Demeter]

13. Maybe, Maybe Not. We'll Find Out, Come November

The whole nation may be in for an awakening! (I surely hope so)

[DemzRock]

11. They're Republican red, and true blue to Obama UNTIL the General Election when they vote for McCain!

I can see it.

[babylonsister]

12. Do you have a crystal ball, or at least a link, or are you just spewing? nt

[eztela]

14. McCain leads Obama in the latest Rasmussen GE matchup

Where are the Obamacans?

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_history

This is another example of people thinking that words are more important than facts. Saying that Republicans will flee to support a very progressive candidate will not make it true. They support Obama now WHEN IT COMES TO A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CHOICE because they hate Hillary Clinton.