America the Conservative?

The lead article in this week’s Newsweek describes the United States as a “center-right” nation, and that Democrats must realize that fact or risk defeat. Author Jon Meacham writes:

The argument I am making—that we are at heart a right-leaning country skeptical of government once a crisis that requires government has passed—is probably going to look dumb, or at least out of step, for many months to come. A big blue tsunami appears imminent. Election night and the first phase of a possible Obama administration may feel as though we have left the old categories behind, striking out on a bold new path in which pragmatism trumps dogma. (Bold new paths are a specialty for new administrations, until they become safe old paths.) Economically, the deficits are so vast that we’re all supersized Keynesians now, and there will most likely be political and intellectual cover for a stimulus package of new spending in the new year.

And yes, it does seem a bit crazy since we Elephants are facing an wipeout from the Party of the Donkey like never before. But he says:

Contrary to caricature, to be conservative is not necessarily to be racist, or retrograde, or close-minded. It is, rather, to be driven by a fundamental human impulse to preserve what one has and loves. Liberals and moderates share this impulse, of course; and many conservatives, like many liberals and moderates, are generous, future-oriented and interested in reform. The point is that history suggests America is more likely to tack toward the familiar on big questions of politics and culture than it is to enthusiastically embrace radical change. If you doubt this, ask an African-American or an advocate of universal health coverage.

If you ask this African-American, America can REALLY be slow to change.

Does this mean that a President Obama has to shelve liberal ideas? Not necessarily. But it does mean going slow and not pushing for radical change or change too fast. Can a President Obama do this? Maybe. He’s well aware that many conservatives are supporting him and they aren’t going to go for a program that goes too far to the Left.

The real question will be if a President Obama can control a Democratic Congress and keep it from pushing change too hard and too fast.