Radical Thought: Obama Campaigning for Republicans
Matthew Dowd, a moderate Republican strategist who was an adviser to President George W. Bush, said that increasing cooperation between the two parties was possible, but difficult given the institutional constraints of the system and Mr. Obama’s role as the leading campaigner for House, Senate and governor’s races.
“It’s going to take the president deciding to be the head of the country, not the head of his party,” Mr. Dowd said. “It takes a serious amount of discipline and courage to do it.”
Dowd makes a good point. If the President sincerely wants a post-partisan America, he’s going to have to lead by example, with bold action, not just words.
In this case — walking out the line of Dowd’s thought — the bold action might involve no more Presidential campaigning for Democratic candidates, no matter how much Martha-Coakley trouble they’re in; no matter how much their respective defeats would affect the Democrats’ majority in Congress.
Alternatively, the President might consider this option: He could still campaign for Democrats, but for each Democratic candidate he stands with, side-by-side, he does the same for a Republican candidate.
Just imagine the terror in Republican candidates’ hearts if they learned this President was planning to campaign for them.
No, none of this will happen, but it’s still a helluva lot of fun to think about.
19 Responses to “Radical Thought: Obama Campaigning for Republicans”
What would Dowd think of him just doing what Reagan did and not campaigning against the ones that played nice? I do not think Obama would help many of them campaigning for them right now but not campaigning against them can also be helpful and appreciated especially if they are told why. The NE GOP that has been helpful on the other hand may benefit from him campaigning for them and he very well may do so at some point but I could be wrong.
I have come to like Gov. Paterson of NY. I just hope O stays out of the next gov. race.
I think the suggestion of advancing this underlying notion into one of campaigning is taking a necessarily serious topic and making it facetious.
However, consider this reality……..you and assorted TMV liberals have spent a year lecturing that Republicans need to make the first move. Where has it gotten you except for lost elections, lack of legislative progress and a tumble in the public opinion polls?
I doubt Obama is doing this out of the goodness of his heart, but moreso the heat he feels on his performance perception. Hey, reality bites sometimes.
Testing
Opra?
I am sure Karl Rove would have given Bush the same advice. Yeah, right.
If I was Obama, I wouldn't p**s on them if they were on fire.
Sorry no, your casual observations are wrong. Mass was a fluke. other than that, we have decimated republicans in elections.
Ha ha you minority repubs need to cooperate, not obstruct. Fact, not talking point and the nation knows it. You so funny….
Opra?”
Nah, don't want backlash.
“the idea that Republicans are going to suffer more come next election than Dems is more supported by wishful thinking than reality to date”
The GOP candidate, Mark Kirk, going for Obama's Senate seat this year is already expected to win by many.
One thing is certain, the pendulum swings back and forth between parties, neither of which can govern without the others cooperation, bring us little but bad and worse. That said, I've yet to see any indication or sign that the GOP has any interest whatsoever in governing in any rational way, whether they are in power at the time or not. What great strides did we see in this country during 2000 thru 2006 when the GOP controlled all branches of govt? Please, someone tell me what the legacy of that time period is. I'll be waiting…
It's amazing how magnanimous some Republicans expect a Democratic president to be.
LOL.
I thought he already was campaigning for the Republicans
I thought he already was campaigning for the Republicans”
Not any more, since the success of the GOP debate.
He is much more dangerous now. A wounded politician.
No takers eh? Can't say as I'm surprised. Every time I make a similar request it dies on the vine.
I'll take the tidbits-inspired high road and suggest you're smart enough to attempt a cynically-motivated deflection from the issue at hand as opposed to suggesting you are naive about your ability to motivate.
CO,
Thank you, and a clever hairpin turn in that road as well.
I'll just keep throwing it out there periodically. Maybe one day I'll get a hit.
I'll just keep throwing it out there periodically”
After a while you have change your bait.
“Bait” as in request for “the legacy” which has no good answer. I'd deflect too.