Obama Republican
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Obama Republican, or Obamacan, is a term used to describe Republicans who support Barack Obama for President of the United States in the 2008 presidential election.[1][2][3][4] An alternative term is "Obamacon", referring to conservatives who support Obama based on more libertarian principles, primarily an opposition to the war in Iraq.[5]
On February 12, 2008, Barack Obama mentioned Obama Republicans in his Potomac primary victory speech: "We are bringing together Democrats and independents, and yes, some Republicans. I know there's -- I meet them when I'm shaking hands afterwards. There's one right there. An Obamacan, that's what we call them." In another speech, he said, "We, as Democrats right now, should tap into the discontent of Republicans. I want some Obama Republicans!"[2] In his call for Republican votes, Obama has compared himself to Ronald Reagan, who he says "was able to tap into the discontent of the American people and...to get Democrats to vote Republican— they were called Reagan Democrats."[2]
The Republican party reported a total of 700 Republican voters in Iowa voted for Obama, and 500 in Colorado.[6] Polls in late February have shown that up to 14% of Republicans support Obama.[7] Some disenfranchised or moderate Republican donors who contributed to the George Bush's campaign in 2004 are now donating to the Obama campaign.[8]
[edit] Prominent Republicans/Former Republicans Endorsing Obama
- Fmr. Rep. John B. Anderson (R-IL).[9]
- Fmr. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).[10]
- Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower.[11]
- Mayor Lou Thieblemont of Camp Hill, Penn. Thieblemont switched his party registration from Republican to Democrat so that he could vote for Obama in the Pennsylvania primary. [12]
- Illinois State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-24). Though not officially endorsing Barack Obama, Dillard has appeared in a television advertisement for him. [13]
- Fmr. Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker (R-CT).[14]
- Julie Nixon Eisenhower, daughter of former president Richard Nixon [15]
- Francis Fukuyama, major figure in the rise of neoconservatism [16]
- Lawrence A. Hunter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation and Chief Economist for the Free Enterprise Fund.[17]
- Conservative bloggers:
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ CNN.com CNN Transcripts, McCain, Obama Sweep Potomac Primaries
- ^ a b c New Pittsburgh Courier, The Way I See It... Becoming an Obamacan
- ^ Republicans for Obama, Dear Fellow Obamacans
- ^ Insight News, Becoming an Obamacan
- ^ http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=46a816dc-f843-41ec-9fe4-fbeac17bcfca
- ^ Barack + GOP = "Obamacans", Newsweek
- ^ 'Obamacans' and 'McCainacrats' Will Help Decide Presidency, Crosswalk.com
- ^ Former Bush donors now giving to Obama, McClatchy.dc.com
- ^ John B. Anderson endorses Obama Chicago Tribune, January 7, 2008
- ^ Chafee for Obama
- ^ Why I'm Backing Obama
- ^ Lifelong Republican Mayor of Camp Hill, PA Switches Parties to Vote Obama
- ^ Carry" TV Ad, youtube.com
- ^ Former Connecticut governor Weicker endorses Obama
- ^ Nixon's daughter supports Obama
- ^ Former neocon supports Obama
- ^ http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2008/06/obamacons-of-world-unite.html
- ^ http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-being-obamacon.html
- ^ http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama
