In recent weeks, several prominent Republicans have jumped ship to endorse Barack Obama for president. I would imagine that these endorsements were partially inspired by frustration after 8 years of an inept Bush presidency that has tarnished the reputation of the United States all over the world.
For others, such as Colin Powell, John McCain's choice of the unqualifed, inexperienced, and erratic Sarah Palin as the VP running mate, which was characteristic of a McCain campaign that has been highly erratic all around. It was the last straw for traditional conservatives and moderate Republicans sick of neocons and the Religious Right controlling their beloved Republican Party.
Younger adults probably do not realize that the Republican Party was not always so far to the right. Until 1980, when Ronald Reagan welcomed the support of the newly-influential Religious Right, traditional conservatives and moderates controlled the direction of the Republican party. Unfortunately, the Religious Right would only gain more influence with each successive election until it had nearly gutted the Republican Party into what we see today, The rise of neoconservatism followed a similar timeline to that of the Religious Right.
Before 1980, the Republican Party was moderate on many issues, being both pro-choice and for the Equal Rights Amendment. We also have to remember that it was Richard Nixon who established the Environmental Protection Agency. Even in the 1980 primary season, many traditional Republicans, such as George Bush, Sr, continued to hold the moderate positions that the Republican party had supported. I remember that once Bush, Sr was chosen as Reagan's VP pick, he quickly flip-flopped on his pro-choice position in order to get in line with the new order.
But, thankfully, it seems as if many Republicans have said enough is enough and want their old party back. I can only wish them luck and I look forward to the return of a sane, moderate Republican Party.
Below is a partial list of Republicans who have endorsed Barack Obama for president
Jim Leach, Former Congressman from Iowa
Lincoln Chafee, Former United States Senator from Rhode Island
William Weld, Former Governor of Massachusetts
Arne Carlson, Former Governor of Minnesota
Wayne Gilchrest, Congressman from Maryland
Charles Mathias, Former United States Senator and Congressman from Maryland
Larry Pressler, Former Senator from South Dakota
Richard Riordan, Former Mayor of Los Angeles
Lowell Weicker, Former Governor and Senator from Connecticut
Claudine Schneider, Former Congressman from Rhode Island
Harris Fawell, Former Congressman from Illinois
Jim Whitaker, Fairbanks, Alaska Mayor
William Milliken, Former Governor of Michigan
Phil Arthurhultz, Former Michigan State Senate Majority Leader
Linwood Holton, Former Governor of Virginia
Jeffrey Hart, National Review Senior Editor
Andrew Bacevich, Professor of International Relations at Boston University
David Friedman, Economist and son of Milton and Rose Friedman
Christopher Buckley, Son of National Review founder William F. Buckley & former NR columnist
Andrew Sullivan, Columnist for the Atlantic Monthly
Wick Alison, Former publisher of the National Review
Michael Smerconish, Columnist for the Philadelphia Enquirer
CC Goldwater, Granddaughter of Barry Goldwater
Colin Powell, Secretary of State under Bush 43
Ken Duberstein, White House Chief of Staff under Reagan
Douglas Kmiec, Head of the Office of Legal Counsel under Reagan & Bush 41
Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under Reagan
Jackson M. Andrews, Former Counsel to the U.S. Senate, & 1986 Republican Senatorial Nominee for Kentucky
Susan Eisenhower, Granddaughter of President Eisenhower & President of the Eisenhower Group
Francis Fukuyama, Advisor to President Reagan
Rita Hauser, Former White House intelligence advisor under George W. Bush
Larry Hunter, Former President Reagan Policy Advisor
Scott McClellan, Former Press Secretary to President George W. Bush
Bill Ruckelshaus, Served in the Nixon and Reagan administrations
Ken Adelman, Served in the Ford administration
Lilibet Hagel, Wife of Republican Senator Chuck Hagel
Bruce Rabb, Served in the Nixon administration
George C. Lodge, Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Eisenhower
William B. Ewald, Jr., Special Assistant under President Eisenhower
Robert R. Bowie, Assistant Secretary for Policy Planning, Department of state 1953-1957
Jarold Kieffer, Assistant Secretary, Health, Education & Welfare, 1959-61
Roswell B. Perkins, Assistant Secretary, Health, Education & Welfare, 1954-56
Timothy Ashby, Served in the Reagan and Bush 41 administrations
Richard S. Seline, Finance Director, Republican Party of Texas
David Caprara, Faith-Based Initiatives Director, Federal Volunteer Service Agency under Bush 43
John Perry Barlow, Former Dick Cheney Campaign Manager
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