by Mike Dorning
Robert Novak, a conservative columnist well-wired in the Republican establishment, reports concern in GOP circles about "Obamacans" defecting from the party to support Barack Obama.
Novak does not attribute the stirrings in favor of Obama to affection for the candidate, whom he describes as "rigidly liberal" nor animosity toward McCain. Instead, Novak lays the blame with the Bush White House, arguing "the Obamacan syndrome is based on hostility to Bush and his administration and on revulsion over today's Republican party."
He suggests the likely defection of former Reagan National Security Adviser and Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell from the Republican party to Obama is a blow the McCain camp fears.
"McCain strategists...wince in anticipating headlines generated by Powell's expected endorsement of Obama," Novak writes. "Powell probably will enter Obama's camp at a time of his own choosing."
"Obamacans--little and big--are reason for conern by McCain," Novak concludes. "They also should cause soul-searching at the Bush White House about who made the Republican Party so difficult a place for Republicans to stay."
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Comments
"They also should cause soul-searching at the Bush White House about who made the Republican Party so difficult a place for Republicans to stay."
Um is this a joke? One only needs to look at who's occupying the White House to figure this out!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | June 26, 2008 12:19 PM
After being unceremoniously booted out by Rummy, Shooter and the Neocons, would Powell be interested in another turn as Secretary of State in an Obama administration???
Posted by: ornery | June 26, 2008 12:34 PM
First off, Novak is right that there's a lot of bitterness between Powell and his former employers in the Bush White House. However, he also does support Senator McCain's plan to win the war on terror and not Obama's.
Obama's history-making run as the first black candidate of a major party is certainly something that's very important to Powell, a fellow african-american. But when push comes to shove I believe Powell, the lifelong military man, will endorse the man he feels gives us the best chance to defeat the terrorists and secure our homeland: John McCain.
Posted by: Jeff | June 26, 2008 12:40 PM
Jeff,
Who are the terrorists? How do we know when they are defeated?
Posted by: kahmen centz | June 26, 2008 12:55 PM
Posted by: Jeff | June 26, 2008 12:40 PM
Powell is not the smear and fear type like you are. He left the Bush administration because he was duped into giving a false report in front of the UN regarding WMD's. He came to realize what a tragic mistake the war in Iraq was. Not the "WAR ON TERROR", which was fine while we were focused where it should be. Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The Bush administration dropped the ball on "the war on terror" by invading Iraq which opened up the boarders to AlQaeda, emoldening them and making Iran stronger in the region.
Posted by: David J | June 26, 2008 12:58 PM
Novak should stop complaining, he attended all those cushy Bush-press dinners and enjoyed them
Posted by: Weiss | June 26, 2008 1:57 PM
I wish Novak would retire already. No one cares what he thinks anymore. Why do people keep talking to him?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 26, 2008 4:48 PM
I believe Colin Powell will endorse Obama, not because he is African American but because he is the best man for the job, leaving the Bush campaign was a smart move, he knew where Bush's White house was headed and did not want to be a part if all the lies and deception that has America where we are today! Anyone that thinks McSame is any different than Bush must be crazy!!!! If he actually wins in November God help us all, things are going to get a whole lot worse than they currently are! $5 gas and a 100 year war based on lies!!!!! What are we there for??? First it was weapons of mass destruction, then to protect Iraqi people who do not want our protection now its a war on terror, what's next?
Posted by: shira | June 27, 2008 5:13 AM