The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

A white NBA star campaigning for a black president--who'da thunk it?

drama_king: thank you for such a well-thought and persuasive responsive to my question.

rdklingus - regarding Obama and his appeal to the 'classic' Republican, the quickest example I can provide is Obama's plan for providing health care. Assuming that everyone likes the CONCEPT of universal access to health care, the question ultimately comes down to how you IMPLEMENT that access.

Setting the philosophical context, what I have observed is that your classic Republican (not neo-con like GWBush) and probably most of your Independents don't like big government and don't like the idea of a 'welfare' state. So such a Republican/Independent would strongly resist a health care plan that was administered by the government, and that provided "free" health care. Republicans and Independents (and probably lots of Democrats too) also don't want to be told what to do by their government - don't want individual behaviors and choices to be mandated by their government.

It seems to me that Democrats just want everyone to have health care, and are not so concerned about whether or not the government has to get a little bigger to administer such a program, since health care coverage is something that should be a right for all citizens, rather than something that is obtainable only through negotiation with the free market.

Obama's plan to get universal access to health care coverage will ostensibly ensure that every American has AFFORDABLE ACCESS to health care. Obama's plan appeals to the Republican/Independent gut for the following reasons:

1. His plan is not administered by the gov't but is executed with cooperation from health insurance companies/health care providers. Generally speaking, Republicans/Independents strongly prefer small government; this approach keeps government out of health care thus keeping government smaller.

2. His plan focuses on bringing prices down, so that people can AFFORD TO BUY health coverage - he is not proffering any handouts to the American people. Generally speaking, Republicans/Independents strongly prefer the no hand-outs approach.

3. Obama's plan, unlike Clinton's or Edwards', has no mandate for coverage for adults - if someone doesn't want the coverage, they are not penalized for not getting coverage under Obama's plan (they are somehow penalized under Clinton and Edwards plans - I'm not sure how). Obama only mandates health care coverage for children under 12, because such children are not able to make these kinds of choices for themselves. Generally speaking, Republicans/Independents strongly prefer that the government not tell them what to do. And I think that even those who don't want to be told what to do by the government can understand Obama's mandate for children's coverage.

Basically, Obama takes something that the Democrats have really been pushing for (everyone should have health care) and plans to implement it in such a way that Republicans can support it too.

It seems to me that this is Obama's approach on a lot of issues: take a "progressive" idea and implement it in such a way that everyone can support. I think this is the revolutionary, though simple, key to his vision and his approach to making good things happen.

Running a government is not like Santa delivering great gifts for children through the chimney, though we like our children to believe that because we like our children enjoy the fantasies. But we are adults and this is the future of our country, talk this big and will turn out to be a lie. We have to get pass "Santa is coming to town" mentality when it comes to running a country!!!

Please forget the pundits, turn the TV and radio off so you could read the Saturday debate transcript quietly. Hillary commends the issue, brings breadth of knowledge to address this country's dire need to change the directions.

I understand the appeal Obama would have for NH independents, but why would Republicans support him?He seems too liberal, pro-choice, anti-gun and down the rest of the Democratic platform line. Is it personal charisma, inspirational motivation, or something else? Any thoughts?