I have a theory as to why Barack Obama appeals to a significant smattering of Republicans: he provides what we'd call "a dignified climbdown."
I'm a student of nonviolence, and Gandhi and Dr. King always said that in a struggle with an oppressor, the most important thing is to separate the oppressor from their oppression - oppose the behavior, not the person - and try to find a way for the oppressor to "cimb down" from their perch and see the light but with their dignity fully intact.
(more on the flip)
Obama's rhetoric of hope and optimism helps almost any listener "feel good" about being an American again. Even the Republicans who voted for Bush in 2004 know deep in their gut that something is very, very wrong with the U.S. right now. They might even be in favor of policies like "kill all the terrorists," but somehow, somewhere, they know that America's on the wrong track.
Obama's doing a great job of telling us what's wrong about Bush's presidency - which appeals to the left. He's also offering an emotionally powerful idea of hope and cooperation - which appeals to everyone, including Republicans.
That's why some folks who might not agree with all of Obama's fairly standard middle to middle left Democratic policies like him. Because they hear rhetoric about being a "good American" and they're like "yeah, that's me, I want to get on board the hope train too! Don't let it leave without me!"
Hillary Clinton is not only incapable of inspiring such optimism, her baggage from the past (unfair or not as it may be) stops her from being such an inspiring figure.
Obama is the Democratic Reagan. The Dems for Reagan voted not for his right-wing policies, but for his message of optimism.
That's why Republicans will vote for Obama in the fall, and he might even win a landslide.
update 1:: I banged out this missive last night and then went to bed, and woke up to find it on the recommended list - my first time. thanks! By the way, I co-edit a magazine called PeacePower, please check it out. My personal writings are here.
update 2:: I'm going to "promote" a few comments...
Phaktor writes:
Failure to provide the dignified climbdown is one thing that has cost us so far. It is amazing the number of rank and file red staters who still cite liberal snootiness as their number one motivation to keep the embers burning. They are tired of us calling them stupid, making fun of their language and their gender roles and their habits, and acting superior to them. I think they may be open to a lot if we would just hold out a hand.
bogbud writes:
As a gay man, it is precisely this quality in Obama that led me to throw myself 150% into his corner. If you look at both word and deed, this is how he addresses homophobia among the evangelical black community, and it is what has been needed!
In response to misinterpretations about the Reagan analogy, geodemographics writes:
The diarist was not saying that Obama's policies would be similar to Reagan's at all. He was saying that Obama speaks a language that everyday people can understand, regardless of their political persuasions.
Well, I'm getting back to work on an article for PeacePower. Thanks for discussing!