Todays Defections

By Ron Beasley

There were a number of new Republicans who endoresed Barack Obama today.  The first doesn't mean that much - that slimy weasel Scott McClellan who can simply see which way the wind is blowing.  The next is former Republican Governor of Minnesota Arne Carlson:

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Arne Carlson, a former Republican governor in Minnesota, has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Carlson said Thursday that the Illinois senator's stances on the Iraq war, the economy and green energy goals won him over. Carlson, who served from 1991 to 1998, also cited recent comments by GOP Congresswoman Michele Bachmann questioning whether politicians have "pro-America or anti-America views."

"Regardless of our party, regardless of our partisan inclinations, there is no interest more compelling than the interest in the well-being of the United States," Carlson said at a gathering of Obama supporters at the state Capitol.

The big one today though was the defection of much of the family of conservative icon Barry Goldwater represented by Goldwater's granddaughter and biographer CC Goldwater.  Perhaps it's not really a surprise, CC and the rest of the Goldwater family have been very critical of George W. Bush but it could have an impact in Arizona and other western states.

Being Barry Goldwater's granddaughter and living in Arizona, one would assume that I would be voting for our state's senator, John McCain. I am still struck by certain 'dyed in the wool' Republicans who are on the fence this election, as it seems like a no-brainer to me.

Myself, along with my siblings and a few cousins, will not be supporting the Republican presidential candidates this year. We believe strongly in what our grandfather stood for: honesty, integrity, and personal freedom, free from political maneuvering and fear tactics. I learned a lot about my grandfather while producing the documentary, Mr. Conservative Goldwater on Goldwater. Our generation of Goldwaters expects government to provide for constitutional protections. We reject the constant intrusion into our personal lives, along with other crucial policy issues of the McCain/Palin ticket.

Comments

[Earl]

I have to admit that I didn't like Arne when he was in office and didn't care about him until today, when he finally got something right...

[Mark]

The Goldwaters have, for the last several years, been thorns in the side of the modern Republican Party, remaining consistent and true to the vision of conservatism that Barry Sr. stood for. The documentary his daughter (or was it his granddaughter) made about him was the epitome of this, and should be required viewing material for liberals, libertarians, and - especially - conservatives.
Anyways, their endorsement of Obama is not surprising to me. Barry Jr. endorsed Ron Paul in the primaries; the big question for the general election was probably more whether they would endorse Obama or Bob Barr, but on some issues from the Goldwater point of view, Obama was probably better than Barr, plus Barr is obviously an also-ran and has a past that is completely inconsistent with Goldwater-ism.