Realist Republicans, R.I.P.?
In the spring I wrote in The National Interest online about the GOP split between realists and neocons. Now, Ilan Goldenberg argues that the split is complete — because the realists have endorsed Barack Obama or endorsed his policies: Consider this list: Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama. Richard Lugar, Ranking Member of the Senate ...
In the spring I wrote in The National Interest online about the GOP split between realists and neocons. Now, Ilan Goldenberg argues that the split is complete -- because the realists have endorsed Barack Obama or endorsed his policies: Consider this list: Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama. Richard Lugar, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has endorsed Obama's approach to diplomacy over that of McCain. Brent Scowcroft refuses to endorse either way. Pretty telling for a former Republican national security advisor, especially since he was opposed to the war in Iraq. James Baker continues to support direct talks with Iran and has for the past two years. (Actually just read the entire five secretaries of state even transcript from CNN. It's one big endorsement of Obama's foreign policy) Kissinger and Schultz are op-eds in the Washington Post and Financial Times calling for a more moderate approach towards Russia. Kissinger has also called for direct talks with Iran (At the Secretary of State level). Chuck Hagel has traveled to Iraq with Obama and while not publicly endorsing looks to be pretty clearly in favor of Obama. Secretary of Defense Bob Gates is giving speeches that sound a lot more like an Obama foreign policy than a McCain foreign policy. The dirty little secret is that all of these pragmatic conservatives have more in common with Obama's world view and that of the progressive community as a whole than they do with McCain and Neoconservatism. Right now most of them are sticking with McCain because of old friendships and loyalties, a desire to stay out of politics, or because they are social and economic conservatives. But don't be surprised if Powell's endorsement will encourage more of these pragmatic foreign policy conservatives to come over to the Democrats over the next few years. But don't be surprised if Powell's endorsement will encourage more of these pragmatic foreign policy conservatives to come over to the Democrats over the next few years. Well.... the thing about that list is that everyone on it is pretty old. And I'm not sure how many yonger realists there are on the GOP side. Hence the title to this post.
In the spring I wrote in The National Interest online about the GOP split between realists and neocons. Now, Ilan Goldenberg argues that the split is complete — because the realists have endorsed Barack Obama or endorsed his policies:
Consider this list:
- Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama.
- Richard Lugar, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has endorsed Obama’s approach to diplomacy over that of McCain.
- Brent Scowcroft refuses to endorse either way. Pretty telling for a former Republican national security advisor, especially since he was opposed to the war in Iraq.
- James Baker continues to support direct talks with Iran and has for the past two years. (Actually just read the entire five secretaries of state even transcript from CNN. It’s one big endorsement of Obama’s foreign policy)
- Kissinger and Schultz are op-eds in the Washington Post and Financial Times calling for a more moderate approach towards Russia.
- Kissinger has also called for direct talks with Iran (At the Secretary of State level).
- Chuck Hagel has traveled to Iraq with Obama and while not publicly endorsing looks to be pretty clearly in favor of Obama.
- Secretary of Defense Bob Gates is giving speeches that sound a lot more like an Obama foreign policy than a McCain foreign policy.
The dirty little secret is that all of these pragmatic conservatives have more in common with Obama’s world view and that of the progressive community as a whole than they do with McCain and Neoconservatism. Right now most of them are sticking with McCain because of old friendships and loyalties, a desire to stay out of politics, or because they are social and economic conservatives. But don’t be surprised if Powell’s endorsement will encourage more of these pragmatic foreign policy conservatives to come over to the Democrats over the next few years. But don’t be surprised if Powell’s endorsement will encourage more of these pragmatic foreign policy conservatives to come over to the Democrats over the next few years.
Well…. the thing about that list is that everyone on it is pretty old. And I’m not sure how many yonger realists there are on the GOP side. Hence the title to this post.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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