What’s With the RINOs? October 22 2008
On the subject of prominent Republicans who have endorsed, or at least been sympathetic to Obama, Dan Drezner has an interesting observation. First he cites an article by Ilan Goldenberg that points out a common feature in the thought of many Republicans who have criticized McCain. They are “foreign policy realists”
In the International Relations community the major debate right now is between the “realists” (who argue that international relations are essentially amoral and should be guided almost exclusively by a hard-nosed assessment of the nation’s vital interests) and “neocons”, who argue for a large moral component to American foreign policy.
Realists are not isolationists [who deplore all attempts to project American power abroad] or transnationalists [who would put American power at the service of international agencies]. They want America to take a leadership role in the world, but only to serve and protect our national interests [narrowly defined]. They include people such as Brent Scowcroft, Bob Gates, Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Chuck Hagel, and the like, all of whom have endorsed Obama or taken positions similar to his on foreign policy.
Neocons, on the other hand, argue that there has to be a moral dimension to American policy. That overthrowing tyrants, promoting democracy and free trade, saving people from genocide, spreading freedom, and such actions are in the national interest and make the world safer and therefore should be pursued. People who fall into this camp tend to overwhelmingly support McCain.
Drezner adds another neat observation. All of the anti-McCain Republicans are really, really old. There seems to be a generational, as well as an ideological, component to this.
Possibly Related...
Comments, compliments or complaints?