Posted on 02/10/2007 4:27:18 PM PST by SJackson
She not only is a lifelong Republican, but an anti-big government conservative Republican who campaigned for Robert Dole in 1996. Oh, and one other thing. The mere thought of Hillary Clinton becoming president makes her stomach churn.
As her husband, Robert Stross - also a conservative Republican - puts it, "We don't believe anything Hillary says, and we think she'll do whatever it takes to get elected."
All of which makes the Madison couple's recent decision all the more intriguing: They've joined the Wisconsin chapter of DraftObama.org, a grassroots movement to help the progressive Democratic senator from Illinois win the presidency in 2008. Wann says she even hopes to campaign for Obama after he officially becomes a candidate today.
Why Obama?
All sorts of reasons, said Wann, 40, and Stross, 38, in a recent interview at a Monroe Street coffee shop, just a few blocks from their home.
Foremost, they've heard him speak a number of times and think he's "an incredible orator," Stross says. "And if he does half the things he talks about doing, it will be a wonderful thing."
Adds Wann, "We feel Obama's more in touch with what the true American is really about. As opposed to a president who came from a very rich family and went to Yale and was always kind of sheltered and given everything he wanted.
"I also feel Obama is more patient, and that he really listens to what people say. And I think he'd inspire people, much like (John) Kennedy did."
Most important of all, Wann says, Obama seems sincere about wanting to unite the country. As opposed to Hillary, "who would polarize us even more."
Stross and Wann, who met in Chicago in 1999 and have lived in Madison since their marriage in August 2001, emphasize that they don't agree with all of Obama's positions. For instance, they still have misgivings about his universal health care proposal.
"Having grown up in England, I think universal health care gets a little George Orwellian," Stross says. "It's like, 'Oh, I'm sorry Robert. You're a little too old for a kidney, so we're going to put you on the never-get-one waiting list.' In other words, there are pros and cons to it."
That said, Stross and Wann agree that something must be done to fix the U.S. health care system. They find it disgraceful that there are 46 million Americans without insurance and outlandish that many small businesses can no longer afford to provide health care coverage for their employees.
Stross, who until recently was an independent businessman (he's about to start a management job with a company in the energy field), notes that he and Wann currently have just catastrophic coverage, which costs $400 a month. That means that none of the maternity costs from the recent birth of their son, James, was covered.
"So we're looking at a bill of $12,000," he says.
To be sure, those aren't the only reasons the couple's decided to switch their support to a Democrat.
They believe the Republican Party's been hijacked by the Religious Right and say it's become obsessed with hot button issues like abortion and gay marriage. (The couple are pro-choice and support gay marriage.)
"A true Christian doesn't wear their religion on their sleeve or try to force their views on somebody else. They go about their business quietly," Stross says.
They're outraged by all the lies and distortions the Bush administration used to manipulate public opinion and justify its invasion of Iraq.
And even though there are more women in Congress than ever before, the couple believe the country is still run by an "old boys club" that's been around forever and gets its marching orders from big-money corporate interests.
"It kind of scares me when I look at old pictures of Nixon and there's Cheney sitting right next to him," Wann says. "It's like, whoa! Seems almost incestuous."
Her husband nods.
"I don't know who this Karl Rove guy is - he's not elected to anything, is he?" Stross says with a wry smile. "But apparently he's got his fingers in everything. And, frankly, it's very annoying because this is what all our liberal friends have been saying."
It's true, Stross and Wann acknowledge, that the 45-year-old Obama lacks experience, having served just seven years in the Illinois Senate and two years in Congress. But, they point out, Kennedy lacked experience when he ran for president in 1960 and was even younger (43) than Obama.
Besides, lacking experience today is almost a plus, Wann says. "It means he hasn't been in Congress long enough to be corrupted."
But, realistically, can Obama actually win in 2008?
Yes, Stross and Wann say - especially if blacks embrace his candidacy and vote in large numbers.
The bigger question, they suggest, is whether the Democratic power brokers will allow a free thinker like Obama to get the party's endorsement.
"I really feel like Hillary will get the nomination," Wann says. "And if that happens, it will be truly frightening."
And Stross?
"If Obama wins the nomination, I predict he'll become president."
Pause.
"But it's an awfully big if."
Well, he's clearly not Christian.
susie
LOL
Won the hearts and minds...
What minds?
I think they're bogus.
And if they truly do exist, I sure feel sorry for little James. He has two idiots for parents.
There is no more sure fire way to get media attention in this country than to claim to be a Republican who has become disillusioned with his party now that it has been "hijacked' be religious extremists.
Politicians such as Obama, with the help of liberal media and slick campaign consultants, appeal to people's base emotions in exchange for a socialist agenda.
They don't sound like conservative to me. I think anyone rational and truely conservative wouldn't even CONSIDER obama/Hillary/Edwards or ANY combination thereof..these two may be repubicans in some for or have voted for a 'republian once' or something along those lines..but that hardly shows conservative beliefs...
as though campaigning for Dole is supposed to mean they are "Conservative Republicans." oh, please...
Dude, I'm from Wisconsin. So we have a Rat Governor. But most of the state is conservative. It's the folks in Milwaukee and Madison that's running the show.
What IF Obama and Hillary become one ticket? It won't happen, but what IF? Do you think they would be unbeatable? No one could say anything against them without being labelled as being unPC...it would be awful.
Exactly, and I guess Martin Luthor King Jr wasn't a true Christian either, and neither was RR or President Bush, and I guess the abolishionists weren't true Christians, neither were our founding fathers, or a few "civil war generals", names Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson... Oh and while we are at it I guess the pope isn't a true Christian by their definition either...
Remember in the run-up to 04 how the media acted like Kerry had 3 billion former "Republicans" in his corner?
Feelings...nothing more than feelings...
"They believe the Republican Party's been hijacked by the Religious Right and say it's become obsessed with hot button issues like abortion and gay marriage. (The couple are pro-choice and support gay marriage.)" IOW, if the pubbies will just trun into good liberals, then these 'republicans in name only' will be so happy with either party, but until then, a confirmed liberal is what they want but not a commie like h. rodhamster clintoon. Yeah, this is really a truthful article ... sheesh. With friends like these, Barack has quite a hill to climb (pun intended).
But he doesn't say anything!
I'm believing Richardson is the certain VP nominee. I think the #1 dem will be either Edwards or Gore, likely Gore. Hillary is out because she voted for the war. Obama is out because dems don't vote for blacks for important offices, they just want the black vote.
This is a picture of the guy, on the right I guess. Looks like a p#ssy-whipped liberal to me. It would be more intersting if the article mentioned just a SINGLE thing they believe in that is "conservative".
Vote against Hillary in the primary and for the Republican in the general election. It only means you will get a bunch of Democrat junk mail for the next 4 years.
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