Hands Across The Aisle (Sen. Tom Coburn R-Okla)

Forbes ^ | 11-6-08 | Tom Coburn

[Mr. Blonde]

Barack Obama's election was a historic victory for America's aspiration to be a country where anything is possible, and where all men are created equal. His election also was a victory for democracy. Even if many Americans don't like the electoral results, his campaign proved that when the American people are inspired and mobilize, they can seize the reins of government and demand change.

[Mr. Blonde]

As far as I can tell Coburn is his own man and will do and say what he thinks is right no matter who it offends. Which is why I am glad he is my Senator.

He is actually one of the few who stuck to his self imposed term limits in the House. I don’t think he is worried about his image nearly as much as he is about the future of the country.

[frankiep]

Do you have anything to add, or just sophomoric comments?

[NTHockey]

The next one who offers an olive branch does not deserve Conservative support. Hasn’t anybody got the message yet? You MUST treat them as the enemy - that’s the way they view us. It’s hand grenade time. Call them liars. Bipartisanship is Surrender.

[pissant]

He., like Peggy Noonan, seems to be excited about the country’s first marxist president.

[alarm rider]

Just changed my tag line

[americanophile]

What issue do we all agree on? What Olive branch has been extended?

[mkjessup]

Yeah, it was an ‘historic’ election alright, historic because for the first time in history, America chose an abortion-supporting friend of domestic terrorists, with less than 2 years of experience as a United States Senator, even LESS experience than the buffoon Jimmy Carter, and the media was nothing more than an extension of the 0bama press room.

Senator Coburn? Don’t be reaching across the aisle, you have no business reaching across the aisle to a subversive organization intent on undermining what is left of our Republic and establishing a socialist state.

You want to help Senator? Think about a government-in-exile, because that’s where we’re headed before it’s all over. Inside of 4 years, the Congress will be either a total rubberstamp for ‘The One’, or it will be shut down. Mark my words. ‘The One’ and his Cabinet will rule by decree.

You heard it here first.

[goldstategop]

I agree with what he says. The Republican Party talks a good game about conservatism but doesn't really mean it. No wonder voters are repelled by the party. Tom Coburn is right that Obama is not a leftist... at least if you mean by leftist someone who says things that turn off the American people. He sounded like John McCain at his presser. This election was not about a particular ideology. If that's what the Left thinks, they are in for a huge world of disappointment.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Mr. Blonde]

Hard to claim since he is one of the most fiscally conservative people in Washington.

That he isn’t claiming the end of the world doesn’t make him excited about an Obama presidency. That he sees a way forward is a good thing. That it doesn’t involve being a petulant children is also a good thing. At least to me.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Good article, thanks for the post.

I will let Senator Coburn know I appreciate his thoughts...and on the whole, I think his approach is correct.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

“...where all men are created equal.” Does Coburn have problems with women? Just kidding, but you know that most leftists will see the mention of just men to be offensive, especially coming from a conservative Republican Senator.

[EyeGuy]

“In the end, this looks more like someone trying to craft his own image in the new world of November 2008 than someone who is trying to say something useful for the future of conservatism”

#####

Yes. I feel you’ve naile it.

Too much CYA for me.

Victor Davis Hanson had similar, wholly unnecessary congratulations for the Marxist Zero.

I guess I’m more on the fringe than I thought. So be it. I’m not budging an inch.

[volslover]

Let me guess, the Kool Aide is being pumped into the air and this guy inhaled some. Where is the RNC chair enforcer to go and give these people a slap across the face when need be? I hope the RNC chair will have had his or her ootie shots so they are immune from the effects of His Royal Highness Barry the Benign. What’s with that sign at the press conference? I guess this guy needs seals for everything. Yep whoever said, it Ballet Boy the Chicago Bear enforcer is a really short guy was right and needs lifts for his shoes. Send in the yellow tabby cat to keep Ballet Boy in line, he has experience with bears.

[TheBigIf]

Exactly.

In the world according to democrats:

2000 election = stolen election

2004 election = stolen election

2008 election = historic and a victory for democracy

Reading this kind of dribble coming from a Republican makes me want to puke.

[EternalVigilance]

November 5, 2008

The Catholic Channel on Sirius Radio
Channel 159

“Fully Alive”
Hosts: Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak
Guest: Alan Keyes

*snip*

Host: Ambassador Keyes, I did want to ask you for a moment, with regard to the outcome of the election – there are many people on both sides saying that whether you were for Barack Obama or a’gin him … that this is an historic election in the terms of being the first African-American president.

As an African-American citizen yourself, how do you feel about that?

Alan Keyes: Well, I have gotten this question periodically during the course of the last little while as if people think that Barack Obama and Alan Keyes are part of the same group.

Host: (Laughter.)

Alan Keyes: And I ask them, “Why?”

On what basis do you put Alan Keyes and Barack Obama in the same ethnic group?

On the basis of our skin color, right?

But that’s racist, isn’t it? Isn’t it racist to classify people according to physical characteristics? That’s not human community.

Human communities can be based upon heritage, and shared experience, and mostly it is based upon common understanding of good and evil and principles that actually have to do with these kinds of decisions that are taken by human conscience and the character that’s built on them.

… I am a black American who looks back on the heritage of people who were enslaved in this country and … have spent much of my life thinking through the issues of liberty and justice that were involved in that struggle and trying to find my way to a good, clear understanding – not just on behalf of one group or another, but on behalf of all humanity, in the name of God and for the sake of those principles articulated when the country was founded that respected His views.

Barack Obama doesn’t believe in any of that. He uses empty words. And abandons the real substance that forms, in fact, the unity and heart of the American identity and that was, in fact, the heart of the struggle for justice against slavery, against Jim Crow and for civil rights.

I wrote a piece in Ebony magazine that was published there – counterpoint with Jesse Jackson, where in 800 words I made this case and pointed out that it’s TRAGIC to regard somebody who has abandoned the moral heritage of black America, to regard that person as representing some historic breakthrough when, in point of fact, the advocates for getting people who don’t share his views, don’t share his conscience, don’t share his rejection of innocent life, his support for the destruction of marriage and family, his socialist outlook, and say, “You’ve got to vote for this man, because it’s going to be historic for black Americans.”

That was a racist appeal. And so you achieve historic results by destroying the very gain that was made for human understanding and conscience in the history of black America? That doesn’t make any sense.

Host: It’s interesting ‘cause my sixteen-year-old son made exactly the same point when I was discussing it with him today. But he was saying that he would never be heard because he’s a white young man and anybody who, as a white person, who made the same comments you just made would just be thought of as racist. Do you think that …

Alan Keyes: I don’t see how that’s possible. I just made the statement that you cannot support someone on account of the color of their skin. To support someone on account of physical color is racist. And that means the people who went out and pulled the lever for Barack Obama because of the color of his skin – they did a racist act and claim that this is a great breakthrough for the people whose whole heritage must be an outcry against that racism.

Host: Yes. I hear what you’re saying. Do you think that the possibility of seeing Barack Obama simply for his skin color and all that is going with it in this election will actually make racism even worse during the next four years?

Alan Keyes: I wouldn’t be surprised, sadly. But I think something worse is going on. You see because to me, racism was always a superficial issue. When you look at slavery, when you look at other things – at the heart of it all was an abusive understanding of the human person that said if I want to make money, if I want to make profit, if I want to gather … gain in political power, then I can treat this or that group, this or that person as if they have no God-given personality, as if they do not have an inward reality that I must respect. That’s the …

Host: … which is exactly what Barack Obama is doing on the issue of life – not having respect for life from conception to natural death.

Alan Keyes: … exactly.

Host: Ambassador Alan Keyes, thank you so much for joining us this evening on Fully Alive. It was a pleasure to have you on as a guest. God bless you, Sir.

http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=869&posts=13

[goldstategop]

Basically, if Obama is open to accepting conservative advice and cutting taxes and shrinking government and making it work better, we'll work with him. Where he intends to pursue a radical leftist agenda we will fight him. Ultimately, its his decision as to what kind of President he would like to be.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[RasterMaster]

Coburn made a 2-term pledge for the Senate as well. After he supported the pork-laiden BAILOUT, I don’t know what to think about him, but wasn’t pleased at his reasons for supporting it.

[Camel Joe]

Which is why we should bolt for the door and join the Conservative Party. Screw the Progressive Lite Party!

[ichabod1]

conservatism = racism

[Mr. Blonde]

For instance, as Dr. Coburn mentions, looking through the budget and eliminating wasteful programs and redundancies. That is at least if we take Obama at his word that he plans to do that. I realize most here don’t, and I don’t either for the most part, but I do hope he comes through on that.