Peggy Noonan Makes A Case For Barack Obama

Peggy Noonan, yes Ronald Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan, makes a case for Barack Obama:

He has within him the possibility to change the direction and tone of American foreign policy, which need changing; his rise will serve as a practical rebuke to the past five years, which need rebuking; his victory would provide a fresh start in a nation in which a fresh start would come as a national relief. He climbed steep stairs, born off the continent with no father to guide, a dreamy, abandoning mother, mixed race, no connections. He rose with guts and gifts. He is steady, calm, and, in terms of the execution of his political ascent, still the primary and almost only area in which his executive abilities can be discerned, he shows good judgment in terms of whom to hire and consult, what steps to take and moves to make. We witnessed from him this year something unique in American politics: He took down a political machine without raising his voice.

A great moment: When the press was hitting hard on the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter, he did not respond with a politically shrewd “I have no comment,” or “We shouldn’t judge.” Instead he said, “My mother had me when she was 18,” which shamed the press and others into silence. He showed grace when he didn’t have to.

There is something else. On Feb. 5, Super Tuesday, Mr. Obama won the Alabama primary with 56% to Hillary Clinton’s 42%. That evening, a friend watched the victory speech on TV in his suburban den. His 10-year-old daughter walked in, saw on the screen “Obama Wins” and “Alabama.” She said, “Daddy, we saw a documentary on Martin Luther King Day in school.” She said, “That’s where they used the hoses.” Suddenly my friend saw it new. Birmingham, 1963, and the water hoses used against the civil rights demonstrators. And now look, the black man thanking Alabama for his victory.

This means nothing? This means a great deal.

Noonan also wrote favorably of divided government and does present some scary scenarios from a conservative perspective which exaggerate how far left both Obama and the Democratic Congress are likely to be. For example she claims there is a danger of a return of the “fairness doctrine” even though Obama opposes it and there is little enthusiasm for it among most Democrats. Regardless of her qualms, Noonan appears to be reconciled to the outcome of the election:

But let’s be frank. Something new is happening in America. It is the imminent arrival of a new liberal moment. History happens, it makes its turns, you hold on for dear life. Life moves.

A fitting end for a harem-scarem, rock-’em-sock-’em shakeup of a year—one of tumbling inevitabilities, torn coalitions, striking new personalities.

6 Comments

  1. 1
    Diane says:

    Never thought in my lifetime I’d be voting for a black president.

    Never in my lifetime thought I’d read that Peggy Noonan endorsed a Democrat.

    Never believed in the Revelation portion of the bible, but may have  to give it another read………

  2. 2
    Ron Chusid says:

    It’s not really an endorsement from Noonan, but I still thought it notable that she does include a case for Obama in a column.

  3. 3
    Kathy says:

    Diane,

    If I am interpretating your comment correctly, I am frightend.  Tell me you are not saying that the end of time is near because an intelligent, thoughtful african american male is going to be the next president of The United States of America.    Say it isn’t so, please!

  4. 4
    Ron Chusid says:

    In case Diane is not reading the comment, I really don’t think she is saying that. She’s just using a little snark regarding Peggy Noonan’s comments on Obama.

  5. 5
    STFU and Pay says:

    SRSLY Peg? We r supposed 2 respect ur critique after this http://t.co/SmmHmWi MT @commonpatriot Noonan: Obama Is a Loser http://t.co/abBvuQz

  6. 6
    Anita Miller says:

    Peggy Noonan today: Obama increasingly comes across as devious and dishonest: http://t.co/D7waDkyQ /The genius in '08: http://t.co/tPxnyNka

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