What Kind of Uniter?

Usually when politicians say they're "uniters," it's because they are relatively moderate and can appeal to widespread feelings on both sides of the aisle, like George W. Bush and his "compassionate conservatism." Uniters don't come from the fringe, traditionally. So what kind of uniter is Barack Obama? John Hinderaker at PowerLine has the answer: He's just received the MoveOn.org endorsement.

MoveOn's main goal is defeat abroad, but it isn't only on foreign policy that Obama is a down-the-line, cookie-cutter liberal. He almost never deviates from left-wing orthodoxy, as demonstrated by his Americans for Democratic Action ratings: 95% in 2006, and a "perfect" 100% in 2005. Obama toed the liberal line even more consistently than, to take just one example, Minnesota's former Senator Mark Dayton.

To my knowledge, Obama has never had a creative or innovative idea on any public policy issue.

This man's appeal comes from the fact that, unlike almost any other liberal leader for thirty years, he doesn't shout angry slogans, doesn't engage in conspiracy theories, doesn't try to moralize against people who smear him, and--most importantly--doesn't really talk about his policy plans much.

Certain conservative leaders assume people know that Obama is a liberal of the line, a much scarier prospect for the presidency than Hillary Clinton. But I've met my share of staunch conservative Republicans who are seriously considering voting for the man who shares their views the least. He's from America's heartland--the Chicago political machine?--attends church regularly, and talks about political reconciliation. He's a nice guy. And I think that's true, he certainly seems to be someone I could get along well with. He doesn't respond to smears with hate-filled rants or personal destruction like the Clintons have for almost two decades.

So far, generally avoiding discussion of his political stances has been quite successful for him.

There are those who have long warned that Hillary really could win the presidency, and that conservatives who didn't take her seriously would be blindsided. Well, Hillary could lead us to a different sort of unexpected surprise: the Clinton machine might finally be defeated, only for America to elect someone who is more collectivistic than any presidential candidate since Johnson. The warning needs to go out.