A Republican Bass Becomes An Independent To Vote For Obama

** Note: Fernald wrties to say that Bass has registered as an independent, not a Democrat.

A correspondent in New Hampshire writes in:

At today's Obama 2nd CD delegate caucus, former State Sen. Mark Fernald announced that former Republican Perkins Bass has changed his party registration to Democrat to vote for Barack Obama.

He is a member of the Bass political dynasty in New Hampshire.

His father Robert P. Bass was a Republican Governor from 1911 to 1913; Perkins Bass was a Republican Congressman from 1955-1963 and his son Charles F. Bass was a Republican congressman from 1994 to 2006.

That is -- Ex-Rep. Charlie Bass's father supports Obama!

Comments

I am deeply moved.

Posted by CalD | December 15, 2007 5:20 PM

Why does this surprise anybody? The Republicans want to run against Obama. Wake up Democrats, if you really want to take back the White House. If a president Huckabee is what you want, on the other hand, then Obama is just what the doctor ordered.

Posted by Red Bowl | December 15, 2007 5:33 PM

Whoa. And, isn't Rep. Paul Hodes, who defeated pere Bass's son Charlie, also an Obama endorser? Lions laying down with lambs. Next you'll be telling us that John Sununu Sr, on hearing that Billy Shaheen has decided to spend more time with his family, is endorsing Hillary Clinton. Look for a John McCain to announce an endorsement from a descendant of General John Stark next week.

Posted by dry_fish | December 15, 2007 5:33 PM

A lot of the older generation of New England Republicans are pretty upset with the party. Think of former Sen. Linc Chaffee, for example, who basically said after the election that it was for the best that that the Republicans lost Congress. From that perspective, it is not surprising that Mr. Bass supports Obama. Nothing nefarious about it.

Posted by ikl | December 15, 2007 5:56 PM

Another good example of common sense politics that we often see emerge from New Hampshire. It's no coincidence that that state holds the first primary in the nation.
I bet if you asked Mr Bass why he switched parties to vote for Obama, he would say something like, "Yeah, it was just the right thing to do." I encourage everyone reading this to follow this very principled man's insights and actions.

Posted by robby10001 | December 15, 2007 6:07 PM

As an Obama Republican myself, I'm extremely delighted by this move.

For those of you making suspicious claims, here's food for thought for you:

To think that if Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton, she'll somehow use some kind of political machine to get us to vote for her and win the presidency is nothing but pipe dream.

We're voting for Obama because we don't like any of the current Republican candidates either. But if you nominate Hillary, then you'll see the meaning of crazy partisan Republicans.

There are two top Democrats - one that we'll gladly vote for and one that we'll gladly vote against. Take your pick!

Posted by Diamond | December 15, 2007 7:41 PM

OBAMA MAKES NO SENSE ????

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/15/113440/41/612/422462

Posted by Diamond | December 15, 2007 7:42 PM

Red Bowl: I don't understand what you are trying to say. You believe a Republican with a long history is going to switch parties and vote for Obama as a secret trick to get Obama to win the nomination and then lose? Please, please, please think about what you say before you press the 'post' button. At least read it one time and ask yourself if it makes any sense. Thank you.

Posted by Roger | December 15, 2007 8:31 PM

This further confirms that Barack Obama can capture non-Democrat votes. In contrast, I suspect, Ms Clinton will not get a single Republican to vote for her. In fact she may lose many moderate Dems who will become apathetic and won't vote if she is the nominee.

Posted by Bob, DC | December 15, 2007 8:37 PM

I really doubt we'll see too many crossover votes for Obama. Sure there will be exceptions, just like there will be a handful of Democrats who vote for the Republican.

As someone noted above, the New England Republican Party of Prescott Bush's time looks nothing like today's GOP. Defections there really just make sense more than anything else, the same way a couple decades ago a lot of southern Democrats defected to the Republican Party.

As for Obama in the general election, while I don't expect a lot of crossover, I do expect they wouldn't be energized the way they would if Clinton got the nomination. And because Obama would do well among independents, I believe, and given the mood of the country given the last seven years, Obama wins.

Oh, and my crystal ball also says watch out for the Tar Heels during March Madness, lol.

Posted by Paul | December 15, 2007 8:53 PM

Thanks Paul - Exactly what I wanted to say. Outside of nominating Satan, there isn't really anything the democrats could do that would energize the republican party more than nominating Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Reed | December 15, 2007 10:17 PM

Lessee.

Experience.

Electability.

I think Obama's experience in elected office exceeds Hillary's. Check.

And he has the ability to draw in more Independent and Republican votes in the general, which means that he'll have a broad mandate for change. She, on the other hand, will play the game and eake out a narrow plurality. Not enough people like her.

He's more electable. Check.

Posted by O'Bomber | December 15, 2007 10:53 PM

My stepfather surprised me with some news today.

He has been a Republican all of his life. I've spent the last 25 years arguing with him about politics, and never managed to change his mind about anything.

He told me today that he changed his party registration to Democrat, just so he could vote for Obama in the primary.

You'd have to know him to know what a big deal this is... I'm still in shock.

I do think Obama may be able to get a number of Republicans to vote for him. In fact, I've talked to other conservatives who say they feel oddly attracted to Obama, even though they know he has a liberal voting record.

Posted by jcar | December 16, 2007 2:02 AM

Senator Obama's supporters include Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and many people who have never caucused before. His town hall gatherings represent every ethnicity, young and old. Senator Obama's vision for America speaks to possibility, and principle rather than fear. We have seen Americans across the country begin to stand up for our country with courage and integrity. Vote Obama 08!

Posted by PatriotforObama | December 16, 2007 2:14 AM

There's a lot of speculation about who the Republicans WANT the democrats to nominate. First people were saying they wanted Clinton to be the nominee, now I guess they're saying they want Obama to be the nominee. The whole thing seems kind of paranoid. Thinking that a former representative's FATHER is really part of a Republican plot to get Obama nominated because they think he'd be easier to beat than Hillary Clinton is ridiculous.

Posted by Pico | December 16, 2007 3:06 AM

Recently free ride for Obama from political press corps, and it feels besieged as it has to bat away incessant questions with Obama's significant shifts, flip flopping on issues such as Patriot Act, Defense of Marriage Act, Fast Track trade authority and benefits for same-sex couples. Given how little experience Obama has, its understandable that his campaign doesnt want any kind of focus on his record, These stories clearly raise questions about Obamas electability and serve as a stark reminder about how little the public knows about his positions. The Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women, Obama said he would vote to repeal the Patriot Act. In 2006 Obama voted for the redrafted version of the Patriot Act that some critics contended made only minor changes to the original law. On Defense of Marriage Act Obama answered No,to the question: "Do you support repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. On Fast Track authority, which requires Congress to vote yes or no and without amendments on pending trade deals, Obama opposes Fast Track authority because it is a usurpation of Congress' role to ensure that negotiated trade agreements serve the best interests of our country, including protection of the environment, worker rights and human rights.In remarks to the Detroit Economic Club in May, Obama said, I plan to be president, so I actually want Fast Track. But I'm willing to constrain myself in Fast Track to make sure that we’ve got strong labor and environmental protections.On benefits for same-sex couples, Obama said, he would need to evaluate the fiscal impact of extending Social Security benefits to same-sex couples that married couples currently receive. Also Barack Obama (D-IL)involved in a suspicious real estate deal with an indicted political fundraiser, Antoin Tony Rezko. Obama also linked to an alleged influence peddling scandal and was nabbed conducting campaign business in his Senate office, a violation of federal law.

Posted by Stop obamawinphrey | December 16, 2007 9:53 AM

Stop obamawinphrey,

cite your information.

i'd like to read from first party sources rather than hearsay on critical issues.

hmmm....where have i seen this comment before?
fyi, cutting and pasting the same information on different websites / articles makes one look like a troll.

Posted by navi | December 16, 2007 10:21 AM

I know the family it is very sad. Perkin Bass has alzeimers disease and is not doing well. I know you all wish him well. What sort of brain disease do you have that would make you vote for Obama?

Posted by sandy skyler | December 16, 2007 11:02 AM

Listen folks... both my parents are Republicans and can't WAIT to vote for Obama. That counts for something. Not to mention, Obama is the third choice of all Republican voters. Believe it, this man has wide cross-over appeal.

Posted by Kris | December 16, 2007 1:53 PM

jcar, that's a great story. I think you're right, conservatives *are* attracted to Obama. My theory is that Obama represents, to them, what they have been saying for a long time: that people of color can succeed in America.

I'm not sure if Obama himself would go along with that statement, since it implies that people of color generally do *not* succeed. But anyway, to the right-wing, Obama can easily be a poster child for how "anyone" can make it in the USA, and thus, by implication, we don't need affirmative action.

Perhaps I'm being cynical. Maybe the rightwingers just like the guy. At any rate, I think he will draw Repubs to him, just as Reagan peeled off Democrats to his candidacy.

Posted by Johnny | December 16, 2007 3:32 PM

My wife just crossed from republican party to vote for obama--why is this not getting headlines..obama will surprise many--dont understimate this guy.

Posted by chris | December 17, 2007 2:23 PM

The republican party is a joke.
The GOP is full of ignorant snobs who hate young people and minorities.

Posted by johnny | December 17, 2007 9:43 PM

The notion that a Republican think-tank hatched a plan to encourage republicans to switch parties to elect Obama is not unreasonable. In fact, such a plan is both brilliant and legal. In an election year when Jesus Christ running on the Republican ticket would not be a sure thing, the best way beat the Democrats is to have them beat themselves. If indeed the Dems nomimate Obama, they will discover his unelectability. On paper he's similar to other Dems, but on skin color he's at at a severe disadvantage, especially among the Southern Democrats; a sad but true fact.

Posted by Rick | January 8, 2008 7:55 PM