Prominent Republicans are starting to break party lines to support Obama. This phenomenon is even occurring in Arizona, McCains back yard. http://news.aol.com/story?id=n2008102115...
Atlanta Falcons owner and registered Republican Arthur Blank has donated money to Obama. Arthur Blank gave money to Mitt Romney in the Republican primary and has also given money to Ga. Republican Senator Johnny Isaakson.
http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political...
Colin Powell contributed to McCains campaign before endorsing Obama due to McCains temperament.
"I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said. "He is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage and on the American stage. And for that reason, I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama."
As a key reason, Powell said: "I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration."
Powell, once considered likely to be the nation's first African-American presidential nominee, said his decision was not about race.
Moderator Tom Brokaw said: "There will be some ... who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American supporting another African-American because of race."
Powell, who last year gave Republican John McCain's campaign the maximum $2,300, replied: "If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this."
Former Minnesota Republican Governor Marty Carlson endorsed Obama today. Carlson says the Illinois senator's stances on the Iraq war, his approach to the economy and his embrace of ambitious green energy goals won him over. Carlson, who served from 1991 to 1998, also cited recent comments by GOP Congresswoman Michele Bachmann questioning whether politicians have "pro-America or anti-America views."
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/v...
Barry Goldwaters grand daughter CC Goldwater endorsed Obama. "Myself, along with my siblings and a few cousins, will not be supporting the Republican presidential candidates this year. We believe strongly in what our grandfather stood for: honesty, integrity, and personal freedom, free from political maneuvering and fear tactics. I learned a lot about my grandfather while producing the documentary, Mr. Conservative Goldwater on Goldwater. Our generation of Goldwaters expects government to provide for constitutional protections. We reject the constant intrusion into our personal lives, along with other crucial policy issues of the McCain/Palin ticket."
My grandfather would never suggest denying a woman's right to choose. My grandmother co-founded Planned Parenthood in Arizona in the 1930's, a cause my grandfather supported. I'm not sure about how he would feel about marriage rights based on same-sex orientation. I think he would feel that love and respect for ones privacy is what matters most and not the intolerance and poor judgment displayed by McCain over the years. Paka respected our civil liberties and passed on the message that that we should conduct our lives standing up for the basic freedoms we hold so dear.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cc-goldwat...
Former Bush Jr. press secretary Scott McClellan endorsed Obama today.
"From the very beginning I have said I am going to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done and I will be voting for Barack Obama,"