WaPo: GOP Doubts, Fears 'Post-Partisan' Obama [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

Republicans in Washington view Obama's "post-partisan" political appeal with a mixture of skepticism and fear. They are skeptical, they say, because the first-term senator's thin record has shown virtually no sign of bipartisanship. They are fearful because his appeal just might work.

"It's clear he is a phenomenon," said Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), a conservative scrapper who revels in Washington's partisan warfare. "He will use style and grace to achieve liberal goals, which is absolutely politically brilliant but intellectually dishonest."

....

Beyond the partisan polls, Obama's appeal is clear, said Trent Lott, who retired last month as the Senate's second-ranking Republican to begin a career as a Washington lobbyist -- K Street being a favorite foil of Obama's when he talks about what's wrong with Washington.

Americans are tired of the bickering and want progress, Lott said. But he said Republicans are not about to concede to Obama's vision of progress, a vision they see as classically liberal: federally run health care, government-mandated energy changes and a rapid pullout from Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/06/AR2008010602402.html