Doug Kmiec Pepperdine professor of constitutional law and an active supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign left Malibu for Washington D.C. Wednesday morning directly following the election.
Kmiec declined to give more details other than saying his trip has to do “in part” with Obama who he said he expects to speak to within the next 12 to 24 hours.
“[Obama] will meet the challenge of financial ruin that our country is in and the challenge of international diplomacy Kmiec said. [He] will indeed be exactly what the nation needs … to recover its integrity and stature.”
Kmiec who helped bring Catholic voters to Obama has received great criticism from some high-ranking members of the Catholic Church for supporting a pro-abortion candidate and writing a book titledCan a Catholic Support Him?
According to Kmiec approximately 54 percent of Catholic voters chose Obama exceeding support in the last election for George W. Bush who won 52 percent of Catholic voters. However Kmiec noted that official statistics are not yet available.
After serving in the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations Kmiec denounced the policies of the current Bush administration. In March after Mitt Romney – his initial choice – did not receive the republican nomination he endorsed Obama for president.
When asked if he will continue to play a role in the new administration Kmiec replied “[Obama] knows where I am and I suspect he will have many opportunities [where he needs] help.” Kmiec said he will help with “anything [he] can do from a seat in Malibu Calif.”
Kmiec joked that he doubted Mrs. Kmiec would allow the family to move to Washington for a job in the administration.
“I won’t seek anything in particular [in the new administration] because I dearly love Pepperdine and they have been so generous to allow me to frolic like this he said.
However, Kmiec noted that if something special arises” – a position suited to a “unique set of attributes” he can offer – he would consider seeking Mrs. Kmiec’s permission to move to Washington.
Kmiec said he expects youth to be well represented in the new administration.
“We should count ourselves fortunate that your generation is so well represented in Washington he said. I’m happy to be their senior adviser as relic from another era.”
However he also said he is encouraging members of the campaign not to act like the race is over.
“This is the first lap he said, noting that not since FDR has a president faced two foreign wars and an economic mess at home.
Even before results were announced last night, Kmiec said he reached out to people with whom relationships had become strained during the campaign, especially Catholic leaders. In particular, Kmiec wrote to Archbishop Chaput of Denver.
Kmiec gained great insight into the character of the president elect while working closely with him on the campaign trail. He likens Obama to the friend one counts on for sound advice about a dilemma. He said Obama’s listening skills and understanding of other points of view will serve him well as president.
He uses that word [empathy] a lot himself and it’s a word that fits him so well Kmiec said. He’s somebody who’s deeply attentive to other’s feelings and needs and by virtue of that he’s the very definition of ‘a man for others.'”
Kmiec said the greatest challenge during Obama’s presidency remains the threat of terrorism.