BRITTANY YEAROUT
Assistant News Editor
Despite more than 20 years working in and around politics and the Republican party, Professor of Constitutional Law Doug Kmiec of the School of Law ironically says he now finds himself “a bit as a man without a country.”
Kmiec has been an outspoken conservative lawyer for many years, so his recent announcement to endorse arguably the most liberal candidate in the presidential election, Barack Obama, has surprised many in the community.
Kmeic, former head of the Office of Legal Counsel for President Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, made the announcement Sunday by way of an online article written for slate.com, a Web publication of the Washington Post.
“Today I endorse Barack Obama for president of the United States,” Kmiec wrote in the blog. “I believe him to be a person of integrity, intelligence and genuine good will. I take him on his word that he wants to move the nation beyond its religious and racial divides and that he wants to return the United States to that company of nations committed to human rights.”
Before making the announcement, Kmiec said he discussed the implications of his outspoken decision with his priest, his former colleagues of Notre Dame University, where he taught for nearly 20 years, and his former colleagues in the Reagan administration.
“It’s not an easy decision to leave the comfort of my friends and colleagues and indeed make a choice that is ethically a difficult one, in light of my religious beliefs,” Kmiec said. “I wanted to make sure that I had suited enough of Senator Obama’s personal perspective and attention to make that choice.”
Kmiec spoke, in particular, about Obama’s views on abortion.
“He and I do not see all things the same,” Kmiec said.
As a conservative Republican, Kmiec said he believes abortion is a “grave evil,” while Obama has made it clear that he does not share this view, rather supporting the exploration of abortion’s potential.
Kmiec’s decision to support Obama despite their differing opinions on such controversial issues is one that has added to confusion felt by many over this year’s elections.
“Some people might think that this is a somewhat curious endorsement, but I don’t think it’s curious at all,” he said. “You have to look at the whole person.”
Kmiec said he believes Obama is willing to meet people halfway on both ends of the political spectrum. For example, keeping with the abortion issue, Kmiec said he is encouraged by the fact that Obama has visited places such as Planned Parenthood, which he added is unlike “the usual thing Democrats stand for.”
Also surprising to many is the fact that Kmiec served as legal counsel to Mitt Romney, a former Republican candidate running against Obama, until he dropped out of the race in February. But, again, Kmiec said this is not surprising at all, as the two candidates are alike on a certain level.
“It’s not quite as big a leap as some might think, especially taken recent circumstances,” Kmiec said. “For example, Senator Obama has been criticized for his affiliation with an African American church, and Romney was really hounded out of the campaign because of his affiliation with the Mormon Church.”
He added that many colleagues have written to him stating that their second preference for president after Romney was Obama, as well. Kmiec said Obama’s eloquent and inspirational speeches have drawn them all into his campaign.
With regard to the two frontrunners facing Obama in the race, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Kmiec said his endorsement of Obama is not meant to belittle their campaign efforts.
“My taste for Senator Obama is a positive case, not a negative for McCain and Clinton,” he said.
McCain is expected to receive the Republican nomination, but Kmiec, usually behind the party, said he is opposed to key stances in McCain’s campaign that make him difficult to vote Republican in this election.
“[McCain] seems to me to have underestimated the cost of war, in terms of life and economics,” Kmiec said. “I think he is seriously mistaken in thinking that the continuation of the Iraq engagement that Bush has begun is going to be the way to successfully end the tide of terrorism there.”
And, even if McCain were to change his views on this issue, Kmiec said he would not change his endorsement or preference.
“I’m not going to be a weathervane,” he said.
Kmiec has received support from his colleagues in his decision to publicly endorse a candidate, though they stated no political preferences.
“Doug is a highly respected and valued member of our law school faculty,” said Dean Timothy Perrin of the School of Law. “He tries to approach issues and make decisions upon good judgment. This is his prerogative, and I respect his decision to go public with that.”
Freely offering his prerogative has resulted in mixed responses. In addition to positive feedback, Kmiec said he has received a good deal of negative responses to the announcement via e-mail and through online blogs.
“The blogosphere is a notoriously mean-spirited place,” Kmiec said. “There is a good deal of nonsense written there. But, some people have given me the benefit of reason and have taken the time to write me personally.”
Despite the reactions of others, Kmiec said he ultimately chose to publicly endorse Obama because he sees him as a man who can bring the country together.
“He is capable of breaking the deadlock of what has confronted the country for so many decades,” he said. “If we’re looking for fresh ideas, a new person and not the same old thing, Obama has that advantage.”
03-27-2008
