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Eating Dinner and, For Some, Crow

January 14, 2009 12:20 PM

At the Chevy Chase, Maryland, manse of ABC News' own George F. Will Tuesday night, President-elect Barack Obama dined with several influential conservative columnists and pundits.

Obama_arrives_at_george_wills_hou_2No O'Reillys, Coulters, Hannitys or Limbaughs were on tap. In addition to Mr. Will, who pens a syndicated column for the Washington Post in addition to his work for ABC News, Mr. Obama was joined by literally a table-full of conservatives, some more immune to Mr. Obama's charms than others.

They included Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post, David Brooks of the New York Times, William Kristol of the Times and Fox News, Michael Barone of U.S. News & World Report, Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal, Larry Kudlow of CNBC and Paul Gigot of the Wall Street Journal.

On the whole, the pundits gathered were a fairly genteel and polite sort, some of whom seemed quite open-minded in their campaign columns. (No doubt to Sen. John McCain's chagrin. The animus many of these conservative pundits felt towards Mr. McCain was no doubt a factor.)

For some of their less-than-flattering takes on their supper guest, feel free to click on the above links. (Samples: Krauthammer called Mr. Obama's race speech "a brilliant fraud." Kudlow said Mr. Obama "has a very poor grasp of basic economic principles." And so on, you get the picture.)

As of now, none of the participants have publicly shared the content of what must have been an interesting conversation, since it was off the record.

Mr. Kristol's presence may have been the more controversial one among Obama supporters, given his erroneous reporting last March that Mr. Obama had attended the July 2007 sermon by Rev. Jeremiah Wright in which the minister blamed the "'arrogance' of the 'United States of White America' for much of the world’s suffering, especially the oppression of blacks."

Kristol later wrote that the "Obama campaign has provided information showing that Senator Obama did not attend Trinity that day. I regret the error."

Coming in a close second, perhaps -- Lowry, editor of the National Review, supervised a cover story assailing Mr. Obama's wife, First-Lady-in-Waiting Michelle Obama, in a story titled "Mrs. Grievance." 

In any case, Obama aides say this is Mr. Obama's pledge to truly try to bring a new tone to Washington.

And as part of that, Mr. Obama wants to get his legislation passed with Republican support, so having some conservative pundits perhaps more willing give him the benefit of the doubt is not unwise. But Obama supporters reject this latter "transactional" view of this outreach, so let me just say that's my own observation.

-- jpt

Photo credit: The Associated Press

January 14, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (108)

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There is an amazing analysis of Rush, Riley, Ann & Hannity that they are just a bunch of dittoheads that don't know & can't back of what they talk about. While all the most brilliant educated leaders of all time are in Washington setting the policies for Our Country. Well forgive me for not getting it. Why is it that Our Country is going through the worst job & financial situation since the depression and is predicted to get much worse? I know blame it on that dittohead Bushes. But use your intelligence, for the last 3 years the Liberal Congress led by the World Most Intelligent Senator from NY has been out fund raising while sitting on their throne. So Sad!

Posted by: kioticoumo | Jan 16, 2009 7:52:18 PM

I admit Rush and Coulter can be over the top, Rush needs to be more serious with his message. I think he so busy trying to be cute, some people don't take him seriously. I believ he's right though.

Posted by: PM | Jan 16, 2009 9:08:06 AM

Limbaugh reminds me of the guy behind the curtain in the Wizard Of Oz. Bully, coward....all talk, but no action. Have you ever seen this nutjob debate with anyone outside of ditto lala land? Foremost, he can't because he is an uneducated moron who has no expertise or experience in the subjects to which he speaks!

Posted by: Denise | Jan 16, 2009 8:33:22 AM

Limbaugh can't debate with anyone except for dittoheads. He is a waste of human space.

Posted by: Denise | Jan 15, 2009 4:22:16 PM

When has Fatboy ever come out from behind his microphone? This clown is naked without his microphone. I still can't understand why self proclaimed "educated" dittoheads would listen to someone this ignorant and ill informed. Seriously, what experience in politics or the ways of government does this guy bring to the table? He is always preaching personal responsibility, yet, he is the first to cry foul when something goes astray in his own life (which happens quite often in terms of illegal drug use and multiple marriages). This guy needs to be sent up the river with the rest of the druggies he always referred to. Al Franken was right, he is a big fat idiot. If he knows so much and has so many solutions, why doesn't he run for office or do something constructive?

Posted by: Denise | Jan 15, 2009 3:15:03 PM

Please don't confuse Hannity and Limbaugh with real columnists. Why in the world would Obama meet with these morons? They have nothing to bring the table, ummmm, wait, Rush could bring donuts and drugs.

Posted by: Denise | Jan 15, 2009 3:03:03 PM

So, Rush wants Obama's administration to fail. Well, he can continue to wish and hopefully it will work out like his "operation chaos" did. Doesn't this guy yet realize what a fool he is? Better yet, don't his listeners? Why do so many misguided, uneducated individuals listen to this guy and others of his ilk like Hannity, Beck and Coulter to name but a few. What a bunch of losers they are!

Posted by: geecee | Jan 15, 2009 11:19:36 AM

I read the article twice and failed to see a mention of Rich Lowry on the guest list until the reference to his Mrs. Grievance cover story. Did I miss it?

Posted by: James Gilligan | Jan 15, 2009 10:25:45 AM

Another nice touch to reach out to people who have not been particularly supportive. I hope that it at least gives conservatives the idea that their views are going to be heard -- and that Obama would in return like his ideas to be heard by them.

As to O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh and Coulter, they are idealogues. They have no intention of hearing anything outside their own narrow prejudices, and they will certainly not give Obama's ideas a fair chance. So why meet with them? Just to make them seem important when they are not?

Posted by: dj | Jan 15, 2009 7:41:19 AM

We are going to seduce Obama to the Dark side of the Force. Mooo ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Posted by: Hugh | Jan 15, 2009 6:17:08 AM

Of course Obama wouldn't CHANGE & dine with real conservatives like Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh & others for very good reason.

The Clintons sum it up best when they said....We belong to a mutual.... admiration society.

Posted by: kioti | Jan 15, 2009 1:02:47 AM

Bonnie Kimberly, your comments to Core Beliefs mirror my own thoughts on the matter. I actually don't think Core Beliefs thinks that -- he's just so sorry that his party was so wrong most of the time, and so in order to feel better being of that ilk he has to make their actions seem proper. If anybody doesn't see the drubbing our country has taken for the last 8 years, then they must live in a mansion without any news filtering through. That is how out to lunch some of these types are, by the way. Because all is well with them and theirs, they tune out everybody else.

Posted by: SierraBW | Jan 15, 2009 12:56:28 AM

William Kristol is not by any means a Rockefeller Republican. He is one of the Neo-cons, brought to the table by an Obama -- determined to make all sides relevant - for what it's worth. Unlike when Newt Gingrich was Speaker, he and his GOP cronies were as mean-spirited as one can get. Obama knows how important it is to be about ALL the people's business, and knows that the only way to do that is to bring all sides together. The GOP thought they would be left out in the cold, after being trounced so badly, but instead they are still part of the process -- thanks to the high-mindedness of Obama.

Posted by: SierraBW | Jan 15, 2009 12:50:48 AM

goyourownway -- yes military action is necessary sometimes. In particular in the case of Afghanistan, not Iraq, which was and has been proclaimed wrongly targeted.

Posted by: SierraBW | Jan 15, 2009 12:47:11 AM

"No O'Reillys, Coulters, Hannitys or Limbaughs were on tap..."

because they are not journalist, simply media hacks...

Posted by: clarity | Jan 15, 2009 12:42:44 AM

Charles Krauthammer?

Obama deserves a medal for breaking bread with this one. I read his columns during the race to the White House.

He was mean spirited, offbase, told lies... Obama is truly a humble understanding young man with a big heart.

Breaking bread with those who bear
false witness against you is a great accomplishment and in this case an honorable feat.

Yuck on Charles Krauthammer.

Peggy Noonan on the otherhand is respectable and intelligent. I am glad she was there.

Posted by: clarity | Jan 15, 2009 12:38:52 AM

FYI conservative != Republicans.

And I do have a list of GOP politicians that made me real angry in the past as well.

Posted by: FilmRoll | Jan 14, 2009 9:46:32 PM

Another good example of Obama reaching out.


Ann Voter Fraud Coulter,
and Rush Illegal Drug User Limbaugh,
are the voices of the Republican party?


Posted by: Mr. Unite Us | Jan 14, 2009 7:36:53 PM

Bonnie Kimberly, please don't tell me you think that the Republican policy caused 9/11. The enemy is real and the enemy is out to get you. We do need a foreign policy that recognizes that sometimes military action is necessary. You will see this the next years I am certain.

Posted by: goyourownway | Jan 14, 2009 6:08:43 PM

I get my news/information from many different sources and opposing points of view and then make up my own mind as to who's making the most sense of it all.

Posted by: john | Jan 14, 2009 6:07:03 PM

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