Rueters (Ames, Iowa) Republican moderates have assembled outside Oscar's Feed & Grain, a popular restaurant in Ames, Iowa, to back a surprising candidate: Barack Obama circa 2007. Frustrated in their search for the appropriate candidate to run against Barack Obama in 2012, GOP moderates have come up with the novel idea of running Barack Obama of 2007 against the popular incumbent President. "I know this is highly unusual, but we think there is a real contrast that we can use to differentiate our candidate from theirs, and there are lots of other good reasons" said organizer Wesley Smollis. While supporters admit there may be a constitutional issue and expect attacks by Democrats, they believe they are on solid legal ground. "There is documented proof that the 2007 Obama took the oath of office in public, and no, it wasn't botched as some twelvers claim", said Roy Beamish, attorney for the group.
"Twelvers" is the term 2007 Obama supporters use to describe people who claim that only one version of Obama can run for office in a given election cycle. "Anyone who says there is some kind of Constitutional rule that the 2007 version of Obama can't be President is relying on a technicality that, frankly, smacks of racism. " said Mr. Beamish.
Republicans for Our Obama 2007, or ROO7 was formed by Wesley Smollis who realized that each GOP potential candidate came up short on one or more crucial qualities; some were too conservative, others had personal baggage, others weren't charismatic or inspirational, or else just simply couldn't win. Smollis decided to do something about it, "Looking back, the 2007 Obama made some great promises that I think are real winners, I called up some friends and we decided he's the candidate we want running on our side of the ticket."
The constitutional question isn't the only obstacle, supporters concede. "We recognize this is certainly outside-the-box, and the 2007 Obama has been away from politics for the last two years might be a bit rusty", said rally organizer Martin Billings, "but we think he can use those great oratory skills and run rings around the the guy who's in there now, he certainly beats him on all the issues."
Most here agree it's Obama 2007's strong and unwavering stands on the issues that's the driving force behind the growing support. "He's against bailing out banks, he's for lower gas prices, won't raise taxes on the middle-class guys like me, and he's for jobs, he's saying all the right things" said one supporter. "And if you compare Obama of 2007 to the one we know today, he sure seems like a Republican."
In order to differentiate their candidate, who happens to share the same name with the presumptive Democratic nominee, some of Obama 2007 supporters refer to him as '007'. Others prefer the term Our Obama. George Mauvy, vice-chairman of ROO7, "Look, Our Obama polls well, he's a great speaker and we prefer him on the issues to Obama 2012. We believe independents and Republicans will vote for Our Obama overwhelmingly. He is much more forceful and believable and he doesn't have the horrible record that Obama 2012 has. I guarantee he'll win all three debates."
Even some Democrats are on board; "I like his positions on Iraq and Afghanistan", said Democrat Beth Weesley, "and 007 would never have gotten us into Libya, and don't even bring up Guantanamo" she said.
But many conservatives don't share the enthusiasm for this Obama 007. "It's just like the GOP to nominate another liberal. First it was Bush, next McCain, and now Obama 007." said Jess Murfree "Just because he's not John McCain and he's a little more conservative than the other guy, they expect me to vote for him? I might as well just give up." said Murfree shaking his head.
But others are more circumspect. Fred Boortz, a wholesale grain salesman, told us, "If it's between Obama 2007 and Obama 2012 I'll have to go with 007, if only because of the Supreme Court picks."
An official from Republican National Committee, speaking off the record said, "We need to get the moderate and the independent vote, and this time it will be Our Obama not their Obama. Obama with an "R" after his name has a nice look to it. We'll have the second black President, so Democrats can't call us racists anymore, and most important, he can win. Our Obama is against gay marriage, which should motivate some of our conservative friends, even though I personally don't agree. We all have to make compromises, see?"
Republican strategist and pollster Patrick Murphy sees Obama 2007 as the best alternative, "You can't beat something with nothing, and 007 is a fiscal conservative, he's got a plan for Iraq and Afghanistan and he's going to stop bombing Libya. America is going to be more respected in the world, and he's promising unemployment won't go above 8% when he's in office."
Polls show Republicans like Obama 2007 for his relative fiscal sanity, and that many who once cheered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have soured on nation building and the mismanagement of the current administration. "Now that we see how Obama 2012 has been handling these wars 007's ideas of getting out make a lot more sense". Many Republicans also prefer the 2007 Obama's approach to racial harmony. Said another attendee at the rally, "The 2007 Obama distanced himself from that Reverend Wright character, and would never have associated with the likes of Al Sharpton."
Republican strategists expect blacks will vote Republican in unprecedented numbers considering Obama 2007 is also black. However many African-Americans remain skeptical. "Our Obama be They Obama" is a common bumper-sticker found in urban communities. Vasser East, prominent African-American studies professor in Princeton does not approve, "This is another example of the white establishment trying to buy the black man like a slave, and since 007 is half-white they're trying to pay half price."
In order to placate conservatives in the party, GOP insiders are considering two big names to balance the ticket. John F. Kennedy circa 1960 a hawkish tax-cutter and social conservative and Harry S Truman circa 1944 a throwback to the age of responsibility and honesty. Both are said to have practical problems running on a 2012 ticket, however.
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