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Go Home Tnr Primary: John Anderson

THE PLANK JANUARY 30, 2008

Tnr Primary: John Anderson

BY JOHN ANDERSON

In the newest issue of the magazine, fourteen eggheads and eminences wrote short essays announcing whom they'd be voting for and why. We'll be unveiling these responses on The Plank throughout the next two weeks. This is what John Anderson, former third-party presidential candidate, had to say:

There are two compelling traits of Barack Obama's that have led me to make my first presidential primary endorsement since I became a political independent. One: He is a reformer who understands the imperative of opening up our democracy and fixing our broken electoral process. Two: He appeals to independents who believe in progressive principles over party allegiance. In 1980, I ran under the banner of the National Unity Party, believing that a new political force was needed. In Obama's candidacy, even though it is conducted within the two-party system, I sense a larger purpose than partisan victory. He tells the truth, confesses his mistakes, and appeals to our higher civic impulses.

Part one: Randall Kennedy

Part two: Judith Shulevitz

Part three: Erica Jong

Part four: John McWhorter

Part five: Paul Berman

Part six: Graydon Carter

Part seven: Allison Silverman

Part eight: Alan Wolfe

Part nine: John Anderson

Part ten: C.K. Williams

Part eleven: Todd Gitlin

Part twelve: Daniel Alarcón

Part thirteen: Larry Kramer

Part fourteen: Alan Dershowitz

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7 comments

I voted for Anderson in 1980, the only Republican Presidential candidate I ever voted for (but of course, he ran as a third party candidate in that election).  It's surprising to hear from him again after all these years - but nice.

Neil

- purcellneil

January 30, 2008 at 8:36pm

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Wow! The forgotten independent.

Sadly, the other forgotten independent (Perot) thinks Obama is a secret Muslim bent on world domination.

- virginiacentrist

January 30, 2008 at 9:11pm

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Short and sweet.

- psantillana

January 30, 2008 at 9:24pm

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First, thanks for publishing the TNR Primary, a wonderful idea. John Anderson's words remind me of what Andrew Sullivan wrote about the Obama phenomenon, that Obama did not create the moment, but the moment, now, is right for someone like Obama. The moment wasn't right for John Anderson, I can tell he's pleased that that moment has arrived.

I watched "American Idol" tonight. If you want to see the America that the GOP insists doesn't exist, watch that show. It gives "multicultural" a whole new meaning.

- fougasseu

January 30, 2008 at 9:57pm

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Ah, John Anderson. I hope that somewhere in American academe, a history doc candidate has filled his or her thesis downtime by writing an alternate history of America in which Anderson wins the 1980 election, and how the 1980s play out as a result. (It's the kind of thing I've seen done on other subjects.) And I hope that, if this project exists, I get to read it someday.

- rhubarbs

January 30, 2008 at 11:03pm

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Holy crap -- John Anderson is still alive?!

- adambkushner

January 30, 2008 at 11:35pm

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Thanks to John Anderson my father had the distinct pleasure of never having to vote for Jimmy Carter (or Reagan).

- cleavet

January 31, 2008 at 9:41am

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