Did you see the story about how Obama dined Tuesday evening with a passel of conservative and neocon columnists/pundits including George Will, Bill Kristol, Charles Krauthammer and David Brooks? To be honest, I care more about the trajectory of this incoming Administration's policies than I do about Obama's selection of dining partners. But, still, I have to ask: Will Obama find the time to dine with progressive or center-left writers, thinkers, activists in this period--or does he have just enough time to leave his family to break bread with conservative columnists? Couldn't he, at least, have tried that Team Of Rivals template to add some spice and sizzle and diversity of views to that dining table at George Will's place?
I'm keeping hope alive that --as his campaign reminded us: Yes, he can!
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Did you see the story about how Obama dined Tuesday evening with a passel of conservative and neocon columnists/pundits including George Will, Bill Kristol, Charles Krauthammer and David Brooks? To be honest, I care more about the trajectory of this incoming Administration’s policies than I do about Obama’s selection of dining partners. But, still, I have to ask: Will Obama find the time to dine with progressive or center-left writers, thinkers, activists in this period–or does he have just enough time to leave his family to break bread with conservative columnists? Couldn’t he, at least, have tried that Team Of Rivals template to add some spice and sizzle and diversity of views to that dining table at George Will’s place?
I’m keeping hope alive that –as his campaign reminded us: Yes, he can!
Katrina vanden HeuvelTwitterKatrina vanden Heuvel is editor and publisher of The Nation, America’s leading source of progressive politics and culture. An expert on international affairs and US politics, she is an award-winning columnist and frequent contributor to The Guardian. Vanden Heuvel is the author of several books, including The Change I Believe In: Fighting for Progress in The Age of Obama, and co-author (with Stephen F. Cohen) of Voices of Glasnost: Interviews with Gorbachev’s Reformers.