Seriously? John Kasich? What is the Biden Camp Thinking?

[fleur-de-lisa]

Link to tweet

Elie Mystal @ElieNYC

NeverTrump Republicans: When we had an opportunity to work across the aisle and support a Republican idea for universal health care we instead offered no votes and tried to repeal Obamacare LITERALLY 54 TIMES because it was named after a black guy... But, now that we've realized that our actual policies are massively unpopular and buying votes for those policies with bigotry and sexism has ruined our party, we'd like to come over to your party since the white nationalists we helped created kicked us out of ours.

10:08 AM · Jul 20, 2020

The former Ohio governor may convince a handful of disgruntled Trumpers to vote for Biden, but there is no evidence he can win the state for the Democrats. - By Elie Mystal

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/kasich-convention-biden/

The Associated Press reports that the Joe Biden campaign has reached out to former Ohio Governor John Kasich to speak on his behalf at the Democratic National Convention. Kasich, an anti-abortion, pro-gun Republican, ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2016. When he didn’t win, he voted for … John McCain, even though McCain wasn’t even on the ballot. So he speaks for a critical constituency of people who understand Donald Trump is not fit to be president but can’t be bothered to use their vote to help.

I can see why it’s important for Biden and the Democrats to secure Kasich’s endorsement. There are likely 15—maybe 20—white men in Ohio who aren’t sure Biden is a moderate enough alternative to the bigoted, authoritarian president who finds the deaths of 140,000 Americans too boring to distract him from his daily routine of retweeting white nationalists and hiding his financial crimes. Kasich can soothe those voters who are disappointed that Trump is “not hurting the people he needs to be hurting.”

Sorry, I’m being sarcastic. I do not think it is a good idea for the Democratic National Convention to feature failed Republicans. I don’t think that having a “big tent” means it’s necessary to highlight people who would knock down your tentpoles.

I suppose I should get used to it. Between now and November, the Biden campaign will probably trot out a host of failed Republican presidential candidates and other politicians who have been kicked out of their own party. The endorsement of people who failed to beat Trump, failed to stop Trumpian forces from taking over their party, and, in some cases, created the dynamics that led to Trump’s takeover, will be treated as a good thing. These Republican validators will be uniformly white and overwhelmingly male, and they will bring with them no voting blocs.

[RhodeIslandOne]

1. But...but.....what about Carly Fiorina!!!!!

[FarPoint]

2. Kasich...he will bring lots of Ohio votes for Biden...

from independent and republicans....Win Ohio Win Presidency...

[RANDYWILDMAN]

3. I agree

dislike that state so much, but we have to win it

[Maru Kitteh]

28. We don't strictly *have to* BUT we do need to open up every possible pathway

This election has to leave the GOP looking like the 3rd-shift floor of a factory-farm slaughterhouse, and I DON'T CARE who helps get us there.

Our house is burning in front of our faces while our children are trapped on the second floor. People insisting we need to grill the firefighters on their political affiliation need to STFU and get out of the way.

[lame54]

67. Why is it a foregone conclusion that he will actually help...

Words still have to come out of his mouth
And he says some really stupid things
Any chance he will make it worse?

[ancianita]

82. It's not as if he'll be the ONLY speaker, right? This isn't that serious. Winning Ohio is.

[apnu]

4. This. Kasich bolsters the Rust Belt

OH, PA, WI, MI.... all of this is where control of the White House will come down to.

FL is a huge x factor. But if Biden wins FL, OH, and PA... Trump cannot get to 270 EVs.

[FarPoint]

8. Yeap...

Let us not forget...tRump is Enemy#1 and this is War

[HotTeaBag]

9. Yep, @ElieNYC should perhaps get out of NYC once in a while.

The fall from high horses are generally pretty long ones.

[ebbie15644]

12. Also help with Pennsylvania, he is popular here

[still_one]

27. I don't know if the Democratic Convention is the right forum for this, but having Kasich promote

Biden to other republicans is a smart strategy

This is about WINNING in November, especially in swing states, and as you said, if we win Ohio, we win the WH.

There have been a few who have brushed off the Lincoln Project, because there are "republicans" behind it.

This election is far from certain, and nothing can be taken for granted.

Those who believe that we can win this in those critical swing states without independent support are making a lot of assumptions.

Many may not remember, but the Sanders campaign made an appeal to Trump voters, because it was smart politics

[FarPoint]

29. Convention may of been the deal breaker...

I'm okay with it....

[still_one]

39. I sure won't lose sleep over it, and since it is a virtual Convention that should diminish any

ugly reception Kasich might receive from some with an in person audience, which could actually turn off those independents they are trying to appeal to

[FarPoint]

42. Exactly....

Ohhh I recall listening to Steve Schmidt on the radio the other day....Said how the Lincoln Project is next focusing on Ohio....Then this.... telling me there is much more to come... republicans who want to save democracy...it can happen... hahaha.

[still_one]

44. I am all for it

[Thekaspervote]

33. Absolutely! If the situation were reverse the gop would welcome rogue Dems and make it work

[FarPoint]

37. Absolutely they would....

I believe they actually have in the past...Lieberman?

[still_one]

40. and we had Bloomberg if you recall

[FarPoint]

86. Yes...

I know there are others...the names will come up...

[tblue37]

84. Remember Zell Miller at the 2004 RNC? nt

[FarPoint]

87. Hahahah...

His interview moment with Chris Matthews...most memorable.

[tblue37]

88. I love that he wanted a duel! nt

[GulfCoast66]

71. Actually I don't think it brings many Republicans over.

They are committed to trump or not.

But Independents? That a whole different ball of wax. They are notoriously fickle. Now they are with us. I think this could help nail them down.

And it helps with the narrative that the election is a referendum on trump. It it stays that way he loses.

[still_one]

74. I agree, and was thinking of the independents

[LakeArenal]

5. That's one opinion.

[unblock]

6. At-elie-*nyc* clearly doesn't appreciate who kasich is in ohio

Kasich endorsing Biden is huge.

*huge*

This will have a big effect on a lot of Buckeyes.

[FarPoint]

20. Correct....

This is a battle for the Presidency....I can NOT fathom what hell is to follow with tRump staying in the Whitehouse.

[CrispyQ]

7. The Democratic National Convention contact form.

https://www.demconvention.com/contact/

Write to them! This is our convention, our national stage. We have dozens of energetic, young DEMOCRATS who deserve the spotlight more than a has-been, anti-choice, white, male republican! Let Kasich make an ad for Biden if he wants to help, but he doesn't deserve a place on our national stage.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. Thank you! Sent them a message.

Told them I fully support Biden in his decision and am glad to have Gov. Kasich on board helping defeat Donald Trump.

[FarPoint]

13. We can not always be purist ..

Kasich brings lots of Ohio votes from Republicans and Independent voters...Biden needs Ohio for the Presidency...Plus, Kasich has other republicans who detest tRump...This choice was well thought out....Game on...throw down...bleed a little but we got to win.

[CrispyQ]

21. Just because I think it's a bad strategy doesn't mean I'm a purist.

Let Kasich make an ad for Biden, let him hold a Town Hall for other disaffected repubs in support of Biden, but don't put an anti-choice repub on the national stage at our convention. What a slap in the face to all the young democrats who don't get much opportunity for national exposure.

Also, if Biden thinks congressional repubs are going to work with him cuz he's Biden & he has history with him, then he hasn't been paying attention the past dozen or so years. We'd be better off appealing to non-voters than disaffected repubs. The pool is bigger & the repubs are just going to go back to their party when the Con is gone. And when Kasich runs in 2024, one of his ads will be him at our national convention, telling voters what a great bipartisan guy he is.

Biden has my vote, but my money & time will go to key senate races, so we can hopefully give Biden a Congress that can help clean up all the shit the repubs always leave behind.

[brooklynite]

30. What "young democrat" is being denied exposure?

[still_one]

43. We won't have to worry about that if we take the Senate and House, but let's get to step one first,

and that is winning the WH, Senate, and House, then we can make the rules

1. Get rid of filibuster
2. Make Washington DC a state

and start undoing all the damage trump and the republicans have done

[in2herbs]

46. Agree with you.

[Thekaspervote]

34. Exactly..you want purity? Get out of politics

[OnDoutside]

72. Lol !

[FarPoint]

11. I want Biden to win.

I can take Kasich for a few minutes ... Kasich brings lots of Ohio votes.... Complain all you want... Decision made with Ohio DNC blessings.

[still_one]

32. I agree that using the Democratic Convention is not a good forum for Kasich. I also recall

the disgraceful behavior of some at our Convention who booed John Lewis, and that should NOT have happened

[Jose Garcia]

55. The Convention has one purpose: Elect a Democrat to the White House. Everything else is secondary.

I doubt that there is anyone who would have voted for Biden who won't because Kasich is speaking at the convention. OTOH, there very well may be some Ohio voters (independents and moderate Republicans) who can be persuaded. Remember, Kasich actually beat Trump in the Ohio GOP Presidential primary in 2016.

[Ms. Toad]

14. Kasich implemented the ACA Medicaid expansion in Ohio

Over the opposition of many Republicans.

He will bring with him a number of Republicans who are outraged at Trump's lack of empathy (especially when Ohioans are benefitting from having free/subsidized insurance to help deal with COVID 19, accessible immediately when you lose your job)

[in2herbs]

50. And exactly where are these "number of Republicans who are outraged at Trump's lack

of empathy ..."???

I scour news sources all the time and I have yet to read about one R standing up to Trump. People on this site praise Romney, but his split vote on the impeachment was just proof that he wants to keep one foot in the R camp.

[Goodheart]

15. Your post is looking a gift horse in the mouth

Kasich speaking at the DNC is a win-win.

[EarlG]

16. I think Biden should follow the Nation's advice

and deliberately cripple his chances of winning. Why on earth would he want to explore every possible opportunity to squeeze votes out of Ohio?

Biden's best strategy in the rust belt swing states is to directly position himself in line with the Trump campaign's billion-dollar attack ad campaign: as a stereotypical far-left liberal elitist who will divide the country and won't work across the aisle with even milquetaost Republicans like Kasich. Because that will play great in states like Ohio.

And if Biden loses, at least he won't have had John Kasich give a ten minute speech at the Democratic National Convention. Because after all, it would be better to have another four years of Donald Trump than that.

[FarPoint]

23. You understand....

Not that I doubted you per say...I live in Ohio and the political air is ripe to garner key republican support for Ohio votes and the Win....There are a lot of republicans in Ohio who detest tRump and agree with the Lincoln Project peers....Like I said...ripe off the vine angry Ohio republicans who detests tRump can help Biden win Ohio.

[EarlG]

45. Indeed

Disgruntled Trump voters converting to non-voters = good

Those non-voters converting to Biden voters = better

[FarPoint]

49. Yes...

This is refreshing... exciting almost... I'm giggling....😇

[melman]

35. "milquetoast Republican"

anti-choice extremist, anti-union, anti-gay, climate-change-denying John Kasich is a milquetoast Republican. Good lord.

[EarlG]

41. If Kasich speaking at the DNC for ten minutes helps Biden win Ohio, I'll take it.

It's not like a brief speech is going to turn Biden into an anti-choice extremist, anti-union, anti-gay, climate-change-denier. And Biden is the guy we're trying to get elected here, not Kasich.

[FarPoint]

51. Yea...

that soggy white bread republican brings in Ohio votes for Biden ...republican and independent voters...I play to win this time...So does Joe Biden. That is the rationale. Bottom line....Biden will be good for the newly democratic voting republicans....they know this...tRump is on the highway to hell...Some of these republican and independent voters need a nudge/leader...here Kasich has stepped up to the plate.

[George II]

59. So would I. For one thing, it would show that Biden has some appeal to republicans, and we NEED....

...republican votes.

As I said in post #56 here, I'd even advocate for Ronald Reagan's ghost speaking next month if it would help Joe Biden win.

[JI7]

64. Yes, He is supporting a pro gay rights, pro labor, pro choice, pro environment Democrat

so that's how Republicans see him.

[EarlG]

70. Exactly

Biden doesn't suddenly inherit Kasich's values just because Kasich is endorsing him. Kasich is endorsing a pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-gay-rights, pro-environment Democrat and the policies that that Democrat will bring to the table if elected.

In fact, if anti-choice, anti-labor, anti-gay-rights, and anti-environment policies were the only things Kasich cared about, there's a Republican candidate named Donald Trump he could vote for. The fact that he's endorsing Biden implies that he has more pressing concerns (like, preventing America from turning into a police state dictatorship).

[George II]

56. I can't believe all this hue and cry about John Kasich making a speech (he's not setting POLICY!)...

...at the convention. If Biden and Democrats are going to rely ONLY on Democratic voters, we'll lose again. If resurrecting the body of Ronald Reagan to make a speech at the convention would help ensure that Joe Biden is elected in November, I'd advocate for that.

Purity doesn't win elections. We all should know that by now.

[Big Blue Marble]

17. This is not a time to be tribal.

We are in an existential emergency! There was a time when I detested Kasich, but now is the time
for common cause. I fully support Kasich and any other Republican who will help elect
Biden lending their support to our cause.

[Laelth]

24. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[Azathoth]

18. Kasich is positively an angel compared to the Trump GOP

And he represents exactly the kind of moderate Republican-leaning voter disaffected by their party's white nationalist fascism that Democrats hope to win over.

[Norbert]

19. Biden is growing support for his run

The orange ass wipe is busy keeping his shrinking base happy.

Any guesses who has the winning strategy?

I will gladly take John Kasich's support, especially if it might eventually end up a 35-40 state landslide.

[Mike 03]

22. I think it's ridiculous, but if he can help us with Ohio...

How many time will he mention his book during his speech?

He's not really a very good speaker, at least in interviews.

[jcgoldie]

25. John Kasich has no business speaking at any DNC

Trump has Democrats so screwed up that they would applaud a misogynistic piece of shit like John Kasich...

Thats what Trump's there to do... normalize the whole lot of racist anti-women's rights assholes who communicate with dog whistles...

Thanks to Kasich, women in Ohio who need an abortion must undergo an ultrasound — and a doctor must describe the fetus to them — a condescending, harassing provision that implies women don’t understand what being pregnant actually is, and that once they find out, they won’t want an abortion anymore. (Turns out they pretty much all still do.)


Perhaps ugliest of all, Kasich’s 2013 budget banned rape crisis counselors from referring victims of sexual assault to abortion services. Tell a woman who’s been raped how to end a pregnancy, and you lose your funding from the state.

John Kasich thinks women who are raped shouldn’t be told where they can get an abortion, and he used the power of his governorship to stop it.

The 2015 budget included further restrictions to abortion clinics, meaningless requirements masquerading as “protecting women’s health” with the actual purpose of shutting clinics down. And shut down they have: About half of Ohio’s abortion providers have shuttered since Kasich took office, and that number could easily rise.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/moderate-john-kasich-is-actually-terrifying-226249/

[FarPoint]

31. I see it that republicans, in Ohio mind you...

tRump is the one who has screwed them up...not Democrats....The DNC is going for the win here....it may not be pretty but I am in for the win...This is a street fight to the bitter end.

[Thekaspervote]

38. Exactly!! Politics is a messy business. If it helps with a win in OH so be it

[wiggs]

58. There are ways to get his support, which may be important, WITHOUT giving him speaking

time during the convention.

If he's serious about getting a sane president elected then he'll do what he needs to do without demanding a prime slot at the DNC. Not many goprs are going to be watching the DNC anyway.

[brooklynite]

26. What is Biden thinking? I believe it's "winning"...

Kasich wasn't in Congress when they tried to block ACA. And he was a popular Governor who stood up to Trump. And we won in 2018 by attracting moderate Republicans and Independents in suburban districts, not safe Democratic areas.

[still_one]

47. 1918? really. Otherwise, I agree with you post.

[CincyDem]

36. Kasich is valuable in Ohio. Period.

My bet is that his message is something like this:

I don't agree with Joe on everything...hell...I don't agree with anyone on everything...but Joe...he's a good guy. He's a patriotic American and having him int he White House gives me confidence that we'll have an America in 2024. I'm not gonna love everything Joe does in the WH but I'm gonna love a lot of it far more that what trump is going to do.

Kasich can send the message to the right center that Joe's not going to fire every policeman in the country, he's not going to let cities burn, he's not going to take your first born male children...etc...etc...etc. To the mid-right, Kasich is one of them and he's "sane". Maybe not by our standards but by theirs...so let's let him him drum up some votes.

Right center voters will give him a chance to be the sane voice and if his message is that Joe's not a republican but it's not the end of American as we know it...Biden will get those votes.

[old guy]

48. Any positives he could bring to the Biden campaign

he can bring without speaking at the convention. My position remains the same, no.

[Ohiogal]

52. I can't believe I'm saying this

Because I am certainly no fan of Kasich

But

He was an ardent supporter of Medicaid Expansion in Ohio, probably one of the very few Republican governors who embraced it despite much criticism from his own party.

He won Ohio over Trump in the March 2016 presidential primary.

He did not show up at the GOP convention in Cleveland in order to line up to kiss Trump’s ring despite being the state’s GOP governor at the time.

Yes, he initiated the state employee bargaining rights fiasco. But after Ohioans soundly told him where to stick it, he backed off.

He refused to sign the heartbeat bill that the crazy nut legislature put on his desk.

He has taken a lot of heat from his party for not kissing Trump’s ass.

If he wants to woo moderate Republicans who are sick of trump, I say let him. We can use their votes.

I wasn’t keen on the idea of him speaking at the Dem convention at first, either. But how is accepting his help any worse than accepting Dubya’s? We will need every vote we can get. Who wants to prove me wrong.

[Budi]

53. The Nation...🙄

"Dems & Repubs are no different" is the mantra of their base.
From 2016 on thru 2020, this is the same sensationalism of the shrinking purity crowd.

Neither Democrats nor disgruntled Republicans nor the purist party will save this country by themselves. It will take a complete & unified effort.

Putin' & Trump's goal was always to create division between wealth, race, religion, & whatever would keep the citizens from uniting.

Whether it's Lincoln Project or Kasich and others. I'm hearing more of the OMG! NO! from the same group who said there was no difference in Dem or Repub Parties.

It is just weird anymore. Who wants to keep America divided?
Maybe rather, its messaging from RWers who fear the building of Unity of American citizens against the division they worked long & hard to secure.

Without that continued division they lose their power.

Biden's "Rebuilding America" requires unity.

[jayfish]

61. As Soon As We Are Across The Stream They Will Sting The F Out Of Us.

I know Kasich from the Clinton years. He's not to be trusted.

[Budi]

62. So be it. We gotta get across the stream 1st. Or we die as a country.

There is nothing else at the moment but that.

[NCjack]

54. Better wait and see if he is mix-up with the Householder gang. nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

57. We're not nominating him.

He's giving a speech. That's all.

[ProfessorGAC]

60. Not Getting This OP At All

18 Electoral votes at stake is the only variable in the calculation.
There is one goal.
Methods can only be critiqued in retrospect.

[George II]

63. John Kasich never voted to repeal the ACA, in fact as Governor he expanded Medicare in Ohio.

[roamer65]

80. I'm not a fan of Kasich, but he did learn a lot from being Governor of Ohio.

I think he had an epiphany during it.

[JI7]

65. Speaking of the Nation, remember that career 'leftists' usually want Democrats to lose

[StarfishSaver]

66. That they want to win?

[diva77]

68. You can write to the Biden campaign at this link

https://go.joebiden.com/page/s/contact-us

Let them know what you think about this idea.

[Iggo]

69. You play. To win. The game.

Go Biden.

[ElementaryPenguin]

73. It's smart.

GOP allies are useful at this juncture.

We have to WIN to stop the dictator.

[ucrdem]

75. Obamacare is not named after a black guy

and is not called Obamacare, except by wingers. Why should I give a sh#t about anything else this person has to say if he or she can't even get the name of the legislation right?

Hint: it's called the PPACA.

[Polybius]

76. A lot of us here call it that too

I don't, but I've seen it posted many times.

[NYC Liberal]

77. President Obama calls it Obamacare.

That's good enough for me. And I quite like the name -- it was a great achievement, and he was a driving force behind it.

[ucrdem]

81. Fine, but the point is the article is a bunch of, well, malarkey.

It barely makes grammatical sense and makes no attempt to check the facts let alone proving anything. Color me unimpressed and not remotely tempted to renew my Nation subscription which I let lapse in 2008.

[ecstatic]

78. Agreed. Fuck Kasich. He still does a lot of spinning

and BS talk. I'm not going to hold it against Biden, but seriously, is Kasich really going to change minds? I don't think so!

[JI7]

89. He beat Trump in the Ohio Primary in 2016. And this was after Trump pretty much was going

to be the nominee.

[AmericanCanuck]

79. I suggest you get over it

EVERY vote counts regardless of which direction it comes from in a given election.

[Progressive Jones]

83. Kasich, like him or not, is pretty close to Center vs. the Gang Of Parasites. nt

[pecosbob]

85. I hope Householder implicates Kasich and they both go to jail

[FarPoint]

90. Well....that is lame...

Plus, no factual or even plausiable link to that thought.... Just thinking about it...would make Biden Team look really stupid....and that is not your goal ...so, let's not break out the tinfoil. ... Breathe...it's okay.

[pecosbob]

91. Householder spread around a lot of dark money in his rise to his second speakership

It's not that farfetched. Anyway, I'm not listening to one word from anyone who would say this...

Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich today told a female college student concerned about "sexual violence, harassment and rape" that she should not "go to parties where there's a lot of alcohol."

The student, who said she studied at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, replied, "It’s sad, but it’s something that I have to worry about."

"Well, I would give you -- I’d also give you one bit of advice," Kasich replied. "Don’t go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol."

Say what you will...he has no place on a stage addressing Dems.

[DeminPennswoods]

92. Kasich is a right winger, he's no "moderate"

I'm willing to bet there are very few, if any, policies Trump/Rs have enacted during the past 3+ years that Kasich did/does not agree with. I'm sure he's thrilled by all the wingnut, federalist society judges Trump has put in the federal judiciary.

Kasich is just a relatively friendly looking face plastered over the same awful Trump /GOP policies.