Democrats distancing themselves from Obama

[a kennedy]

It’s been a tough summer for swing-district Democrats seeking reelection in 2012 with a president at the top of the ticket whose approval ratings are in the weeds.

As these members begin to focus on their reelection bids after Labor Day, they are increasingly calculating how close is too close to an unpopular President Obama.

Take Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who represents a district that nearly went for Republican George W. Bush in 2004. In a recent local TV interview, DeFazio said of Obama that the word “fight” isn’t “in his vocabulary” — and he then repeated the criticism to constituents at a town hall. Or Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., who won a Republican-friendly district in a special election last year and pointedly declined to endorse the sitting president last week.

The president’s dismal poll ratings, should they continue into next year, could sink Democratic hopes for reclaiming ground in the House and retaining control of the Senate — especially in battleground states and swing districts.

“If he is where he is now, it’s not going to work for Democrats,” said Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., who opted earlier this year not to seek reelection in his competitive district.

Democrats are also keeping their distance in two House special elections taking place later this month — in both a solidly-Democratic district in New York City and a Republican-leaning one in rural Nevada. The sting of Obama’s low approval ratings is already being felt in Queens and Brooklyn, where Republican candidate Bob Turner has turned the Democratic-leaning district into a battleground by framing the special election as a referendum on the administration and its treatment of Israel.

Liberal firebrand Anthony Weiner held onto that district with ease for more than a decade, and even when scandal forced him out of office, few had thought the race to replace him would be close.

In the Nevada race to replace Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., in the House, national Republican groups have aired advertisements connecting Democratic nominee Kate Marshall with Obama. Strategists from both parties expect Republican Mark Amodei to prevail — in a district where Obama won 49 percent in 2008.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44358736/ns/politics-white_house/#.Tl_MD3O1nOk

[closeupready]

1. Well, he's going to cut social security and medicare.

Meanwhile, George Bush tried to do that, and failed. If Obama tries, he'll succeed.

Therefore, if I was on social security, or soon to collect, I would have to think real hard about the calculus involved in how this election will have an impact on social security.

Obama needs to come out against any and all 'modifications' to social security and medicare. To the contrary, he needs to support strengthening these programs. Anything short of that, in light of his record, would give some people cause for concern.

[TheWraith]

2. Again, this totally nonsensical lie.

It is simply a fabrication. Obama has not cut Social Security, negotiated a debt deal that protects Social Security, and has explicitly rejected cutting Social Security. Yet some people are convinced by lies they see on the internet that he really secretly wants seniors eating catfood. With about as much evidence as the claim that he's a secret muslim.

[closeupready]

5. But then, can you please post a link to Obama talking about making social security stronger?

:placeholder: Didn't think so.:/placeholder:

[CakeGrrl]

9. He's said it every time he was in front of the camera during the debt debate.

If you simply don't believe that that's what he wants to do, that's on you.

[closeupready]

10. Actually, he spoke out in favor of "entitlement reform", i.e., cutting social security.

nt

[totodeinhere]

13. "Entitlement reform" doesn't necessarily mean cutting benefits. It might mean

getting rid of the cap on FICA deductions, or it could mean means testing that only impacts the rich, among other things. Until Obama specifically endorses actual cuts to Social Security benefits for people other than the rich, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

[closeupready]

14. Oh, please.

:eyes:

[JoePhilly]

16. If Obama is trying to cut SS, he SUCKS at it.

[closeupready]

24. Once he wins re-election, all Republicans have to do is approve whatever cuts he puts forward.

Blue dogs will go along, and Obama will sign.

Bingo, Bango, Bongo - the same cuts George Bush wanted to do will be approved under a Democratic administration.

[TheWraith]

58. You have an INCREDIBLY active fantasy life. nt

[closeupready]

59. STOP SHOUTING, kid.

nt

[dionysus]

60. it's healthy to have a good imagination.

[totodeinhere]

18. Well excuse me for wanting to give my Democratic president the benefit of the doubt when he

hasn't ever called for reducing Social Security benefits. In fact, he went out of his way to protect beneficiaries in that recent debt ceiling deal. If he ever does call for actually reducing benefits, then I will be right up there with you bashing him. But I won't do it until then.

[closeupready]

25. Okay, suit yourself, and I don't blame you necessarily.

Maybe I'm a little older than you, who knows. I've been a political observer since at least 1980, so, whatever.

[lumpy]

48. I'm a helluva lot older than you, dude, and I know a helluve a lot

more about politics and how the wind blows. And you are blowing it in the wrong direction. People like you are playing right into the hands of the Teapublican party; keep harping about Obama and you'll have people believing we Democrats are non-supportive of our elected president. Negativity has nothing but negative results. United we stand, divided we fall has been the byword in politics always. Underneath all the hype and blathering most of us know Obama adhers to our Democratic principles and he needs our positive help to come through.

[closeupready]

50. For the record, I hope Obama wins re-election.

But I'll be focusing on Congressional races, since it appears that on social security and medicare, Obama is going to give Republicans what George Bush couldn't, or at least SOME of what GWB tried to give them, and so IMO, we need a very, very progressive Congress to stop ANY AND ALL entitlement "reform" that may end up 'on the table'.

Peace.

[iamthebandfanman]

41. i dont think republicans got your memo

on entitlement reforms not necessarily meaning cutting benefits :p

that has long been their word play for doing something to SS

[Magister Ludi]

21. you hear what you want to hear. your ears are locked down.

[closeupready]

26. You can't hear, "entitlement reform" during a debate about how to cut government expenses

without hearing "cut social security and medicare", unless you don't WANT to hear it.

[JoePhilly]

43. Isn't raisning the CAP a reform?

You can not have it both ways.

You can not call for raising the cap, and then complain about "reforms".

[closeupready]

44. No, Raising the cap does not give social security a new form, i.e., "re-form".

When he says reform, he means reform.

[JoePhilly]

46. Oh please. Is lowering the AGE a reform?

Lots of folks argue that we should lower the age to 55 because that would allow older workers to retire early making room in the work force.

Or ... we can just hate Obama.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raine1967]

51. You want a link? Why doncha listen to the man?

This malarkey is the kind of stuff that makes me upset.

I listen to what he says -- I watch his speeches -- I don't need a link.

And to be quite honest -- if other people do need a link, I suggest looking at a direct source, here is one: http://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse

So please, with all due respect. take that place holder and store it. When you are done, go do some research.

[NorthCarolina]

62. He'd rather 'strengthen' via cuts than 'strengthen' by raising the payroll cap. nt

[grahamhgreen]

45. Wait. His FICA tax holiday damages the long term solvency of SS, so therefore he already HAS cut SS.

[closeupready]

49. Yes, and at a minimum, we know that if pressed, he's willing to put it 'on the table'.

That right there - that it's not a line-in-the-sand, as it has traditionally been - tells us (and Republicans, coincidentally) that he's just not that into SS or Medicare.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkowl]

3. Congressmen demand Ponies!!

It's a good thing solidly Democratic congressmen don't comprise Obama's base or help in GOTV. Bunch of whiners. :sarcasm:

[ProSense]

6. This piece

"national Republican groups have aired advertisements connecting Democratic nominee Kate Marshall with Obama"

...is hilarious!

Maybe she should run some ads linking Heller to the Boehner and Cantor.

Seriously, these are Republican/leaning districts so the best way to win is hide the fact that you're a Democrat?

In Weiner's district, Ed Koch endorsed the Republican. There's a lot of lunacy out there.

Also, good riddance to Boren!

[Cali_Democrat]

7. It also doesn't help that Obama is bashing Congress as a whole and not the GOP specifically

Talk about clueless.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkowl]

11. Uhhh, Dems are part of Congress too

The point is Obama should be bashing ONLY Republicans, and his blanket condemnation of Congress as a whole hurts Democrats, who are part of Congress. Attacking your own party guarantees you won't be re-elected.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. And the President can not simply say 'republicans' why. again?

He needs to do so. And it is correct that his blaming Congress is not so helpful to Democrats in Congress, who are not the problem. The Republicans are the problem and the President needs to articulate that with power, specificity and no nonsense. The abuse of power on the part of the Republicans is not the fault of Congress as a whole, nor of the institution itself.

[William769]

15. Thats what a leader of our party needs to do.

Not someone that capitulates.

[JoePhilly]

19. He has said it, many times.

And the only way some will hear it apparently, is if he comes to their homes and says it in person.

He's been calling out the right wing GOP fringe for months. But the "liberal media" ignores it.

[William769]

22. If you could give me some examples it would be greatly appreciated.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

29. Examples...

From July 29 (with video):

<snip>He accused the Republicans, who last week dropped out of negotiations on the budget, of avoiding tough decisions and said they were playing a dangerous game that could significantly affect the nation’s struggling economy and capital markets and slow down private efforts to create jobs.

Mr. Obama repeatedly mocked tax breaks that he said were for “millionaires and billionaires, oil companies and corporate jet owners,” saying that voters would not look kindly on Republican lawmakers who defended such breaks at the cost of cuts in popular programs like health care, education and food safety. </snip>

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/29/obama-republican-leaders-must-bend-on-taxes/

----------

Example two, August 8, 2011:

<snip>VINEYARD HAVEN, Massachusetts — US President Barack Obama on Saturday again accused Republicans in Congress of putting politics before their country and blocking his efforts to create jobs.</snip>

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/21/obama-accuses-republicans-of-blocking-job-creation/

----------

Example three from the debt ceiling debacle:

<snip>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama declared on Monday there would be no deal on raising the government's debt limit if Republicans won't compromise, and he said he would not sign a short-term extension — raising the stakes on volatile negotiations with the clock ticking toward an Aug. 2 deadline.

"I don't see a path to a deal if they don't budge. Period," the president said in a challenge to his political opponents, accusing Republicans of having a "my way or the highway" posture on taxes.</snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-challenges-gop-compromise-debt-153234996.html


-----------

Example four on the immigration debate:

<snip>
"eel free to keep the heat on me and keep the heat on Democrats. But here's the only thing you should know. The Democrats and your President are with you. Don't get confused about that. Remember who it is that we need to move in order to actually change the laws," he said.

Obama told the group there is "unfinished business" and that "I promised you I would work tirelessly to fix our broken immigration system and make the DREAM Act a reality." The DREAM Act, which would give citizenship to children of immigrants who are in college or serving in the military, failed in the Senate last year and has not had success moving forward yet in 2011.

"Believe me...the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting," he said, adding because that's not how things work with the constitution.</snip>

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/07/25/president-obama-says-republicans-blame-no-immigration-reform

--------------

Last one for now:

<snip>President Barack Obama placed the blame for Washington's current political paralysis squarely at the feet of his Republican opponents Tuesday, telling CNN that the GOP's "ideological rigidity" is standing in the way of compromises necessary for stronger economic growth.</snip>

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-16/politics/obama.cnn_1_president-barack-obama-trade-deals-republicans?_s=PM:POLITICS

[Bluenorthwest]

33. Did you notice that in all that you posted, not once did you

use an actual quote from Obama where he says the word 'Republicans'? You say he has said it many times, yet you do not post one actual quote using the word. Nor is there one in any text at any of the links. I can not watch the vid right now, I will assume for you that in there someplace he actually says 'Republicans' the actual word. Because he most certainly did not in any text at any of your links.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. Actually the first quote includes a video. And the CNN interview is the very last

example. Again, I do not allow my anger at the president lead me to irrational and knee-jerk hysterics. If you can't deal with that, then I'm I don't have anything else to say to you on this subject. We're going to have to agree to disagree.

[Bluenorthwest]

36. It is not disagreement to say that none of your text examples

has a single example of Obama saying the word 'Republican'. I can not, to repeat, watch the video right now, but I again tell you I assume he does say 'Republican' in that clip. However, at those other links, he does not say so one time. Read them yourself. They do not have Obama saying 'Republicans' at all. Not once. Yet you posted the links as if they did. That is not all that cricket in my book, just so you know.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

39. Until you watch the videos and see the president himself utter those words,

then you have nothing else to say to me. If you don't have time to watch the videos and haven't seen them, then how can you call me a liar?

Off to ignore with you!

[William769]

38. See post #23.

We got your number.

[Cali_Democrat]

40. Example of how he's called out the right wing GOP for months?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. He has actually said "Republicans" many times. If you didn't hear or ignored him

that's your fault, not his!!

[closeupready]

23. How convenient for you, that many long-term members here are to blame

for not hearing from him what you have heard many times (apparently).

[William769]

27. I don't think either one of us will be getting a answer.

As I pointed out to someone the other day "Amazing capacity at self deception."

[closeupready]

30. Of course we won't. But unlike prior times, I'm not backing down in

the face of retorts. As Bluenorthwest states, if Obama has said he supports strengthening social security, it's as simple a matter to post those statements and facts as it is to post his statements supporting "entitlement reform" during a discussion about cutting federal expenses.

Cheers to you. :)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. Actually, I pay attention, not allowing my anger at the president to cloud my judgement

...or my ears!!

[Bluenorthwest]

28. And so he can not vote for me then.

The message is not clear enough, not emphatic enough. Far too bipartisan, the rhetoric soft and round. And of course, I am not alone in saying this, nor are the other posters here who say this.
I'd also say that your job as a 'supporter' trying to persuade would be to offer examples of his strong verbiage toward Republicans, used many times, rather than cracking wise toward me personally. What do you gain for anyone with that stuff? If I am so wrong, just demonstrate that with facts. Others on the thread have asked others with your position to do the same. So far, personal wise cracks, no links, no quotes. That is, in the end, what it is. It is not much in the way of support if you ask me, not that you would.

[tblue]

37. It's so wrong!

And I am sure all the good & decent Dems fighting for the right things just cringe when he says that over and over and over.

[blogslut]

17. Burying the lede

The lede being swing districts. You know, the districts that contain a fairly even share of both conservatives and liberals? Weiner's district is the anomaly and the article explains that problem has to do with Bob Turner exploiting the myth that Obama is anti-Israel.

[vaberella]

31. No problem. That's what they did in 2010 and then it bit them on the ass. Feingold is an example.

nt

[Bluenorthwest]

35. DeFazio won in 2010, and you should be glad that he did.

So did Senator Wyden, Democrat from Oregon, and so forth. No one got 'bit on the ass' but the Republican challengers. Too bad the rest of the country can't try biting the ass of the Republicans in elections, instead of being so bipartisan and 'centrist'. Too bad the rest of the country does not have turn out like we did in 2010, record breaking. Why do you think that is, that the more liberal and outspoken candidates did so much better in 2010 than the more conservative Democrats, by and large, exceptions on both sides of course, and of course?

[vaberella]

52. Why should I be glad?

Actually many did...although I don't like the Conservadems---but they are mainly the ones I was talking about. Since most of them turned away from the Obama brand. However Feingold did as well until of course the Rachel Maddow special which showed Obama at a rally in his town adn the praise most of Obama's plans got when Obama talked about them. Then Feingold, ineffectually started seeing a rise in his numbers when he embraced those changes.

As far as the Liberal Dems...that was easily explained. They are mainly in Blue rural districts---so they managed to maintain their role. But people who were "loud, outspoken candidates" like Congress Grayson had his ass handed back to him.

[William769]

54. you don't like Conservadems but you root for Obama?

:wow:

[provis99]

55. It's called cognitive dissonance...

[William769]

42. And who will be the example in 2012?

[vaberella]

53. I'm sure there will e a series. There always is. n/t

[Phx_Dem]

56. When have they ever had his back? The GOP treats THIS President like

A piece if shit stuck to the bottom of their shoe every day for the last 3 years and the Dems have not once circled the wagons to support him.

They just complain a lot and blame Obama for being too involved in Congressional business or for not being involved enough. They're assholes.

[treestar]

57. Well let's just let the Republicans win it all!

How fuckin' stupid are these people?

[TheKentuckian]

64. If the plan is to adopt, implement, and take the heat for their counter productive policies

then that would be far less damaging to the Democratic brand and liberal ideology.

[tallahasseedem]

61. How did that work out for Gore in 2000?

Oh, not so well indeed...

[swilton]

63. Dan Boren of OK

bluest of the blue dogs is no great loss.