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As Predicted Democrats Abandoning Obama
Townhall.com ^ | May 26, 2012 | John Ransom

Posted on 05/26/2012 4:05:17 AM PDT by Kaslin

Love is always being able to tell liberals I told you so.

Ok, I don’t know if it’s love exactly, but man it sure does feel good.

A few weeks ago, after West Virginia’s Democrat governor and US Senator both refused to endorse Obama for reelection in 2012, I wrote:

Scores of Democrats running for reelection will defect from Obama before the campaign is done. And scores of Democrat voters will reject him too.

Why? The same reason voters will likely vote to kick Obama out of the White House: self-interest, if not outright self-defense.     

Democrat Governor Earl Ray Tomblin of West Virginia has announced that he isn’t sure that he will be supporting Barack Obama for reelection.

“Tomblin said in statement released by his campaign that he was a ‘loyal member of the Democratic Party’ but was concerned by fellow Democrat Obama's ‘misguided policies,” reports the Charleston Daily Mail.

I also observed that West Virginia’s newest Democrat Senator, Joe Manchin has been a little more direct about his distaste for Obama.

“If that means I have to break with my party to do what's best for the country,” wrote Manchin in an op-ed in the Gazette-Mail, “I will. If it means I take on a sitting president to protect West Virginia interests, I have and I will.”

Manchin’s bow-shot on SS Obama was returned by advisor David Axlerod on CNN’s State of the Union: "I think he was very candid there,” reported the National Journal. “His concern is about his own political well being. He's running for the Senate in that state. We didn't win the state the last time. It's going to be a tough state for us again, and he's making a political judgment about himself."

Well according to the official tally released today by the RNC, the number of Democrats slapping down Obama isn’t quite yet a score.

It’s only 14.

That will do for now. It’s early.

In an email titled “14 and Counting,” the RNC details 14 Democrats who have disavowed Obama’s “attacks on free enterprise in his campaign.”

The list includes some we already know about, but it also includes some names that should worry Obama- like for example Senator Dianne Feinstein (LIB, CA) who has told Obama to get on with more fertile campaign territory.

From the RNC:

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): "It's Done. … Go On To Other Things Now." "Despite pushback from more than a half-dozen Democrats, the Obama campaign on Tuesday defended how it has scrutinized Romney's business background. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a widely respected member of Congress, stopped short of criticizing the president, but made it clear that the campaign should pivot. 'It's done,' she said. 'Go on to other things now.'" (Cameron Joseph, "Democrats Balk At Obama Campaign's Sustained Attack On Bain Capital," The Hill, 5/22/12)

And also included in the list is former DNC chair Ed Rendell:

EARLIER IN THE DAY: Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) Said Obama's Attacks On Free Enterprise Are "Very Disappointing." "And Rendell joined the chorus of criticism of Obama's attacks on finance, whose leaders have written checks to many members of both parties. 'I think they're very disappointing,' Rendell said of the ads attacking Bain." (Zeke Miller, "Is This Obama's Party?," BuzzFeed, 5/22/12)

I’ve reprinted the entire email below.

It’s good stuff, and well-deserved.

Congrats Obama! Keep it up:

Up To 14 Different Democrat Obama Supporters Voice Their Disagreement With Obama's Attacks On Free Enterprise

_____________________________________________________________________

OBAMA SUPPORTER (?) #1: SENATOR JOE MANCHIN (D-WV) DEFENDED FREE ENTERPRISE, SAID MARKETS CHOOSE BETTER THAN GOVERNMENT

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) Defended Free Enterprise, Saying That The "Markets Have Always Done A Much Better Job Than What We've Done In Government." SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): "I believe in the free enterprise system. I believe business and labor have to work together. I think if you have a good business, you'll have good workers and if you have good workers then that's a good place to work. … I think with the balance that we have, the markets have always done a much better job than what we've done in government." (Kerry Picket, "Manchin - Private Sector Better At Picking Winners And Losers Than Gov't," The Washington Times ' The Water Cooler , 5/24/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTERS #2 AND #3: NEW YORK SENATORS CHUCK SCHUMER AND KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND DECLINED TO COMMENT ABOUT OBAMA'S ATTACKS

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) And Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Declined To Comment About Obama's Attacks. "It is one of the most delicate topics within the party these days. Two Democrats with close ties to Wall Street, Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York, declined to comment on Wednesday." (Nicholas Confessore, "Strategy On Rival's Career Holds Pitfalls For President," The New York Times, 5/23/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #4: FORMER CLINTON LAWYER LANNY DAVIS DEFENDED FREE ENTERPRISE

Former Clinton Special Counsel Lanny Davis Defended Private Equity. "Private equity firms often invest in distressed companies by putting in cash and cutting expenses in order to save a company that is already close to bankruptcy. Sometimes the investment works and the company and jobs are saved. And sometimes, to save the company, jobs need to be cut or wages and benefits reduced." (Lanny Davis, Op-Ed, "Cory Booker Got It Right," The Hill, 5/23/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #5: SENATOR CHRIS COONS (D-DE) SHOOK HIS HEAD "VIGOROUSLY" AS HE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON OBAMA'S ATTACKS

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) Refused To Comment On Whether Obama's Attacks On Free Enterprise Were Within The Parameters Of What Coons Hoped The Election Would Be About. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told The Hill, 'I think the average American … hopes that this campaign will focus on competing visions for how to strengthen our economy, help create jobs and move the country forward. ' Pressed on whether he thought Obama's campaign had operated within those guidelines, Coons paused. 'I'm not going to comment on President Obama's ad,' he said, shaking his head vigorously." (Cameron Joseph, "Democrats Balk At Obama Campaign's Sustained Attack On Bain Capital," The Hill, 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #6: SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): "IT'S DONE. … GO ON TO OTHER THINGS NOW."

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): "It's Done. … Go On To Other Things Now." "Despite pushback from more than a half-dozen Democrats, the Obama campaign on Tuesday defended how it has scrutinized Romney's business background. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a widely respected member of Congress, stopped short of criticizing the president, but made it clear that the campaign should pivot. 'It's done,' she said. 'Go on to other things now.'" (Cameron Joseph, "Democrats Balk At Obama Campaign's Sustained Attack On Bain Capital," The Hill, 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #7: GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK (D-MA) SAID BAIN CAPITAL IS "NOT A BAD COMPANY"

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Governor Deval Patrick Said Bain Capital Is "Not A Bad Company." CNN'S JOHN KING: "You're in a very interesting position this year. I want to start with… You're the governor of a state that Bain Capital calls its global home. It's right up the street in Lowell headquarters." GOV. DEVAL PATRICK (D-MA): "Indeed." KING: "Are they a bad company?" (CNN's "John King USA," 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #8: FORMER CONGRESSMAN ARTUR DAVIS (D-AL) SAID OBAMA IS DOUBLING DOWN ON "EUROPEAN LEFTIST" IDEAS ON FREE ENTERPRISE

Former Representative Artur Davis (D-AL) Said The Obama Campaign's Attacks Follow "The European Leftist Notion That Business Is Fair Only When It Operates In A Sanitized, Risk Free Manner." DAVIS: "It's hard to imagine a more instructive couple of days for those who want to know where the Democratic Party's head is at: its only high-profile African American moderate just got a brushback pitch for leaning in too close to the Independent thought zone; the Obama camp looks ominously like a cult of personality that tolerates no dissent; and the reelection campaign just doubled down on the European leftist notion that business is fair only when it operates in a sanitized, risk free manner." (Artur Davis, "Should Democrats Stop Bain Capital Attacks?" Politico's The Arena , 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #9: SENATOR MARK WARNER (D-VA) CALLED BAIN CAPITAL A "VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS"

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA): "I think Bain Capital was a very successful business." (MSNBC's "Daily Rundown," 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #10: FORMER DNC CHAIR AND FORMER GOV. ED RENDELL CALLED OBAMA'S ATTACKS "VERY DISAPPOINTNG" …UPDATE: RENDELL SAYS HE'S EITHER/OR ON AGREEING WITH HOW OBAMA RUNS HIS CAMPAIGN

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Former DNC Chair/Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) Said He Was "Either/Or" On Whether Or He Was With Obama Campaign On Its Attack Tactics. MSNBC's CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Governor Rendell, big question. Are you with the Obama campaign as it's being run right now, or are you against it?" FORMER DNC CHAIRMAN ED RENDELL: "Well … either/or." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 5/22/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #11: FORMER CONGRESSMAN HAROLD FORD JR. (D-TN) DISAGREES WITH OBAMA'S ATTACKS

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Said He Would Not Have Backed Off Mayor Booker's Comments About Private Equity And Called Private Equity A "Good Thing In Many, Many Instances." FORMER REP. HAROLD FORD JR. (D-TN): "I would not have backed off the comments if I were Mayor Booker. I understand him wanting to make the point that legitimate questions can be raised about whether or not at Bain they made bad decisions about certain -overall, I agree with the substance - the substance of his comments on Meet The Press, I agree with, the core of it, I would not have backed them out. Having said that, I understand as a surrogate for the campaign, you have to have one of your key and most eloquent and most effective surrogates at least clarify or bring some context to his statements. But I agree with him, private equity is not a bad thing. Matter of fact, private equity is a good thing in many, many instances." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 5/21/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #12: OBAMA SURROGATE MAYOR CORY BOOKER SAYS HE'S "VERY UNCOMFORTABLE" WITH OBAMA'S LINE OF ATTACK

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark, NJ): "I have to say from a very personal level I'm not about to sit here and indict private equity. To me, it's just, we're getting to a ridiculous point in America. Especially, I know, I live in a state where pension funds, unions and other people are investing in companies like Bain Capital. If you look at the totality of Bain Capital's record, they've done a lot to support businesses, to grow businesses, and this to me, I'm very uncomfortable with." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 5/20/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #13: FORMER OBAMA ECON ADVISER STEVEN RATTNER CALLED OBAMA'S AD "UNFAIR"

RNC Youtube

Click To Watch

Former Obama Economic Adviser Steven Rattner: "I Think The Ad Is Unfair… I Don't Think There's Anything Bain Capital Did That They Need To Be Embarrassed About.""Former Obama administration auto czar Steven Rattner said Monday that the Obama campaign's renewed attack on Mitt Romney's time in private equity was 'unfair.' 'I think the ad is unfair.' Rattner said. 'Mitt Romney made a mistake ever talking about the fact that he created 100,000 jobs.'…'Bain Capital's responsibility was not to create 100,000 jobs or some other number. It was to create profits for its investors,' Rattner said. 'It did it superbly well, acting within the rules, acting very responsibly,' Rattner said. 'This is part of capitalism, this is part of life. I don't think there's anything Bain Capital did that they need to be embarrassed about.'" (Byron Tau, "Ex-Obama Adviser: Latest Anti-Romney Ad Is 'Unfair'," Politico, 5/14/12)

OBAMA SUPPORTER #14: MAJOR OBAMA FUNDRAISER EXPRESSES A DIFFERENT SENTIMENT FROM OBAMA'S ATTACK ADS

Obama Bundler Don Peebles Questioned Obama's Attack On Bain: "I Think It's Difficult To Attack Or Demonize An Industry And Then Take Money From It." "A top fundraiser for President Barack Obama's presidential campaign expressed disappointment that he is taking money from the private equity industry while simultaneously attacking them to tarnish Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital. Don Peebles, a Miami real estate executive who has raised more than $100,000 for the president's campaign this cycle, told BuzzFeed 'I think it's difficult to attack or demonize an industry and then take money from it.'" (Zeke Miller, "Obama Bundler Decries 'Vilification' Of Private Equity," BuzzFeed, 5/15/12)



TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: 112th; bho2012; bho44; buyersremorse; circularfiringsquad; democrats; elections; implosion; obama
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To: kinsman redeemer

No kidding ;)


101 posted on 05/26/2012 10:51:56 AM PDT by henkster (Wanted: Politicians willing to say "No" to people. No experience required.)
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To: muawiyah
Mitt is NOT the nominee, and there's every reason to believe he won't be after the Convention either.

You post nonsense.

There is NO reason to think that Romney won't be the GOP nominee and there hasn't been one for weeks and weeks.

Name one reason why Mitt might fall, and name one person who even might get the nomination instead. It is to laugh at this point.

102 posted on 05/26/2012 10:53:18 AM PDT by rogue yam
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To: Vaquero
I'm sure not supporting 0bama, but you people who support Rombama are supporting the guy who invented gay marriage in Massachusetts and enslaved the people with a forced medical care system that also aborts babies with tax dollars.

Best I can tell from here he is both Godless and soulless and those are only two of the reasons he didn't engage in public service in Michigan, Utah, Arizona, Idaho or Nevada. There are more.

He's not even legitimately a Republican having donated to Democrat campaigns while governor of Massachusetts.

Get a real Republican for a change ~ otherwise you folks in the GOP-e are just wasting your time.

103 posted on 05/26/2012 10:54:08 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: rogue yam
The GOP-e is not now nor has it ever been the real Republican party.

I hope to purge those people and send them back to the Democrats where they belong.

104 posted on 05/26/2012 10:56:59 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
I don't support Romney
My job As a patriot is to
Remove zer0bama...period
I would rather deal with Romney and as Romney is now dealing with a fairly Conservative nation and not mass-of-2-$h!t$ he will most likely ‘Evolve’...to steal a phrase
105 posted on 05/26/2012 11:07:36 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: Diogenesis

Well, Boo Hoo.

Perhaps you’ll just sit this one out. Yeah, that’ll show ‘em.

As info - In the run up to Reagan’s first victory he was also widely perceived as left and weak. Not saying Mitt’s the next Ronald, but it’s too early to take your little ball and run home.

SkyShot


106 posted on 05/26/2012 11:19:23 AM PDT by SkyShot (Jesus is coming. Look busy!)
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To: muawiyah
Get a real Republican for a change ~ otherwise you folks in the GOP-e are just wasting your time.

Again over 100 posts about Romny without a single reason as to why a conservative should vote for him for what he has accomplished.

107 posted on 05/26/2012 11:36:43 AM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: EGPWS
Again over 100 posts about Romny without a single reason as to why a conservative should vote for him for what he has accomplished

Mitt is NOT 0bama.

Mitt does not hate America, Americans, or America's founders.

If that is not good enough for the pro-0bama contingent here then, oh well.

108 posted on 05/26/2012 11:49:12 AM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: rogue yam

Oh I know that. Romney will most assuredly win all the electoral votes from my state. Therefore, I can vote for Goode in good conscience.


109 posted on 05/26/2012 11:56:12 AM PDT by ReformationFan
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To: GreyMountainReagan
We really don't know if Rombama loves America or wants to "fix it" in some foreign image.

He really hasn't said, and his record suggests he's an America hating socialist baby killer.

All along we've been telling folks that the GOP-e doesn't understand and here they go and try to foist another of their kind on us.

I think they should give up and go somewhere else.

110 posted on 05/26/2012 12:16:31 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: ReformationFan; rogue yam

It’s kind of like back when they told us that if we voted for Barry Goldwater we’d be in war in Viet Nam.


111 posted on 05/26/2012 12:18:09 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
...and his record suggests he's an America hating socialist baby killer.

hyperbole much?

Sheeesh

112 posted on 05/26/2012 12:21:33 PM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: GreyMountainReagan
He was Governor of Massachusetts. Everybody knows what he did there ~ so what I said is hardly hyperbole.

Please pull your head out of the sand first if you want to debate here.

113 posted on 05/26/2012 12:25:52 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: MEG33
Unfortunately the polls don’t reflect this.

In the only polls that really matter (state primaries), Obama has lost a full 40% of the Democrat vote to ABO. Can you cite another example of this happening to an incumbent president running for re-election?

He's in real trouble.

114 posted on 05/26/2012 12:31:34 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: muawiyah

Try this on for size. You not voting for Mitt will increase the chance that 0bama will be re-elected. Period.

If you can’t vote for Romney might as well vote for 0bama. The effect is exactly the same, increase the chance that 0bama will be re-elected.

Period. It is simple math.


115 posted on 05/26/2012 12:35:02 PM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: GreyMountainReagan
No, the simple math is for Mitt to step aside and allow the party to bring in a real Republican.

Couldn't be simpler.

One man. One vote. One time.

116 posted on 05/26/2012 12:38:57 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: rogue yam
This site has been severely damaged

You and the other militant Miltbots have been concern trolling about how severely damaged this site is for a few months now. Yet you're still here on this "severely damaged" site, severely upset that not everyone on this CONSERVATIVE site have fallen lock step with Milt.

This site is as "severely damaged" as the "severely conservative" Milt.

117 posted on 05/26/2012 12:41:22 PM PDT by Moorings
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To: Kaslin
Scores of Democrats running for reelection will defect from Obama before the campaign is done...

This means Clinton has the goods on the defectors - - only 'principles' dems know are hunger, greed, and collusion...

(/kəˈlo͞oZHən/ Noun: Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, esp. in order to cheat or deceive others.)

118 posted on 05/26/2012 12:46:36 PM PDT by GOPJ ( "A Dog In Every Pot" - freeper ETL)
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To: rogue yam

It’s quite pitiful, and also simply not credible. If they were really as concerned about getting conservative policies enacted, there are any number of constructive things they could do in House and Senate races to make a difference and just ignore Romney altogether. Instead, they just do what they always do - act miserable and try to make other people miserable. On another thread showing a tight Senate race in Indiana, they seemed almost excited about the prospect of Mourdock losing so they can could then blame it on Romney just so they could hopefully come along and rub a loss in people’s faces. They simply do not come across as sincere. Romney is just an excuse and a means to carry this out - not the reason.


119 posted on 05/26/2012 12:46:44 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Kaslin

Someone please check the sprinkler system in the Reichstag.


120 posted on 05/26/2012 12:47:43 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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