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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: kabar
"The poll from WBUR, an NPR-affiliate in Boston, finds that 62 percent of Massachusetts residents support Romney’s law, while just 33 percent oppose it."

You're citing a left-wing news source to back up your support for a left-wing 'Republican'. And on Free Republic, no less.

I guess Socialism is ok, as long as the guy doing it, has an R after his name. Unbelievable.

121 posted on 05/26/2012 12:48:43 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

Both things turned out to be true: Goldwater got votes and we were in war in Vietnam(although technically, we were in Vietnam long before the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution).


122 posted on 05/26/2012 12:51:25 PM PDT by ReformationFan
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To: muawiyah
No, the simple math is for Mitt to step aside and allow the party to bring in a real Republican.

You have repeated this nonsense scores of times but even you know there is no logic to it.

Romney has spent five years and piles of money securing the GOP nomination. It is all but in his hands.

Why would Romney suddenly now decide to simply not accept that which he has earned?

And if he did, who will decide who the nominee is to be, and which three people are among the top candidates at this point in time?

Your whole line ignores reality and defies reason.

123 posted on 05/26/2012 12:52:00 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: Windflier

I HOPE SO!!


124 posted on 05/26/2012 12:52:59 PM PDT by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
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To: Moorings

You are being dishonest.

Everyone who uses this site sees the damage and division that are occurring.


125 posted on 05/26/2012 12:54:13 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: rogue yam
When Romney ran in Virginia three significant things happened:

1. He ended up running neck and neck with Ron Paul,

2. Republicans didn't bother going to the polls, and

3. ......

Well, nothing else happened. They held an election and nobody came.

You will see more of that in November.

Certainly Romney, if no one else, should know by now he's missing several things you need to get elected.

126 posted on 05/26/2012 12:57:41 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
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.

The reality is that the same voters who turned out in huge numbers to toss out Richard Lugar and vote for Richard Mourdock in overwhelming numbers also voted for Romney in overwhelming numbers. It may not make sense but that is what happened. They decided they wanted Romney - not the GOP-e - otherwise Richard Lugar would have also been the victor by far. Same thing happened in Kentucky when voters chose Thomas Massie as the GOP candidate in the 4th Congressional district - the tea party favorite over establishment candidates.

Knock the nonsense off and start doing something constructive - like get Mourdock elected, Deb Fisher elected, etc. Complaining about Romney serves no purpose at this point. If you continue to spend all of your time doing this to in effect help Obama rather than alternatives like that, it will demonstrate you are simply not sincere and are part of the problem you claim to be railing against.

127 posted on 05/26/2012 12:57:41 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Republican Wildcat

They have an “open primary”. http://grassrootsidgop.wordpress.com/list-of-states-with-open-and-closed-primaries/ Primaries in open primary states tell us little about voting strength inside the party.


128 posted on 05/26/2012 12:59:50 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Republican Wildcat

My current best guess is that the Mitt-haters are motivated by their belief that Mormonism is demonic and that this trumps all other considerations.

They believe that the GOP, by nominating Mitt, has literally made a pact with Satan and must therefore be opposed to the utmost.


129 posted on 05/26/2012 1:01:04 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: rogue yam
If you are talking about being dishonest, you need to look in the mirror.

As far as division, there are many CONSERVATIVE freepers who will be holding their nose and voting for Milt. However, they do not go from thread to thread berating other freepers who are not happy with Milt, and trashing this website for allowing a voice for those who are not happy with the liberal nominee. There is a small group of militant Miltbots who are engaged in this activity. We see the same names on different threads.

130 posted on 05/26/2012 1:01:27 PM PDT by Moorings
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To: Republican Wildcat

Deb’s the gal I took a very close look at and found her responses on RTL to be tepid at best. She seems to not have a Conservative value to her name, but knows how to voice nostrums that fool others easily.


131 posted on 05/26/2012 1:01:27 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Vaquero
if you trash Mitt and either dont vote, or vote third party you are in effect supporting zer0bama.

ergo

you cant be a Conservative and support zer0bama

That is a fallacious argument, and I hope you know it. Supporting the GOP candidate, regardless of that candidate's proven record of liberalism, is an abject failure to stand by ones conservative principles.

If you feel that you need to vote for Romney out of pragmatism, then state it as such. No principled conservative would promote the candidacy of any proven liberal, regardless of their party affiliation, or slick campaign rhetoric.

Voting may be another matter, given the present circumstances.

132 posted on 05/26/2012 1:03:24 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: rogue yam

then tell us which group of Mormons you believe to be the true church so we can direct any of our mormon bashing at them ~ no sense on wasting it on a bunch even you think are members of a false mormon church eh!


133 posted on 05/26/2012 1:03:32 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: rogue yam

“I am a conservative ideologue. This Romney hatred is something else.”

I agree. I’m sort of fascinated and appalled by it simultaneously. It’s a true force of nature, terrible in its magnitude and intensity. There is a component of the uber-rigid ideologue to it, and something of the Terrible Twos mixed with the narcissism of perpetual adolescence, but that still doesn’t quite capture its self-righteous, self-destructive ferociousness in all its awe-inspiring glory.

I’m curious to know what you make of it, what you think that “something else” is. Let me know, because I share your wonderment.

I’ve used the metaphor before of some young guy wanting to go out in a blaze of glory, thinking he’s making a heroic, game changing last stand at the Alamo, when the better analogy would be Pickett’s Charge.

I’m also thinking of doing one of my weekend vanities tomorrow, quoting a few salient paragraphs from The Business of May Next, William Lee Miller’s wonderful political biography of James Madison’s role in our nation’s founding. That way these folks can flame Madison rather than me. :)


134 posted on 05/26/2012 1:06:44 PM PDT by dagogo redux (A whiff of primitive spirits in the air, harbingers of an impending descent into the feral.)
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To: muawiyah

As I see it..come November I will have a choice of 4 more years of Obama or vote for the Republican nominee..
My candidates did not prevail and have all endorsed Romney.

I will be voting to oust Obama..easy choice for me.
I believe Romney will be more conservative with a more conservative Congress.
I’ve voted in every Presidential race since Eisenhower.
I still haven’t found a “perfect” candidate.
Obama is the most dangerous mistake our country has made when voting for President..
I love America..I want Obama and his administration GONE


135 posted on 05/26/2012 1:08:24 PM PDT by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
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To: Kaslin; All
Scores of Democrats running for reelection will defect from Obama before the campaign is done. And scores of Democrat voters will reject him too.

Therefore, the bumper sticker should read:

Obama, typical democrat

136 posted on 05/26/2012 1:10:12 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: muawiyah
When Romney ran in Virginia three significant things happened:

1. He ended up running neck and neck with Ron Paul,

You lie about everything.

Virginia results:

Mitt Romney won 60% of the vote and 43 delegates.
Ron Paul won 40% of the vote and 0 delegates.

This is not "neck and neck".

137 posted on 05/26/2012 1:10:52 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: SkyShot
In the run up to Reagan’s first victory he was also widely perceived as left and weak.

What? I was there, and don't remember it that way at all. As a matter of fact, I was still robotically pulling the lever for the other side at the time, and that's not the way the Democrats thought of Reagan at all.

Reagan had been a strongly vocal supporter of Barry Goldwater in '64, if you recall. He'd also well established himself as a conservative while serving as Governor of California (I lived there, and remember his time in office well).

138 posted on 05/26/2012 1:11:26 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: rogue yam
Yeah, it's neck and neck ~ when you are supposed to be the ultimate top dog, oh so prepared, couldn't be slicker Republican candidate and somebody like Ron Paul gets 40%, you really have a problem ~ 'cause that's neck and neck in that game.

Romney didn't really have any competition.

I'd like to point out that all sorts of folks are pointing to the fact a guy in jail got 40% of the vote in a Democrat primary running against Obama (who's got a billion dollar war chest and walks on water while raising the dead) and noting this portends electoral disaster!

It's disaster all around.

139 posted on 05/26/2012 1:15:33 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: GreyMountainReagan
Mitt does not hate America, Americans, or America's founders.

Hard to prove that by his record in office. In fact, his record reads just like any liberal Democrat's.

When I'm interviewing a new hire, I take what he says in the interview with a grain of salt, and pay a lot more attention to what's on his resume to inform me of who he really is.

Based on what we know of Mitt Romney, he's a complete gamble at best, and a mistake of gargantuan proportions, at worst.

140 posted on 05/26/2012 1:16:34 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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