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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: Moorings

No one goes from thread to thread looking for Mitt-haters.

They deliver themselves to every single thread related to the election.

But it is progress of a sort that you no longer so dishonestly claim that the divisions do not exist.


141 posted on 05/26/2012 1:19:22 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: MEG33
Turns out the biggest mistake Republicans ever made was running all those guys who lost ~ and they're doing it again ~ two in a row!
142 posted on 05/26/2012 1:20:44 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

Praying Obama loses this time.


143 posted on 05/26/2012 1:24:14 PM PDT by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
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To: Windflier; GreyMountainReagan
When Mitt was faced with the court decision that the marriage laws of Massachusetts were unconstitutional, instead of leaping to the defense of the Founders of America (many of whom lived there) who'd written the Massachusetts Constitution, and the US Constitution, and the statutes of both Mass and the US, he fell all over himself cow-tow-ing to the current batch of judges.

It was like he had no idea what America was about, and how it's governed. He has not improved with time.

144 posted on 05/26/2012 1:24:42 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Kaslin
He will win reelection. Slow Joe will be replaced by Her Thighness on the ticket and the Democrats will rejoice.

I have given up on the Electorate. They need two hands to find their A$$, and they expect one of those hands to be someone Else’s.

145 posted on 05/26/2012 1:29:39 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Confucius say, short note better than long memory....)
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To: Kaslin
This migration away from Obama began over a year ago.

My wife's parents are originally from Duluth, Mn. They have loyally voted Democrat for decades.

Early last year they called my wife and said they were sorry they voted for Obama. They weren't apologizing to my wife for voting democrat, but that they were really apoligizing to themselves for voting for Obama.

I was floored upon hearing this.

My wife is a registered Republican, I'm Independent.

Yes, I know, most of you will say she is the smart one.....she is pretty smart though.

146 posted on 05/26/2012 1:30:57 PM PDT by Puckster
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To: rogue yam
No one goes from thread to thread looking for Mitt-haters.

There you go again after talking about dishonesty. The militant Miltbots are pretty obvious.

divisions

What did you expect in a CONSERVATIVE forum of this size... that there will not be strong reactions to the far left nominee. You and the other miltbots are severely upset that conservatives have negative things to say about Milt. You expect everyone to march lock step with the far left liberal nominee.

Keep up your concern trolling. Why are you still here, if the site is not up to your standards?

147 posted on 05/26/2012 1:32:30 PM PDT by Moorings
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To: ReformationFan

Virgil Goode is a lifelong democrat. How is that any better?


148 posted on 05/26/2012 1:50:36 PM PDT by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron.)
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To: dagogo redux
I’m curious to know what you make of it, what you think that “something else” is.

I think it is religious.

Here's what I said upthread:

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.

Now check out the reply to this at #133. I really think I'm onto something here.

149 posted on 05/26/2012 1:54:43 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: Kaslin

As you observe then, America is full of tens millions of traitors, no longer just a few hundred thousand fifth columnists.


150 posted on 05/26/2012 1:58:41 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Past is prologue: The American people again let us down in this election cycle.)
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To: raybbr

You mean we got 3 Democrats running for president instead of 2(Maobama and Robomney, of course)?


151 posted on 05/26/2012 2:01:06 PM PDT by ReformationFan
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To: Kaslin

” - - - Only voting for our nominee and sticking together will pretty well guarantee it.”

Yep, - - - well, - - - , maybe - - ? It has been such a long time since that Party Line has worked - - - ?

Right now the odds of Romney winning is about 50-50.

Let’s ask McCain, and find out how that good old Party Line worked out for him.


152 posted on 05/26/2012 2:12:46 PM PDT by Graewoulf ((Dictator Baby-Doc Barack's obama"care" violates Sherman Anti-Trust Law, AND U.S. Constitution.))
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To: muawiyah
Yeah, it's neck and neck

No, it's not.

You lie.

60-40 is not neck-and-neck, to say nothing of 43-0.

153 posted on 05/26/2012 2:13:07 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: MEG33
Unfortunately the polls don’t reflect this..We MUST vote to defeat the Obamanation.

And the polls won't reflect it, either -- not until the polll that counts is conducted.

Two reasons:

1. The MSM is still in bed with the Obama campaign. They'll try to be supportive, right up to the last minute.

2. More importantly, though, just as "white guilt" drove millions of votes into the Obama column in 2008, it will tend to keep them there...until the vote a.) counts and is b.) private.

Obama's personal "likability" remains his greatest polling strength. People generally detest his policies and his actions. This is the manifestation of what I'm referring to -- there are millions of respondents who fear being labelled "racists" because they plan to vote against Obama.

Consequently, they answer the surveys "Obama". But, on November 6, they're going to vote Romney. Or, perhaps, leave the Presidential line blank.

154 posted on 05/26/2012 2:15:56 PM PDT by okie01
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To: EEGator

” - - - No way are they ditching the first black president.”

Unless the Republican Nominee was someone such as Rep. Allen West, R Fla.


155 posted on 05/26/2012 2:18:16 PM PDT by Graewoulf ((Dictator Baby-Doc Barack's obama"care" violates Sherman Anti-Trust Law, AND U.S. Constitution.))
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To: rogue yam
He cheated and still barely made it.

His percentages were just like Obama's running against a Texas Inmate ~ and have the same meaning.

BTW, say that I"m lying one more time I"m going to walk down the street there where you live and pull you out through your front window without opening it.

156 posted on 05/26/2012 2:19:01 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: rogue yam; dagogo redux
You people are paranoid and bigoted. Your own leader ~ the very founder ~ said everybody else belonged to a false church.

Now, given the disintegration of your own over the last century and a half, tell us which parts are false and which part is true.

There's no hate in that ~ it's called tossing the ball back into your court.

Disliking Romney has nothing whatsoever to do with disliking Mormons or Mormonism, or even the Jack Mormons, or FLDS, or the other 500 various Mormon and Mormon like organizations some of you think of as false churches.

157 posted on 05/26/2012 2:26:01 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Kaslin

Remember the PUMAs? They had similar articles back then. Don’t assume this article is real.


158 posted on 05/26/2012 2:27:37 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: dagogo redux
Both the Left and the Right have their ideologues.

What is laughable is here you are on a website for conservatives, by conservatives for conservative activism and to discuss the conservative viewpoint... and you are complaining about "conservative ideologues".

BWAHAHAhahaha

159 posted on 05/26/2012 2:30:07 PM PDT by Moorings
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To: muawiyah
Rombama

Corny!

160 posted on 05/26/2012 2:42:46 PM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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