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McCain called Carney, asked him to switch parties (Blue Dog Dem)
The Times-Tribune (Scranton PA) ^ | 12/24/2009 | JEREMY G. BURTON

Posted on 12/23/2009 9:27:53 PM PST by Born Conservative

Republicans are trying to woo U.S. Rep. Chris Carney to switch parties, with Sen. John McCain among several GOP leaders making pitches to the Susquehanna County Democrat.

Mr. McCain on Wednesday called Mr. Carney at his home in Dimock Twp. to ask whether he would consider joining the GOP, a Carney spokesman confirmed. The effort to persuade Mr. Carney was first reported by Politico, which quoted a GOP aide who said the party received "a nibble" from Mr. Carney.

But Mr. Carney's spokesman, press secretary Joshua Drobnyk, rebutted that part of the report. Mr. Carney in a statement late Wednesday said he was "flattered" but not interested.

"I appreciate the Republican Party's outreach, but I have no plans to change parties," Mr. Carney said.

Mr. McCain is not the only high-profile Republican to court Mr. Carney. He has also received phone calls from U.S. Rep. Peter Sessions, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, a "close friend" who represents a large district in Southcentral Pennsylvania, Mr. Drobnyk said.

Mr. Drobnyk said the GOP push was unexpected.

"Any time you get a call from the former presidential nominee of the Republican Party, it's a surprise," he said.

When asked about his talk with Mr. Carney, Mr. McCain told Politico, "I just said, 'Whatever you do, I know that you'll make the right decision for the country.' "

Mr. Drobnyk confirmed Mr. McCain's message was along those lines. Efforts to reach a spokesman for the senator were unsuccessful.

The 10th District, which Mr. Carney represents, has almost five registered Republicans for every four Democrats, but he won office in 2006 buoyed by voter discontent with incumbent Don Sherwood.

Few Republican candidates have emerged as challengers to Mr. Carney's second re-election bid in 2010. State Rep. Mike Peifer was a leading possibility but dropped out this week.

One person definitely in the race is Malcolm Derk, a Snyder County commissioner, who said Mr. Carney seemed an odd fit for a defection. According to a Washington Post database, Mr. Carney has voted with the Democratic majority 91 percent of the time.

But if national GOP leadership is ready to welcome Mr. Carney, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania cannot say the same. Spokesman Michael Barley said the state party wants to beat Mr. Carney, not convert him.

"We certainly aren't courting him," said Mr. Barley, who thought the wooing from Mr. McCain and others signals the GOP is confident and looking to capitalize on controversy surrounding Democratic spending and the health care overhaul.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 111th; bluedog; bluedogs; carney; chriscarney; mccain; pa10; realignment
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Chris Carney is a Blue Dog Dem from a conservative district in Northeast PA. He is also a commander in the Navy Reserve. Should he switch, he is sure to be a RINO.
1 posted on 12/23/2009 9:27:53 PM PST by Born Conservative
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To: Tribune7

Ping


2 posted on 12/23/2009 9:28:31 PM PST by Born Conservative ("I'm a fan of disruptors" - Nancy Pelosi)
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To: Born Conservative

So when is McCain going to switch over and become a Republican?


3 posted on 12/23/2009 9:29:58 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: Born Conservative

Does the guy really need to switch parties in order to vote to the advantage of our Liberties?


4 posted on 12/23/2009 9:30:36 PM PST by Gene Eric (Your Hope has been redistributed. Here's your Change.)
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To: Born Conservative

did mccain ask obozo to change? enough allready


5 posted on 12/23/2009 9:30:53 PM PST by FreeperFlirt
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To: Born Conservative

When it is a seat that the GOP has no reasonable expectation to win, these switches are a serious coup.

But when they are in seats that are rightfully ours, it is just another give away.


6 posted on 12/23/2009 9:32:09 PM PST by campaignPete R-CT ("pray without ceasing" - Paul of Tarsus)
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To: Gene Eric
Does the guy really need to switch parties in order to vote to the advantage of our Liberties?

Well, probably, if he wants to continue to have an office indoors.

7 posted on 12/23/2009 9:33:44 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Sarah Palin - For such a time as this)
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To: campaignPete R-CT

Here are threads on the “scandal” that lost the seat Carney now holds: http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/donsherwood/index?tab=articles


8 posted on 12/23/2009 9:35:28 PM PST by Born Conservative ("I'm a fan of disruptors" - Nancy Pelosi)
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To: Gene Eric

“Does the guy really need to switch parties in order to vote to the advantage of our Liberties?”

Yes, unless he wants his arm broke.


9 posted on 12/23/2009 9:36:56 PM PST by Faith-Hope
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To: Born Conservative

And .. the gathering of moderates begins.

If McCain thinks this will bring him the presidency, he’s still fooling himself.

The Tea Partiers are still not going to support McCain.


10 posted on 12/23/2009 9:37:17 PM PST by CyberAnt (Healthcare is not a RIGHT guaranteed by the Constitution)
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To: Huskrrrr
"So when is McCain going to switch over and become a Republican?"

Good one!

11 posted on 12/23/2009 9:41:39 PM PST by GregoTX (When people find they can vote themselves money it will herald the end of the republic. Ben Franklin)
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To: Huskrrrr

lol! Isn’t this like identifying a double agent? Puts the guy in a pretty bad position....


12 posted on 12/23/2009 10:16:08 PM PST by Hildy
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To: Born Conservative
Chris Carney is a Blue Dog Dem from a conservative district in Northeast PA. He is also a commander in the Navy Reserve. Should he switch, he is sure to be a RINO.

Ain't it a big cluster f--k. Yep, the corrupt "Two-Party Cartel" again at its best.

13 posted on 12/23/2009 10:25:00 PM PST by Digger (If RINO is your selection, then failure is your election)
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To: Born Conservative
If a real conservative can win the seat in November, that would be better.

However, when a Dem defects, it sends a cold chill down the spine of the other marginal Dems, which might be useful in defeating Obamacare next month.

14 posted on 12/23/2009 10:25:10 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: Gene Eric

That’s the whole point. Why do these guys have to vote according to the leadership? They are all sell-outs. A bunch of flim-flam asswipes that need to go the way of the albatross.


15 posted on 12/23/2009 10:32:00 PM PST by eyedigress ( now.)
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To: Born Conservative

McCain is rounding up RINOs to keep him company.


16 posted on 12/23/2009 10:41:12 PM PST by pallis
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To: Born Conservative
The real point of this article is to, 1) alert the Dems that one of their own is teetering and, 2) to show everyone that the Repubs are trying to "steal" a Demo.
Never mind that the Dems do it to the Repubs all the time. See, that's OK to our liberal media; but when the Repubs try it on a Dem, the media alerts everyone to circle the wagons and isolate the "victim".

I can't recall, but maybe someone else here can, has there ever been a report in the media about the Dems trying to "steal" a Repub, I mean, before it actually happens?

17 posted on 12/23/2009 10:57:20 PM PST by jeffc (They're coming to take me away! Ha-ha, hey-hey, ho-ho!)
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To: rabscuttle385

Ping.


18 posted on 12/23/2009 11:38:29 PM PST by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: pallis

He has my thanks if he can pry a vote away from Reid and the Rats.


19 posted on 12/24/2009 12:10:22 AM PST by rahbert (There are no fish here! What kind of ocean is this?)
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To: Born Conservative

God knows we got enough of them.Let’em keep him.


20 posted on 12/24/2009 12:15:51 AM PST by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life is tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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