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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: Norm Lenhart
All these people claiming they will vote MR to save the country seem to miss one huge point. In fact, the only point.

How do you save the country and all the conservative things you believe in and believe make America what it “IS” (or was) by voting for a man with a proven record of going/being against those very things?

Normie, I just want people to find their conservative convictions and admit the truth about Mitt. He is NOT one of us, and never has been. Factually, by his every word and deed (outside of this campaign), he has proven his liberal Democrat bona fides in spades.

If good conservatives feel that they have no choice but to vote for him to rid themselves of the Obama scourge, then just say that. I want them to be honest with themselves, and with others.

I've personally confronted the fact that the establishment elites own both Romney and Obama, and that their globalist, Socialist agenda will continue to move forward no matter which of them is elected. In that wise, there is only one real choice for conservatives and patriots, and that is RESISTANCE.

In the meantime, firefights like this one are simply shameful and unproductive. People are fighting each other, instead of training their sights on the real enemy.

181 posted on 05/27/2012 10:47:54 AM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Kaslin

The rats are jumping off a sinking ship. I have no idea whether these “DEMOCRATS” are doing this because of of their beliefs in the constitution or they are bailing out because they want to get re-elected. I’m thinking that they are doing this because they want to get re-elected. After all, all of them VOTED for all of OBAMA’s programs. Now, they are realising that continuing to VOTE for OBAMA means they will loose their re-election attempts. These democratic senators are still not voting for a “BUDGET”. They continue to vote against any republican “BUDGET” while complaining that the republicans are undermining the PRESIDENT. What we need is a “VETO PROOF” congress, then I really don’t care who the $%#$@# president is.


182 posted on 05/27/2012 1:19:49 PM PDT by gingerbread
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To: Kaslin

The rats are jumping off a sinking ship. I have no idea whether these “DEMOCRATS” are doing this because of of their beliefs in the constitution or they are bailing out because they want to get re-elected. I’m thinking that they are doing this because they want to get re-elected. After all, all of them VOTED for all of OBAMA’s programs. Now, they are realising that continuing to VOTE for OBAMA means they will loose their re-election attempts. These democratic senators are still not voting for a “BUDGET”. They continue to vote against any republican “BUDGET” while complaining that the republicans are undermining the PRESIDENT. What we need is a “VETO PROOF” congress, then I really don’t care who the $%#$@# president is.


183 posted on 05/27/2012 1:20:12 PM PDT by gingerbread
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To: Kaslin

The rats are jumping off a sinking ship. I have no idea whether these “DEMOCRATS” are doing this because of of their beliefs in the constitution or they are bailing out because they want to get re-elected. I’m thinking that they are doing this because they want to get re-elected. After all, all of them VOTED for all of OBAMA’s programs. Now, they are realising that continuing to VOTE for OBAMA means they will loose their re-election attempts. These democratic senators are still not voting for a “BUDGET”. They continue to vote against any republican “BUDGET” while complaining that the republicans are undermining the PRESIDENT. What we need is a “VETO PROOF” congress, then I really don’t care who the $%#$@# president is.


184 posted on 05/27/2012 1:20:18 PM PDT by gingerbread
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To: napscoordinator

The good news is now I DEFINITELY don’t have to vote for Romney.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Were you seriously even considering it?


185 posted on 05/27/2012 1:49:43 PM PDT by pistolpackinpapa
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To: Mr. Jeeves

No way she strays any further from the reservation than that.


186 posted on 05/27/2012 3:01:48 PM PDT by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: Diogenesis
ONLY RomneyCARE could lose this election. THAT is why the poser, ‘Etch-a-Sketch’, was chosen.

You got that right!

187 posted on 05/27/2012 3:04:53 PM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: OKSooner
What if this is pretext to the Democrats getting him off the ticket and... finding another candidate?

Clintoon part two!

188 posted on 05/27/2012 3:06:26 PM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: Vaquero
you’d rather have Obama? that is special.

Which Obama, the white one or the black one? I would rather focus on the issue, rather than the puppet show. The puppet show is the joke that the election has become, as polls also show that conservatives outnumber liberals two to one. But our election process shows that liberals obviously control the pre-selection of the cantidates, therefore converting them to puppets for the masses to argue over.

The issue is that our Government has been overthrown by a lawless mob of socialists that use the Constitution for toilet paper, and put a illegal president in power. Every law he has signed into effect is a fraud and would not hold up in an honest court. The issue is the destruction of our Republic, not who wins the WWF political wrestling match on tv.

189 posted on 05/27/2012 3:19:26 PM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: muawiyah
It is entirely reasonable to abstain from making a choice between bad and bad.

The Nazi's need one more four year period to apply the coup'de grace to our nation. Voting White Obama or Black Obama gives them that move. As I see it, we have a check mate going on here, and I am wondering how we will save the nation.

190 posted on 05/27/2012 3:23:48 PM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: American in Israel

Well, the hope lies in that the White Obama will slow down the process somewhat, just like the pre-Obama almost did.


191 posted on 05/27/2012 3:27:47 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Windflier

“If good conservatives feel that they have no choice...”

They have a choice. They can choose to stick to what they claim to believe in. They just won’t. And all that grandstanding they have done here on FR and in front of their friends is the very same thing we deride democrats for doing.

They just won’t. They have a pack of excuses that can’t hold water. They want to be able to vote for a full blooded liberal democrat with an R after his name and claim they are conservative. Not sure how that passes for rational behavior. Looks just like the kind of thing the DU crowd does though. Say one thing/do another.

If they should admit anything it is what they ‘really’ believe.


192 posted on 05/27/2012 5:14:43 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: American in Israel
Crony capitalist may describe Romney but at least. Of a Marxist like zer0 and his lawless regime...plus a GWB scotus pick like Roberts rather than Kagan is a huge plus.

Yes Virginia there IS a difference

193 posted on 05/27/2012 5:22:50 PM 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: American in Israel

Excuse my I phone errors caused by auto correct


194 posted on 05/27/2012 5:26:06 PM 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: 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.

Photobucket

It's what Obama has accomplished that is the reason to vote for Romney. Open your eyes!

Or do you just prefer Obama for four more years?

195 posted on 05/27/2012 5:44:16 PM PDT by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: muawiyah
The dirty little secret is that a lot of independents and liberal republicans voted for Zero in 2008, I doubt that will happen this time.

This will be a landslide, but only if we all stick together.

196 posted on 05/27/2012 6:22:20 PM PDT by Left2Right (Starve the Beast!)
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To: Norm Lenhart
They have a pack of excuses that can’t hold water. They want to be able to vote for a full blooded liberal democrat with an R after his name and claim they are conservative. Not sure how that passes for rational behavior. Looks just like the kind of thing the DU crowd does though. Say one thing/do another.

It's dishonesty of the worst kind. As I said earlier, I just wish they'd be honest about it, and say up front that they're aware that Romney is a big government liberal, but that they're willing to chance that he won't be as bad as Obama. Tell me that you're making what you think is a pragmatic choice, but don't try to fool me that you're not also compromising your supposed conservative principles by doing so.

Just as in the first American Revolution, those who have the actual courage to stand by their convictions and fight for what they feel is right, are few in number.

It's estimated that as few as three percent of the colonists of the eighteenth century actually fired at the British in anger. Fully a third supported King George III. Another third, while not brave enough to fight, supported the revolution. The other third cared only for themselves.

Unfortunately, this appears to be the natural order of things. You and I are part of a rare company, my friend.

197 posted on 05/27/2012 7:42:33 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: Kaslin

It’s starting to look like the best campaign supporter for Romney is......... OBAMA himself.


198 posted on 05/27/2012 8:30:19 PM PDT by LibFreeUSA (Pick Your Poison)
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To: Kaslin

In the majority, Dems may be united in the glory of sexual perverion, but only a minority (20%) are radicals. Their racist diversity tribes don’t like each other much. Anyone who can read and ventures beyond MSNBC knows O is a radical and he’s turning the country into Detroit.


199 posted on 05/27/2012 8:52:57 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Windflier

Sometimes being right means being alone...or nearly so. On the day after the election, my conscience will be crystal clear. I have seen many posters claim this attitude is insane etc. So be it. But when we look in the mirror, we will feel no regret because what we believe in really is more to me than words typed on a website.

They cannot say the same. Which is why we have a liberal running against Obama in the first place.


200 posted on 05/27/2012 9:07:33 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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