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Home Front: Politix
Obama: Lawmakers avoiding me "have supported my agenda"
2014-10-21
President Obama delivered a blow to Democratic Senate candidates looking to distance themselves from his flagging approval ratings Monday, saying lawmakers avoiding him on the campaign trail were "strong allies and supporters" who have "supported my agenda in Congress."

The president said that Democrats faced a "tough map" and noted during a radio interview with Rev. Al Sharpton that many Democrats in crucial races "are in states that I didn't win."

"The bottom line is though, these are all folks who vote with me; they have supported my agenda in Congress; they are on the right side of minimum wage; they are on the right side of fair pay; they are on the right side of rebuilding our infrastructure; they're on the right side of early childhood education."

Obama went on to say that his feelings weren't hurt by Democrats who were reluctant to campaign with him.

"These are folks who are strong allies and supporters of me, and I tell them, I said, 'You know what, you do what you need to do to win. I will be responsible for making sure our voters turn out.' "

It's not the first time the president has embraced Democratic candidates more than they would like. Earlier this month, Republicans pounced when Obama said that, although he was not on the ballot, "make no mistake, these policies are on the ballot — every single one of them."

Former senior adviser David Axelrod told "Meet the Press" that the president had made "a mistake" when he said the line, arguing Democrats should instead be offering a vision for the future.

"The problem is how are middle-class people going to make a living in this country and what policies can we implement that can help," he said. "We ought to have that debate."

Press secretary Josh Earnest said later Obama had not hurt his party by nationalizing the election as an evaluation of his policies.

"The president was clear. He said explicitly that his name would not be on the ballot, but what he also said is that in each of these races there is a clear choice," Earnest said. "And the president has been direct about how important that choice is and he's also been unambiguous about which side of the equation he falls on."
Posted by:Pappy

#7  P2K has it -- who says the Democrats are going to lose? Not if they can help it. There's always another ballot box to be stuffed...
Posted by: Steve White   2014-10-21 16:49  

#6  Don't need zombies when you have the programmers and ward heelers on the payroll.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-10-21 15:29  

#5  I had been thinking that with Obama's declining popularity he was becoming more of a handicap to the Left. Coupled with a big election loss and the prospect of being the butt of Jimmy Carter jokes for the next 100 years, how to salvage his legacy? Make him a martyr, of course. Biden takes over. Left blames the Pubs for fostering hate. And, oh yeah, lots of stories in the press about Secret Service incompetence.

But now Champ is alluding to a less dramatic exit. Make the election all about himself. Take a huge loss, then resign. Still able to salvage some of his image and agenda. Biden spends 2 years granting pardons. Puts the presidency back in play for 2016. Even a little backhand to the Clintons to boot.
Posted by: Iblis   2014-10-21 15:13  

#4  Zombies at the polls.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2014-10-21 14:14  

#3   I will be responsible for making sure our voters turn out.

I shudder to think what that means.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2014-10-21 14:14  

#2  If I were a Pub candidate I'd be running an ad featuring this video clip, with following up, looking in the camera and saying, "for the first time since he became President, I agree with Barack Obama."

Fade to black.
Posted by: Steve White   2014-10-21 13:57  

#1  Thanks for reminding voters that the dhimocrats that the public is mad at for voting with you and the candidates have been running from that as hard as they can now have you spouting your narcissist wisdom.

In the dictionary under "Self absorbed Asshole" it says "See Him".
Posted by: DarthVader   2014-10-21 13:39  

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