Obama and Christie

[brentspeak]

No Obama campaign appearances on behalf of the NJ Democratic gubernatorial candidate (Barbara Buono).

Nothing from Obama about Christie rejecting a NJ state-based insurance exchange (Why not?)

However, a May photo-op 'buddy-buddy' tour of the rebuilt NJ shore with Christie.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/obamas_last_minute_effort_for_buono_too_little_too_late_democrats_say.html

Obama's last minute effort for Buono leaves some Democrats cold

By Darryl Isherwood/NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on November 02, 2013 at 12:15 AM, updated November 02, 2013 at 2:25 AM

President Barack Obama this afternoon blasted out an email exhorting Democrats to "go out there and win an election." The email included praise for Democrat Barbara Buono, who faces an uphill challenge against Republican Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday.

snip

But the email has some Democrats boiling as Obama did virtually nothing for Buono throughout the election season. In fact, Obama did more for Christie's reelection bid than he did for Buono's underdog candidacy.

"And hey, thanks for coming to Asbury Park in May," wrote Blue Jersey Editor Rosi Efthim. "So cool of you. But it was kind of icky that with all the time you spent buddied up with Gov. Christie, you passed right by Senator Buono, top of our ticket in the party you lead. Didn't single her out, talk to her, even throw a word of cheer."

snip

In May, the president visited the state to check on the rebuilding effort after Superstorm Sandy. During the visit, the president cavorted with Christie, playing boardwalk games with him and calling the Republican "Chris." (But) During his 10-minute speech in Asbury Park, Obama recognized Democratic Congressmen Rush Holt, Frank Pallone and Donald Payne Jr., but ignored Buono who was relegated to a seat behind the president, while Republican state Sen. Joe Kyrillos sat on stage.

[JoePhilly]

1. How dare Obama help NJ after Sandy!!!

Some serious ODS.

[brentspeak]

6. Sandy happened in the previous October

No problem that Obama visited the NJ shore with Christie at that time. As President, that's what he's supposed to do.

However, the completely unnecessary can't-keep-their-hands-off-each-other Buddy-Buddy tour occurred in May, after the shore was rebuilt -- and just in time for Christie's reelection campaign. And why did Obama publicly stiff Christie's Democratic challenger during that visit?

That's some serious Wall Street Democrat buttkissing on your part.

[JoePhilly]

10. So the President can't go back and review

the progress.

I'm not sure I understand why you would want an evil 3rd way President to come endorse your awesomely liberal candidate.

Wouldn't that hurt their street cred with the purist left and cost them votes
with real democrats?

[brentspeak]

12. Yes, he was "reviewing the progress"

While posing for photographs of himself tossing footballs through tires with Christie at Touchdown Fever.

The only thing missing from the "process review" was Obama practically hand-feeding slices of pizza into Christie's mouth.

[JoePhilly]

25. He should have kicked Christie in the balls I guess.

And you didn't answer my question.

Why would you WANT an endorsement from Obama?

After all, a true liberal candidate would do much better without him and his 3rd way endorsement.

[vi5]

2. Even with Obama, Buono wouldn't have won.

But the lack of even the slightest effort just points to us going back to the old way of doing things.

We should be contesting every race, every time and the national party should be supporting it. That's what Republicans do.

[jsr]

4. +1.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Right on cue. What kept you?

[brentspeak]

9. Sorry for the delay.

I was just finishing reading up on some of your more famous FOX-news inspired anti-progressive, plutocrat-fanboy posts here on DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023875133#post1

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2905759

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. Buono was going to lose no matter what fantasy you've created to the contrary. This is just...

more of your usual crap, in a long whiney campaign against any & all things Obama. "Please proceed" brentspeak.

[babylonsister]

34. Like clockwork!

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Hey, I don't give him much for substance, but you gotta give him points for creativity.

He keeps coming up with new and inventive ways to blame Obama for everything. It was 6 degrees here in NC yesterday, DAMN OBAMA!!!!

[giftedgirl77]

5. That is a serious bromance photo there...

Maybe that was one of those you scratch my back I'll scratch yours type of things?

Personally I think Christie is a huge douche & Obama should have backed the dem regardless, so I have no idea why that didn't occur. I'm not buying the excuse that you can't focus on 2 elections at once.

[Tarheel_Dem]

24. What a ridiculous assessment. Democrats, thanks to anti Dem folks like yourself, don't have the....

deep pockets that Republicans have. I wish I could count the number of posts beginning with..."the DNC/DCCC/DSCC called me, and I told them to f**k off". And then they come here to bitch that the party didn't throw away limited resources on a race everyone knew the Republican was going to win. Other than the "revenge" story coming out days before the election, nothing was going to make Buono an acceptable gubernatorial candidate for the people of New Jersey. Blame the NJ Democratic apparatus for not choosing & backing a candidate equal to the challenge of a Chris Christie. They didn't really intend to seriously challenge Christie, which is why Buono wound up with the nomination in the first place.

[giftedgirl77]

30. Anti-dem folks like myself?

Wow, that's fuckin rich. I'm anti-dem bc multiple democrats couldn't simply use their voices & status to back the democratic candidate rather than the asshole republican? That there is the ridiculous assessment.

The money pouring into the damn elections is the problem we have now. If people would actually endorse candidates based on who they were & what the stood for rather than what club they both belonged to we would be in a lot better place right now.

[Tarheel_Dem]

31. "Wow" is right. You're just a big ol' mass of contradictions, aren't you? You're aware this is a..

partisan website, right? At least that was the original intent of the founders. This statement speaks volumes about you and your intent:

"If people would actually endorse candidates based on who they were & what the stood for rather than what club they both belonged to we would be in a lot better place right now."

Vote for Democrats.

Winning elections is important —therefore, advocating in favor of Republican nominees or in favor of third-party spoiler candidates that could split the vote and throw an election to our conservative opponents is never permitted on Democratic Underground. But that does not mean that DU members are required to always be completely supportive of Democrats. During the ups-and-downs of politics and policy-making, it is perfectly normal to have mixed feelings about the Democratic officials we worked hard to help elect. When we are not in the heat of election season, members are permitted to post strong criticism or disappointment with our Democratic elected officials, or to express ambivalence about voting for them. In Democratic primaries, members may support whomever they choose. But when general election season begins, DU members must support Democratic nominees (EXCEPT in rare cases where were a non-Democrat is most likely to defeat the conservative alternative, or where there is no possibility of splitting the liberal vote and inadvertently throwing the election to the conservative alternative). For presidential contests, election season begins when both major-party nominees become clear. For non-presidential contests, election season begins on Labor Day. Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume you are rooting for the other side.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice


So I guess your thesis about belonging to "clubs" is lost on the site admins? That's a real head scratcher, that is.

[giftedgirl77]

32. No, you are the one missing the point REPEATEDLY

and it's really getting annoying.

My bottom line both times has been that the democrats from President Obama down should have endorsed the democratic candidate. You were so quick to jump my shit about the $$ peice that apparently you overlooked those statements, or just chose to ignore them to start some bullshit with me.

I think the excuse that the dem candidate in NJ didn't stand a chance there so everyone (including Obama) backed Christie is bullshit. All it would have taken were some nice words and a pretty picture for a good endorsement.

[Tarheel_Dem]

36. You do know that Buono was already an elected official, right? She went in to this race with a 30..

point deficit in job approval. She should never have been the nominee, and that's why the state party apparatus didn't expend much energy on her. Perhaps in your rush to CYA, you should question the state party, before you leap to wild assumptions. What national elected official wants to stick their neck out for a local candidate against a national figure like Christie?

You guys are as predictable as the seasons. No one has to accept responsibility for anything as long as they can blame Obama. Buono, like Coakley, sucked as a candidate.

[geek tragedy]

7. want some cheese to go with that whine? nt

[Capt. Obvious]

18. Interesing

[ProSense]

8. Frankly,

"Nothing from Obama about Christie rejecting a NJ state-based insurance exchange (Why not?) "

...I'm glad that blowhard rejected the exchange. He wasn't stupid enough to reject the Medicaid expansion, though

I'd rather shop the federal exchange. Christie would have probably sabotaged the state exchange.

The biggest problem isn't that Repbulican Governors didn't set up their own exchanges, it's that they rejected the Medicaid expansion.

The federal exchange is working well, and even a Maryland Democrat is suggesting switching to it.

Maryland Might Want To Switch To HealthCare.gov
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/maryland-healthcaregov-john-delaney

[JustAnotherGen]

11. President Obama

Didn't do this.

He didn't.

Christie and his minions did.

[PowerToThePeople]

13. Obama and Christie

Why is my President allowed to be defiled in such ways?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Politics as usual does not = "change".

[ProgressSaves]

15. Can't help but respect a political move like that.

Only the most uptight can't see how brilliant it was and how much it helped the President during the election.

[PowerToThePeople]

16. This photo was not from before the election. n/t

[brentspeak]

20. It was taken in 2012, during the first buddy-buddy photo-op

after Irene.

And this was taken in May 2013:

[Boom Sound 416]

17. You want the president to go out and stump for a sure loser

Can't say I disagree with the White House on that one

[Capt. Obvious]

19. He did it for Martha Coakley

[Boom Sound 416]

21. So rinse, repeat?

[Capt. Obvious]

23. Yes

[geek tragedy]

33. Coakley lost by 5 points, 110,000 votes

Buono lost by 22 points, 462,00 votes

[JoePhilly]

26. They are recycling an old outrage widget.

Must be a slow day at the manufactured outrage factory.

[Boom Sound 416]

27. It is cold out

[JoePhilly]

28. THANKS OBAMA!!!!

[Boom Sound 416]

29. ...

[SidDithers]

35. Extreme ODS...nt

Sid

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. Extreme, indeed. But this is really reaching, even for the o.p.