Obama not taking vocal role in Wisconsin's recall clash

[brentspeak]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/obama-not-taking-vocal-role-in-wisconsins-recall-clash-qh5hj2o-153362135.html

Obama not taking vocal role in Wisconsin's recall clash

Craig Gilbert
May 23, 2012

Ever since the recall wars erupted in this battleground state, the Obama campaign has been faced with a dilemma: How involved does the president get in a polarizing fight with huge national overtones?

Less than two weeks to go before the June 5 election, the answer seems pretty clear.

President Barack Obama's forces are pitching in with voter turnout and fundraising appeals. But the president has avoided taking a vocal role in the conflict, and there is little expectation of an Obama visit to Wisconsin in the homestretch of the campaign.

Whether Obama will be speaking out about the race in the coming days or sending top surrogates here is still unknown...

[ELI BOY 1950]

1. THIS WHY WE LOOSE..

EVERYONE GET TO WISCONSIN....GET THE VOTE OUT...DO SOME HOMEWORK ON WALKER>>>BAD GUY

[Psephos]

2. not cool n/t

[DontTreadOnMe]

3. Very disappointed in Obama not get involved

This DOES have national consequences, and if Walker wins, you KNOW the Repugs are going to claim it as a referendum against Obama.

I really hate when Obama "plays it safe". Walker represents everything that is wrong with the Right, and to me, it seems like an easy stump speech for the President to point out the facts about Walker.

I am tired of supporting leaders who are not "full in" on the fight against Repugs.

[Tarheel_Dem]

20. Yeah, well everybody hates it when "Obama (fill in the blank)". And your "support"

or lack thereof, doesn't give you cart blanche to lay the mess in WI at the foot of the president. Lay it where it belongs. At the feet of the idiots who voted for the clown who now occupies the governor's mansion.

The union members who weren't tricked by the PL into thinking that "they're all the same" and you should feel "disillusioned", were outwitted by a Koch'd up Bush accolyte who turned on them the moment he was sworn in. And even today, there's a poll of WI union households that show 40% of them plan to vote for Walker's reelection. Why is it Obama's job to disabuse them of such notions?

WI f'd up, just ask Russ Feingold, and I don't think a "stump speech" by President Obama can fix "stupid".

[dionysus]

24. ! that'll leave a mark!

[AtomicKitten]

4. Trying to set up a fall guy if the recall fails?

"Scott Walker Recall: The Obama Campaign Gets Involved"
link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/scott-walker-recall-obama-campaign_n_1508209.html

“In the coming weeks, Wisconsin families have a clear choice to make; between a Governor who has divided our state like never before by putting the very wealthy ahead of what’s best for the middle class, and Tom Barrett, who has spent his career advocating for economic security and fairness for Wisconsin families.

President Obama is proud to stand with Tom Barrett and the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin families who are coming together to move Wisconsin forward.”

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=269332

"The next election here in Wisconsin is coming up on June 5th — and it’s important to make sure your voice is heard.

For the last year and a half, Governor Walker has divided Wisconsin — siding with big corporations and the super-rich at the expense of working, middle-class families. He’s broken our trust in state government: Too many Wisconsin families are out of work, students face crowded classrooms, and working men and women will be hurt by cuts to health care funding.

We can do better. Together, we’ll work to elect Tom Barrett, who will stand up for all Wisconsinites as governor — and that starts with getting the word out now about what’s at stake on June 5th."

http://www.care2.com/causes/obama-campaign-dips-into-wisconsin-recall.html

[emulatorloo]

5. Thanks for posting.

Good to have some facts.

[AtomicKitten]

12. Touch it, dude.

[brentspeak]

22. Here's a fact: Obama, the leader of the Democratic party, is too chicken

to publicly speak up on behalf of the Democratic recall candidate who's running against the GOP wingnut who is destroying one of the few progressive states left in the nation.

[dionysus]

25. keep trying brent. the shtick is getting stale.

[SidDithers]

26. For a "progressive state", they sure do like electing Republicans...nt

Sid

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. "Trying to set up a fall guy if the recall fails?" Ding! Ding! Ding!

I've said it ever since certain forces began screaming about the "lack of funding" from the DNC. The national party and the president are being set up, just in case the recall fails. It's shameful, and it's transparent to anyone without an agenda.

If Barrett fails, it will be for the same reason Russ Feingold failed. There's an unbelievable poll around here that shows that near 40% of "union households" plan on voting for Walker. I mean, WTF? Is the president expected to save WI from itself? Wisconsonites did this to themselves, and let's hope they can pull out a win.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Since when was it the job of POTUS to get involved in local political disputes?

I know that Bush injected himself into Terri Shiavo's case but we didn't like him for it (and nobody else did). Ever since Obama became POTUS, it seems like some people want him to get involved with every major state or local political dispute whether it is relevant, necessary, or appropriate for him to do so.

[littlewolf]

10. so it is ok for POTUS

to get involved between a cop and a college professor
but not get involved in WI recall ... ok ...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. I don't agree that it was a good idea for him to get involved in that situation either

Whenever he gets involved in something local, it tends to wind up all about him- not necessarily intentionally and not because that's what he wants- but he does tend to galvanize wingnuts and if it doesn't turn out the right way, the blame invariably gets laid at his feet for "not doing enough" and/or Fox News and the conservative media get to crow about another victory "against Obama". There's just little benefit for him or anybody else from his involvement. Plus, when he is involved, he is throwing his very (heavy) political weight into the ring, which makes it hard to lend credibility to grassroots movements. IMHO he needs to focus on national issues and leave state and local political issues alone unless they somehow impact/influence federal laws or his governance of the country.

[littlewolf]

14. I like that ... I was just saying

If he felt it was that important between
the cop and professor ... then this has to
trump that ... ya know ...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. I see your point

and I guess I have to agree.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. You might have a point if this was 4 yrs. ago. He was new on the job, and feeling his way.

I think he has learned and internalized some very difficult lessons from that experience. I think he now has a much clearer grasp on the use of the "bully pulpit", and when and where to deploy it.

I agree with PLD, this recall should be about the people of WI, not Pres. Obama.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Not to late for each of us to pitch in....

http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/780?akid=1979.1295947.TUoXlW&rd=1&t=1

[WI_DEM]

9. But his organization is working on getting out the vote (which is just as important)

People across Wisconsin are already casting some of the first early votes to send Scott Walker packing. Let's make our voices heard now.

This Saturday at 11:30 a.m., folks in Madison will be getting together for an early vote event with State Senators Mark Miller and Jon Erpenbach. Come out and show your support for Tom Barrett and all the Democrats on the ballot, then head over to the clerk's office to cast your own early vote alongside other supporters.

Can you make it? Here's all the information:
What: Early vote event in Madison

Where: 30 Rotary Plaza
100 North Hamilton Street
Madison, WI 53703

When: Saturday, May 26th
Meeting at 11:30 a.m.



Early voting is critical to winning this election. By voting early, you can avoid lines at the polls and free yourself up to be a part of the get out the vote effort on Election Day to help bring even more people to the polls.

Even if you've already cast your ballot, the event in Madison is a chance to show Walker that we've had enough of his extreme agenda -- and that we can't wait one more day to vote for Tom Barrett.

Say you'll be at the event on Saturday -- and be sure to bring your friends:

http://wi.barackobama.com/Early-Vote-Madison

See you out there,

Michelle

Michelle Kleppe
Wisconsin State Field Director
Organizing for America

[AtomicKitten]

13. WI State Senator Jon Erpenbach says OFA has some 60 offices in Wisconsin helping.

Also the DNC is there and has given Wisconsin $1.4 million.

At approximately 7:00 --

[Drunken Irishman]

17. Yeah, ain't like he's busy doing anything else, right?

C'mon now. Obama's campaign has thrown its resources there. But Obama is a pretty busy man, you know, running for reelection and running the country and all.

[littlewolf]

18. all I am saying is how hard is it to do a radio ad

encouraging Dems to vote ...

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. I gotta ask. Are you in WI? Do you know he hasn't done a radio ad? Let's not....

keep moving goalposts back and forth. You've been told that his campaign has dumped resources, and OFA has been quite busy in WI, but yet you persist in attempting to play the preemptive blame game.

I swear, if the president had a clone for every state in the nation, who could do any & everything "the base" requires of him, it still wouldn't be enough. But as it is, he is but one person, and there are hundreds of Dems in Congress and governerships who should be required to pick up some slack sometimes, wouldn't you agree?

[littlewolf]

21. agreed ... I was under the impression

that nothing was coming from the WH ...
the DNC and Governors association had
money and people ... but nothing
from WH ...

[Poiuyt]

30. Obama's busy today attending GW Bush's portrait unveiling

Now I understand why he can't come to Wisconsin

[pstokely]

23. Have the WI Dems asked him to come?

nt

[Honeycombe8]

27. Obama should not get directly involved in a state's recall issue.

He has many national issues to attend to. It is the Dem. Party's fight, not Obama's. It'll get the whole country involved in this one issue, when the focus should be on other things.

Not that he can't answer as to his opinion, if asked. And certainly the Dem. Party should be involved. But not Obama.

[tallahasseedem]

35. +1

I completely agree with you.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. What pisses me off so much about this is that the people of WI didn't have Obama's back in 2012!

Indeed, they didn't have Russ Feingold's back!

And now they wonder why Obama isn't there? Why? So you can blame him if the recall fails?!?

No, thanks!

It is the VOTER'S responsibility to get out and vote. I saw a poll the other day that said that roughly only 80% of Democrats will be active in the recall? What? Really!?!?! Fuck that! If the Democratic voters can't bother to get out and vote, then they deserve what they get!

And 40% of union households are going for Walker?!? Really?!?!? Then, I'm DONE with them. Completely done! They need to live with the consequences of that vote!!!!

/rant off

Now, get out there and VOTE!!!

[lonestarnot]

29. Unions are pouring their money into local elections and whatnot. Why should Mr. President stand in?

[littlewolf]

31. I see where the WH did a tweet

stating that the President Obama supported Mayor Barrett ...
That seems like enough involvement ...
I just wanted something from the President ...
supporting the Democrat in this recall ...

[AtomicKitten]

32. He turned over all 60 offices of OFA in Wisconsin to GOTV.

That's not nothing.

[littlewolf]

34. excellent ...

GOTV is going to be key ....

[AtomicKitten]

36. you betcha