Democrats wary of their unpopular president

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four years ago, Senator Claire McCaskill was one of Barack Obama's biggest boosters in his presidential campaign. But when he recently visited her state of Missouri, she did not have time to join him. Many of McCaskill's fellow Democrats in Congress may also decide they are too busy to be with Obama, whose approval rating of about 40 percent as the economy struggles threatens to be a drag on their own reelection chances next year.

"You may see a number of Democrats say 'Sorry, I have a scheduling conflict,'" said a senior Democratic lawmaker. Democrats face a big decision about whether to stand by their man in the November 2012 elections.

Many, particularly those in difficult campaigns like McCaskill, are tempted to keep their distance. But others figure they can survive any anti-Obama backlash in their predominantly Democratic states. And they want to help their party's top star and fundraiser defeat whoever the Republicans throw at him.

More importantly, Democrats believe their best shot at retaining the Senate and taking back the House of Representatives is to help Obama rally and win a second term. "If the president does well, we will do well," said Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-wary-unpopular-president-050803210.html

[Syrinx]

1. Claire McCaskill, spine of steel

:sarcasm:

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

2. I guess they're not paying attention

Obama has a higher approval rating than Congress. And I believe the polls also show they trust him more than Congress.

[jerseyjack]

3. If they had done their job in '09 and '10,

they would have had no problem in '12.

[vi5]

4. Bunch of fucking cowards...the whole lot of them....

From the very top, to the very bottom with select few exceptions.

With Feingold, Grayson, and Weiner all out of the way the actual number of people in Congress or the White House with anything resembling a spine, let alone any kind of hunger for justice and economic equality, the plan is almost complete.

[stlsaxman]

5. this whole article is a POS... uh- maybe Claire was busy that day???

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

6. Is this another case of 'if you say/write it often enough it will be true'?

Ugh. What a b/s article.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Claire is in a tough spot

MO is more red than it was in 2008. Claire is going to have a tough election in 2012.

[polichick]

7. Jeez - how pathetic. Perhaps the Dem Party should fold up its tent.

[Dogtown]

8. If they say it often enough

perhaps someone will believe it.




Note how often this meme is injected into DU discourse, most often completely off-topic.

[JuniperLea]

22. Those were my first two thoughts as well... eom

[CarmanK]

9. Roger Ebert is right, the DEMS lack the ZEAL to action!

I have been trying to come up with an appropriate word to describe what the DEMS are missing and it is ZEAL to take action on behalf of the people. The dems don't trust their own constituency. The BIG TENT is so full of diversity, that it lacks VISION AND MESSAGE and the followers are pretty independent in their thinking. DEMOCRATIC and unique. We are undisciplined SHEEP in the pasture, roaming and looking for a message home that will enlighten, strengthen and unite us to ACT. We have to, or the repugs will beat OBAMA and we will have a REPUG in the WH. That would be a real national disaster to rival 9/11.

[uppityperson]

18. Oh, I am SURE you have BEEN trying to COME up with an appropriate WORD...

How are YOU helping?

[OHdem10]

10. The ONLY WAY TO WIN is to be united and prove to the Media

they can unite. Too often in the past, they do the
pretend united way and in two seconds they are backstabbing
each other and the President.

Unite and be DEMOCRATS and stand firm. Being Republican Lit,
Claire McCaskill, made your party lose 2010.

Get the people around Obama out in the country and
to realize. The Middle Class is THE NEW POOR.
Lip Service does not work. Choose Main Street over Wall STREET.

[Demeter]

11. Would you vote for Chinese pet food?

Obama and his handlers (thank you, Rahm) have adulterated the Democratic Party and ruined its brand, as well as pissing off the base.

It will take a thorough cleansing of Congress and the courts to restore the nation; the Democratic Party will have to take care of its own cleansing. And that's what elections are for, when all else fails.

Apres 2012, le deluge.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Demeter]

13. I was wondering

For the record, I have nothing but respect for McCaskill. I wish more of Congress would stand up for us against a tarnished President.

[Poll_Blind]

14. "...have adulterated the Democratic Party and ruined its brand, as well as pissing off the base."

^ This

PB

[Safetykitten]

15. After Obama loses in a Carter type landslide, we will be the antique party...

that did not "get it" when having the once in a lifetime chance to do something. We all will take the blame for a President timid and over calculating and underdelivering.

[JTFrog]

23. Dream the fuck on.

Those that have made it clear that they want nothing other than to see Obama fail are going to be mighty disappointed.

Fortunately they will get cleared the fuck off of this site when election season officially fires up.

[krabigirl]

16. They should be, but they should look in the mirror also. Stop enabling right wing crap.

I have as much disgust, if not more, for congressional Dems.

[ThomWV]

17. So none of you all think Obama might take a hint and start acting like a Democrat?

[loyalsister]

20. He would need to go much further right to be of any help to McCaskill

Missouri is pretty conservative these days. She was elected because right leaning independents saw her as tough and hard on everyone as an auditor. Association with Obama or other Democrats for that matter can only hurt her.
I think she will limit her partisan identity during this run.

[JuniperLea]

21. I'm sick of being told how I feel!

This isn't a new trick... they have been trying to frame this since Obama's inauguration.