Obama becomes issue in Connecticut Senate race
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/16/art.blumenthal.file.gi.jpg caption="Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is running for Senate in Connecticut."](CNN) - The frontrunners for the Republican Senate nomination in Connecticut are pouncing on the Democratic frontrunner, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, for hedging on whether he plans to invite President Obama to campaign with him.
Blumenthal, who jumped into the race after Sen. Chris Dodd announced he will not seek another term, was asked about a possible Obama appearance after speaking Monday to the Yale College Democrats in New Haven.
Chatting with reporters, Blumenthal called Obama "someone who I deeply respect and admire," but said he has differences with the president, according to the Associated Press. Blumenthal said he has not decided whether to ask the president to campaign for him.
"I haven't presumed to ask," he said, according to the AP. "I don't know whether he would and I don't know whether we would ask. At this point it is an open question."
Blumenthal's GOP opponents, former Rep. Rob Simmons and former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, circulated the comments to reporters and said the Democrat is eager to distance himself from an unpopular president.
"After decades of toeing the party line and supporting liberal policies, Richard Blumenthal's new found independence shows, like other Democrats, he knows his party's tax and spend agenda has failed to deliver and voters will be looking for change in November," Simmons spokesman Raj Shah said in an e-mail to CNN. "They will have a choice between Blumenthal's election-year rhetoric or Rob Simmons proven record of fighting for lower taxes, less government and a strong national defense."
And this, from McMahon spokesman Ed Patru: "The messages Linda has been driving in this campaign as an outsider are resonating and catching fire with voters, so it should be no surprise that Dick Blumenthal is parroting her messages and distancing himself from his party."
Blumenthal held a commanding lead in hypothetical match-ups against Simmons and McMahon in a Quinnipiac poll from mid-January.
Well, I do believe they are beginning to learn that Obama is poision to their campaigns. It certainly took them long enough.
It's curious to me that guys like Glenn Koons keep spouting the myth of Democrats as "tax and spend" liberals, when history shows that the Bush's and Reagan were the major contributors to our deficits over the past 30 years. Repugnants like to cut taxes on the rich and spend, spend, spend, without paying for anything. It's one of the ways they redistribute middleclass wealth to the super-rich, which is their main function. This is not a secret, and neither is it unrecognized by the public in general.
The "tax and spend" myth is simply an untruth that has been repeated for many years so that the likes of Mr. Koons take it as gospel. Maybe it's what he thinks of as "faith", in which case, I would remind him that many people have faith in ideas that are diametrically opposed to each other. Try some facts, for a change.
Stacie – "Democrats welcome differences of opinion"
Oh, really? Since when?
Ben in Texas – "Repugnants like to cut taxes on the rich and spend, spend, spend, without paying for anything. It's one of the ways they redistribute middleclass wealth to the super-rich, which is their main function"
Uh, not really. Those Reagan tax cuts led to the biggest era of peace-time prosperity in history. Don't believe me? Look it up.
You NEWS folks make EVERYTHING look NASTY to make news. Believe you me, Obama is NOT a deterrent. He will be asked to campaign. You folks at CNN need to STOP CREATING NEWS and try reporting it.
gl, From Pittsburgh February 16th, 2010 3:57 pm ET
Republicans never say how they are going to get to smaller govenment, but we all know they will cut all education programs so everybody in American can be stupid and vote for them. Only stupid and fear mongering people vote for Republicans. So if you cut education, Republicans will have all the stupid people they ned to win back Congress. Republicans hate government, but love working for govenment and received all the perks like Health Care for LIFE!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This guy is absolutely correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ben in Texas February 16th, 2010 4:37 pm ET
It's curious to me that guys like Glenn Koons keep spouting the myth of Democrats as "tax and spend" liberals, when history shows that the Bush's and Reagan were the major contributors to our deficits over the past 30 years. Repugnants like to cut taxes on the rich and spend, spend, spend, without paying for anything. It's one of the ways they redistribute middleclass wealth to the super-rich, which is their main function. This is not a secret, and neither is it unrecognized by the public in general.
The "tax and spend" myth is simply an untruth that has been repeated for many years so that the likes of Mr. Koons take it as gospel. Maybe it's what he thinks of as "faith", in which case, I would remind him that many people have faith in ideas that are diametrically opposed to each other. Try some facts, for a change.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This guy is absolutely correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!100%
Somebody needs to let this guy know that Obama is 0-3 when stumping for candidates! You really want to make it 0-4? On second thought, shhhh!
Ben in Texas – "The "tax and spend" myth is simply an untruth that has been repeated for many years"
Uh, no it's not. It's hard cold fact. You really need to do your homework on that one. Democrats have ALWAYS been the party of Tax and Spend. Remember Roosevelt, Johnson, and Carter? Maybe you just don't want to.
Orange Curtain, CA February 16th, 2010 3:37 pm ET
Typical Republican hypocrites. Praise Obama and ask for bi-partisanship cooperation, then bite the hand that feeds them with stimulus projects.
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Kinda like when Obma met with the GOP and asked for civility instead of slash and burn rhetoric. As soon as he gets in front of the DEMS...You guessed it...Slash and burn. Typical liberal hypocrisy, right?
Ben – While Bush may have gotten carried away with his spending, your implication of Reagan in the "spend, spend, spend" category is simply not true.
Reagan drastically increased military spending as a strategy specifically desgined to bankrupt the Soviet Union...and it worked. He refused to spend money on entitlement programs, which is like a revolving door that cannot be stopped.
In addition, true Republicans detest "spend, spend, spend" politics. That is why Bush had a very low approval rating, even amongst Republicans, on his handling of the deficit. Just wanted to clarify.
If I was crazy, I'd be a conservative too February 16th, 2010 3:52 pm ET
I hope these hypocritical republicans bring in Bush and Cheney to help get that conservative message out.
Short simple and to the point I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Want to talk about avoidance? Let's talk about why CNN.com has completely ignored the Phil Jones climate gate scandal. No "insightful" thoughts on that CNN? Too invested in the myth? Egg on the face much?
I think Obama should campaign for ALL Democrats running for office this November! After all, he and the Democrats think the problem is just that he hasn't been communicating enough to us dummies.
The more Obama and the Democrats talk, the clearer it becomes to the American people what they stand for: out of control spending, government control and higher taxes to fund it all.
So YES, PLEASE invite Obama to ALL campaigns. It'll be the first time in history NO Demorcats get elected.... Truly, heaven on earth!!
Joe M. February 16th, 2010 4:56 pm ET
Ben – While Bush may have gotten carried away with his spending, your implication of Reagan in the "spend, spend, spend" category is simply not true.
Reagan drastically increased military spending as a strategy specifically desgined to bankrupt the Soviet Union...and it worked. He refused to spend money on entitlement programs, which is like a revolving door that cannot be stopped.
In addition, true Republicans detest "spend, spend, spend" politics. That is why Bush had a very low approval rating, even amongst Republicans, on his handling of the deficit. Just wanted to clarify.
Joe my I remind you that Reagan was the idiot with the brain fart of trickle down ecomonic which did exactly what Ben said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 16th, 2010 4:04 pm ET
He should stomp for hisself, President Obama don't need another blue eyed crooked devil working under him know way
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This is the results when you fail lunch and recess, not to mention math, english, and science! !
This story title is completely misleading. President Obama will stand up for any decent Democrat running for re-election and they would be lucky to have them in their State.
President Obama is doing an outstanding job as our intelligent, savvy, leader. He had finally taken on the Obstructionist Republicans who are threatening the very democracy and role of our legislature with their policy to not work on any issue facing the American People and vote NO on any one that gets past them.
More Democrats need to stand up and call out these traitorous Republicans. They have betrayed their oath of office to serve the People who elected them.
The Republican Party is a hate-filled, fear-mongering group of selfish, arrogant, white men who care NOTHING about the People of this nation.
Teabaggers are nothing but old ignorant white people who do not understand the issues before our country and are just angry because they must live under a Black President. If they had a brain, they would realize they are fighitng against the very Democratic Party and President who is working to make their lives better.
Not one can name what "freedoms" they have lost, what part of the Constitution President Obama has supposedly "violated", nor what they are so angry about. They are just parroting line of garbage fed to them by wingnut Republicans.
Do these teabaggers not realize that the Republican Party is currently trying to end the Medicare program completely, gut Social Security, and leave them with NO healthcare or retirement???? The House Republicans have proposed this very thing this past week.
Wake up America. It's the Party of No, hate, and racism that is the largest threat to your freedoms, rights, and social programs you depend upon. Republicans are making your lives worse and you cannot even see it.
Would you let Odumbo campaign for you?
Odumbo's track record isn't a good one for fellow Dem's, almost the sure kiss of disapointment when Odumbo spews his lies for someone. Sucks to be a Dem right now.
2010/2012 REAL Change is coming
How soon do we forget that the last administration (Bush & Chaney) was infact the most corupted administration in our life time.
Dar, that much hate is bad for your health...and you know that getting sick in the USA could leave you completely broke. Good luck with that!
So after one year in office the policies of Obama have failed. Really? I mean that is an awefully short time to come to such a drastic judgement don't you think?
Tax and Spend leberal mouths open up and show their real colors here. You people are so ignorant. Let me ask you this. Now that Obama, Reid and Pelosi have run the country into the ground because of liberal spending, do you think your monthly check is going to go as far buying your crack or that Kool-aid you're drinking?
Typical Democratic ignorance and whitewash crap and lies!
CONNECTICUT
Don't be another Massachusetts! Vote Democrat.
The Republicans "telling" signs of NOT working "for the People" are
NO BIG GOVERNMENT meaning, we the Repubs, want to continue
spending our way, with big Salaries, entitilements for life and totally
outstanding RETIREMENT Benefits, for Life for them and their families.
They want to continue spending our taxes on WARS and they want
our boys to serve, but they don't want So. Security, Medicare, or any
other entitilement programs for the Middle Class and the Upper
Middle Class or the Poor! Why is it that the "first" complaint when
it comes to the Budget Deficit is "entitlements" that "the people"
paid into all of their lives.
They will not do anything to have a Huge Corporation Regulated, which, really, they could "tax them more" and put a stop to the millions of dollars in bonuses that caused the crash which the Middle Class
had to pay for!!! But, they want NOTHING TO do with "programs to
help their fellow Americans. I don't even trust them to make sure
our soldiers coming home from the war, wounded will be a priority
for them.
Vote Democratic. And stop fighting Obama. He cares. If we lose
him and the Democratic Party to stand by him, their will be no
MIDDLE CLASS. Without S.S. and Medicare, well, more home
forclosures, more store closings and you may be able to live
without S.S. but Medicare? I think not. Sickness will rob you of
your millions!
Scott Brown winning is Mass. was a slap in the face to the Kennedy
family who probably was responsible for MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH
CARE FOR ALL. Are you sorry yet, Mass?
hmmmmm..... checking President Obama's approval rating as of today by Gallup.... 52 percent seems pretty good to me despite the "off with their heads" spin so evident in the posts by the entirely uninformed! Looking south I still see a bunch of crazies and hope that reality will soon set it among our neighbours. Sad to see!
After the great job he did in Mass with Coakley,I would have to think myself.Kinda like the kiss of death,you go Obamie.The Dems are getting as far away as possible,and for good reason,Obamie is toast/done over/nada and the whole Dem party is on the messiah's heels.