"Hey, I still matter! You can't run away from me because I won't let you." https://t.co/hMRxtqfx1v
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) October 21, 2014
“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 establishment left Website The Hill notes disdainfully:
The president said that Democrats faced a “tough map” and noted that many Democrats in crucial races “are in states that I didn’t win” during a radio interview with Rev. Al Sharpton.
“And so some of the candidates there — it is difficult for them to have me in the state because the Republicans will use that to try to fan Republican turnout,” Obama said.
“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 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.’ ”
The president’s remarks appear tailor-made for Republican attack ads in states like Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Alaska, where GOP candidates have painted their Democratic opponents as rubber stamps for the administration’s policies. Democrats in those races have worked hard to distance themselves from Obama, with polls showing his approval ratings mired in the low 40s.
Why, it’s almost as if this Barack Obama fella is dramatically overrated as a political orator and off-the-cuff speaker or something.
Update: Former(?) members of the JournoList are not happy with their boss tonight:
Either Obama wants a GOP Senate and a battered Democratic Party or else he should take a vow of silence ’til November http://t.co/iwUMJS1T6j
— Walter Shapiro (@MrWalterShapiro) October 21, 2014
Boy, up until this Obama gaffe, Republicans were totally unable to say Dems supported his agenda.
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 21, 2014
It’s interesting that Obama is taking more shit from journos for saying something true than he would for lying.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) October 21, 2014
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