Colorado Democrats Feeling Betrayed By Obama

[frontrange]

President Obama continues to use his "Organizing for America" machine and the resources of the DNC to sabotage progressive Democrats and interfere in Democratic Party primary elections that are supposed to be decided by the voters.

He tried to stop Joe Sestak and now he's trying to stop Andrew Romanoff.

Here's a good "open letter" to President Obama on this subject.

http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991665-open-letter-president-barack-obama-democratic-national-committee-officers-and-democra

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/bennetprimaryco/

This is a dangerous precedent that must be stopped.

[donco6]

1. Romanoff is a far better candidate than Bennet.

Hopefully, Bennet will lose and we'll be able to move on.

[Jefferson23]

2. Just lovely, thousands of calls no less.

"We are further distressed by the thousands of phone calls coming into our state from people hired by the DNC Organizing for America (OFA) group who have been given phone scripts telling Colorado Democrats how to vote. Colorado Democrats have the knowledge and wisdom to think for themselves and make their own decisions without someone who is not a Colorado voter telling them how to vote. We resent the fact that money we have contributed to the National Democratic Party is being given to OFA organizers to interfere in our U.S. Senate primary."


I wish them good luck getting OFA to back off.

[slay]

3. They're not the only ones. n/t

[harvey007]

4. Romanoff shows real courage

Did anyone see Chuck Todd's interview with Romanoff this morning? He was really tough but Romanoff responses were very strong.

We could use a few guys like Romanoff in the Senate...guys with spines!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38624137#38624137

[donco6]

6. Yes.

Not more corporo-lackeys like Bennet.

[flyarm]

5. If OFA called me, I would tell them very nicely..GO FUCK OFF!

Then they would never get my vote..that would be a vote killer for me!

[xchrom]

7. Recommend

[depakid]

8. The first time I knew for certain what I suspected- that Obama had very poor judgment

was when he gratuitously inserted himself as a junior Senator into the Lieberman Lamont primary campaign- endorsing Lieberman!

That worked out well for him (and us) eh?

It's almost as if the man has a self-destructive streak of some sort.

[RainDog]

9. Hillary endorsed Lieberman too

That was one spectacle - the Democratic Party turning on the candidate the state had chosen, that told me far too much about the Washington, D.C. version of Democratic Party.

[EFerrari]

11. So did Boxer.

What is the matter with these people.

[ibegurpard]

10. poor judgement?

you give him too much benefit of the doubt.

[Hawkowl]

12. He IS self destructive

If you look at his political actions, it appears as if he is deliberately dividing his party, attacking traditional bedrock constituencies. I think it means that he really, really, would rather not serve a second term.

[BlackHoleSon]

15. Wait for the second term

But I keep hearing how all the good, Progressive stuff that's going to cement his place in history will be coming in his second term!

[Hawkowl]

16. Not a chance

I mean he may get a second term, but no way in hell is he going to even pretend to listen to progressives.

[Lorien]

22. I wouldn't call it "self" destructive

Obama will be just fine no matter what. A seat at the Carlyle Group, maybe one at Goldmann Sachs...the destruction is aimed at us; the middle and working classes and all Liberal Progressives.

[Hawkowl]

35. Thanks for reminding me

I've thought the same thing, but it appears that I block it out. It is just too depressing to think about. I think you are exactly right and he just doesn't give a shit because he knows he is set for life.

[WinkyDink]

40. I think that is true.

[tomp]

27. no, he has an us-destructive streak. nt

[tomp]

29. lieberman was obama's "mentor". that should tell you something....

....about how obama turned out the way he did. a couple of snakes.

[donheld]

13. Yes this is betrayal.

Obama's been good at that.

[AtomicKitten]

23. Betrayal? FFS, the drama is thick up in here.

There is nothing unusual about Pres Obama/the party supporting the incumbent. Strategically it's easier and cheaper to defend the seat. It's just inside politics.

For instance, BClinton endorsed Romanoff as payback for Romanoff's 2008 endorsement of HClinton. It wasn't ideological (don't forget BClinton stumped for Blanche Lincoln, uberConservaDem), it was simply quid pro quo.

It's interesting watching some people here use some of these primaries to act out a lame proxy war against Pres Obama, but the truth is you are entitled to support whomever you wish and it wouldn't kill you to extend that courtesy to Pres Obama and the rest of the Democrats.

[bvar22]

36. Didn't Obama promise to "Change the way business is done in Washington?"

Throwing the full support of the White House behind Blue Dog Conservatives in Democratic Primaries doesn't look like "CHANGE".
It is IN FACT, supporting the Statue Quo.

[madamesilverspurs]

14. Gotta say it --

Had the governor appointed Romanoff to the Senate seat there would be NO objection to Obama's endorsement. There would be no cries of "interference." It would have been expected and welcomed.


-

[Hannah Bell]

18. gotten what appointment? i read he was offered a dc position in return for bowing out of the CO

race, & declined.

[Froward69]

26. Gov Ritter Apointed Bennet

over Romanoff. It seemed like a weird choice at the time. Everyone was perplexed. What you refer came later after Romanoff announced a challenge to Bennet's own actual election.

[Bluebear]

17. "Open letters" to President Obama are futile. He couldn't be less interested.

[sabrina 1]

19. So how about organizing to make calls from progressives

from 'outside'? They will not stop just because people complain, it would be better to start working for Romanoff. We know how it works now. Forget about letters to the president, he probably laughs. Better to start organizing and getting to work for the most progressive candidates.

[laughingliberal]

24. +1 nt

[DFLforever]

20. Obama's got his nerve backing the incumbent

Democratic senator.

Just because that's what Presidents ALWAYS do is no excuse.

Why Dem senators might start thinking they have to support his key legislation if they want his support for their re-election. Then anything could happen...he might even get what he wants passed. :eyes:

:sarcasm: tag for the innocent

[tomp]

28. and he made these backroom deals to pass crap legislation.

obama=fail.

[quinnox]

21. Join the club

There is plenty of company. It's becoming obvious Obama really did mean it when he went with his bipartisan approach fig leaf to the republicans.

[Radical Activist]

25. I'm supposed to believe the candidate backed by Bill Clinton is more liberal?

Call me skeptical.
And where is this guy's outrage at Clinton for doing robo-calls for Romanoff? As party leader, Obama is expected to be involved in politics. Former Presidents are not.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

31. neither of which has anything to do with which person is the better candidate

I have voted for the progressive choice: Romanoff.

Obama doesn't hold much sway with me these days, sorry.

[Radical Activist]

33. I still can't find anything showing Romanoff is more progressive.

The articles that turn up on a search complaining about Bennet don't show how Romanoff is any better. Even those claims come from people like Dave Sirota who would oppose anyone that Obama supports.

[Octafish]

30. It's as if Rahm Emanuel was the Decider.

Howard Dean vs. Rahm Emanuel

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. "elections that are supposed to be decided by the voters"

And this primary election is going to be decided by the voters. President Obama is using his political organization to provide information to voters. Do you believe that voters in CO have too much information on the candidates running?

[CanonRay]

34. Keep your hands off my primary!

[bvar22]

37. The WORST betrayal happened in the Arkansas Primary this year.

The White House threw its FULL support to Blanche Lincoln, a Conservative, Anti-LABOR, Blue Dog who laughed about derailing the Public Option. Her Democratic opponent, Bill Halter, had a solid Pro-Health Care, Pro Working Class, Pro-LABOR record.
He was also polling better against the Republican in the General.
The Insult to the Injury was when the White House ridiculed LABOR when the LABOR candidate was defeated with the active help of the White House.

I live in Arkansas, and I am PISSED.

[otohara]

38. Party Rules State POTUS Supports The Incumbent

I voted for Andrew, but I can't be mad at the President - for one thing, I heard he was extremely impressed with Bennet and I suspect our Governor chose Mr. Bennet to please Mr. Obama.

I will vote for Michael Bennet in November.

[dflprincess]

39. Link?

Because I sure can't find any party rule that says that. In fact, I can't find any rules except those covering the selection of delegates to the national convention.

Actually, I don't think there is a rule that tells the president who to support in a primary contest after all, what would happen if the incumbent is a crook?

[SoxFan]

41. POUTRAGEOUS!

Looks like the real Colorado Democrats didn't get the memo, since they decided that Bennet should be their senator. But don't let that ruin a good rant.