MANY DEMOCRATS DUCK OBAMA -- BUT McINTYRE, PRICE AND SHULER SHARE THE LOVE.

 Verne Strickland Blogmaster / December 16, 2011

NC Dems warming to Obama? (Politico)
Per the White House pool report released just a few moments ago, "North Carolina Congressmen Mike McIntyre, David Price and Heath Shuler accompanied the president on Air Force One to Ft. Bragg."

Most members of Congress dodged Obama during 
his last visit to North Carolina. | AP Photo

By DAVID CATANESE & ALEX ISENSTADT | 10/24/11 5:03 AM EDT

Despite President Barack Obama’s sagging poll ratings, top Democratic leaders from around the country insist they’d love for him to visit. From state party chairmen to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the message remains remarkably consistent: No one views the president as a political liability.

Roughly a year out from the 2012 presidential election, that may be true. But already, as Obama’s most recent forays into battleground states indicate, there are growing signs that many Democratic politicians don’t want to get too close to him, either.

In trips to Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — all states that he carried in 2008 — members of Congress were notably missing from the president’s side. Though none came out and said they were deliberately avoiding him, they didn’t have to: Dodging a presidential candidate who’s riding low in the polls is a time-honored political practice.

The past three elections — the Sept. 13 House special elections in New York and Nevada and the Oct. 4 West Virginia gubernatorial special election — haven’t done much to inspire confidence about Obama’s ability to help the entire ticket: The president was unquestionably an anchor on the Democratic nominees in each race.

For Obama, who has led a charmed political life since bursting onto the national stage in 2004 — he was in high demand on the campaign trail even before he won his Senate seat that year — it’s a harbinger of a humbling election year to come.

In North Carolina, only Sen. Kay Hagan, who isn’t up for reelection until 2014, and veteran Rep. Mel Watt, who represents a majority black district, appeared with the president. The state’s six other Democratic House members took a pass, offering a variety of excuses.

“[Obama] may end up being Walter Mondale of 1984,” said Raleigh-based Democratic strategist Brad Crone, recalling that the only elected official who risked being seen with the party’s nominee that year was the longtime agriculture commissioner.

When Obama visited Pittsburgh, Pa., two weeks ago, the story was much the same — no members of Congress to be found. Though two of southwestern Pennsylvania’s three Democratic congressmen greeted the president on the airport tarmac, neither of them attended any of the public events Obama held, choosing instead to return to Washington.

“Southwest Pennsylvania has become over time a difficult place for Democrats because of the perception they are left of center,” said T.J. Rooney, a former Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman and state legislator.

Some Democrats believe that attempts to keep a distance from the president can only backfire. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell called it “political idiocy” for Democrats to purposefully avoid a president from their own party.

David Price teams with liberal DNC on bills to thwart GOP voter fraud effort.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / December 2, 2011

Submitted by cjarvis on 2011-12-01 17:43

Tags: Under the Dome | General Assembly | Rep. David Price | voter identification

 

 

U.S. Rep. David Price is co-sponsoring three new bills aimed at thwarting Republican efforts in North Carolina and elsewhere to crack down on voter fraud -- or to disenfranchise potential voters, depending on your point of view.

The bills would prohibit any requirements that people have photo identification in order to vote, as well as protect same-day registration and absentee balloting.

"Half a million North Carolina residents -- including many minorities, seniors, women and young people -- do not have a photo ID," the North Carolina Democrat said in a news release. "The General Assembly is trying to make it harder for these citizens to vote. It is an attack on voting rights, plain and simple."

GOP lawmakers in the North Carolina legislature this year passed a voter ID bill, but have not been able to muster enough votes to override the governor's veto of it. Republican leaders are considering other manuevers to accomplish their goal.

The Democratic National Committee is promoting the three-bill campaign. Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced them in a conference call with reporters this morning.

Four NC Democrats named "Most Vulnerable" (no -- not "Most Valuable") by 'The Hill'

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / August 24, 2011

The result of record deficits haunts incumbent Democrats

RALEIGH, NC – Four members of the North Carolina Democratic Congressional Delegation have been named “most vulnerable” by The Hill, a non-partisan Washington, D.C. publication.

Rep. Larry Kissell took home the top prize of “Most Vulnerable Democrat”, followed by “#4 Most Vulnerable Democrat” Rep. Heath Shuler, and “Honorable Mentions” Rep. David Price and Rep. Mike McIntyre.

These four were members of the 111^th Democrat-controlled Congress that helped pile a whopping $4 Trillion on to our national debt in just 2.5 years under the leadership of President Obama.

It is also notable that the 111^th congress failed to pass a congressional budget to determine government spending, one of the core responsibilities that they are supposed to perform.

NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes had this to say: “It is interesting to note that there is 1 “vulnerable Democrat” for every $1 Trillion added to the debt under President Obama.

"The fiscal irresponsibility of these four and their Democratic colleagues led to a jump in unemployment to unacceptable levels both nationally (9.1%) and in our state (10.1%).

"The people of North Carolina want responsibility and leadership restored in Washington, D.C., and that happens by replacing these members of Congress next November.”

URL: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/redistricting/177611-five-most-vulnerable-democrats-from-congressional-redistricting

Paid for by the North Carolina Republican Party
www.NCGOP.org