Obama: from messiah to pariah

Is this any way to treat a Lightworker? Barack Obama has apparently become such strong electoral poison for Democratic candidates that Al Gore, speaking at a rally in Florida for Kendrick Meek’s US Senate campaign, failed to mention the signature achievements of Barack Obama’s administration, or even Obama himself. Even the candidate himself could not speak the unutterable name:

Al Gore failed to mention President Barack Obama at a campaign rally in Florida as Democrats extended their new tactic for next month’s elections – ignoring the man who so inspired them in 2008.

Representative Kendrick Meek, the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in the November 2nd mid-terms, also neglected to let Mr Obama’s name pass his lips during an appearance with the former vice-president in a union hall.

Instead, the black congressman lauded “President Gore” – a reference to the 2000 election, when hanging chads in Florida and the US Supreme Court cost the Democrat the White House.

With their party facing a possible landslide defeat in a month’s time, Democratic candidates are running away from Mr Obama and his record. Polls indicate Democrats could lose control of the House of Representatives and perhaps even the Senate, a result that could cripple to Obama presidency.

In Tampa, neither Mr Gore nor Mr Meek made direct reference to Mr Obama’s historic health care legislation, his proudest achievement, or the financial bailout. Both measures are unpopular with all but hardcore Democratic supporters.

Two years ago, every Democrat in the country was invoking Mr Obama’s name as they hoped to ride on his coat-tails to electoral victory. This year, he is a near-pariah, with many of the party’s candidates doing everything they can to distance themselves from him.

Okay, that’s pretty pathetic when you’re reduced to praising the fantasy presidency of the egomaniac who still can’t believe he lost fair and square, but you don’t dare mention The One who actually won back the White House for your party.

Is this Meek’s revenge for the White House’s game of footsie with Charlie Crist, or just a recognition of political reality? Obama’s endorsements meant nothing in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey in 2009, and his ratings have cratered since then.

But Meek isn’t the only Democrat to run screaming from the Democratic leadership. In Alabama, Representative Bobby Bright (D, keep that in mind) is running a TV ad that touts his closeness to… House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican (via Hot Air):

In perhaps the most striking example of a vulnerable Democrat racing away from the national party as the midterm elections near, Rep. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) is running a TV ad that features side-by-side photos of him and Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio). The spot touts that he “votes 80 percent with the Republican leader.”

Several House Democrats have run ads that speak out against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) by name, but Bright appears to be the first incumbent to feature Boehner, her chief rival in Congress and the man who would be speaker if Republicans win control of the House.

Quite a change from the heady days of early 2009, when Democrats dreamed of 40 years of uninterrupted rule.

With all these Democrats denying their god, I half expect to hear a cock crow thrice.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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