Democrats Run Away Rather Than Run on a Record of Failure

February 3, 2012

Rep. Heath Shuler is the Latest Blue Dog Democrat to Retire Rather than Run on a Failed Democrat Agenda that Even Obama Can’t Defend

As House Democrats wrestle with whether to abandon or run on their unpopular record of failure in 2012, they were advised last week at their annual retreat to “stand and defend what you’ve done”: namely, a government takeover of healthcare, a failed stimulus, a job-destroying regulatory rampage and a record $4.6 trillion increase in the national debt.
Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) yesterday became the fourth Blue Dog Democrat to decide that running on that record of failure with an unpopular President Obama at the top of the ticket would be close to impossible. It’s hard to blame him as Democrats refuse to budge on the policies that are continuing to bring economic havoc on America.
Even President Obama is avoiding talking about Democrats’ failed record, practically omitting mention of his signature government takeover of healthcare and stimulus in his State of the Union address last week. The fact that Democrats won’t “stand and defend” their record of economic failure signals that even they agree that their agenda cannot be defended.

At their annual retreat last week, House Democrats were told to “stand and defend what you’ve done”: namely, their government takeover of healthcare, a failed stimulus, a job-destroying regulatory rampage and a record increase in the national debt:

SKEPTICAL DEMOCRATS WERE TOLD LAST WEEK TO “STAND AND DEFEND WHAT YOU’VE DONE”: “House Democrats are spending their retreat time on Maryland’s Eastern Shore boosting morale and finding new ways to pound Congressional Republicans ahead of the 2012 elections, with one key adviser urging them not to run from their records but to ‘stand and defend’ their accomplishments. … Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who participated in a separate panel on messaging today, said he encouraged Members to ‘stand and defend what you’ve done, because you can’t run away from them.’” (Jessica Brady, At Retreat, Democrats Urged to Defend Past Record,” Roll Call, 1/26/2012)

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) yesterday became the fourth Blue Dog Democrat to decide that running on that record of failure with an unpopular President Obama at the top of the ticket would be close to impossible. It’s hard to blame him as Democrats refuse to budge on policies that are continuing to bring economic havoc on America:

“HEALTH SHULER LATEST IN LONG LINE OF BLUE DOG LOSSES”: “ ‘Oh man, that’s a crushing blow to the institution, and it’s tough for the Blue Dogs,’ said Rep. Kurt Schrader(Ore.), a Blue Dog Democrat who had not yet heard about Shuler’s announcement.” (Jessica Brady and Daniel Newhauser, “Heath Shuler Latest in Long Line of Blue Dog Losses,” Roll Call, 2/2/2012)

SHULER HAS LONG BEEN FEATURED AMONG VULNERABLE HOUSE DEMOCRATS; HOW MANY MORE WILL FOLLOW HIM OUT?: (Aaron Blake and Rachel Weiner, “Blue Dog Democrats a Dying Breed,” The Washington Post, 7/26/2011)

WHEN REP. DENNIS CARDOZA RETIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE ISSUED A “SCATHING PARTING SHOT AT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S TRACK RECORD ON HIS WAY OUT”: (Jessica Taylor and Billy House, “Announcing Retirement, Dem Congressman Bashes Obama,” National Journal, 10/20/2011)

REP. DAN BOREN (D-OK) JUMPED SHIP EARLIER THIS YEAR: “UNPOPULARITY OF [BOREN’S] NATIONAL PARTY” TOOK “A TOLL” ON DEMOCRAT: “But there was also a private acknowledgement among Boren loyalists that the unpopularity of his national party in deep-red Oklahoma had taken a toll on him. …

“One Boren adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 65 percent of the district’s voters currently have an unfavorable impression of Obama.

“The congressman’s camp was bracing for his toughest race yet.” (Alex Isenstadt and Dave Catanese, “Another Blue Dog Bites the Dust,” Politico, 6/9/2011)

NATIONAL JOURNAL: HOUSE DEMS “ANCHORED TO THE PRESIDENT” WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT: (Dave Wasserman, “Anchored to the President,”National Journal, 10/27/2011)

Even President Obama is avoiding talking about Democrats’ failed record, practically omitting mention of his signature government takeover of healthcare and stimulus in his State of the Union address last week. The fact that Democrats won’t “stand and defend” their record of economic failure signals that even they agree that their agenda cannot be defended:

OBAMA MENTIONED HIS “STIMULUS” ZERO TIMES IN STATE OF THE UNION: (“Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address,” The White House, 1/24/2012)

DEMOCRATS’ SIGNATURE LEGISLATION, THEIR FAILED “HEALTH CARE LAW,” WAS MENTIONED ONLY ONCE: (“Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address,” The White House, 1/24/2012)

THE WORDS “ACHIEVMENT,” “ACCOMPLISHMENT” AND “SUCCESS” COLLECTIVELY APPEARED ONLY ONCE IN RELATION TO POLICY: (“Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address,” The White House, 1/24/2012)