Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Obama's Failed Promises Shape Virginia Race

I have previously commented on the way in which I believe the broken campaign promises of President Obama and Congressional Democrats is threatening the loss of the Virginia governor's office and other offices to the Republicans. Now, the Washington Post has picked up on that story line demonstrating it wasn't just my imagination or that of aides to the Virginia Democrat candidates. I truly believe that Virginia may well return to red state status unless Obama and Congressional Democrats get off their asses and start delivering. I am beyond disgusted and it seems so are more and more Virginians who feel that voting Democrat has brought them nothing (other than not having Bible Spice as Vice President). Here are highlights from the Post story:
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For Cleland [a Northern Virginia realtor], it was another example -- one of many this day -- of the broken promises of a president who she thought would be different. Obama pledged to change a Washington culture that favored corporations and the connected and instead lift families such as the one sitting next to Cleland out of their economic funk. Rather, she said, Obama has backed billions of dollars to banks that continue to "act like they're broke" and started the country down a path that Cleland said she thinks will lead to more grief for the middle class. "He's just not as advertised," she said. "Nothing's changed for the common guy. I feel like I've been punked."
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There is no empirical evidence at this point in Virginia's race for governor showing tObama's policies are nonetheless having immediate consequences in the campaign as the candidates adjust their strategies to account for the president's controversial domestic agenda, which has overshadowed many state issues. hat huge numbers of voters think like Cleland and will respond by sending a message to Washington.
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But Obama's entry into the race presents a challenge for Deeds: How does he continue the momentum created by Obama, the first Democratic presidential candidate in more than four decades to carry Virginia, without being saddled with the baggage the president now carries?
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Supporters of the president say his efforts will pay off for Deeds. But Republicans are gambling that many of Virginia's middle-of-the road voters, who have backed Democrats in recent races, will be up for grabs as people grow more skeptical of Democratic leadership. "The mood is becoming just as lousy for the Democrats as it has been for us the last couple of years," said J. Kenneth Klinge, a longtime Virginia GOP strategist. "It's evening the playing field."
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The most stark evidence of Obama's failure, as Cleland sees it, is at her job at Long & Foster. Her workload consists of short sales, an arduous and often unsuccessful real estate maneuver that makes her feel less like a salesman and more like a social worker or lawyer.
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I echo Cleland's experience in the area of real estate business. As for LGBT Americans, Obama has delivered almost nothing. Obama needs to get his head out of his ass and wake up to what is happening. He is blowing an incredible opportunity and Virginia Democrats are going to be the sacrificial victims.

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