In televised debate, Blue Dog accuses Democratic opponent of palling around with progressives

[Bluebear]

Katrina Swett called her primary opponent an unelectable progressive last night, but Ann McLane Kuster said district voters agree with her positions.

"Annie, you have cast yourself as the very, very progressive candidate and have been warmly supported by the far-left progressive movement," Swett, a human rights activist from Bow, said in a televised debate between the two Democrats running for Congress in the 2nd District. "In a year when everyone understands that the country is moving back toward the center and away from the more left, progressive point of view, if you were to become the nominee, would you try to distance yourself from your own positions?"

Swett pointed to Kuster's support for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan...

We've written about Swett before. She's from a state that allows same-sex marriage, but she's opposed to same-sex marriage.

Kuster has raised over $134,000 on ActBlue. (Swett raised $700 on ActBlue, kinda says it all.)

The primary is next Tuesday, September 14th. This is an open seat because the incumbent, Paul Hodes, is running for Senate. Kuster is a solid progressive. She's one of the really good candidates this cycle. Katrina Swett would be another Lieberman/Blue Dog -- and, we've already got too many. Swett's already attacked the Democratic base. If she did win the primary, does she think any of them will help her?

http://www.americablog.com/2010/09/in-nh-dem-primary-debate-blue-dog-swett.html

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Further proof, as if any was needed, that blue dogs are just

Republicans in Democratic drag.

This is New fucking Hampshire, not the old confederacy where 'only a blue dog can beat a Republican'.

We need to get shed of these leeches on our party.

[Hubert Flottz]

11. They don't even bother to hide it anymore...

Just a bunch of republican hacks that can't get elected if they don't lie and claim to be democrats. They are worse than hard core right wingers.

[Renew Deal]

2. Richard Brodsky basically did the same thing to Schneiderman in the NY AG race

It's bullshit

[kentuck]

3. Why don't these people just run as Republicans??

They sound like tea baggers.

[Buns_of_Fire]

4. (FWIW, Swett's the one on the left...) nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Doesn't sound like it to me.

:evilgrin:

[Buns_of_Fire]

25. ...uh, "on the left..... SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN"

I've really got to start proofreading those one-liners more carefully!:hi:

[elleng]

5. Where have I been????

'In a year when everyone understands that the country is moving back toward the center and away from the more left, progressive point of view'

Moving BACK, from 8 years of Bushco, after 1 year of obamaCo?

[Lorien]

37. She's completely delusional

even here in the South my conservative friends having been moving Left because the right has proven itself to have only horrible ideas for the past ten years. Too bad the Left has only a couple of Congressmen as representation.

[depakid]

6. The progressive had better fight back and draw a contrast with the policies

putting the opponent squarely in the Republicrat camp.

[PassingFair]

22. That would be fucking retarded!

:sarcasm:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. That section in bold just makes me want to laugh. Or cry. I'll let you know when I make up my mind.

[LoZoccolo]

8. How dare a centrist candidate make note that the other candidate is further left!

:eyes:

Would you rather the centrist pretend that they are "progressive"?

[jannyk]

16. Centrist my Arse! She's the extreme 'Right Wing' of the Dem Party

Where did we get these Republican throwbacks anyhow?

[Zorra]

17. Swett is a right wing bigot, not a centrist.

She does not want to allow GLBT folks to have the same rights and freedoms that she enjoys.

Intolerance of others is a primary characteristic of a conservative.

[Forkboy]

26. Why not, most of the others are pretending.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. She's not even pretending to be a centrist. nt

[Bluebear]

33. I know, huh, LoZ? She sounds like your cup of tea.

[deutsey]

9. I hope one day, before I die, the words "liberal" and "progressive"

are no longer seen as insults or as reasons for shame. :evilfrown:

[Barack_America]

10. A "human rights activist" who opposes gay marriage and bad mouths progressives?

:rofl:

[glitch]

15. Sounds like some republican religious human right to hate, doesn't it?

Methinks the mask slipped a bit.

[T Wolf]

18. ... a human rights activist??????? I don't think so. nt

[Forkboy]

27. The epitome of a centrist.

[xchrom]

12. the perfect metaphor for the state of the modern democratic party. nt

[zipplewrath]

13. Yeah I heard about this last night

Act Blue jumped right on it. I gave her $50. I figured Swett needed to hear a message.

[Swamp Rat]

14. k&r

[justgamma]

20. Just once, I'd like to see

someone make their opponent define "far left". It's seems so scary until you tell them what the "far left" stands for. Nobody ever defines it.

[asdjrocky]

21. Gawd I hate these people. nt

[MadHound]

23. And the Democratic party wonders why they aren't feeling the love from the left

Not only are our issues pushed aside and ignored, but then we're openly demonized by members of the party itself, ranging from local candidates all the way up to the WH itself.

But hey, don't forget to send them money, and don't forget to vote for them this fall! Remember, Democrats are the kinder, gentler abusers:puke:

[tsuki]

24. Is Sweet anti-choice also?

[lib2DaBone]

29. Further demonizing the word.... "Liberal". It's gone too far.

Way past time for Liberals and Progressives to stand up to the bullies.


----------------------------------------------
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/07/b131981.html

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then … we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

- John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960

[TheKentuckian]

30. Weed the garden so fruit might grow. Weed the garden or there will be naught but weeds.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. This bigot has to fail

The dog whistles this Republican in a Democratic tee shirt uses are disgusting. She's a hard right, anti civil rights conservative.

[IndianaGreen]

32. Blue Dogs are the ones most likely to lose in November

What was that thing that Truman said about having a choice between a real Republican and a faux Republican?

[Starry Messenger]

34. I wonder what her screen name is here?

:hide:

[old mark]

35. "...Away from the more left, progressive point of view..." You mean

the liberal positions of George W. Bush? What the fuck is she talking about?


mark

[bvar22]

36. Thanks!

I'm sending $20 to Katrina Swett tonight.
You can too!
Here:
http://www.swettforcongress.com/

(I have $20 left over that I'm NOT sending to Blanche Lincoln here in Arkansas.
I may find more money that I'm NOT sending to Blanche that I can give to "Democrats" instead.)

[IDemo]

38. NRINO

Not repuglican't in name only.