McCaskill: How I'm not like Obama

[The Northerner]

Facing a tough re-election campaign in 2012, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) tried to set herself apart from President Obama on Sunday.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," McCaskill said that she'd voted against the president on cap-and-trade, the second round of cash-for-clunkers, comprehensive immigration reform and every omnibus bill.

McCaskill said she'd also sometimes disagreed with Obama when he was a senator.

"My record of independence, frankly, stretches back for a long period of time," she said.

When asked to name an issue where Obama had fallen short, the senator said his move into healthcare legislation at a time when he should have been focusing on job creation was "very difficult," and therefore economic issues "didn't get the attention they needed."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is already going after McCaskill, recently for pushing the stimulus bill with Obama.

"I'm anticipating being an underdog in the this election, which means I'm going to have to work twice as hard," McCaskill said. "Which is OK with me."

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/130809-mccaskill-heres-where-i-part-ways-with-obama?page=2#comments


Way to alienate your base, McCaskill!

Too bad that she doesn't realize that moving to the left is her only chance of survival.

[Lasher]

1. Maybe she should have gotten through the primary before saying these things.

And it's way too early for her to start distancing herself from Obama, insofar as the 2012 election is concerned.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. If she moves to the left, she won't win in MO

And she is independent. She's right about that. I've known Claire for at least 20 years. She marches to her own drummer. That's how she got elected to the Senate.

[TheWraith]

3. Yep. Anyone who seriously believes a primary challenger has a shot is deluding themselves.

If by some fluke a farther-left primary challenger actually beat her, they would be massacred in the general election. Hell, I worry about her chances as is.

[MrModerate]

9. Big whoop if she's independent. I'm happy for her. What good does that do the rest of us? n/t

[BzaDem]

4. "Too bad that she doesn't realize that moving to the left is her only chance of survival."

You forgot the :sarcasm: tag.

In reality, in a state like MO, moving right (or at least pretending to) is her only chance of survival.

[brooklynite]

5. Please explain how "moving to the left" makes sense in her case...

Run all the liberal candidates you can find, but don't be blind to political realities. Missouri is not a Solid Blue and not a politically liberal state. I'm not certain even the Democrats are as liberal as you probably are. I think the odds of a progressive candidate winning state-wide in a state like Missouri are limited.

[Radical Activist]

8. Obama nearly won MO by increasing turn out.

She'll need those voters to support her too if she's going to win.

Moderates will vote for a liberal politician who thy believe is honestly standing up for their principles. Being a transparent panderer who can't be trusted to support her own party doesn't win independents over, and it alienates Democrats at the same time. Politically dumb.

[Radical Activist]

6. If she's against cap-and-trade then she won't have my support.

Good luck trying to get Obama supporters to help you in 2012, Claire.

[Supersedeas]

11. she has particular constituents in mind...and you ain't one of them.

[Radical Activist]

13. Yep. People who vote Republican.

People who believe the talk radio lies about climate change and will continue to believe those lies because Senators like McCaskill won't show any conviction. She'll be disappointed to learn that Republicans will still vote Republican anyway.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. McCaskill has picked a fight with Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, too,

over the SBA 8(a) program as it relates to Native Corporations. http://www.andrewhalcro.com/native_8_a_federal_contracts_the_real_story

Claire McCaskill is not a very popular senator in Alaska. She would lose here, for sure.

[pnorman]

10. This is NOT what Obama had going for him 2 years ago:

We will probably NEVER see a shutout like that in our lifetime. But if you're hoping to see a "bright" picture in 2012, assume that President Obama has enough political moxie to decide which Blue Dog (or "centrist") he can work with!

[kentuck]

12. Oh! Look at me!

I'm not like Obama. I'm a corporate suckup.

[hfojvt]

14. Did you miss this last election?

Republicans really made hay with that Obama quote "It would have already been done, if we had Robin Carnahan there."

Republicans just ran against both Obama, HCR, and cap and trade. They won fairly big in Missouri, even against a Carnahan.

I don't think moving to the left is an answer for her.

[UTUSN]

15. She's out there toe to toe with Rethugs, the clearest strongest voice defending Dem policies

every danged talk show. Yesterday while she was punching Lindsay GRAHAM my spontaneous thought was what would we do without McCASKILL, closely followed by, She's sure to be attacked as "conservative Dem."

I can't identify a more credible Dem on all the yak shows.

[Dawson Leery]

16. Strange. She had her head up Obama's a** during the 2008 primaries/election.

Now she is running from him. Interesting.