Seems like the president is barely phoning in his views on the gubernatorial recall in Wisconsin:
President Barack Obama hopes Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, “prevails” in the state’s closely watched recall election, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday.
Carney was repeatedly asked why Obama, who has been criss-crossing the country to raise money for his reelection bid, did not do more to help Barrett.
Do note that his spokesman was asked about the recall election; neither the president nor his team volunteered anything. Well, Obama did tweet his support of Barrett.
Others haven’t been quite so civil in their remarks. Via Facebook, a reader alerted his friends to one prominent Democrat’s thoughts on the recall: “On MSNBC’s The EDd Show Jesse Jackson compared Gov Walker To Segregationist George Wallace“. Wow, just wow.
“The New York Times“, observes Walter Russell Mead, “is entering into full-blown panic mode over what this election could mean for Obama’s chances this November”
After valiantly trying to shield its readers from Walker’s lead, The New York Times is now doing its best to spare them the full horror of what is occurring in Wisconsin. The progressive left pulled out all the stops: unions, rage, “community organizers,” demonstrations, and name calling were supposed to make Wisconsin the front line for the progressive “fightback.” In a state that hasn’t been carried by a Republican since Reagan in 1984, Democrats thought this strategy couldn’t fail.
At Via Meadia, we will wait for the actual votes before we call the election. Polls have been wrong and Intrade has been wrong. Surprises do happen.
But going by the polls and the odds on election eve, the Democratic strategy in Wisconsin has been one disaster and misfire after another. Special election after special election, defeat after defeat. The latest polls we’ve seen show that only 12 percent of the voters think that restoring collective bargaining rights to the public sector unions is their top priority.
A generation of activists and “progressives” raised on Howard Zinn is having an important life experience in Wisconsin. The “people united” are defeated more often than not in American politics.
(Via Memeorandum.) Read the whole thing. The angry voices you hear on the left are the sounds of a narrative being shattered.
Perhaps, we can attribute the president’s restrained remarks to his team’s attempts to downplay the meaning of today’s election.
RELATED: Byron York, Wisconsin labor fight startedugly, ended ugly
So much celebrating of Walker’s impending victory is going on, that it’s really going to suck if he loses in an upset.
At least we’ll know in another 15 hours or so.
I think Obama avoided a personal appearance fearing his presence is the kiss of death. He appeared for John Corzine and he lost to Governor Christie. And before that, if memory isn´t fading, didn´t he make an appearance with Martha Coakley against Scott Brown? I´m sure there was another occasion if it wasn´t Ms. Coakley. I can´t think of a candidate that he shared the stage with that won. He´s batting .000
Here’s to the sound of ALL cherished liberal shibboleths being shattered. Good riddance.