RUSH: I thought Obamacare was the solution, not the problem. Bill Clinton said, if you Democrats — that’s almost exactly what he said. (impersonating Clinton) “Hey, look, you guys, I just want to tell you the truth. Now, we tried health care back in 1993, 1994, and we got shellacked in the midterms and the reason why is ’cause we failed to pass health care. If you want to guarantee yourself reelection this time, in 2010, you will pass that health care bill and send it up there for the president to sign, and that’s the only way. If you don’t do anything, I hate to tell you, if you don’t do anything you are toast.” So they followed his instructions. David Obey will not seek reelection.
“In a major blow…” to the socialist Democrat Party of America “…to Democrats, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey has told close associates that he will not seek re-election and an announcement of his plans is expected as early as Wednesday. The Wisconsin Democrat faces tough poll numbers at home but until Tuesday night his staff had insisted he was running aggressively and had hired campaign staff. But a person close to him confirmed the decision to Politico Wednesday and said Obey was preparing to make a statement.” This is big because he was considered to be untouchable, the Appropriations Committee chairman. You don’t give up that kind of power unless you think you are going to be shockingly embarrassed and lose in an election. ‘Cause if you lose an election, it’s a lot tougher to get a meaningful job than if you quit now and then go to the regime and say, “Okay, look, I fell on the sword for you guys, I fell on the sword for Clinton, now make it worth my while.”
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RUSH: Now, the Obey question. This is from Dave Weigel, who is a blogger at the Washington Post: “What do we know about the retirement of Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.)? Why would one of the most powerful men in Congress, elected in 1969[er], in a district that went for the Obama-Biden ticket, bail out of reelection? Republicans point to the campaign of Sean Duffy, a telegenic (literally) district attorney who raised a lot of money, built a following among national conservatives and, according to everything I’m hearing, was giving Obey a real battle in his internal polls. I’ve talked to Duffy several times and been so impressed — and so convinced that this was the sort of race that would determine this was a good or a watershed year for Republicans — that I dubbed him the No. 3 conservative to watch this year.” The bottom line is here “David Obey, one of the most powerful men in Congress elected 1969[er], in a district that went for Obama-Biden is quitting because he’s being outpolled by a dyed-in-the-wool conservative Republican. Not a “moderate” Republican, not an “independent” Republican but a dyed-in-the-wool conservative Republican. Once again: A teachable moment.
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Read the Background Material…
• NPR: Rep. David Obey, Appropriations Chairman, To Retire‎
• Washington Post: Forcing out Dave Obey
• Washington Post: David Obey to retire‎
• WDH: Republican National Committee statement on Obey retirement‎
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