Republicans in 2006 and 2008 did that with George Bush and it didn't work out so well for them.
As President Obama's approval ratings sag and the mood of voters sours, some Democratic congressional candidates are distancing themselves from the White House, with the back-channel blessing of party officials.
Fact is voters watch who supports the President's agenda and if that agenda runs in opposition with what Americans want, they simply replace them when their reelection comes around.
Democrats can try to distance themselves all they want, saying things like Rep. Dennis Cardoza did about the unemployment rate in his California district "The Obama administration has failed miserably in trying to solve the problem."
Cardoza said in an interview, "The president isn't welcome to campaign with me right now. He is welcome to come to my district and help me do my job, which is providing relief to my constituents."
Or Rep. Jim Costa, that says "They're not listening carefully enough to the people I represent."
Asked whether he wants the president to campaign for him, Costa said: "I'm more popular in my district than the president."
This is the game these politicians wish to play, voting for Obama's agenda, but publicly criticizing him and separating themselves from Obama himself.
Rep. Dennis Cardoza voted for Obama's stimulus package, he voted with the majority of Democrats 98 percent in the 111th Congress, yet calls himself a "moderate".
Cordoza's voting record:
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
Rep. Jim Costa's voting record also shows his support for Obama's agenda, no matter what he spews in public.
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
You cannot separate yourself from the Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda as you vote for everything they tell you to vote for, in opposition to what your constituents want and need.
Hopefully that is what the 2010 midterm elections will teach them.
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