Up to campaign for friend Deval Patrick, Obama couldn't even sell out the hall. A year into his presidency he is done. Not surprising but in Massachusetts? WOW!!!
President Obama blows into the bluest state today facing a cold shoulder from once true-blue admirers, as gay rights activists, anti-war protesters and vexed environmentalists vow to picket a fund-raiser he’s headlining for Gov. Deval Patrick - a marquee event that hasn’t even sold out.
As of last night, liberals who once braved frigid temperatures to behold Obama were shunning tickets to the fund-raiser at the posh Westin Copley Place featuring the president, sources told the Herald. And despite campaign denials, Patrick operatives reportedly were pushing the ducats - between $500 and $6,000 - by e-mail up to the last minute.
“He’s reaching the point in his presidency where not only has the honeymoon ended, but the fighting has begun,” said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia presidential scholar.
Among the groups planning to dog Obama during his scheduled afternoon swing through Cambridge and Boston:
Anti-war activists CODEPINK, who are irate with the president for backpedaling on promises to withdraw from Iraq and weighing a surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
“It’s disturbing and very upsetting,” said Sarah Roche-Mahdi, the group’s Greater Boston coordinator.
Donning bright-pink wigs and hats, these anti-war women said they’ll shadow Obama from MIT, where he’s slated to give a speech on the environment, to the swank Westin Copley fund-raiser.
Environmental coalition 350.org - which has soured on Obama’s efforts to curb global warming - plans to protest the MIT address. They’re also taking out a full-page ad in the MIT student paper questioning Obama’s commitment to the green cause.
Gays and lesbians are furious with Obama for forsaking campaign vows to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
About 150 members of gay marriage advocate Join the Impact-MA plan to converge on the Hub hotel to give the commander in chief an earful.
“I voted for him because of his speeches and rhetoric and his promises,” said Paul Sousa, the group’s co-founder. “I thought he’d act on those promises.”
Meanwhile, several unions - peeved with Patrick for threatening their jobs and angry with Obama for wavering on health care reforms - backed off protest plans, sources told the Herald.
As some grousing liberals were plotting their protests, tickets were moving slowly for the posh private hotel gathering where Obama is slated to shake hands and pose for photos at $6,000 a pop.
Add it all up, and liberal ire with Obama is close to the boiling point, said Princeton University political scientist Julian Zelizer.
“Clearly they’re in his corner, but they’re not as happy as they once were,” Zelizer said. “Frustration could accelerate and descend into something worse.”
Those are his "groups" anyway so that is an internal squabble. The Pinkees aren't getting what they want because maybe the Prez might be trying to do the right thing in the wars. Too bad for the Pinkees. Not sure why the enviros are showing....maybe to sell some bumper stickers or get their mugs on the tube. The gays.....who cares. Same for the union boys. At least in Mass, the honeymoon is over within these support groups.
"I voted for him because of his speeches and rhetoric and his promises,” said Paul Sousa, the group’s co-founder. “I thought he’d act on those promises.” [Well too bad for you.....next time think harder before you vote.]
"As some grousing liberals were plotting their protests, tickets were moving slowly for the posh private hotel gathering where Obama is slated to shake hands and pose for photos at $6,000 a pop." [But of course those were not astroterf liberals. Maybe they were phonie liberals sent by the vast right wing conspericy.]
Up to campaign for friend Deval Patrick, Obama couldn't even sell out the hall. A year into his presidency he is done. Not surprising but in Massachusetts? WOW!!!
Maz,
Right church, wrong pew. Obama is fine. It is Patrick who is done. He has pi$$ed off all of the major constituencies that got him elected. He couldn't get elected Dog Catcher next time around. We have been asked to take another zero year next year. That ought to lose him a few hundred thousand votes.
Up to campaign for friend Deval Patrick, Obama couldn't even sell out the hall. A year into his presidency he is done. Not surprising but in Massachusetts? WOW!!!
Maz,
Right church, wrong pew. Obama is fine. It is Patrick who is done. He has pi$$ed off all of the major constituencies that got him elected. He couldn't get elected Dog Catcher next time around. We have been asked to take another zero year next year. That ought to lose him a few hundred thousand votes.
Pat,
When you say "zero year", does that mean a zero COLA adjustment or zero pay raise?
When you say "zero year", does that mean a zero COLA adjustment or zero pay raise?
John
A zero pay raise year. If they push for next year as well it will be 5 out of 8 years without a raise. This despite the hue and cry that state workers are overpaid. On top of that our contribution toward our health insurance has gone up 25% this year after going up 33% six years ago. This only represents the % increases. In between there were also real dollar increases and so-pay, prescription increases.
I'm not sure how the COLA has worked out for retirees.
Hmmmmm So the voters in Mass may turn on an elected official for spending more than he has to spend then asking the voters to go without a pay increase?
Pat, walk through life blindly if you so desire. But your liberties are eroding. They eroded some under Bush and Obama is taking it to a while new level. Private companies under government control, public healthcare, redistribution of earnings... Your are giving up your freedom far too easily.
Originally posted by jacoastie: Hmmmmm So the voters in Mass may turn on an elected official for spending more than he has to spend then asking the voters to go without a pay increase?
Interesting analysis.
Sounds like a tough spot for any politician....control spending but give pay raises. In the world of guberment $$....there has to be an offset to make that happen. What else should be cut or frozen if not pay raises?
How's that socialized health care working out up there? That isn't contributing to budget problems is it? Nah, government does everything so much more efficiently than a free market, it's probably producing huge savings to the state. Must be crooked politicans pandering to greedy tax payers that refuse your well earned pay raise.
Ching, the people I know that are using the public option are living in misery. They hate the hoops though which they must jump. Also, since the commonwealth is long ago out of money, they are kicking people off public healthcare because they earn too much. Maybe they will force business owners to pay up. And when they do, my doors will be closing and twenty people and their families will be looking for a job. Me, I’ll just go on disability an live with my feet up!
On top of that our contribution toward our health insurance has gone up 25% this year after going up 33% six years ago. This only represents the % increases. In between there were also real dollar increases and so-pay, prescription increases.
Pat,
You mixed up your percentages. Everyone knows that when everyone has health insurance the cost goes down for all!
Hooligan, Just out of curiosity, without getting personal, how much (ballpark) is the average cost of the state plan? A 58% increase sounds pretty darned steep!
