Rep. Joe Sestak is under fire from all quarters. First, this boffo ad from Keep Israel Safe slams him for his record on Israel and on terrorism:
Then the Philly media gets on his case for JobsGate (the alleged job offer to get out of the primary race):
When asked about the accusation, as he was again Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Sestak says, yes, the offer was made. But he won’t say what it was, or who made it.
This too-cute-by-half stance may allow him to tout his independence and outsider credentials — important in an anti-incumbent year like this one. But by not being specific, Sestak is covering up what appears to be the ultimate insider deal — and a potential crime.
His opponent, Pat Toomey, has every reason to capitalize on both of these points of weakness. First, Toomey has been a strong critic of Obama’s policies with respect to Iran and Israel. Second, although he previously served in Congress, in this race he’s the outsider (and former Club for Growth president) who can take on Washington’s backroom dealing and spend-a-thon. In Pennsylvania, both of those themes may be winners. And if they are, the 2012 GOP presidential contenders will take note.
UPDATE: Gov. Ed Rendell is now calling for Sestak to cough up more facts. I suspect he wouldn’t have done so if the White House was not on board. Is Obama hanging Sestak out to dry or coming up with a cover story? Stay tuned.
Did you listen to the same speech I did? There was a laundry list of specific policy plans. And the “pain” he recounted is all the result of the Bush administration and failed Republican policies — of course he’s going to hit on that!
Gimme a break.
“But this speech is all about the pain.”
That would be an excellent point if it weren’t provably false. Obama talked about how he still believes in the ability of “ordinary men and women – students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors” to keep the promise of America alive. He gave examples of Americans struggling, yes, but also examples of Americans rising to the challenge time and again. Funnily enough, methinks Ms. Chavez is the one looking through a glass darkly.
As for being short on specifics — please. Obama gave lots and lots and lots of examples of WHAT he intends to do as president. As for HOW, listen to any number of his other speeches and policy proposals that he’s laid out at length. If you think he’s short on specifics, then you suffer from laziness, pure and simple.
This is a very bizarre post. If anything, Obama was too specific. He was promising the moon. But that’s what everyone wanted out of him. It doesn’t even seem like you were paying attention. Truly strange…
it appears that you are the one that sees the world through a glass darkly. with over 80% of the country feeling that we are heading in the wrong direction, he addresses the issues and refocuses the promise. come on. you can’t be serious, can yoU?