Stuck in the Middle with You: Altmire's a Centrist

March 8th, 2008, posted by Greg Palmer

Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said that the moderate vote-ratings scores for him and other freshmen prove that “we could, for the first time, field candidates who could be competitive in these [Republican] districts. These results show where I want to be: working the middle with both sides.” By contrast, Altmire said, he defeated his predecessor, GOP Rep. Melissa Hart, in his suburban Pittsburgh district because “she had moved too far from the center; once her constituents found that out, they kicked her out.” Hart is seeking to regain the seat this year.

“I’m a conservative Democrat,” explained freshman Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa., who represents the northeastern corner of his state. “And that’s where our district is — with family values, people who attend church, and people like me who are gun owners, hunters, and fly fishermen.” Carney defeated Republican Rep. Don Sherwood, who faced legal charges that he had abused a woman who claimed to be his mistress.

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Altmire is solid

On March 9th, 2008 Anonymous said:

One of the overwhelming issues we’ve faced in recent years is the polarization of our political process. Nobody seems to be happy unless their “guy” is pinned to one end or the other of the political spectrum.

Altmire has fought this. He has been his own man and voted both the way he thinks…and the way he thinks the people of his district want him to vote. He isn’t a knee jerk liberal Democrat…and I, for one, applaud that.

Piltdown Man

Yeah me too Pilt

On March 9th, 2008 Anonymous said:

moderates = election victories

Pilt...

On March 10th, 2008 Anonymous said:

If you’d seen the letter I got back from him asking that he support Kucinch’s bill to impeach Cheney, I don’t think you’d have made the post you did. Altmire claimed to be offended by Bush and his admininstration but ended by saying they were elected fair and square and we should all make nice with them. Well, Altmire needs to understand they AREN’T nice people, in fact they are dangerous, reactionary, and frankly, unAmerican people. It’s not in the country’s national interest that Democrats like himself “play nice” with Bush and his allies.

Of course Altmire will get my vote, but that letter wasn’t too reassuring to me that he understands right from wrong.

Altmire

On March 10th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Why would you cast a vote for a candidate that you believe doesn’t understand right from wrong. How can you criticize them in one statement and then offer your vote for them in the next. I know, it’s the lesser of two evils thing.

The liberal blogosphere hates moderate Dems, but

On March 11th, 2008 Anonymous said:

does not understand that without those moderates there would be no hope of a Democratic majority. Many districts simply would not elect a liberal.

I agree with you Anonymous

On March 11th, 2008 vmo1701 said:

In some cases, we may have to look at moderate Dems because they are independent.

I worked in 2006 to help Bob Casey get elected. Now Bob Casey may not be the uber-liberal friend of the blogs, but I don’t think ANYONE can tell me he isn’t better than Santorum.

In the end, Altmire is a good Dem. He may not be in lock-step with the party, but then again that is the Democratic party. That’s why I love this party. With the Republican, you are castigated if you don’t toe the Red Line. Just look at Admiral Fallon today!

Pennsylvania is a battleground and you have to work to convince us that you’re the right candidate. We value experience and hope, but we don’t have our clouds in the sky. We’re neither ultra-liberal like Massachusetts nor ultra-conservative like Utah. We’re right in the middle.

Because the Republicans have let down the people with regards to education, the economy, the war in Iraq, etc., that’s why you saw the influx of new Reps. from PA. Things are continuing to spiral downhill and the Republican administration and their supporters are rightfully getting blamed.

We must do EVERYTHING in our power to get Dems elected. If IL-14 (Hastert’s old seat) is any indication, we can do great things in the weeks and months ahead!

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Turn PA-05 BLUE!
Website: www.mccrackenforcongress.com
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This is what I'm saying...

On March 13th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Yes. Jason isn’t in lock step. I have no issue with that. A middling Democrat (and I’m not suggesting Altmire is that) is worlds better than most Republicans.

Being an old guy, I still remember NYS under Nelson Rockefeller, when many GOP politicians were more liberal than their Democratic brethren! Those were the good ole days!

Pilt

I would have supported Berner

On March 11th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Unfortunately I hadn’t yet moved back to western PA and the 4th, but if I had been here to vote, I would voted for Georgia Berner and not Altmire. He’s ok and there’s a lot of areas where I agree with him, but she would have better.

I really don’t have a problem with Altmire voting his conscience, but I was disturbed by his response to me – that we should just move along and get along. If we were facing normal, rational Republicans who could act in a bipartisan way, that would be fine. But, the GOP today is just full of pols who are – I can’t characterize it any other way – haters. Many of them are dangerous, scary reactionaries as well. Altmire has to recognize when it’s appropriate to “get along” and when it’s not. And you can bet whatever concerns I have with Altmire, he is far, far, far superior to Melissa Hart. That’s why he’ll get my vote.

democrats in name only

On March 11th, 2008 Anonymous said:

democrats in name only debase and weaken our “brand” as a party that actually offers progressive solutions to the real problems of citizens!

ALTMIRE gotta GO

On May 30th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Altmires political promises when he ran which I kept have been a complete reversal of his votes. Please will an Independent run against both him & Hart in the general election so I have someone to vote for. Altmire has not been 50-50 he has been all Bush a strong reason why I voted to oust Hart.