The Herseth Sandlin campaign machine suffers bad engine trouble.
I think this year could mark a turning point in Republican challenges to Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Up until now, she’s been a very cagey politician. With the exception of a strong pro-choice position, she’s managed to avoid difficult political controversies at all costs. But it seems this year, it’s all blowing up in her face.
The capper seems to be the controversial and exceptionally expensive proposals for health care. When the temerature on the issue started ramping up, the Herseth Sandlin camp went into full control mode. This meant adopting a posture much like she does during the active campaign season – where events are carefully controlled and on script, and any unscripted events (with open questioning from the audience in view of the media) are done very, very sparingly.
This behavior was evident a while ago where Herseth Sandlin staffers “disinvited” the general public from an event in Rapid City – a move that inside political observers thought foolish because all it managed to do was to garner negative publicity.
And then the capper came at Dakotafest with a Herseth quote that will likely haunt her throughout the entire campaign:
(Start at about 5:00)
In the face of a health care plan that could cost taxpayers over a trillion dollars, her admonishment “Don’t be so scared just because Democrats are in charge” is not something that’s going to provide comfort as Republican voters watch this process as it continues.
However….
This post isn’t about just about the disquiet that Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin has generated amongst the Republican faithful. It’s about what’s going on with a group that’s more important to her. It’s about what’s going on with her base. At the same time Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin isn’t making any friends with conservative voters, she’s managed to really tap a nerve among Democrats with her maneuvering on Health Care Reform.
With her announcement on Friday that she would be voting against Nancy Pelosi’s version of Obamacare – which she did after a procedural vote in favor of sending it to the floor – Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin’s Democratic base is livid:
I want to inform you that if you vote “no” tomorrow, my wife and I, and most active Democrats I know in West River are done.
A reasonably intelligent Republican like Chris Nelson would easily get our vote in November 2010 if you vote no tomorrow.
Rep. Herseth-Sandlin again demonstrates that the primary work product of Blue Dog Democrats is blue dog shit.
Rep. Herseth-Sandlin talks like she represents people when she campaigns here in South Dakota, but when she gets to DC, she isn’t Democratic or Republican, she is 100% opportunist.
A Democrat defending SHS’s vote said, “Let’s not forget our primary purpose.”
Did somebody say primary?
A fallacy in the reasoning of SHS’s apologists is that we can’t vote for a Republican just because we don’t like SHS’s vote on 1 out of a 100 issues.
and…
SHS’s answer to that question, on several big issues, appears to be no. Some of us in this conversation apparently feel otherwise. Let’s field a candidate, have a healthy public debate, and let the voters decide.
I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed and angry I am at Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s opposition to the Democrat’s healthcare reform bill.
I believe this is a complete sell out on her part to the insurance industry. She has disappointed good Democrats like me many times but this one really hurts as it goes to one of the most important issues facing our nation.
Oh, yeah, and Stephanie Herseth… is she running? You could have fooled me.
Attn: Secretary of State and U.S. House hopeful Chris Nelson
If she votes no on health care reform, I’m a Nelson guy. And South Dakota Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin now says she’s going to vote against the health care bill in the House.
So I’m writing to offer you my services as a campaign volunteer in your race against Rep. Herseth. Now, I know that you’re against the very same bill. But at least I know why.
And that’s just a sampling, as there are others who had previously expressed a strong opinion on Obamacare, which have yet to weigh in on the Herseth Sandlin vote.
2010 represents the best opportunity that Republicans have ever had to re-take the US Congressional seat. With her base absolutely livid with her, it remains to be seen how long their memory is, and how deep their animosity runs.
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Comments
The only possible flaw in your reasoning, Pat, is a misread on your part as to what constitutes “her base.” This may be an instance where you and I may not be on the same side of a few issues but neither are either of us on Stephanie’s side. Interesting situation.
I hear ya, pickles, I hear ya. Just remember, in the final analysis, it’s always been the Repubs who elect her. You don’t get close to 70% of the vote in SD with a “Democratic” base. See what I’m saying?
IMO her side is whichever one will get her elected, and she has been pretty good at this so far by obfuscating answers to her qusetions by running on and on with her answers and not really answering a question. Don’t think that will work this time.
ONE MORE TIME: Steffi could not win without Republican support, which she got in the past. The question is, will those misguided GOP voters FINALLY see the light…not whether the Dems will abandon her. They won’t. Give me a break. They are going to vote for a pro-life conservative??
PP I think that those are all great points!
I would think that her base is similar to the Clinton/Obama primary and eventually the D’s will cool off and vote for her because they really do agree with her on 90% of things.
They are a lot like us complaining about Rounds. But would we vote for Herseth instead???
The love affair is over. Herseth Sandlin screwed the blue pooch on this one. This vote was make or break for me, and she broke. She’s out of a job.
I have to agree with Bill on this one. (Sorry, Bill, now you will have to re-think). Stephanie gets a good share of Republican votes, just as Thune gets a good share of Democrat votes. I personally do not believe she has any convictions. But what votes are going to get the Republicans mad? I am thinking many Republicans like this vote. Actually, it should have been a no-brainer, but at least she voted the right way on this. And many Republican can live with her abortion position.
If that clip isn’t on every GOP election commercial, the GOP is not paying attention. That is as powerful as Thune’s “I’m a proud DC resident” clip from Daschle. The boos are resounding. Perfect.
DuggerSD and Bill: I’m not sure that SHS’s stance qualifies for any support. Dems may not trust her now and GOP’ers now seriously are concerned with her political stability. People vote for her because of her stand on issues. Now, no one knows which way SHS will go on any issue. That inconsistency garners no support.
The Reps see thru Herseth’s vote against this bill. She didn’t make up her mind until Friday before the Saturday vote, which means that Pelosi didn’t need her vote. If she really didn’t intend to vote for it earlier than that for other than political reasons, she would have stated so. Instead she sat on the fence until given permission to hop off. The Dems are mad at her for the vote. The Reps aren’t thanking her for it either as it didn’t make any difference and was done for all the wrong reasons. She had better start packing her office.
PP this is the best!!! I could watch it 50 times!!!
Booooooooooooooooooooo!!! HAHAHAHA!!!