When was the last time a Democrat was told to get out of a race so that a Republican could win?

[Empowerer]

Funny - I haven't heard any similar demand for the Democrat in Alaska to drop out so that Lisa Murkowski can stop Joe Miller . . .

This sudden drumbeat to run Rep. Meek out of the race - and obvious plan to blame him if Rubio wins - is sickening.

[BootinUp]

1. You'll have to give me some time on that. lol nt

[pscot]

2. Well, in Delaware, the President

declined to endorse the Democrat running for governor. That's sorta the same.

[yurbud]

5. and for a really stupid reason--his personal relationship with Lincoln Chaffee

you can be friends with whoever you want, but as head of the Democratic Party, he needed to put that personal shit on a back burner.

[karynnj]

29. Some posted that friendship aside, Chaffee is the better candidate

[yurbud]

76. those are probably the same people that tell us to hold our noses and vote for blue dogs and DLCers

instead of voting for third party candidates who are more progressive. The rules seem to only bend for the corporate compliant.

[bvar22]

88. Yeah.

I've noticed that.

[yurbud]

108. stick with the party no matter what! (except for Joe Lieberman, Charlie Christ, or

Or any other corporate tool who couldn't convince enough members of his own party to vote for him.

[Empowerer]

9. No, it's not the same

[ruggerson]

26. I think you mean Rhode Island

[pscot]

51. I'msure you're right

From out here in the great northwest all those tiny little eastern states just sort of seem to run together.

[Ter]

78. Don't you mean Rhode Island?

Chaffe is the (I) there, and the Democrat told Obama to "Shove it."

[Ineeda]

3. I'm so proud I voted for Meek.

Win or lose, he has integrity -- and by voting for him, I kept mine.

[Bumblebee]

11. What do you think is greater -- his integrity or his ego?

I think if he had integrity he would do everything he could, knowing that he cannot -- and never could -- win to stop Rubio from becoming a senator. My only consolation is now that his political life is probably over. No tears here.

[provis99]

22. but then we'd have Crist, who is as bad as Rubio.

He's just more dishonest about his positions than Rubio is; once he get to Washington, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't toe the Republican line.

[butterfly77]

25. Meeks and Debbie Wasserman Shultz are two of the..

good ones they stood on the floor many nights spelling out bush lies and told the people what they were doing when they were doing it..Go Meeks!!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

91. Except When They Refuse To Campaign Against Their Republican Pals

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html

[Exilednight]

31. His integrity. You either end up with the Florida version of ........

Lieberman, but Crist will probably caucus with repugs, or you have a choice between a repug who won their primary or a Dem who won our primary.

It's not really a tough choice, but Floridians can't get their shit together when it comes to elections, so good look with your tea-bagging Senator.

[Ineeda]

32. Are you asking about Meek? Ego???

Are you impugning a legitimately elected Democrat who won't throw in the towel to enable either of the Rethugs to win??? Regardless of which (R) wins, Meek kept his honor. I totally respect that. And I doubt his career is over. He's young, first of all, and he holds to the same opinions and standards we progressives do. Pro-choice, pro-environmental protections, etc. If Crist had been as honorable, Meek would have had a very good chance.

[golfguru]

53. I give Meek credit for avoiding back room deal making

The more I see this guy Kendrick Meek on TV,
the better I like him. He is very likable.
If he loses this race, I am sure he will be back.

[Empowerer]

58. Sadly, if Rubio wins, some folks will blame Kendrick Meek. :-(

[suzie]

107. So, not supporting Democrats that actually have a chance to win in congressional

races against the most conservative Republicans in the Congress is not deal-making?

Wow, who knew?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

90. Did He Have Integrity When He Refused To Campaign For Demcrats Running Against His Republican Pals

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html

[stray cat]

4. Nader was right to stay in the race in 2000 on the chance he could win the presidency

And the polls were wrong. Next to Nader Gore was a moderate

it was Naders right to stay in tne race even if it resulted in a Bush presidency and everything it included - Meeks has the same right

[Empowerer]

6. Even more so

Unlike Nader, Meek is the DEMOCRATIC nominee.

If pressure is to be brought to bear, why aren't they pressuring CRIST to drop out?

[Alexander]

47. It's pretty simple - Meek has always been a distant 3rd in the polls.

The latest poll puts him at 15%.

Even in polls showing one candidate dropping out and the other against Rubio, Crist is tied; Meek still loses.

Not one DUer arguing for Meek can provide a coherent argument for how he wins the election.

[Bumblebee]

7. Sure. Paying for it with 8 years of Bush and thousands lost lives is

nothing when compared to upholding the principle!:sarcasm:

[provis99]

10. so you prefer Murkowski and Chafee to Meek and Caprio?

[Bumblebee]

14. Murkowsky is not running against Meek, and in Alaska the Dem has

now a realistic chance of winning, so of course I prefer him. That's a stupid question.

[provis99]

20. McAdams has a zero chance of winning.

by your own logic, by supporting McAdams rather than Murkowski, who has a chance of beating Miller, you are helping Miller win office.

[Alexander]

48. In Alaska, Joe Miller has now dropped from 1st to 3rd in the polls.

I would argue that yes, McAdams now has a chance to win, since he's now in second place.

If the same thing happened in Florida, I'd say Meek would have a chance. But it hasn't - in fact Meek's numbers now are hovering around 15%.

[Faryn Balyncd]

23. Is not the real question: Would you prefer Murkowski, Chaffee & Crist OR Miller, Robitaille & Rubio?

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Nader was Third Party as is Crist

Meek is Gore in that scenario, not Nader. Meek is the Democratic Party nominee. Crist is an 'indy' because the Republicans rejected him. Deal with it.

[Bumblebee]

18. Unfortunately people who will have to "deal with it," as you so eloquently put it,

are Floridians

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Obviously. That still does not make the Democrat the Indy

And the Indy the Democrat. Crist is the Nader in this race. But you know, Floridians need to start dealing with this stuff, every cycle Florida is 'special' and that is due to all of this short term thinking. Winning wars can involve losing battles.

[golfguru]

55. Floridians are voting or not?

Is the election in FL open and honest or not?
People will elect whoever they like the most.

[peace frog]

96. We're used to dealing with it

Eight long, disastrous years of Jeb Bush have ground me, and many other, progressive Floridians practically into dust. Life under Crist has been no better. That Jeb's henchman Rubio is poised to take the Senate seat is just bidniz as usual in F-L-A.

[Lil Missy]

38. Nader had no chance whatsoever to win the presidency. His only purpose was to be a spoiler.

[bvar22]

89. No.

Nader's purpose was to force the Democratic Party to start talking about certain economic issues that the Party would rather ignore.

[suzie]

95. Nader's purpose was to deliver the election to Bush. For which he was paid off with

contributions to his candidates next time around.

That was Nader's "economic issue".

Unfortunately Nader's personal economic issue has caused a lot of severe ones for the rest of us.

[bvar22]

102. Nope.

As much as you would like him to be, Nader is NOT a Superman.
He IS a wimpy little Consumer Activist who stepped into a BIG vacuum created by the Centrist Clinton Administration.

You are assigning blame where it does not belong.
The Democratic Party Leadership created Nader.
Vacuums will be filled.
It is Physics.
If not Nader, it would have been someone else.

BTW: The current Party leadership is creating an even BIGGER vacuum.

[suzie]

105. The best thing you can say about Nader is that he was loyal to those who paid him off.

He campaigned specifically in Florida, specifically to deliver the election to the Bushes.

No one else had the level of name recognition as a good guy that Nader did--which is why he was worth buying off.

[Lil Missy]

104. Says who? You? His purpose was to exploit 3% of the voting public and throw the election.

The 3% being those who insist on a candidate who can pass a purity test and that couldn't possibly win a general election. Math with Ralph will never work.

[golfguru]

84. If one runs only because they can win then Dukakis, McGovern,

Mondale should have all conceded 4 weeks before election and save a lot of unnecessary campaign expense. Their poll numbers were no better than Meek's.

[Honeycombe8]

87. Nader had no chance. That's the point. And it killed Nader's career. His ego

His ego became all important to Nader. He forgot the first principle in running for political office....cause no harm.

He caused much harm. We are still suffering from the harm. He had zero chance of winning. Zero. To stay in where there is absolutely no chance? Well, it happens to a lot of people. When they become rich and famous, their egos take over. They lose their humility. They begin to think they are oh so special, Superman.

Thank goodness Nader's not around anymore. The consensus is that he cared more about his ego than his country. It killed his career.

Thankfully, we'll never hear of Meek again, either. Hope his palms were greased enough to last him. I'm sure they were.

[provis99]

8. well people want Caprio tossed overboard for Republican Chafee, too.

I don't ever want to see a DU poster who criticized people for choosing Nader over Gore, yet advocates tossing Meek and Caprio under the bus for the likes of professional idiot Murkowski and crooked plutocrat Chafee. That kind of hypocrisy stinks to high heaven.

[Bumblebee]

15. Chafee is no longer Republican, he is an independent, like... Sanders.

[pscot]

19. Don't trash Bernie Sanders

Unlike Chaffee, he never caucused with the GOP or voted with the GOP or even dreamed of calling himself a Republican.

[vaberella]

99. Isn't Caprio a DINO?! n/t

[Me.]

12. Well The Lieberman Race Comes Close

While I never heard of Ned being asked to get out, the dems fell all over themselves to support Lieberman instead of Ned and Obama has not endorsed anyone in RI,including the dem

[boppers]

77. That was who I thought of, too.

Great minds and all that. :evilgrin:

[Clio the Leo]

16. The potentially most powerful tea bagger isn't about to be elected in AK...

.... quite the opposite in fact.

[ruggerson]

28. If I lived in FL I'd vote for Meek - it wouldn't even be a question

n/t

[Clio the Leo]

45. One of the great things about this country is that we are free to throw away our vote if we choose..

... I donated money to Kendrick .... I would not vote for him now. Has nothing to do with him and everything to do with strategy.

[bear425]

17. Just yesterday - right here on DU!

and the OP still hasn't had his pizza yet. :(

[DemocratSinceBirth]

94. Does That Meek Would Be Given A Pizza Here?

Meek also has told national party leaders that he won't play a role in the races. He and his mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, are close to Martinez, the former Hialeah mayor. But Meek said the ties between his family and the Diaz-Balarts are deeper.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html

who are the Diaz Ballarts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Diaz-Balart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Diaz-Balart

[Faryn Balyncd]

21. ....Might the fact that Murkowsky & Crist would caucus with opposite parties seem perhaps relevant?

...and that control of the Senate, and confirmation of Supreme Court appointments, might be on the line?





:kick:

[Empowerer]

27. "MIGHT" caucus?

Do we know for sure that they will?

But even if that were the case, why are McAdams and Meek being treated so differently? We haven't seen any Democrats pressuring McAdams to get out of the race to make it more likely that Murkowski can win.

Meek is being treated despicably in this situation. I don't have a big problem with folks having a conversation with him. But the fact that this was allowed to get out, that Democrats are confirming it and are now publicly calling for him to quit is disgraceful. Rep. Meek - a loyal, strong Democrat - does not deserve to be treated this way.

[rpannier]

46. Murkowsky already said she is caucusing with the Republicans nt

[krawhitham]

30. The D in Alaska is not polling at 15%

[Exilednight]

33. Neither is the one in Florida. In fact, Dem party internal polls show ............

Meeks with a 4 point lead over Crist.

There's no proof that either will win the race if either were to drop out. In fact, polling says they would both (Crist and Meeks) will probably lose. Bill made the argument that he can turn the Dem base to be in favor of Crist, but I think that is highly doubtful at best.

Speaking with my mom, who lives in Florida, she swore up and down she would vote for Meeks even if she had to write his name in.

[jenmito]

39. Well, if your mother DID write his name in,

she better spell it without an "s" like you did-it's "Meek." And do you have a link that shows ANY internal poll with a 4-point lead over Crist?

[Exilednight]

44. Here you go ...........

Harris noted that no recent public polling has shown Crist beating Rubio in a two-man race, but also released internal polling data aimed at keeping Meek’s hope alive: "As of yesterday, in our internal tracking showed Crist and Meek in a statistical dead heat. Among those who have already voted, our internal polling actually shows Meek beating Crist 28% to 24%."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44337_Page2.html#ixzz13nxEsTpV

[jenmito]

70. OK...

I sit corrected.

[vaberella]

100. However, he was. For a long long time. n/t

[BlueStater]

34. Crist is an Independent, not a Republican. N/T

[Ineeda]

40. No, he's only running as an independent because he lost the primary.

He's still a republican.

[BlueStater]

42. He's an Independent on the ballot.

And he obviously stood a better chance of winning than the Democratic nominee ever did.

[golfguru]

85. so was Lieberman & now Murkowski

but they always caucus with their original party.

[Uzybone]

35. Completely agree

Crist hasn't even said he will caucus with Democrats. Why trust him?

[jenmito]

36. Your comparison with the Alaska race is ridiculous. You (should) know better than that.

Miller and Murkowski are splitting the Repub. vote which may allow for the Dem. to win. It's just the opposite in FL. Crist (who has gone far left and has been endorsed by Dems. and supposedly said he'd caucus with Dems.) and Meek will split the DEM. vote which will probably allow for the Repub. to win.

[golfguru]

62. No madam, Miller=GOP, Murkowski=Indy, Rubio=GOP, Crist=Indy

what part of this obvious situation do you not understand?
Murkowski is GOP senator, Crist is GOP governor.
Both could not win in GOP primary. Both are running as Indies.
Both are splitting GOP votes.

The situation in AK & FL could'nt be more similar.

But wait, the Dem candidate in AK is not black?

[jenmito]

67. Nope, Murkowski, unlike Crist, will not caucus with Dems.:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101029/el_yblog_upshot/adviser-crist-would-caucus-with-democrats So, the situations couldn't be more different.

[golfguru]

68. Crist will caucus with nobody...he is losing big in FL n/t

[jenmito]

71. The point is that HE, unlike Murkowski, WOULD caucus with the Dems. But you're right...

he (and Meek) will both lose big in FL. Hello, Senator Teabagger Rubio.

[golfguru]

72. Ok I will give you partial credit for being somewhat right

that McAdams has better numbers than Meek.

But still you gotta admit there are similarities.

[jenmito]

73. Thanks...

and if you remember, I was on the "Meek should stay in" side as you agreed with my posts on this subject up to just yesterday. But I do NOT admit there are similarities. Murkowski takes votes from Miller, and Crist takes votes from Meek and vice versa.

[rug]

37. 1876

[Rosa Luxemburg]

41. Stop using Republican talking points

[angee_is_mad]

43. kick and keep

kicking!!!

[depakid]

49. Obviously, there's a considerable number who prefer Rockefeller Republicans

to Democrats- or DINO's to progressives including, based on the record, the current and former Presidents themselves.

[suzie]

97. Meaning Meek? Because the record is that he prefers mega conservative Republicans to Democrats.

But then, Meek wasn't an Obama supporter, so that makes it okay, correct?

[stevenleser]

50. It's really not that complicated.

Meek is not going to win. Fact.

What's left after that?

You have made it to whatever age you are today and during that time, I'll bet you have had decisions come up where for some reason you couldn't get your 'A' choice and your 'B' choice was better than your 'C' choice so you chose 'B'.

See? I am sure you have gone through the exact decision tree that has led me and many other reasonable folks to say that Crist is plan B.

[Empowerer]

54. I ask again

When was the last time a Democrat was told to get out of a race so that a Republican has a better chance of winning it?

[golfguru]

61. Fact: the Dem candidate in Alaska is not going to win

Why no one is asking him to drop out to stop Teabagger Joe?
Could it be because he is the right race?

[Divine Discontent]

63. "Competing Polls Show Alaska Senate Race Wide Open"

that's why - it's practical brain matter being put to use in seeing the difference in the race - Meek is around 15% with the leader around 45! ZERO chance to win. McAdams in Alaska is unlikely to win, but at least he's 10 points closer, and the "Crist" of that race is already leading, pretty handily. The Hays poll put Murkowski at 34 percent, McAdams at 29 percent and Miller at 23 percent.

[golfguru]

65. your numbers are not even close to RCP average

according to RCP, Miller, Murkowski & McAdams are in the
exact same sequence as Rubio, Crist & Meek.

[Divine Discontent]

69. cqpolitics' numbers, not mine. from their 5pm article. just saying, McAdams is doing better than

Meek AND there's no worries about the teabagger winning now up there. Totally different election. I cannot speak for McAdams, but Meek has not been a very exciting candidate down here, and frankly, despite being willing to support him in any call that would come my way asking if I was voting for him, and voting for him if he was within 10 points, I'd rather keep the fascist out of office, and vote with the few percentage chance Crist can win, as Meek has zero chance.

[golfguru]

52. EXACTLY....can not understand this need to pick on Meek

I hope it is not racially motivated.

[Empowerer]

56. They're treating him like some kind of interloper . . .

It reminds me of the 2004 Democratic convention - on the night of Kerry's speech when they did the big "family photo" with all of the Democrats on the platform during the balloon drop, Tom Brokaw said in the most unbelievabley snide tone, "I see that Al Sharpton has managed to work his way onto the platform," as if he had absolutely no right to be there. I almost fell out of my chair. Sharpton was a Democratic candidate, a key player in the party, had given the second most riveting speech of the convention (behind Obama's), yet Brokaw seemed to think that his presence on the platform along side the gazillion other party luminaries was the result of shameless bogarting on his part.

That's how Congressman Meek is being treated - like he really has no right to be there and needs to get out of the way so that a Republican has a better chance of winning.

It makes me very sad.

[BlueStater]

57. Nevermind the fact that this state went to Obama (a black guy) two years ago.

It's definitely racially motivated. :eyes:

[Empowerer]

59. Yes-just like the fact that the U.S. went to Obama in 2008 means racism no longer exists in America

:eyes:

:sarcasm:

[golfguru]

60. Politico thinks it is racial politics

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44411.html

[Empowerer]

64. I don't think that it's racial politics. But I do think that race may be playing a role

I sincerely doubt that a white candidate in Meek's position would be dealt with in this way. At least we've never seen one so treated.

[suzie]

98. Or that Meek supported the white candidate over the black candidate in 2008, until the bitter end.

[Dinger]

66. K & R

For Christ sake. What is going on here DU?

[HughMoran]

74. You can be sure of one thing - a Republican is going to win

That's not the question, and therefore the arguments need to be adjusted away from this Democrat/Republican loyalty issue.

[Odin2005]

75. Shady DLC manipulation goin on, methinks.

[cherokeeprogressive]

79. A Black Man was told to step aside so that a White Man could defeat a Hispanic Man.

Does that seem strange to anyone but me?

[Beacool]

81. That's a quote from the Drudge Report

;(

[cherokeeprogressive]

83. Drudge isn't where I read it, but tell me, is it not accurate?

Is Kendrick Meek not being pressured to bow out so that an old white republican man can do better in an election than a hispanic man? Is Kendrick Meek not black?

Anyone who thinks Crist wouldn't caucus with the rethugs isn't cynical enough.

This is one of the smartest political plays I've ever seen pulled off by either party... the notion of Dems putting a rethug in a senate seat not knowing which party he'll caucus with. The Crist Campaign and the rethug party have convinced voters that he JUST MIGHT BE a closet Democrat, and they're laughing at all of you who fell for it.

I'd bet money that Crist has been on the phone with Mitch what's his name within the last 24 hours laughing at this misdirection that not only had the msm confused but the Democratic Party sniping at each other.

Crist isn't going to win. He's just going to get money tossed his way for helping the rethug candidate get elected, all the while laughing at the Dems for grasping at straws.

Headline: Rubio Wins!

[Beacool]

103. The only one who asked Meeks to drop out was Crist.

And race had nothing to do with it. The title may be technically accurate, but it's not about race. it's about viability. Unfortunately, Meeks has no chance to win. Crist was trying to convince him to drop out claiming that it would prevent Rubio from winning. It is probably true, but the nerve of Crist to ask the Democratic candidate to drop out. Let's face it, in 3 days Rubio will be the new senator from FL. It sucks, but it's reality.

:-(

[suzie]

109. Yes, let's make sure we pin the blame on Crist and absolve Bill Clinton of his role

in making this front and center national news.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

106. I'm Glad You Know So Much About Florida Politics From 3,000 Miles Away

And why you are pondering that you can click on post 93.

[Beacool]

80. No Democrat told Meek to get out of the race.

Meek was on Greta's show tonight and said it was Crist who wanted him out, not Clinton or the WH.

I don't get why there are infinite posts on this subject. Crist approached Meek and asked him to drop out, Meek said no. What's all the fuzz about?

So much drama........

:eyes:

[last_texas_dem]

82. Asking Meek to get out of the race so late in the game

seems pretty pointless and "too little, too late," but, honestly, I can't fault anyone for voting strategically in this race.

I'm personally to the left of all of these candidates, but I'm all for voting for the lesser evil to keep out the more evil if the polls support making this calculation, party labels be damned.

If memory serves, making such a calculation is exactly what the Repugs in CT did in '06 when they abandoned their party's candidate to vote for Joementum and prevent the liberal Dem Ned Lamont from winning. No doubt, most of them knew that Joementum planned to caucus with the Dems and would end up voting with them at least half the time, but they knew their party's guy was a longshot and saw a Lamont victory as worse.

Without IRV or run-offs in federal elections, voting for the lesser of evils over the candidate closer to one's views to attempt to prevent the scariest candidate from winning just seems like a sensible calculation for a voter to make.

[Honeycombe8]

86. Crist is a former Republican who says he'll caucus with Dems.

Not quite the same thing.

It's the same thing Nader did...stay in for his ego's sake, even when he knew the votes he was siphoning off would cause Bush to win. But his ego was bigger. And those who voted for him stood on their principles...Nader was the ONLY candidate who had the correct views.

That resulted in a Bush win. And we saw how that worked out. It cost the country immeasurable harm.

If someone votes for Meek, they will be standing on principle. They might as well write in their Uncle George, even though Uncle George resides in another state. Because the fact is...Meek has as much chance of winning as Uncle George. And that vote for Meek or Uncle George? If it had gone to Crist, it could have stopped a Tea Party win, which will cause much harm to our country.

So when you see your principle can't win the day, do you move on to your next principle...causing no harm or preventing much harm? Or do you stand in your bedroom, all alone, and continue to be proud in your own little world that you insisted on your first principle? Up to you.

[Fire1]

101. "Caucus with Dems!" Like Lieberman did, I suppose.

You actually bought that shit??????!!!!!!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

92. When? Every bloody day, in every single campaign.

But, then again, you probably ignore Fox News.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

93. I Voted For Meek But He Had No Problem In Throwing Other Democrats "Under The Bus"

I voted for Meek but he had no problem in throwing Democratic candidates under the bus when he felt a strong reason to do so; just as some Democrats are throwing him under the bus because they feel they have a strong reason to do so.


"Meek also has told national party leaders that he won't play a role in the races. He and his mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, are close to Martinez, the former Hialeah mayor. But Meek said the ties between his family and the Diaz-Balarts are deeper.


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html



I take the deification of Meek and the demonization of his opponents, some of whom I have known on this board for years and have only known them as loyal liberals and progressives, personally.


Usually, when you post something that is unassailable true, nobody responds. Let's see what happens here.