In my family, we have some family that live in Rhode Island....The smallest state in the land and the home to some whacky politics. We have a saying when you hear something weird come out of Rhode Island...My Dad would just say, " You know those Rhode Island people..."
Well looks like they have taken it over the top today....Not that I can't understand how the guy feels....not sure I would go far as stating so in public.
R.I. Dem: Obama can 'shove it'
By: Jonathan Allen
October 25, 2010 11:23 AM EDT - Politico.com
Rhode Island's Democratic gubernatorial nominee said President Obama can "shove" his endorsement amid an ugly intraparty squabble that has Democrats buzzing that the commander in chief is showing too little loyalty to his own party.
Obama, showing deference to Republican-turned-independent Lincoln Chafee, is refusing to endorse Democrat Frank Caprio, even as he travels to the smallest state to do a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
"He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I'm concerned," Caprio said on WPRO radio, according to an account on the Providence Journal's Website.
There had been behind-the-scenes activity to try to get the president to endorse Caprio — or at least appear with him while in Rhode Island.
But Obama, who won a cross-party endorsement from Chafee in the 2008 presidential campaign, has made clear he doesn't intend to put his thumb on the scale for Caprio in one of the few states where his endorsement might benefit a Democrat this year.
"This is disappointing. Frank Caprio has spent his career fighting for the values of the Democratic Party, and I think he deserves the full support of our party and its leaders," said Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association. "While this might not be what the White House intended, the president’s refusal to endorse a fellow Democrat in the worst environment since 1994 sends a bad message to everyone who’s working to get Democrats elected this year."
Caprio and the DGA asked Obama to move tonight's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser from the home of a Chafee supporter out of concern that it might be read as a blessing of Chafee. But the White House turned down the request and rebuffed subsequent efforts to get Caprio a joint appearance with the president.
Declining to endorse the Democrat — a tacit nod to the independent — is somewhat reminiscent of the White House positioning on the three-way Florida Senate race before Obama made clear that he supports Democrat Kendrick Meek rather than Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist.
Some Democratic operatives are steaming over the Obama Rhode Island snub — confirmed in a Sunday conference call by White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who said Obama would not be making any endorsement Monday.
"If the White House wants to know why Democrats won't come out for them look no farther than the fact that even the president won't come out for Democrats," said a source who is involved in several gubernatorial races. "It's bad enough that the White House failures have dug a hole so big for the Democratic Party that Chilean miners would be envious, now they're choosing not to endorse Democrats. Are they living on this planet?"
Two sources familiar with Rhode Island politics told POLITICO that Chafee is benefiting from his 2008 endorsement of Obama's presidential bid and Caprio's suffering for having been in Hillary Clinton's camp in the primary that year. Caprio hasn't even been invited to join Obama at public events, sources said.
"My understanding is that Obama is not looking to endorse Caprio and by including him in any events would give that indication or force him to actually say where he stands on that issue," one source told POLITICO. "I have also heard that Caprio is upset that the DCCC did it's big Rhode Island event at the home of a family who are very vocal and active supporters of Chafee. In many circles in Rhode Island, Chafee is seen as more of a Dem and a progressive than Caprio, who people often joke is a Republican in Democrats' clothing."
The White House did not have an immediate response to Caprio's comments.
Chafee and Caprio are neck-and-neck for the lead in the three-way race, with both getting about 30 percent of the vote depending on the poll.
© 2010 Capitol News Company, LLC
Well looks like they have taken it over the top today....Not that I can't understand how the guy feels....not sure I would go far as stating so in public.
R.I. Dem: Obama can 'shove it'
By: Jonathan Allen
October 25, 2010 11:23 AM EDT - Politico.com
Rhode Island's Democratic gubernatorial nominee said President Obama can "shove" his endorsement amid an ugly intraparty squabble that has Democrats buzzing that the commander in chief is showing too little loyalty to his own party.
Obama, showing deference to Republican-turned-independent Lincoln Chafee, is refusing to endorse Democrat Frank Caprio, even as he travels to the smallest state to do a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
"He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I'm concerned," Caprio said on WPRO radio, according to an account on the Providence Journal's Website.
There had been behind-the-scenes activity to try to get the president to endorse Caprio — or at least appear with him while in Rhode Island.
But Obama, who won a cross-party endorsement from Chafee in the 2008 presidential campaign, has made clear he doesn't intend to put his thumb on the scale for Caprio in one of the few states where his endorsement might benefit a Democrat this year.
"This is disappointing. Frank Caprio has spent his career fighting for the values of the Democratic Party, and I think he deserves the full support of our party and its leaders," said Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association. "While this might not be what the White House intended, the president’s refusal to endorse a fellow Democrat in the worst environment since 1994 sends a bad message to everyone who’s working to get Democrats elected this year."
Caprio and the DGA asked Obama to move tonight's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser from the home of a Chafee supporter out of concern that it might be read as a blessing of Chafee. But the White House turned down the request and rebuffed subsequent efforts to get Caprio a joint appearance with the president.
Declining to endorse the Democrat — a tacit nod to the independent — is somewhat reminiscent of the White House positioning on the three-way Florida Senate race before Obama made clear that he supports Democrat Kendrick Meek rather than Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist.
Some Democratic operatives are steaming over the Obama Rhode Island snub — confirmed in a Sunday conference call by White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who said Obama would not be making any endorsement Monday.
"If the White House wants to know why Democrats won't come out for them look no farther than the fact that even the president won't come out for Democrats," said a source who is involved in several gubernatorial races. "It's bad enough that the White House failures have dug a hole so big for the Democratic Party that Chilean miners would be envious, now they're choosing not to endorse Democrats. Are they living on this planet?"
Two sources familiar with Rhode Island politics told POLITICO that Chafee is benefiting from his 2008 endorsement of Obama's presidential bid and Caprio's suffering for having been in Hillary Clinton's camp in the primary that year. Caprio hasn't even been invited to join Obama at public events, sources said.
"My understanding is that Obama is not looking to endorse Caprio and by including him in any events would give that indication or force him to actually say where he stands on that issue," one source told POLITICO. "I have also heard that Caprio is upset that the DCCC did it's big Rhode Island event at the home of a family who are very vocal and active supporters of Chafee. In many circles in Rhode Island, Chafee is seen as more of a Dem and a progressive than Caprio, who people often joke is a Republican in Democrats' clothing."
The White House did not have an immediate response to Caprio's comments.
Chafee and Caprio are neck-and-neck for the lead in the three-way race, with both getting about 30 percent of the vote depending on the poll.
© 2010 Capitol News Company, LLC
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