“I call on Congressman Critz to join me in endorsing Governor Romney for president,” said Keith Rothfus, the GOP’s 12th district candidate, in a press release.
Rothfus has accused Rep. Mark Critz (D-Cambria) of trying to run from a liberal voting record and ties with the President in order to win re-election, and has therefore called on the incumbent to essentially renounce party ties by endorsing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
“Since we know Congressman Critz voted with Nancy Pelosi’s leadership 95 percent of the time and has sided with President Obama 70 percent of the time, deciding to join me may look a bit hypocritical. But if you’ve been watching the Congressman’s recent frantic attempts to run from his record and his allegiance with President Obama, it only seems like the next logical step.”
Rothfus is, of course, talking about Critz’s recent criticism of the President, as well as his decision to forego attending the DNC this year in order to campaign. While Rothfus is correct in his assertion that Critz is distancing himself from the party in some ways, Critz’s is not necessarily the Democratic Party’s poster child..
When his campaign Twitter account was confronted by the NRCC account two days ago, he was asked whether he would be voting to re-elect Obama in November.
“You vote with him almost 70 percent of the time already…” the tweet said.
The campaign quickly responded. “@NRCC and I vote nearly 60 percent of the time with John Boehner.”
Critz has also criticized some of Obama’s policies, specifically opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline and coal regulations, among other issues that go against Critz’s pro-life, pro-gun beliefs. Critz also claims that, had he been in office at the time Obamacare was brought to the floor, he would have voted against it.
This is perhaps one of the strongest points Rothfus makes; despite saying he is anti-Obamacare, Critz has voted 20 times against efforts to repeal the law or weaken some of its parts.
Still, the Critz campaign said they are not hiding behind the Congressman’s voting record or his decision to skip the DNC. In fact, they have been very forthcoming as to why: associating with the President is a liability in the district.
While Obama won Pa. by over 10 points in 2008, he lost the 12th district by more than nine: 54 to 45 percent in McCain’s favor. In addition, the newly drawn district favors the GOP by six points on a generic ballot, so Critz has to fight hard in order to maintain his lead over his Republican challenger.
Critz spokesman Mike Mikus said that Critz focuses on his constituents’ needs before partisan politics.
“This latest release shows that Keith Rothfus simply doesn’t get Western Pennsylvanians. The people here want a Congressman who will fight for jobs for the region instead of carrying the water of any President or leader in Congress.”
Mikus emphasized Critz’s work to eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and fight for tax breaks and deregulation to benefit small businesses.
“It is not surprising that Keith Rothfus would issue a press release like this because all he understands is Tea Party partisan politics,” Mikus said. “No seeking common ground, no compromise, always putting the people last.”
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11 Responses
Is Rothfus a kept man? We really don’t care. But we do want to learn more about this international man of mystery’s bio? We would love to be kept to. Any volunteers?
With all due respect to PAINDY1, you have no idea what you are talking about. Like a typicaly Democrat, you do not understand how jobs are created and how the capitalist system operates.
You should read this and get re-educated: http://www.aei-ideas.org/2012/06/sorry-washington-post-romney-didnt-get-rich-moving-u-s-jobs-overseas/
Your welcome.
The only job Critz will fight for is his own!
http://www.citizensagainstamarkcritz.com
I think the real news here is that Rothfus is endorsing Romney. I assumed that Romney was too liberal for a tea-partier like Rothfus. I would have expected him to endorse Gary Johnson.
Mitt Romney is a wealthy puppet of the Mormon Church, which worships Mammon. He doesn’t care about anything else, doesn’t know what he is saying, and he doesn’t want to talk about it. To get a better understanding of the cult that produced Mitt Romney and to get your socks scared off read “The Assassination of Spiro Agnew,” available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Spiro-Agnew-novel-ebook/dp/B0083EGJXC
It dramatizes the Mormons’ anti-federal government temperament and demonstrates how their superiority complex manifests as racism, sexism, and jingoism on the ground.
It also shows the similarities between Islam and Mormonism and reveals the secrets of Mormon Mind Control.
Consider this review:
“With a clarity of language and vision unsurpassed in contemporary American prose, Steven Janiszewski’s ‘Assassination of Spiro Agnew’ takes us into a U.S. mazed with madness and Mormonism and all things Utah, a U.S. that was then and still is. Do we need a novel, even as brilliant as this one, about a young man on a divine mission to assassinate the Vice President because he is too liberal? Yes, now more than ever. Readers, welcome to a masterpiece.”
Tom Whalen
http://www.tomwhalen.com
Everyone should read “The Assassination of Spiro Agnew.”
Polls often don’t tell entire story. Depends on sample and how/when questions are asked. A politician is elected to represent us but this doesn’t mean that they never use their experience to make decisions on what is the right thing to do. Should things turn out and their constituents are pleased with results, they get re-elected. If not, it may cost them their job. We elect leaders to lead. If they are polling, they are not leading.
Dear Dr. Raso: Did you read the cover story of the Washington Post? Mr. Romney is a notorious out-sourcer? Mr. Romney is a pioneer of shipping American over-seas. I understand Keith the Candidate favors the De-industrialization of Western PA in the name of Free Trade. Tell us about consistency: Does Keith the Candidate Rothfus still admire the work of his former employer, Faith Healer Pat Robertson?
Wait, so DR says it’s all about the people (and what the people want) so candidates should not do what polling tells them? If it is all about the people, and the people feel a certain way, and you poll them–then you should NOT do what they want? That seems contradictory, make up your mind DR.
We do need candidates who take a stand and do not change based on the direction the wind is blowing or where they or the president stand in the last poll taken. It is about people and not keeping your job or power.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt, but it is situations like this that makes me wonder when PA will allow the Independent to vote in primaries. Maybe then we will get candidates who stick closer to their platforms.
Rothfus has lived the American Dream – married into wealth so he doesn’t have to work.