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PA-Sen: Opponents React to President’s Endorsement of McGinty

white-house-north-2007-djSitting Presidents don’t usually get involved in party primaries.

That’s what made the endorsement of Katie McGinty by President Obama (and Vice President Biden) so surprising.

Despite that, it did not take long for her opponents to try and spin the news against her.

“It’s not surprising that every Democratic insider has found a kindred spirit in career insider Katie McGinty,” said Toomey for Senate spokesman Ted Kwong. “McGinty used the revolving door to profit on corporate boards, lobbied for a notorious D.C. law firm, and is reliably falling in line with liberal priorities like sanctuary cities and the reckless Iran Deal.”

“That’s the sad reality about establishment politics. I wonder now how establishment Obama would treat candidate Obama in terms of that, and it really stung,” Fetterman told the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I was really his only friend in Western Pennsylvania. Eight years later, it wasn’t there…I’m not angry, I’m more sad because this is a person who I still think is a fabulous president.”

Joe Sestak, however, seemed unfazed by the news choosing instead to recount all the times he fought alongside the President.

“I therefore have great respect for the President and the battles he and I fought together – for people – and we wear the same battle scars, with pride,” Sestak said. “But that is also why I have never asked the President – nor anyone else in a position of power – to have my 6, not even by asking for their endorsement. As a leader, it is only about having the people’s 6, and because I have theirs, they will have mine.”

The primary is set for April 26th.

18 Responses

  1. Obama keeps releasing convicted criminals from jail, even though they had fair trial, appeals were heard and denied and juries convicted them. Is that the type of justice system Katie supports, just like sanctuary cities: ignore the rule of law whenever convenient.

  2. Of all the comments made good or bad the one that really gets me is Toomey’s comments.. He portrays McGinty’s connections with corporations and boards as evil and not in the public’s best interest. Freaking AMAZING ! Toomey is bought and paid for by corporations love like the Koch Brothers and special interests like The Club For Growth and The Heritage Foundation. Mr. Clean Toomey did not acquire an $8,000,000 war chest from average Pennsylvanians. That money is Dark and Evil money to pay for Toomey ‘s votes against everything that is good for the Middle Class Average Americans. He regularly votes against veterans, working people unions, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Education for our children, and continues to be an obstructionist not voting for anything in the Senate. Talk what you want about the Democratic Primary Senate Candidates. Pat Toomey has done nothing in the uSenate in 5 years. Toomey has to run on his record. Toomey is an obstructionist whose soul has been bought and sold to the Monied Special Intersts. Pat Toomey is not deserving of any votes from the middle class population of Pennsylvania. He can lie with paid actors on TV adds but Toomey needs to be voted out of office by any of the Democratic Candidates so average people will again have a voice in the Senate in his place.

  3. Of all the comments made good or bad the one that really gets me is Toomey’s comments.. He portrays McGinty’s connections with corporations and boards as evil and not in the public’s best interest. Freaking AMAZING ! Toomey is bought and paid for by corporations love like the Koch Brothers and special interests like The Club For Growth and The Heritage Foundation. Mr. Clean Toomey did not acquire an $8,000,000 war chest from average Pennsylvanians. That money is Dark and Evil money to pay for Toomey ‘s votes against everything that is good for the Middle Class Average Americans. He regularly votes against veterans, working people unions, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Education for our children, and continues to be an obstructionist not voting for anything in the Senate. Talk what you want about the Democratic Primary Senate Candidates. Pat Toomey has done nothing in the Senate in 5 years. Toomey has to run on his record. Toomey is an obstructionist whose soul has been bought and sold to the Monied Special Intersts. Pat Toomey is not deserving of any votes from the middle class population of Pennsylvania. He can lie with paid actors on TV adds but Toomey needs to be voted out of office by any of the Democratic Candidates so average people will again have a voice in the Senate in his place.

  4. Doyle did not endorse Obama early–in fact I don’t believe he endorsed in the primary. Ian Murray was for Clinton. All of the others, as was stated, were pretty late in their support. Fetterman was with Obama from the beginning, was a delegate for Obama, and was the point person in Pennsylvania to respond to the “clinging to guns and religion” faux controversy on behalf of the Obama campaign.

    Fetterman was the first elected official in the west to endorse Obama.

  5. Philadelphian-

    It’s all true and more.

    PA Expat-

    If “Sestak’s got your six” then check your wallet.

  6. Sestak’s slogan about “having your 6” is already sounding clunky and getting very tedious.

    Fetterman makes a nice sounding point that “establishment Obama” would snub “candidate Obama.” However, the reality in 2008 was that candidate Obama received plenty of “establishment” support, it just tended to split among racial and generational lines between him and Clinton.

  7. DelCo Woman:

    You are correct. McG is in trouble. These endorsements only verify the worsening condition. Yes, McG, save your money and spend it on some future Dems—real Dems with vision and gravitas–so we Dems can kick the asses of people like Toomey. Even promote Fetterman in the future, if he proves to be an actual progressive. He’s a little weak on single payer and I’m not sure about his possible pro-charter school mentality. Maybe he’s not a progressive now, but maybe he can have his horizons expanded—maybe he can meet Bernie and actually learn about Bernie’s issues. Fet may have a hopeful future for Congress, for example.

  8. David Diano:

    It would be great if you had something new to add that you could substantiate. Otherwise, I’m well aware that you don’t like Sestak and an endless rant and more rumors aren’t adding to the conversation, and maybe they are becoming a little tiresome.

  9. Wow, Katie must really be in trouble. I predicted before she announced she would lose. I hope she uses her war chest to help other Dems win in September. Then maybe she will earn some grassroots respect for her next run.

  10. While Mayor Fetterman was a good friend to the Senator Obama starting in the 2008 Primary, clearly he was not alone. Most of those listed above were also on board in one capacity or another. Rep. Doyle was not. he strongly leaned that way, but was dissuaded by a personal appeal from former president Clinton.

    Ed Rendell, whom I assume is behind this odd primary endorsement as well as the one afforded to Josh Shapiro, was also clearly not a supporter at that time.

    Admiral Sestak has a much better attitude on this matter. No real expectations of loyalty or reciprocity.

  11. Fetterman was one of the earliest supporters of Obama in 2008…way before the ones that Erin mentioned. All of those people were VERY late to the party. Only 2 western Pennsylvania mayors supported Obama, and Fetterman was one of them.

  12. Rendell and all his greed will be solely responsible for ending the career of Lil Josh. Shapiro should have listened to his instincts and ran for the US Senate. Propping up a loser like Katie McGinty killed Shapiros credibility. I hope they all LOSE. Its embarrassing

  13. “Joe Sestak, however, seemed unfazed by the news choosing instead to recount all the times he fought alongside the President.”

    Joe leaves out how much he’s fought against the president. Like, attempting to blackmail him with threats to testify before Issa on the job-gate scandal (that Sestak created).

    How about when Joe publicly criticized Obama for announcing a timetable for pulling out of Afghanistan (after Sestak campaigned in 2006 on timetables for Iraq pullout)?

    Joe’s asked everybody for endorsements and no one will give him any.

  14. I agree that this kind of unusual endorsement is not helpful in this year’s environment. It just reinforces in any new voter’s mind that she is the Insider’s choice. Katie’s a good catholic – maybe she can get Sister Mary Scullion’s endorsement? That would be more helpful.

  15. “I was really his only friend in Western Pennsylvania.” Apparently according to Fetterman, Mike Doyle, Ian Murray, Doug Shields, Patrick Dowd, Joe Preston, Jack Wagner, Michael Lamb, Franco Harris, Valerie McDonald Roberts, Sean Logan, Tom Tangretti, Tom Bayla all don’t count as “friends in Western PA”. PoliticsPA, why don’t you ask them if they were “friends” to Barack Obama in 2008?

  16. This endorsement won’t make any difference at this point. Most voters have decided, and this won’t change any minds, and unlikely the undecideds will make their decision based on what the establishment is supporting, this in the year of anti-establishment. In fact, it will likely hurt McGinty. When will DC learn that they don’t get to choose our candidate to represent us. Voters are just not that stupid anymore. Joe has the grassroots, and we will win the day!!

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