GOP Rep: Obama Could Destroy Us In The South

Florida Rep. Adam Putnam doesn't think Barack Obama can win the South. But he predicts Obama's campaign strategy will cause Republicans significant down-ticket damage:

No, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, doesn't think John McCain is in any real danger of losing Florida, given McCain's natural appeal to veterans, independents, and pro-Israel voters. But the Chairman of the House Republican Conference thinks Barack Obama's ability to turn out African-Americans voters across the south could pose trouble for some Republican incumbents in states that McCain will still carry.

"I think you'll see House members who won their last race by 60%-65% percent lose because of the turnout model that Obama brings,'' said Putnam after taping a Political Connections interview on Bay News 9. He wasn't talking about any Florida seats, but his pick for the five races to watch in Florida: the seats held by Democrat Tim Mahoney, by the Diaz-Balart brothers, by Tom Feeney, and by Ric Keller.

Another Republican congressman agrees -- but he thinks it's a good thing.

Meanwhile, McCain might be in trouble after all: a new poll of Missouri shows him only three points ahead.

Comments

[qdog112]

Don't forget the Dirty Tricks they will play from voting prevention to voting machine "malfunctions".The successful Kathrine Harris model will be used when it can. (grandfather clauses, poll taxes and the latest ID requirements will play)

They won't go down easy. After all, the Civil War ain't over yet.

[FirstShirt]

Outstanding preparation for failure. If we lose, it will be because of fraud.

[qdog112]

"If we lose, it will be because of fraud."

What do you mean we? You're no more a Democrat than Dick Chaney.

On the other hand, none of the tactics I mentioned ever were used before - right?

[Grunty1]

Putting all of the evidence and ARRESTS after 2004, just look at the substandard product the GOP puts out? How could that win ANYTHING?

[1099]

Yeah, that requirement that citizens must have proper identification is totally outrageous and unreasonable. I mean people should just be able to show up at any polling station and vote as many times as they want. Why bother trying to maintain the integrity and accuracy of elections?

Get real.

[qdog112]

Funny you can't cite one instance when someone voted who wasn't eligible.On the other hand, scores have been turned away through intimidation and other dirty tricks.

We can only hope:NOT THIS TIME!

[gotalife]

Yeah, when he was spewing about change, he was talking about himself.

The delegates should switch to her at the convention.

[TrueIndy08]

hahahahahaha

[k6007]

Shouldn't you be raising money to pay off your candidate's debt. No wonder she bombed, with supporters like you. So sad:(

[AtlantaBill]

He's (gotalife) just a TROLL paid by the McTimeless campaign to stir up hostility. Best bet is to ignore them and eventually they get back to working on that GED certificate.

[granamica]

I believe Hillary is still being treated for post traumatic stress disorder after the primary season and the sniper fire. She will be unavaible as she needs to also be ready for her court date in the fall.

[TheGuide]

Why the GOP think Whites in the South won't vote for Obama is beyond me. The South has transitioned, with people having moved there from all over the country. When I lived in Atlanta, I rarely ran into a native in the metro area. People were from New York, Chicago, Boston--all over. Everyone in the South are native southerners.

[ibsteve2u]

"given McCain's natural appeal to veterans, independents, and pro-Israel voters"...

lolll...all I can say is "Wow! - he got two out of three of those wrong."

The simple fact is McCain is on record as voting against Veteran's issues - in fact, there is little doubt that McCain and the rest of today's Republicans would transform the programs for those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan from "veterans benefits" into "entitlement spending" (as the Republicans so derogatorily phrase it as they attempt to eliminate it) overnight should the wars end.

And as for Independents, they are "independent" because they like to avoid the bonds of loyalty that party affiliation incurs so as to be able to choose who is best for the nation without guilt.

After watching the damage done by Republican policies of "trickle down" economics, "free trade", stacking the law to favor the banks and financial institutions over the consumers, outright criminality in the Department of Justice, war for PNAC, and on and on, four more years of Bush is distinctly unappealing to many Independents.

And I say that as an Independent veteran.

[incontempt]

The GOP has destroyed itself in the eye's of americans....we have been watching you and generally speaking... republicans are unfit to be representatives of the american people....

Remember, you did this to yourselves in pursuit of power and greed.... now the people you have been stealing from may get a word in....thank god for that!

[HallStyle]

I agree 100% I know this may sound corny but it is TIME FOR CHANGE in Washington.

And even if God forbid Barack doesn't win. So many NeoCons will lose.

Either way it will be CHRISTMAS IN NOVERMBER!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!

[FirstShirt]

Time will tell. Two years of Clinton was all it took to turn the Congress over to the republicans. we'll see.

[BuckFush666]

One can only hope this is true. As one can only hope the new episodes at digitalfuntown are as good as the old ones.

[Sporin]

So basically, they liked it better when black folks didn't vote?

[margotb822]

Sickening, isn't it?

I'm sure their "Democrats vote on Wednesday" push will be strong this year. Always trying to cheat their way to the top and look where it's gotten them...

[incontempt]

Look where it's gotten US...

[MBryant]

This landslide thing is getting carried away.

If we define a "landslide" as over 60% of the votes cast and a lead of 20% - it has happened three times since 1930: FDR's re-election, LBJ's election, Nixon's re-election. Reagan almost accomplished it in his re-election. Three were re-elections - one was the election of the sitting President (Johnson) who had a big sympathy vote from the assasination of J.F.K. and had an active war going on. Another note - turnouts have been generally down from a peak of 63% of the Voting Age Population in 1960 to a trough of 59% in 1996. Turnout in the primary elections, especially on the Dem side was strong - so turnout is expected to be up. All four "landslides" took place when turnout was actually down from the prior Presidential election.

McCain is doing everything he can do to lose, but if Obama stirs up participation (which is great) - it will get some reaction from those that oppose him. McCain will call on the fear vote and represents the party in power, you can dismiss him so easily.

Obama will win. It won't be a landslide.

[Ajita]

Huffpo still not reporting on this potential front-page story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qRy4PnmNu8

[WildFancyLady]

Thank you for posting this video! McCain is not a good Vet or Senator or American for that matter if he votes against legislation that will help the Vets of today and there families.

[Speakchic]

Oh it's gonna happen! And it seems silly-minded liberals would rather flood the media with the Obama sky is falling whines.

[MajorKong]

I hate to get my hopes up, but it would be nice to see a stake finally through the heart of Nixon's "Southern Strategy".

[Davwbaird]

hmmmmmmmmmm, landslide unlike any seen in this country. The GOP is now history, watch them meltdown before your eyes. They will become such shrills and con men in their final gasps that it will seal their coffin for ever. Iran will be part of the picture and the way that the USA has been dealing with IRAN.

[Jonny38103]

Rep. Putnam,

We so want you to be right for once. That's why there is one veteran who won't be with McCain and you know who he is - he's your challenger, Doug Tudor. (Readers, check out www.teamtudor.org). You see, unlike you, Rep. Putnam, Doug Tudor's military service, combined with his progressive values, form a combination of very attractive attributions for any candidate. While 20% of your district lives in poverty, you voted against S-Chip, the healthcare program for children. While soaring gas prices hurt many of the working people in your district, you continue to take money from Exxon Mobil. Your continued alliance with the most unpopular President of our time (voting with W 98.7% of the time) shows how dsconnected you are to the people you are paid to represent.
So again, I hope you're right - I hope the down ticket races are won by Democrats - I just think you should have listed yourself as one of them.

GO DOUG GO!!!!!!!

[Mattjoe]

What do you mean 'could'?

[swift goat pet for truth]

These guys have had control of the Presidency for 7 years, Congress for 12, the SCOTUS forever (the fact is that 7 of 9 supreme court justices were GOP appointed), and OBAMA will take them out?

Well, look at the results of their rule.

That is the Party of Personal Responsibility for you!