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

[nyc4obama123]

i like that sentence Obama Could Destroy Us In The South...Sounds great lol

[TrueIndy08]

Obama has utterly disappointed me... his moves lately have really turned me off...

At this point, I have lost faith in him... I am not sure if I will support him any longer....

BIDEN on his ticket will bring me back into the fold, but after him voting to rip away our 1st and 4th amendment rights, I see him as just another politician!!!

[swift goat pet for truth]

I understand totally. the FISA thing REALLY sticks in my craw.

I am not an Obama guy, nor was I ever. I was a Kucinich guy.

However, when think about the alternative...

[TrueIndy08]

I know mcBush will be disastrous... but hey, I have made it these past 7 years under the King of Disaster...

I value the Bill of Rights... its sad that they are slowly slashing allof those rights away.. and Obama had a hand in it!

[protagonia]

I was also for DK.

Kucinich said that were he to be forced out, focus on Obama.

[AdamND]

I hope that you have faith in a president McCain if you dont vote obama.

[Countdown09]

It is truly amazing that so many democrats have listen to the republican spin and been willing to carry forth the untruth that Obama has changed. I say if you believe that then you've not been listening to what Obama has been saying for the last year and a half and you certainly didn't read his books. Walk away now from Fox faux news before you do something you'll regret.

[klosskid]

Actually congressman, you will have destroyed yourselves. Arrogance has its consequences.

[tallky]

Sometimes I think those in the south need to be destroyed, as the Rep. from Florida fears might happen. Lived in NY for many years before returning home to work again (in the south) and I am appalled at the lack of concern about fairness, prejudice, religious practice assumed as a norm, school segregation . . . all forms running rampant, spoken OUTLOUD with no one ever brave enough to challenge. Then, if one does, well, the crowd brands and remembers! Representatives both in state and national political positions have traces of their constituency's behavior, I think evidenced by this kind of outburst from the Florida Rep. Let him find other work, stay home, go to church and judge others without taking it to Congress - perpetuating the old old ways of the south. The south should have broken off into an independent country when it had the chance. Don't mean to say the north or the west is a perfect place, but I'm telling ya, this "where did you go to school, where do you go to church, YOU really WOULD vote for a Black Man" thing is rampant today - children still growing up with insensitivity to how unacceptable these attitudes are.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Maybe we should build a fence at the Mason Dixon line.

[CarolinaObserver]

we've been saying that for years

[VSamuels]

How about electing some white politicians who will actually challenge these views and lay out a reasonable and sane view of American values that doesn't rely on demonizing others to make themselves look and feel good. Too often when white politicians spoke about race, it was those like Helms, Thurmond, Russell and Wallace who sewed racial fear and hatred rather than reconciliation. The overall responsiblity is for those in the white community to embrace a new white politician who speaks in the tradition of what Obama was expected to do, that they themselves thus far fail to do or fight against in their own communities.

If white politicians spoke out against white racism as loudly as they spoke out about gay marriage, abortion or AA, it might help to mitigate the pockets of it that continue to thrive throughout America (sic) believing it is correct in its continuing hate. We don't need no stinking fences, we need some white politicians with some real convictions and bravery to finally face down a group of Americans who want to live a prejudiced lifestyle and rationalize it as Christian and American.

It is time for these politicians to tell them that they can't have it both ways.

[Jess27]

As sad as it is, I agree with what you say. I was in NC for a couple years (I'm a NY-er too) and I remember reading about white people trying to re-district the schools so there would be less blacks in their schools. It is also my experience that the born southerners brand those who treat everyone as equals. I used to get dirty looks and snide remarks made to me because I would -- gasp! -- have a conversation with everyone (not only the whites).

[Cathexis]

The times they are a -changin'!

This northern OH transplant has been in NC over a decade and the cities, which are the economic lifeblood of the state and the only areas growing, are trending blue! Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Chapel Hill (!), RTP ... all are developing and evolving!

This isn't your grandfather's North Carolina, to paraphrase the old Buick commercial.

[Egalitare]

Which is why he is opening offices in South Carolina, Mississippi and other traditionally 'Red" states also. He may not win any of those, but the increase in voter registration, voter ID and GOTV in those places are going to put several down-ballot Dems over the top.

[Donnat]

What he means is 'bring us into the 21st century" That would be bad news for the GOP who counts heavily on the South remaining in its medieval mindset.

[ChiGuy]

"...could destroy us in the South."
__________­__________­__________­_________

For the life of me, I can't think of a better outcome.

[triplbee]

Obama is going to win some Southern states. I'd call him the favorite in Virginia right now. I wouldn't be so sure that McCain is going to win in Florida. A lot of veterans are upset about the war in Iraq. There's no way McCain is going to win the Jewish vote. Even younger Cuban voters are flocking to Obama. So Florida is not a lock. I also predict that Obama will win one or more of the following: NC, SC, GA, MS. And don't put Texas in the safe category for McCain. Texas has a significant African-American population that will turnout for Obama. Also, Texas has a huge Latino population. If Obama is as smart as he appears, he will find a way to turnout the Latino vote. I'm telling you, McCain is going to get wiped out.

[TrueIndy08]

I agree with you that he could win some of those states, but do you really think much will change if he gets into the WH???

After yesterday's FISA vote, my guess is barely... if any!

[Eoin45]

I'm unhappy about the FISA vote too, but I've never thought of Obama as a progressive, so I'm not surprised. That said, progressives need to recognize that this country will probably never be as far left as we are, so we need to vote for the one most likely to move our side's ball a little further down the field. The president is, after all, president of all Americans, not just progressives. Those with views differing from ours are entitled to be represented. Progressive or not, I think Obama is likely to change more than you think.

[armadillious2002]

Oh good Lord - road kill would be better than that bunch of liars and thieves we have in the WH now. Get a grip Clintonista and do your duty and jump on the bandwagon.

[incontempt]

1 voice among 100 in the senate....you surely endear him with much more power then he currently has to affect things.

[bobdevo]

I see Obama taking Virgina, Maryland, DC, North Carolina and Missouri. Maybe Florida, Arkansas and Georgia. Hell, even Texs may be in play if the Crazy Old Coot™ keeps up his befuddled campaigning.

[johnnygoodwud]

always considered myself fashion savy. like that his hair matches his tie. both orange. very co-ordinated

[Cathexis]

So what *are* fashion-savvy third graders into this year?

[frvale007]

T HE REPUGS HAVE DESTROYED THEM SELVES, THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE TO LOOK BUT THE MIRROR, LETTING THIS LUNATIC ADMINISTRATION RUN WILD WITH AMERICAS RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND ECONOMY AND ALL THE OTHER DOMESTIC ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED SO A FEW RICH FAT FRIENDS OF BUSHIT CAN GET EVEN RICHER FROM WAR PROFITEERING , THE TROUBLE IS THAT THEY UNDERESTIMATE THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE­..........­.I HOPE !

[Plowboy]

By "natural appeal to veterans" I suppose you mean his pretense to have been for the Webb bill he opposed, and other false positions.
By "pro-Israel" I suppose you mean more STUPID war that is not in our interests becasuse our great Neocons want it and AIPAC owns us.
By "independents" I suppose you mean those poor idiots who follow the lead of the MSM and "reason" in sound bytes.
And I suppose you envision another campaign dominated by gay marriage, empty talk about abortion, lies about somebody's position, spins about nothing important, rear mongering and not-so--sly hints of racism, etc. And -- don't you expect a lot of BS about "patriotism" from that wonderful party of chickenhawkery?

[jlc0426]

Why in the world is the MSM not picking up on the falsehood of McCain supporting Veterans? He's outright lying about supporting the Webb bill and receiving all these honors from Vets groups.

Is the MSM afraid of calling him out on this!!!

I wish someone would grow some cojones and report the truth about this.

[Redbeard0504]

I think Obama can win Florida. What has to be done is some prominent Jewish politicians have to stand up for him and second, veterans need to continue to point out John McCains spotty voting record on veterans affairs.

I am a vet and once McCains true record is revealed I believe a turn about will take place. He has to be confronted on his voting record and let the light shine on it because it is weak!

I continue to talk to my friends and so does my former Marine son about the damage Bush/McCain/Cheney have done to the military. It is a disgrace!

[dm92]

That is why I can't wait for the debates because he won't be able to hide behind his friends in the msm when the questions about his voting record start flying.

[VOTER]

Republican Putnam proclaims McCain isn't in any danger of losing Florida.

Sir, you ailment is called LIVING WISHFUL THINKING.

A reality check is the only known cure.

[democrattotheend]

I am pro-Israel and very much pro-Obama. And I am not a warmonger. Pro-Israel can mean a lot of things. To me, it just means being supportive of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.

[sangsue]

YES! I feel the same way! Everyone has the right to exist and Rabin was close to that ideal (which was why he was assassinated).

[findingthetruth]

His "natural appeal to veterans"? When McCain's voting records are revealed (particularly with veterans) --- Florida Rep. Adam Putnam will begin sing another tune.