Representative Skelton Race Shows 2010 Election Screwy
Like many I follow Election 2010, but I must admit to not understanding the ‘logic’ behind some of the headlines. I have a number of races on my radar either because they have a colorful personality involved, or a certain issue is important to me. I also follow races such as that of Congressman Skelton, a long-term incumbant, who is close to losing the election. I follow the races and try to put my head into that of the opposition while trying to see things from their perspective.
I am not making any headway in understanding what makes the other side tick in 2010. Let me explain by pulling a few a paragraphs from a story about the Missouri congressional race.
First up, Congressman Skelton is a Democratic conservative. So conservative that he even won the honor of being idiot of the day in June 2010 on this blog.
Unlike other Republicans challenging Democratic incumbents this year, Ms. Hartzler can’t easily demonize her opponent as a left-wing liberal.
Mr. Skelton opposes abortion, voted against the health-care overhaul and earned an endorsement from the National Rifle Association. In a district that voted overwhelmingly for Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, Mr. Skelton’s 17 consecutive electoral victories suggest any strident attack on him could backfire among the voters Ms. Hartzler is courting.
No wonder then that, in a climate of nasty political campaigns, Ms. Hartzler, 50 years old, has expressed affection for her 78-year-old opponent, even calling him “a very kind man.”
What more could the Republicans want? Not only does he vote their way but he has powerful committee assignments to assist the voters back home.
If one reads to the bottom of the article there comes what every Democrat has to contend with this season. Just plain lunacy.
One voter listening is Jim Parker, a longtime Skelton supporter who said he would vote for Ms. Hartzler because, “Pelosi is a socialist, and Skelton has voted with her 95% of the time.”
Given Congressman Skelton’s voting record the VERY last thing one can call him is a socialist.
But that is the lay of the land in 2010.
I call this whole election coast-to-coast just plain screwy!
