We're always told here on the DKos to be good Democrats and support every Democrat, because most Republican politicians are obnoxious stooges of the the Koch Brothers, supporters of the 1% at the expense of the working middle class. The first part of that is generally good advice, and the latter part is especially true. But, sometimes it comes to the point that you gotta say Enough is Enough! In my AZ CD02 Congressman Ron Barber is one of the most endangered Democratic Congressmen in the country. Well, I refuse to vote for him, and I hope he loses.
Here's Mr. Barber's most frequent TV ad:
You could easily think this was an ad for a Republican candidate. Use a bunch a young children as stand-ins for Congress. Check. Cue the kids throwing play money around, and throw in "Congress treats your money like it is it's own piggy bank". Check. Cue the kids pointing fingers and yelling at each other, and throw in that he's the "4th most independent member of Congress". Check.
If I were an Independent, or even a moderate Republican (an endangered species here in AZ), I might think gee, maybe I should vote for Barber. But, Mr. Barber, you forgot one little thing: I'm a Democrat, and you haven't given me a single reason to vote for you. Sorry, that you're not nearly as bad as the other guy isn't a reason, it's an excuse for you to take my vote for granted. And I'm not going to take it anymore. Sure, his opponent - Martha McSally - is a Koch Brothers/ALEC stooge who will follow the party line and vote against my interest on every issue. Well, it wouldn't be the first time I've had such a Congressman/woman. If it meant bringing back Speaker Pelosi I could hold my nose and vote for Barber. But it won't, Republicans are all but certain to gain some House seats in this election. So, with that freedom of conscience, I'm going to vote write-in 'Someone Else', and work for Ron Barber's defeat. If Gov. Brownback was so bad he got deep red Kansas to see the light, hopefully 2 years of Congresswoman Martha McSally will be so bad my fellow southern Arizonans will see the light and send a real Democrat from AZ CD02 in 2016.
Thoughts? Just be careful with that tar and feathers, I have sensitive skin.
And fortunately, Ron Barber is the only candidate with a 'D' after his name that I can't vote for. (I don't/won't call him a Democrat)
We have a terrific candidate for Governor, Fred Duval.
Terry Goddard was a great Attorney General for eight years, and will be our next Secretary of State. (No Lt. Gov. in AZ)
We haven't had an honest Attorney General since Terry Goddard occupied the office. Felecia Rotellini will be our next one.
And of course the other half of southern Arizona still gets to have a true progressive represent them in Congress, the indefatigable Raul Grijalva.
And Phoenix gets a new progressive to represent them, Ruben Gallego.
And if you'd like to see Ron Barber's votes that earned him that "4th most independent member of Congress", follow me over the hump -
Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 - the Republican sponsored bill that allows insurers to continue to offer those horrible plans that don't comply with the ACA until through December 31, 2018.
- Ron Barber voted Yep, sounds good to me!
H Res 574 - Recommends that the House of Representatives Find Lois G. Lerner in Contempt of Congress. Sponsors: Darrell Issa (CA - R)
- Ron Barber voted Yep, sounds good to me!
HR 2575 - Save American Workers Act of 2014. A Republican sponsored bill that increases the number of hours from 30 to 40 that an employee is required to work per week in order to be considered a full-time employee for the purpose of employer-sponsored health care coverage.
- Ron Barber voted Yep, sounds good to me!
HR 4118 - Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty Law Equals (SIMPLE) Fairness Act - a Republican sponsored that suspends the Individual Mandate to have health insurance as required under the ACA.
- Ron Barber voted Yep, sounds good to me!
Source: VoteSmart.org
And the one that did it for me, the establishment of the Special House Committee to investigate #Benghazi!
- Ron Barber voted Yep, sounds good to me!
And Barber voted for those Republican bills during last fall's shutdown to fund the pieces of government they actually liked.
So long Congressman Barber, enjoy your well deserved retirement. You want to be elected as a Democrat? Then act like a Democrat.