George Voinovich calls Barack Obama a 'socialist'

[brooklynite]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Sen. George Voinovich, what do you really think of Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for president?

"He is left of Teddy Kennedy. With all due respect, the man is a socialist."

Ohio's senior senator, a Republican, said this yesterday to a reporter for The Daily Sentinel in Pomeroy, Ohio. He was visiting the Meigs County Republican Party.

...snip...

Voinovich's office did not back away from the "socialist" quote today.

Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/10/george_voinovich_calls_barack.html

---

Back to talking about the issues, are we?

[YOY]

1. There is only one Serbian American Politician worth a shit in Cleveland

and his first name is Dennis.

Ugh...I shook George's hand once 12 years ago...I'm going to wash them some more.

[Schema Thing]

2. So? Voinovich is also a socialist. Kinda hard to avoid that if you're an American.

[RethugAssKicker]

3. I wish he was

[goodgd_yall]

37. ditto n/t

[marmar]

4. I don't think Repugs realize how much less effective their "Red Scare" tactics are becoming.....

n/t

[LynnTheDem]

5. That isn't actually an insult, senator...you did mean to insult the senator, yes?

That's like you dipshit idiots who think "elite" and "intelligent" and "eloquent" and "liberal" are insulting words.

They aren't.

Come on into the 21st century, I'm sure you'll like it once you leave the 1950s behind.

[primavera]

44. Actually, my first thought was "if only"

I like Obama well enough to vote for him and be reasonably excited by the prospect of his presidency, but he hasn't yet shown himself to be evolved enough to deserve the title "socialist" - that would be high praise indeed.

[rateyes]

6. As far as I'm concerned, Voinovich can

eat shit.

[maxsolomon]

7. when someone in america can say they're a socialist

and not be immediately labelled an enemy of the state, we will have become a nation of adults.

"spread the wealth around" is now evidence of being a stalinist. this is in many way a very sad, crazy country.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Doesn't Senator Voinovich believe in and rely on socialist health care for himself

as all the members of Congress do, after only a very few years on the job?

[maxrandb]

9. When can we be rid of this asshat???

What an embarrassment to my once proud state of Ohio.

[OhioChick]

10. I can't wait until he's gone. n/t

[kay1864]

16. 2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2010#George_Voinovich_of_Ohio

His party is currently struggling to rebuild its image following the infamous Coingate scandal and the fallout from the unpopularity of former Ohio Governor Bob Taft. Additionally, a November 2007 Survey USA poll has his approval rating at 44%, with 46% disapproving.

Possible Democrats who might run include state Treasurer Richard Cordray, former Congressional candidate Paul Hackett, and Representatives Tim Ryan, Dennis Kucinich, Betty Sutton, and Zack Space.

[Judi Lynn]

41. It's about time one fo the guys you've named steps forward! Voinovich is a disgrace.

Surely any one of those guys would do a superior job as a Senator.

[niceypoo]

11. 'Left of Ted Kennedy' is a standard talking point...

...that they use to describe any Democrat they are up against.

[Dr.Phool]

15. Well, I got a mailer from the RNC today that said

"Obama is the most liberal member of the Senate"!

You mean he's more liberal than John Kerry? Who was the most liberal Senator four years ago? How do we manage to do that?

Oh, woe is me. Had I only known. And I sent my absentee ballot in almost four weeks ago!

Oinkovich was hand picked by the business elite of Cleveland to run against Kucinich after their recall attempt failed.

[Bill McBlueState]

26. and more liberal than Bernie Sanders

who actually *is* a self-described socialist.

Yeah, right.

[alsame]

20. Yes, every 4 years, the Democratic candidate is 'the most liberal

Senator/Governor in the country".

[jb5150]

12. Someone correct me if my memory is wrong

but didn't Voinovich announce he was running for president only to pull out before the race even got started?

[fascisthunter]

13. And I Call Voinovich and His Party Fascists

who pose as "conservatives"

I wish he was more socialist... we need socialism to offset the greed in this country. For the greed itself is Killing people, you idiot! But then again, we all knew the pro-life meme is all bullshit anyways.

[Chovexani]

14. lol I love when they try to use socialist as an insult

Seems to me like we could use a little socialism in this country.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. I bet you 99% of the people who are repeating "Obama is a socialist"

don't have the faintest idea what that means. They've never even heard a real socialist speak, nor have they ever traveled in a country where principles of democratic socialism are the norm. All they know is that Rush thinks it's bad. :eyes:

[bluestateguy]

18. If he was a socialist he would have proposed a single payer health care plan

I wish he had, but as it stands now, he is allowing the private insurance companies to continue to exist.

[high density]

19. Republicans are all big business socialists

[IntravenousDemilo]

21. Not that there's anything wrong with being a socialist...

... but from the perspective of the people living north of your northern border, Obama's about as much a socialist as McCain is, which is to say, not at all. He might find a place in the right wing of the Liberal Party, but he'd never be at home in the New Democratic Party (and even the NDP isn't all that socialist anymore).

[OnionPatch]

22. A mixed economy works the best.

Too bad any form of government helping people is considered "socialism" and something awful to so many brainwashed people. I thought the reason we had government was so it could serve us. You know, "provide for the common good" and stuff like that.

[rucognizant]

31. Yes,

I grew up in a liberal /"socialistic" area It was called SOuth Jersey 1940's- 70's! settled by QUakers and Swedes. It was really lovely! I miss it terribly!

[iamahaingttta]

23. Can we please "Yankee Doodle" the word Socialist?

I'll start...

I am a Socialist, and proud of it!

Take that, Voinovich!

[kestrel91316]

24. Jesus was a bit of a socialist himself. Read your bible, Georgie.

[Bill McBlueState]

25. this and the "baby killer" meme

only seem to come out when the Republicans know the game is over. It's their version of flipping the board over and going home.

[Ikonoklast]

27. Who the fuck woke George Voinovich up?

Senator "Do-Nothing" George Voinovich who has been sleeping through his term in the Senate, gets poked with a stick in order to wake up and say something negative about the Democratic nominee for president.

Quelle surprise. Shocked, I am.


I only have one Senator working in this state; not working for me, just working, and I'm glad that it's Sherrod Brown, a real Liberal.

[shadowknows69]

28. Holy shit I wish he was left of Uncle Teddy

Maybe in time. B-)

[Xipe Totec]

29. He should ask Hugo Chavez about Comrade Bush n/t

CARACAS (Reuters) - Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mocked George W. Bush as a "comrade" on Wednesday, saying the U.S. president was a hard-line leftist for his government's intervention of major private banks in the U.S. financial crisis.

Chavez, who calls capitalism an evil and ex-Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor, ridiculed Bush for his plan for the federal government to take equity in American banks despite the U.S. right-wing's criticism of Venezuelan nationalizations.

"Bush is to the left of me now," Chavez told an audience of international intellectuals debating the benefits of socialism. "Comrade Bush announced he will buy shares in private banks."

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49F0K720081016

[Doremus]

30. I think he's up for re-election in 2 years. Can't come soon enough for me.

Let's hope the tide is still churning in 2 years so he can ride out on the tsunami.

He's done ZIP for Ohio and he's been feeding at the public teat for decades.

[opihimoimoi]

32. That GOP SOB is not getting the Message....THE GOP is DEAD MEAT

Is he DEAF??

[Fearless]

33. I love how he says...

He's left of TK as if that would be a terrible thing. (Whether true or otherwise).

:rofl:

[4lbs]

34. Senator Voinovich, you voted for the $700 billion rescue plan. Isn't that financial socialism?

The government is now buying/"investing" in quite a few banks.

Isn't that socialism?

[sasquatch]

35. Shh...that time doesn't count

:sarcasm:

[dchill]

40. Technically, I believe it's called "trickle up economics"...

or, "Reverse Voodoo Economics." Actually, it seems more like National Socialism to me.

[bitchkitty]

36. Stupid moron. n/t

[Postman]

38. Socialist Party of America considers Obama part of the Capitalist Class.

The Voinovich comment is targeted at the lunatic Republican base who sees anything to the left of Mussolini as "socialist"

[VeggieTart]

39. You mean giving a shit about the middle class...

...and wanting them to have a fair shake is socialist? Wanting to spread the wealth from rich to poor, instead of the Republicans' from poor to rich, is socialist? Is he nuts?

Or maybe I should just drag out an old Victoria Woodhull quote: "Christ was a communist of the strictest sort, and so am I and of the most extreme kind."

[bean fidhleir]

42. To the right wing, "socialist" is a moral term not a political one. It's a synonym for "caca"

And everyone needs to remember that Voinovich is where he is ONLY because one D. Kucinich stood up to the corporate bosses who controlled Cleveland and REFUSED TO SELL THE PEOPLE OUT. Voinovich happily sold out, and is still being paid off for it.

In contrast, look how we repay Dennis's proven courage and caring. He *is* what Obama only pretends to be.

[GeorgeGist]

43. For tips on the benefits of anti-social behavior ...

ask an anti-socialist!

[Laelth]

45. I wish he were. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Piewhacket]

46. Sen. George Voinovich is right of Cheney, so that must make him a...

neo-fascist.

Probably everyone but his sainted mama looks like a socialist to him.

[Dark]

47. You know, I hate to say it bu he ain't going anywhere.

Here in Ohio, he liked enough so that people consider him somewhat of a moderate.

Also, it all depends on what kind of senate we have in 2010. If we get a filibuster-proof one, Ohio might not want to put any more dems into office.

[Kip Humphrey]

48. Paulson partially nationalizes largest banks and Repugs call Obama a socialist?!!! ....Oooookkk.

[ohio2007]

49. A Liberal Supermajority ; WSJ Op/Ed

Some good,some speaks for itself as being far from reality and will never happen.

op/ed WSJ;
A Liberal Supermajority Get ready for 'change' we haven't seen since 1965, or 1933.

If the current polls hold, Barack Obama will win the White House on November 4 and Democrats will consolidate their Congressional majorities, probably with a filibuster-proof Senate or very close to it. Without the ability to filibuster, the Senate would become like the House, able to pass whatever the majority wants.

Though we doubt most Americans realize it, this would be one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history. Liberals would dominate the entire government in a way they haven't since 1965, or 1933. In other words, the election would mark the restoration of the activist government that fell out of public favor in the 1970s. If the U.S. really is entering a period of unchecked left-wing ascendancy, Americans at least ought to understand what they will be getting, especially with the media cheering it all on.

snip

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html

[Algorem]

50. Voinovich refuses to go on call-in radio shows.He's a cowardly elitist.

heard host on local npr call-in show announcing he'd have Senator Sherrod Brown on the next day,and host said they tried to get Voinovich but he doesn't do call-in radio shows.Afraid to talk to the people.

http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/soi/14507/

[NoodleyAppendage]

51. Obama. "With all due respect, Voinovich is a FASCIST." n/t

J