Sen Carper Calls Out Republican Economic Obstruction & Endorses President Obama
Although this is weak tea given the ongoing level of Republican malfeasance, this one goes in the “credit where credit is due” file.
“President Obama understands that we must invest in our middle class now in order to create an economy built to last. He believes America prospers when hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded, and everyone has the opportunity to live the American dream. Unfortunately, some of our Republican friends — including the President’s opponent — seem to believe in a different vision for America’s future, one that relies on offering the same failed policies of the past that exploded our budget deficits and left middle and working class Americans holding the bag. The President’s speech in Ohio today was a clear indication of the choice Delawareans have in this election I think the choice in this election is an easy one, we should move forward with President Obama.”
– emphasis added
I guess it is officially an election year. When he is not up for re-election there is no way of determining TC’s party affilation from any of his public statements.
Interesting but he’s had three years to do this and hasn’t..
Carper is a fucking hypocrite.
He’s been a puppet of the banking industry for DECADES, & now he decides to chide his Republican colleagues for screwing the middle class?
FUCK YOU, TOM! Where were you when the bankers rewrote the bankruptcy laws? Oh, that’s right, you were having expensive dinners courtesy of the banking lobby, then you voted for their law, which screwed everyone who would ever claim bankruptcy in the future.
Please retire, you colossal bag of shit.
Mr. Carper will be confronted for his lack of attention to many felonious issues ranging from banking, to healthcare, to environmental inaction as well as his wholesale sellout of American civil rights. He has no real solutions for the banking crisis other than to accept major donations from banksters to avoid any kind of real reform. He has voted for war after war to satisfy the military industrial complex. And he has sold out families and college kids by changing bankruptcy laws and allowing the current financial bubble of student loans to expand unabated, further sentencing these young people to a life of debt servitude. If one is to examine his “middle way” record you will observe that he is no “Liberal”, nor progressive – simply an opportunist who has not finished nursing at the taxpayer tit.
Carper, pot meet kettle. Obstructionism? He practically defines the term when is comes to Delaware citizens. Progressive? Hardly!
You have your right to be mad at Carper; anyone can be mad at Carper, but recognize this: he is running in a primary which will challenge him from the left. And being too far right of Obama,(see his message today) could be devastating.
The answer as to why he did not do this till now, is simply because he never HAD to.
The unasked question is still out there. How progressive is today’s electorate? Is it truly 90% progressive, 10% conservative? Or more in line with 50-50 the fake polls are giving us?
The only way we will ever find this out, is if someone equally endowed runs against Carper, so instead of having personal issues like competence jump to the forefront (if both candidates are judged equal in ability), then the deciding factor would be their philosophy.
That he never had to and is suddenly deciding to do so now when faced with a primary from the left and a general election challenger from the left (Andrew Groff, ftw) as well as a vendetta candidacy from a certain wealthy Sussex businessman speaks to his credibility. I’m not buying his sudden love for us regular folks given its political convenience.
Now, Andrew, there’s competence and philosophy all in one neat package. He also didn’t conveniently discover his principles when his political situation demanded it.
“The unasked question is still out there. How progressive is today’s electorate? Is it truly 90% progressive, 10% conservative? Or more in line with 50-50 the fake polls are giving us? ”
That’ll take us straight back to the endless conversation about who is progressive.
There aren’t many card-carrying progressives, but there are a lot of de facto progressives. If you are for progressive taxation, a strong safety net, and reasonable regulations on business, you are a progressive even if you don’t know it. But you no longer have anyone to vote for.
Progressivism used to be in the DNA of Democrats. But people like Carper helped drain the gene pool.
People who have been watching TC know that there is nothing genuine or meaningful in the statement. Just prior to each election he begins to find his Democratic voice and then he quickly loses it right after the election. He is a cynical fraud in the most plain an objective sense.
This one goes in the “credit where credit is due” file, not because it proves that Carper is an actual Democrat, but because (for whatever reason) he told the truth about Republicans.
Keith Spanarelli is a challenger from the left? Has anyone ever seen the guy let alone know what his stances are on any issues of importance?
Andrew Groff is a progressive when it suits him – like this blog. And a Conservative libertarian when it suits him – like when he spoke to the FirstState Patriots group in Middletown.
Wait just a minute. I think we have a wolf in sheep’s clothing in this race and its not TC.
I was at the First State Patriot’s (Tea Party) debate on Monday. Groff you’re a pretty bold guy to sit here and call yourself a progressive. I know you are aware that the party was there taping the event because Pires called out the party’s tracker while he was taping the debate.
So you are also aware that you are on the tape saying that you were a registered Republican your whole life until recently. You’re on tape spouting the republican talking points that “Government doesn’t have a revenue problem, It has a spending problem. We don’t need more revenue from taxes”……
So, either you can call me a liar or you can explain to everyone here exactly what you “really” meant. Tell us that you were taken out of context or that you had an out-of-body experience and was momentarily possesed by the soul of Eric Cantor. However, I caution you, the tape is real and in the hands of the party. So just be honest.
“Andrew Groff is a progressive when it suits him – like this blog.”
I’m sorry — did I miss the report from the purity police? Are you setting yourself up in that position?
Apparently, those criticizing from the First State Patriots meeting also did not pick up any of my campaign literature. As this was an open panel discussion answering questions from a decidedly conservative group, the questions naturally revolved around their specific concerns. I don’t need to explain why I left the Republican party as my dedication to OccupyDE should demonstrate; so much as why anyone thinks Carper is anything but a DINO. What suits me is single payer health care; ending the wars and closing many of the vast number of military bases we support globally. Decriminalize pot and, eliminate corporate person-hood. Protect SocSec and Medicare for the next generation and break up the TBTF banks and opaque derivatives trading. What I do not believe is that increased taxation and restrictions on our civil rights is the way to accomplish any of this. We have an adequate tax base if we return to Clinton-era tax tables with full application of Sarbanes/Oxley and undiluted application of New Deal banking regulations *and we stop subsidizing huge corporate players such as Exxon, ADM, Monsanto, etc. These subsidies should be used for progressive purposes as development of alternate energy technologies, transportation systems, enhanced student aid and upgrades to the energy grid. These issues suit me just fine. Call it what you will, but I call it progress.
Hmmm…. Something ain’t right. You want all these things that cost money, but you don’t want to raise taxes. You want to go back to a Clinton era tax code where taxes for the highest earners was 39%, but you don’t want to raise current levels which are at 35%?….
Either, I’m mistaken or you don’t know what you’re talking about. Does the fact that you were speaking with R’s on Monday mean that we should disregard your comments and just read your literature.
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!!”
Hahahaha… Good try buddy. But thanks for not calling me a liar!
Right, going back to the Clinton era “tax tables” is a tax increase. So, which do you believe? That we don’t need “increased taxation” or that we do?
You think instituting “New-Deal era bank regulations” will expand the base? You’re joking right? What does that even mean?
This is what happens when you try to play too cute by half with the Greens AND the Ron Paulites.
I think this guy Groff wants to please everyone….
“I think we should really do something about childhood obesity”
next sentence…..
“Vote for me… Candy and sweets for every kid!!!!”
Hahahaha!
He’s not pleasing everyone. I’ve got some gripes with Andrew’s platform, but he’s still miles above Carper and his corporatist, bankster-funded BS. I just don’t see any benefit to the few people willing to challenge bankster rule fighting against each other instead of the banksters.
I hear ya Will M. However, my point is this. We all know Carper. We know Carper well enough not to agree with him. I don’t know this guy and from what I’ve seen, many of us don’t know him.
He says one thing to the teabaggers, then he says another thing on this site. I can’t get up with that. He’s endorsed by two parties with opposing views. How can he really be for single payer as a member of the Green Party, but still be endorsed by the Libertarians? How can he be against tax increases, but be for going back to Clinton era taxes which is essentially an increase in taxes. I get that you want to get rid of Carper; but don’t kick the mouse out of the front door and loose sight of the rat creeping in the back door.
There is much common ground to be found when discussing the critical issues we are confronted with today. Greens, Libertarians and other alternative parties and an increasingly independent-minded populace are finding that the dogmatic rhetoric of the two corporately owned parties are intrenched in their money-grubbing pandering, and corrupt machines to actually propose any real creative solutions. I am not looking to expand the tax base from levels consistent with the largest economic expansion in the country’s history. I, and others, are challenging Tom Carper, the most corrupt and two-faced lackey of the 1% currently holding office. To focus a light on the deviance of this man who “moves to the left” to pander to his own party, all the while voting like a Northeast Republican in the best likeness of an Olympia Snow, or Mitt Romney. Carper is willing to tap bankster executives for filthy lucre in campaign money while ignoring the common people who suffer under the bank deregulation anarchy, bankruptcy law abominations TARP, NDAA, Patriot Act, TSA and the wars he has signed onto. He has violated his oath of office by not protecting and defending the constitution of the United States. We are not safer, more secure or demonstrate more freedom, or have a more responsible banking and tax system because of the callous way he votes away our democracy. This is his record, his legacy, his pile of putrid waste that he has laid at the voter’s feet for everyone to see.
I am proud to represent a message of more freedom and liberty in a responsible, clean world that takes care of the weak and poor and increases education and opportunity for all. I am proud to sit together with people of good faith and opposing views to share where we can come together to achieve real progress. Yes, I will talk with Democrats, Republicans, Tea Partiers, Occupiers and any other group or person who wants to get involved to put our great country back on its feet. Not just for the 1% monied elite as Carper is doing. If that’s too cute for you, then you may be mistaking the wrong wizard behind the veil of deceit – Take another look, that man is the bankster minion, Tom Carper. I’m out here in the open discussing the issues with everyone who will engage.
Sammy, it’s easy to get to know Andrew. He’s at all kinds of events that don’t charge for admission. I disagree with him on stuff, I fight with him on stuff, but I would vote for him in a heartbeat and as the LPD’s Vice Chair I advocated for endorsing him as a party. I’d rather have an honest disagreement with a Green than to get scammed by an D/R any day.
I get it….
Carper = Bad
Andrew = Good
You’re great with the pie-in-the-sky stump speech. I’m just curious about the details, which you seem to gloss over. I guess you’ll have time to get to those down the road.
However, saying “We have a spending problem in Washington, Not a revenue problem” and advocating against tax increases while with the First State Patriots but later in the week endorsing a Clinton era tax code on this site, which would increase taxes, is somewhat hypocritical. It also seems like the exact same type of things you’re accusing Carper of.
You may not agree with me and many of us on this site won’t care about your flip flopping as our disdain for Carper will cause us to turn a blind eye. Just be careful. You’re walking a fine line.
Are you saying we don’t have a spending problem in Washington?
We don’t have a spending problem in Washington. Yes, that’s right. We don’t. That is just the plain and simple truth. Spending is at its lowest level under President Obama than it has been under any President since Eisenhower.
We have a revenue problem. You see, you Libertarian/Republicans have been cutting the taxes on the rich for decades now in pursuit of Grover Norquist’s dream of starving the New Deal of money so that we would have no choice but to end it.
The reason there is a deficit is due to a lack of revenue, not an increase in spending.
I never said that. I think we “had” a spending problem for sure until the President cut budgets to the lowest in years. Working hard not to completely destroy the social safety net. However, we’re still on the hook for many policies that the Bush administration implimented. We have a rapidly aging population and a work force where more that 10% of the population is unemployed and a greater percentage is under-employed. Makes it really tough to pay for some worthwhile entitlement programs.
However, I also understand that because we’ve had a spending problem for such a long time, it can’t be solved with ONLY spending cuts unless you drastically cut programs that are there to protect the middle class. If you can show me a way to do this… I will support you. But you will have to show me. Not tell me.
You will have to trim some budgets, but to protect from destroying the social saftey net or firing teachers and closing schools you will have to raise taxes as well. To tell people that you can do one without the other is reckless and puts you more line with Eric Cantor than Tom Carper on this issue. Which sounds weird, but facts are stubborn things.
When one looks at what our budgets are being spent on currently, it does not take an overly adept person to realize that there are plenty of items that are completely out of control. First and foremost is our 900 military bases spread throughout the world. Do we really need that many bases with the technology we are now deploying? Look at agribusiness and commercial subsidies. Does Exxon and ADM really need those research subsidies. The corporate tax structure is a joke. If they were actually paying even modest taxes the base would increase dramatically. How about those resource wars we’re fighting and maintaining large military presence that we were promised would be ended and the soldiers come home. Well not very many are coming home now are they really? In reality, I do not believe the federal government is starved for funding from the taxpayer, I believe it is allocating resources poorly. Does Biden really need a 757 to commute home from DC each week? I will not defend Bush-era tax policy as you seem to be. We take care of our greatest assets first and the safety nets must hold. I’m not interested in starving government as Grover Norquist spews- I am interested in using what we have in the best way possible before going back to the American people demanding more, more, more. The people do not trust their government to work for them, only that the government can’t help them or allocate spending for their benefit, only their own. Carper never attempts to explain his idiotic voting record. What is reckless is keeping in the same person in office that ruined things to begin with. There are no answers to be had from Carper.
I am here talking with you now, I am willing to listen to your ideas, I do not pretend to have all of the answers and anyone who thinks they do is delusional or a liar. I am neither. Where’s Carper, have you publicly debated anything with him? No one has and he is avoiding it like crazy. That’s how afraid he is of his own record. Every time I have watched him speak he defers the tough questions back to his staff to respond (they never do). I saw him in Townsend and he was pitiful. He has no respect for the people and passes them off as a trivial cost of getting another 6 years of doing nothing, for money. 35 years of his complacency and theft is enough. These times demand more dedicated action and representatives ready to stand up and say enough!
I agree with Andrew Groff that there is plenty of money available to pay for all the things the true progressives and true liberals (not the Democrats) want — universal, single-payer health care; an adequate standard of living for everyone; food for everyone, etc. It is the allocation of our current resources that is flawed. One other thing to consider, though, is that the Green Party accepts no contributions from corporations. So, with Andrew Groff you are getting someone who truly is interested in working for the constituents — everyday folks, like us — and will not be a shill for corporate donors.