John Carney’s Bio Annotated

In the absence of any policy statements or positions on his campaign website, today I’m looking at Carney’s campaign bio to see if there is a legit case for voting for him.

The son of two teachers and a lifelong Delawarean, John Carney is a strong, independent voice for our state. Serving in his third term as Delaware’s lone Congressman, John has established a reputation as a pragmatic leader who puts results over rhetoric.

By virtue of his parents being teachers, I do happen to think Carney has a little more working class in him than most modern Democrats. Of course he went to private school, one of the lesser Ivies for college, and followed that up with his entire adult career in politics, so whatever working class was there is no doubt long gone. The part about “putting results over rhetoric”..? What results? Hopefully we’ll soon find some in the rest of bio.

Frustrated by the constant fighting in the House of Representatives, John started a bipartisan policy group of Democrats and Republicans who sit down regularly to discuss issues and find common ground.

His efforts have paid off. Since taking office, several of John’s legislative proposals have been signed into law with the broad support of both parties. One helps companies go public to grow and create jobs, while a second proposal increases access to important prescription drugs that are vulnerable to shortage. A third helps veterans transfer skills they learned in the military to jobs back here at home. Another saved 500 Delaware jobs from being shipped overseas.

So… four whole bio worthy accomplishments in Congress, one of which saved 500 jobs? That’s not much in the “results” category. Of course, he has been a member of the worst congress in the history of the Republic, (thanks to his GOP buddies going all out with their innovative FUCK SHIT UP! agenda) so maybe charitable people will grade that one on a curve.

John is a strong supporter of the “Make It In America” agenda to rebuild the U.S. manufacturing sector and create jobs across the country by supporting small businesses, investing in infrastructure, and implementing smart tax policy and regulations. He is also a leading advocate of a comprehensive deficit reduction plan that is balanced, fair, and protects the middle class. He was one of just 38 members of Congress to vote for the only bipartisan budget plan put forward in 2012.

Hoo boy. Smart tax policy? Comprehensive deficit reduction? Carney, at least, doesn’t hide the fact that he is a 100% acolyte of all the worst parts of the utterly failed GOP tax cut & austerity agenda for “growth”. It is a plain fact that tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations paired with budget cuts have never created the kind of growth Carney and his GOP buddies claim they do. And yet they keep chugging right along this this bullshit, transferring middle class wealth to the 1%. It almost seems as if they are getting paid by the few people who actually benefit from austerity and tax cuts to keep this nonsense alive in the public imagination.

John has introduced legislation in the House designed to protect the thirty-year fixed rate mortgage and keep housing affordable. He embarked on a statewide listening tour to find ways to reduce the cost of college and pursuing legislation to accomplish this is one of his highest priorities.

This is “I haven’t done shit” in tarted up language. A listening tour? Is that really bio level material?

John’s public service career has spanned more than 20 years, including serving as Lt. Governor of Delaware, Secretary of Finance for Delaware, and Deputy Chief of Staff to then-Governor Tom Carper. In these positions, he played a key role in the sale of the Port of Wilmington to the state, worked to cut taxes nine times, and helped the state earn its first AAA bond rating — which it still holds today.

Someone help me out on this one. Reading it gives me the creepy feeling that Delaware tax payers were royally screwed. Can anyone confirm?

The second of nine children, John was born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont by his parents Jack and Ann.

Wow! His parents sure hated not having babies around.

He was quarterback of the 1973 state championship St. Mark’s high school football team, and earned All-Ivy League and Most Valuable Player honors in football at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1978.

He and BHL for Lt Gov. are the political marriage made in heaven. The Quarterback the cheerleader. Hip, hip, hurray for Delaware!

He later coached freshmen football at the University of Delaware, while earning his master’s degree in public administration.

Very civic minded!

John lives in Wilmington with his wife, Tracey. Their sons, Sam and Jimmy, are both college students.

Like Dad, I’m sure Tracey, Sam and Jimmy are the nicest folks you could ever hope to meet. Nice is good. It is better than the not nice I suppose.