NE-03 Why is Bush endorsing the Democrat?

[mofangongren]

In a solid-red district where the choice is between a cattle rancher (the Dem) and a slick real-estate guy (the GOPper), Bush knows that it’s time for a real deal.

“Now, it seems to me if you’re sending someone from this country to Washington, you better have someone who understands what it means to be a farmer and rancher.” – George W. Bush, campaigning in Nebraska

OK, George… hope they do just that.

[MikeN]

Not to mention McCain’s endorsement:

This is a good one. Yesterday John McCain did an event with GOP House candidate Peter Roskam, who’s running against Dem Iraq vet Tammy Duckworth. McCain spoke at length about wounded soldiers at the event. In a reference to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, McCain said: “I go out to Walter Reed quite often and see these brave young [soldiers] who have served and sacrificed so much. Many of them have lost limbs, as you know. And it’s a very sad thing to see. But at the same time it’s very uplifting. Because these young people are so proud of what they’ve done…This generation of men and women who are serving in the military are the very, very, very best of us.”

Roskam’s opponent, Democrat Tammy Duckworth, was a US Army major who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down by an RPG in Iraq.

And here’s the kicker: She recovered at the hospital McCain mentioned – Walter Reed – and continues to go there for follow-up treatment. So one of the “brave” vets McCain said he sees there and is saddened by could have been her

[MikeN]

double post

[JMcNeill]

So, let me get this right. Now you’re saying it’s a bad thing for McCain to have respect for the breave soldiers that served and sacrificed? Just because he is endorsing one candidate doesn’t mean he can’t have respect for the sacrifice of the other. That doesn’t mean he agrees with her politics.

[jwbrunken]

[quote=“mofangongren”]In a solid-red district where the choice is between a cattle rancher (the Dem) and a slick real-estate guy (the GOPper), Bush knows that it’s time for a real deal.

“Now, it seems to me if you’re sending someone from this country to Washington, you better have someone who understands what it means to be a farmer and rancher.” – George W. Bush, campaigning in Nebraska

OK, George… hope they do just that.
[/quote]

I’m shocked. The first time I’ve ever seen a post about my home state here. Your post is in reference to his speech at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska on Sunday. Bush made the rare appearance (Republicans have soundly won Nebraska’s 3rd district for 48 years running) in the 3rd district to stump for the Republican Adrian Smith and Republican Senate candidate Pete Ricketts (biggest fake ever.) His challenger Scott Kleeb, the ranch-hand turned politician, has been kicking Adrian’s ass and has brought this race to a neck and neck finish.

The funny thing about that quote you posted is that it was followed by the line “And that person is Adrian Smith.”, who isn’t a farmer or a rancher. His opponent is. I can’t vote in that election, but I’ve spent a lot of time in that district. Voters out west tend to vote for candidates they trust, and not always the party line. When Coach Tom Osborne won the seat the last 3 elections he won by a margin of 60 points or more. Now, a newcomer wants Dr. Tom’s seat simply by virtue of being Republican. Well, the fact that this race is close shows that a lot of people there want someone like them (a rancher) to represent them in Washington, Democrat or Republican. I know Bush didn’t mean it, but it really does seem like he was stumping for the other side on that one.

You can find the transcript from the speech here http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-05-2006/0004467216&EDATE=