Sensing The Shifting Political Winds, Etheridge Moves Away From Damaged Democrat Brand

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 16:45

WASHINGTON - Noting the changing political landscape in the wake of Tuesday’s convincing Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey, U.S. Representative Bob Etheridge (D-NC) began distancing himself from the suddenly unpopular Democrat Party and its agenda that he has enthusiastically supported throughout his time in Congress.

According to a report today in The Hill, "Rep. Bob Etheridge (D), a centrist contemplating a run for Senate in North Carolina, helped Democratic leaders in the summer by voting for climate change legislation on the House floor. He now wants Democratic leaders to narrow their focus on jobs and the economy."

Unfortunately for Etheridge, who has repeatedly been identified by Democrat insiders as the "strongest potential challenger" to U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), his voting record in the House does not match his new rhetoric about focusing on "jobs and the economy."

In addition to voting for the economically crippling cap-and-tax-legislation this summer that would have cost thousands of North Carolina jobs, Etheridge also came out in favor of government-run health care in August.

In February 2009, Etheridge voted for the Democrats’ trillion dollar stimulus package and bloated $400 billion omnibus, both of which have contributed to our federal deficit spiraling to an all-time high.

In fact, Etheridge has voted with the Democrat Party in Washington more than 97 percent of the time during the last two years.

"Bobby Etheridge’s attempt to distance himself from the damaged national Democrat Party brand is extremely disingenuous given his past voting record in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi," said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Colin Reed today. "Should he decide to mount a Senate run, Etheridge will have to answer for his role in advancing the Democrats’ tax-and-spend agenda, which was overwhelming rejected in blue and purple states last night, including in Etheridge’s neighboring state of Virginia. The last thing families and small businesses in North Carolina can afford is another rubber-stamp for the liberal Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda in Washington."