#mo-02

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Missouri 2: Cardinal Pitcher Adam Wainwright Recruited to Challenge Ann Wagner

A recent poll tested the Cardinals institution as a Democrat against GOP Rep. Ann Wagner.

Jacob Rubashkin at Inside Elections:

A recent poll in Missouri’s 2nd District tested former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright in a potential congressional match-up against GOP Rep. Ann Wagner. The suburban district isn’t currently among the races rated as competitive by Inside Elections, but an out-of-the-box Democratic candidate such as Wainwright would have the potential to draw attention and resources to the race. Part of the May 21-22 survey, conducted by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, was reported by National Journal’s James Downs on May 29. But the questions about Wainwright, a three-time MLB All-Star and 2006 World Series champion, only existed in rumors floating through Democratic political circles — and, apparently, on the St. Louis Cardinals subreddit.  On May 21, user Xxsskid17xX posed a question to the community of 94,000 Cardinals fans: “Is Adam Wainwright considering a run for congress?” In their post, Xxsskid17xX said they had just taken a text-to-web survey that started off with general questions about Missouri politics before getting considerably more specific.  “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Adam Wainwright?” the poll asked, before cutting to the chase: “If the candidates for Congress next time were Republican Ann Wagner and Democrat Adam Wainwright, who would you vote for?” The poll tested positive messages about Wainwright, providing a three-sentence biography summarizing his baseball accomplishments, family life, and philanthropic endeavors and asking if that was a convincing argument to vote for him. The survey then asked an “informed ballot” question again testing Wainwright against Wagner. (Xxsskid17xX didn’t post photos of the full survey, and the full results beyond what appeared in National Journal are still a mystery.)

Former Cardinals pitcher and MLB on Fox announcer Adam Wainwright could be the Democratic nominee. I'd love to see Waino run as a Dem for MO-02.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

BALLWIN, MO (KTVI) – Former GOP chairwoman and congressional candidate Ann Wagner has released statement about Todd Akin’s Comments on the Jaco Report. Ann Wagner is currently running for Todd Akin’s congressional seat.

Statement from Ann Wagner:  

“As a staunch defender of the unborn I believe life begins at conception.  Todd Akin’s comments about rape were wrong and indefensible. Todd has apologized and understands he was wrong in what he said.  It is now up to Missouri voters to decide whether they accept his apology. Our country is at a crossroads and we are facing serious issues brought on by the overreach of government in our lives, out-of-control spending and debt, and an environment that does not promote job creation and economic prosperity.  I have been running for Congress in Missouri’s 2nd District for 16 months and will continue to work hard to earn the trust and confidence of every voter.”

[justinspoliticalcorner]

ST. LOUIS COUNTY • Two Democrats seeking to run against Republican Ann Wagner to represent Missouri's second congressional district are separated by 49 votes.

In unofficial returns from the Democratic primary, Glenn Koenen defeated Harold Whitfield by 49 votes on Tuesday. (7,893 to 7,844.)

Whitfield said on Thursday that he will request a recount after the election results are certified by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

h/t: STLToday.com

[justinspoliticalcorner]

BREAKING: Ann Wagner wins MO-02 GOP Primary

BREAKING: Ann Wagner wins #MO02 GOP primary, certain favorite for November. #MOPrimary #AnnWagner

— Justin Gibson (@JGibsonDem) August 8, 2012

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Why hasn’t Congress impeached President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder? Rep. Todd Akin says it’s simply a lack of votes. But he says that may change eventually.

“That’s a good question,” Akin told a constituent on Tuesday who asked just that. “I can’t speak for the other 400 and some congressmen, but I believe when they take a look at impeachment the question is do you have the votes to do it and, if you do it, it goes to the Senate, what’s going to happen with Harry Reid?”

The exchange was captured on video by Democratic tracker American Bridge at an event held by the Boone County Pachyderms in Columbia, Mo., and provided exclusively to TPM. Impeachment is generally considered a taboo topic among national Republicans, who prefer to limit their disagreements with the president to the political arena.

He concluded the quicker way to remove Obama from office would be to wait for the election to run its course.

“He is a complete menace to our civilization,” he said. “The question is what’s the best way to get rid of him, I think probably at the ballot box next election, we need to get that done.”

h/t: Benjy Sarlin at TPM

[justinspoliticalcorner]

ST. LOUIS • A third Republican is considering inserting himself into what is at the moment a head-to-head primary in the Second Congressional District.

Dr. Randy Jotte, an emergency room physician and former Webster Groves city councilman, issued a press release Monday saying he is "considering entering the race" for the seat, which includes most of St. Louis County and some of Jefferson and St. Charles counties.

In his release, Jotte says, that, if he got into the race, it would be a "David vs. Goliath kind of challenge" — and he is absolutely correct.

The Republican primary currently includes Ann Wagner, the well-funded former ambassador and state party chair, and Ed Martin, who almost managed an upset victory over Russ Carnahan in 2010.

H/T: Jake Wagman at St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[justinspoliticalcorner]

At a meeting Saturday with a Missouri Tea Party group, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) served up some factually challenged red meat:

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin said he has doubts about the constitutionality of Medicare and thinks global warming “is highly suspect.” [...]

Akin’s remarks questioning the constitutionality of Medicare came as he was explaining his vote against prescription coverage under the medical plan for seniors and people with disabilities. He said it was too expensive, and “it was expanding an entitlement I wasn’t too comfortable with to begin with.”

Asked about the remarks after the meeting, Akin said, “I don’t find in the Constitution that it is the job of the government to provide health care.”

Akin should take a moment to actually read the Constitution before he lectures anyone about what’s in it. Although the Constitution does not include the words “health care,” it does enable our elected leaders to raise revenue and to “provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.” A national program ensuring when older Americans retire they do not impose crippling health costs upon their families easily fits within this grant of power.

For what it’s worth, Akin also claimed that Medicare cannot simply be repealed overnight “now [that] people have contributed their money to it,” but his actions reveal that he has every intention of eliminating this crucial program for America’s seniors. Akin — along with nearly every single one of his fellow House Republicans — voted for Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) plan to phase out Medicare.

Moreover, Akin’s bizarre reading of the Constitution is increasingly common amongst his fellow Republicans. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) recently told a town hall meeting that protecting America’s “frail elderly” is “a family responsibility, not a government responsibility.” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) mocked President Franklin Roosevelt for calling on the federal government to provide “a decent retirement plan” and “health care” because “the Constitution doesn’t give Congress any of those powers.” And GOP presidential frontrunner Rick Perry (R-TX) believes that everything from Medicare to Social Security to child labor laws to the minimum wage is unconstitutional.

H/T: ThinkProgress Justice

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Todd Akin isn’t a big fan of meeting with people when they want to talk about his intolerant comments about liberalism representing a “hatred for God” or his urge to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Steve Taylor, a spokesperson for Akin, said the congressman will not be in attendance Wednesday but still values efforts to create more jobs.

“Congressman Todd Akin ... agrees that jobs and the security of American families should be the number one priority in Washington, which is why he has worked assiduously to reduce wasteful government spending and eliminate needless and burdensome regulations on job creators," Taylor said in a written statement, which referred to the meeting as a "protest."

Todd Akin (who my Dittohead relatives Fran and Richard voted for several times) is another coward.

h/t: Fired Up! Missouri