Oct 24 2008
Hayes Haunted By Remarks
U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes is dealing with what could be a damaging distraction in the election’s final days – his remark about liberals hating working Americans.
“I made a mistake I should not have made,†the Concord Republican said Thursday at the Mallard Creek Barbecue. “I wasn’t thinking.â€
By day’s end, Hayes had to deny a report that his own party had forsaken him. But there’s at least one sign that national Republicans aren’t as invested as they planned to be – they’ve backed off buying television time to run an independent ad in the 8th Congressional District race.
Hayes remarks were completely stupid, no doubt. You don’t out and say something like that when you’re running for reelection in a swing district, but what he said isn’t entirely off base. The Obama campaign and some other leftists in Congress have made wealthy a dirty word. Obama runs around the country making disparaging comments about successful people and he paints a picture that achieving and being rich is wrong and makes you a bad person. Of course, Obama says that’s not what he means, but what other logical conclusion can be drawn?
On Thursday, U.S. News & World Report said it had obtained a memo that suggested House Republicans had abandoned hope for Hayes and several other GOP incumbents.
But a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee dismissed any suggestion that party leadership had discounted Hayes.
“Absolutely not. Robin Hayes is well positioned for re-election,†Ken Spain said. “Any reference to the contrary is simply not based on fact or any relevant data. This has become a race about Robin Hayes and Democrats in Washington.â€
Let’s not be fools here. If Hayes wins reelection it will be rather surprising.
