Posted on 09/01/2006 9:58:23 AM PDT by joesbucks
Like many Republicans seeking re-election this year, U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi is distancing himself from President Bush.
Tiberi, of Genoa Township, said yesterday that he does not support Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and thinks new leadership is needed at the Pentagon. He also fired some shots at Bush.
"I can’t defend how the president laid out the need for (going to war in Iraq). I don’t support Rumsfeld," Tiberi said.
The comments from the three-term congressman came during a meeting before the Dispatch editorial board with challenger Bob Shamansky, whose spokesman revealed that the Bexley Democrat has committed more than $1 million of his own money to the race.
Asked whether Bush has operated above the law regarding government surveillance, Tiberi responded: "He might have."
The comments signaled a clear effort by Tiberi, a longtime Bush loyalist, to separate himself from the president.
It’s a growing trend.
A number of Republicans are trying to emphasize their independence from the Bush administration, which has been dogged by low poll numbers, lack of public confidence in the economy and an unpopular war in Iraq.
Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, has reversed her support of Bush’s proposal to create private investment accounts as part of Social Security. After championing the issue last year, she now is opposed to the idea and considers her support "ancient history," Pryce spokesman George Rasley said.
The aboutface drew harsh criticism and accusations of flipflopping yesterday from Pryce’s Democratic opponent, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, campaigned alongside Sen. John McCain in Columbus last week as the Arizona Republican criticized the Bush administration for making mistakes in Iraq and allowing Americans to believe the war would be "some kind of a day at the beach."
Democrats say DeWine and other Republicans tend to shy away from appearing much with Bush in public even as the president and other administration figures help raise money for their campaigns.
Outside Ohio, Rep. Chris Shays returned from a trip to Iraq in August and said that little progress was being made and that there is a need to establish a troop-withdrawal timeline. The Connecticut Republican previously was a loyal supporter of Bush’s Iraq policy.
And Sen. Chuck Hagel, RNeb., last month said it was wrong to put U.S. troops into a "hopeless, winless situation."
Tiberi, expanding on his remarks later yesterday, didn’t call for Rumsfeld’s resignation.
"If I were president, he would not be the defense secretary," Tiberi said. "I haven’t been impressed with his leadership skills. He has been less than accessible to members of Congress and begrudgingly debriefs us on an irregular basis, and he does not take criticism and advice very well.
"I think the president could do better."
Tiberi said Democratic efforts to cast him as a presidential lap dog are unfair.
According to studies by Congressional Quarterly, Tiberi’s support for the president has dipped in recent years. While Tiberi voted to support Bush’s position 91 percent of the time in 2003, that figure dropped to 71 percent last year.
Tiberi said his vote to authorize the president to go to war was his most difficult decision.
Still, Tiberi said he supports keeping U.S. troops in Iraq and that setting a timeline for withdrawal would be a mistake.
While Tiberi and Shamansky share some of the criticism about how the war has been handled, Shamansky yesterday repeated his contention that it’s time for the United States to end its involvement in Iraq.
It’s a mistake "to stay the course when you don’t know what the course is," he said.
The focus, Shamansky said, should be on fighting terrorism with intelligence and that largescale wars like the one in Iraq are no longer effective.
Shamansky, a lawyer and real-estate developer and the last Democrat to represent the district, made a $750,000 contribution to his campaign this week, adding to three earlier donations totaling $255,000.
Because Shamansky is using so much of his own money, federal election law now allows Tiberi to raise more money from his contributors. Instead of individuals being limited to giving $2,000, they now can provide $6,000.
Shamansky had about $262,000 in his campaign fund as of June 30. Tiberi reported $1.72 million.
The Republican-leaning 12 th Congressional District spans northern and eastern Franklin County, western Licking County and all of Delaware County.
I hope the chickenshiite loses the election. Only one thing worse than a traitorous democrat, its a cowardly republican.
Devil take all such “loyalists.”
Wonder if the usual Bush haters will be coming out in Nov to point out how many of the RINOS here end up getting beat. Democrats tried the same thing with Clinton in 1994 and they lost about 8 seats they should of won in close districts. Screaming your foes Campaign Propaganda ONLY pisses off your base and motivates your foes. It is a loser tactic.
Wow! It doesn't get any more fair and balanced than that*.
Pardon me, I'm not familiar with this guy. Is he a RINO? Sounds like one.
*Sarcasm.
As cream rises to the top so detrius falls to the bottom. These bits of worthless flotsom will be left behind. Vast segments of the American people are fed up with self seeking politicians who will say anything and do nothing to get elected.
Remember George's words: Those who will not stand with us against the enemy will be destroyed with the enemy.
U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi = COWARD
I think Tiberi is o.k. I think this represents the status of his campaign more than anything; I was, however, surprised to read the article this morning.
Glad he's coming out as a RINO before the election.
off with his head
Rep Tiberi,
I read with interest your words this morning in the Columbus Dispatch. I can only conclude you are attempting to affect the way people are planning to vote in November.
It's working. You are about to lose mine.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXXX
...'kay, who?
Que? Johnnie what's up? I was saying that Nick Lampson dropped out of the Special Election for Dely's seat and will run only in the General Election.
I'm sorry. I don't waste my time responding to people who knowing misrepresent what they are linking too. When you can address the facts try again. Until then, do not waste our time.
Johnnie you are losing it. I said nothing about Iraq or the pentagon, get a grip, and switch to decaf.
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