Republicans take aim at congressional Dems over Obama remarks

The National Republican Congressional Committee is seizing on comments Barack Obama made at a San Francisco fundraiser that residents from small towns in Pennsylvania are “bitter,” and is trying to use Obama’s words against congressional Democrats, including Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire and Chris Carney, and Kentucky Rep.  John Yarmuth.

“It’s time for Congressman Chris Carney to step up and denounce Barack Obama’s condescending attitude about families who live in small towns and who hold a viewpoint other than Obama’s,” said NRCC Spokesman Ken Spain.

“Congressman Jason Altmire, a superdelegate who’s been flirting with Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and who has received $10,000 from Obama's Hope Fund PAC, should denounce Sen. Obama’s statement that Pennsylvania voters are ‘bitter’ and ‘cling to guns or religion’ because they ‘can’t count on Washington,’” said NRCC spokeswoman Karen Hanretty.

Carney and Altmire, first-term incumbents who are locked in competitive races for reelection this fall, are both uncommitted superdelegates.

In Yarmuth, the NRCC saw an opening to target another first-term Democratic incumbent.

“Rep. Yarmuth can choose to stand up for the traditional American values of his constituents and their deeply held beliefs by rejecting the elitist rhetoric of Barack Obama or he can continue playing coy with the Obama campaign in the hopes of not offending him,” said Hanretty.

Yarmuth, who will face off in November against former Republican Rep. Ann Northup, is supporting Obama.

Of course, this is hardly the first time Republicans have tied down ballot Democrats to developments at the top of the ticket. Several weeks ago, the NRCC teed off on Altmire for his uncommitted status.

“Jason Altmire is in the unenviable position of having to choose between the most liberal member of the United States Senate and Hillary Clinton,” the NRCC’s Spain told PolitickerPA.com. “Neither candidate will carry his district in November, which explains why he is so afraid of taking a public position.”