Contempt vote against Holder could seriously damage Obama re-election

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/29/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Most unpopular member of Obama's Cabinet could be the most decisive factor in campaign

The contempt vote against Attorney General Holder, in connection with the Fast and Furious debacle, could count heavily against President Barack Obama's re-election efforts. According to some polls, Holder is by far the least popular member of the Obama cabinet. Many could use Holder as an "albatross' around the president's neck to stymie his 2012 campaign.

Attorney General Eric Holder has made a serious of unpopular decisions, which have riled Republicans - and quite a few democrats.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Holder has made a serious of unpopular decisions, which have riled Republicans - and quite a few Democrats. His nervous response to the Fast and Furious probe has been that of a man with many secrets to hide. In addition, his department's suits against state immigration laws to the campaign to halt GOP-led voter ID laws in Florida and elsewhere have not endeared Holder to many.

"I think that it's the biggest non-economic story (in 2012)," GOP pollster Adam Geller said of Fast and Furious. "You can bet that it's going to certainly get some mention, as it should, as a political issue."

The attorney general has a talent for riling elected Republicans. Rasmussen says that the general public hasn't exactly warmed up to him either.

Holder was a miserly approval rating of 47 percent, with just 17 percent of people having positive feelings about the attorney general. The most popular Cabinet member, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, boasted a 53 percent favorable rating.

Geller expects outside groups to make Fast and Furious and potentially Holder's other controversies an issue in the general election race, but cautioned the groups should not go "overboard." The race will still be about the economy, as well as the federal health care overhaul which was upheld by the Supreme Court this week.

"There's a double-edged sword here. It is a huge issue, however the economic issue (and the health care law) is all going to be the big issues," he said. "We have to pick and choose how we do this."

Seventeen House Democrats voted for contempt, indicating an early concern about being tied to Holder in a tough election year. In spite of this, the Obama administration officials and congressional Democrats have largely rallied around Holder. Some congressional Democrats have decried the GOP-led contempt push as an act of political theater.

"This isn't oversight. This is overkill," Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C., said in a statement.

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer defended Holder in a statement released, describing him as "an excellent attorney general," noting that Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who led the contempt charge, "acknowledged that he had no evidence -- or even the suspicion -- that the attorney general knew of the misguided tactics used in this operation."

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: Eric Holder, President Obama, fast and Furious, 2012 re-election

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

Stephany
10 months ago
Well said, Bob.
Bob
10 months ago
I hope and pray Holder contributes to Obama's defeat so we can begin the long difficult road back to smaller less corrupt government, free markets, strong defense, personal responsibility, balanced bugets, repealing Obamacare, and a health plan centered on the patient-doctor relationship, established in the private sector without rationing, leaving those over 55 with Medicare as is, with tort reform, and the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines. All of this will lead to a boom economy and tremendous job creation.
Rob
10 months ago
Maybe this will be a black mark, maybe it won't. With the severe partisianship, this may just fall in the wastebin of useless partisan issues. Not sure it's going to sway people one way or the other.

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