U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell has been the beneficiary of fundraising by Vice President Joe Biden.
Politico reports that Biden has become a key fundraising presence in House campaigns.
Two weeks ago, the vice president traveled across the Potomac to keynote a three-way fundraiser to boost Virginia Democratic freshmen Reps. Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye and Thomas Perriello. First-term Rep. Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), a weak fundraiser, just got the Biden treatment, and the vice president is scheduled to appear at a $1,000-per-person luncheon for freshman Rep. Jim Hines (D-Conn.) in New York City on Monday.
Republicans see Kissell, a Biscoe Democrat as vulnerable next year, possibly in part because news reporters are on safe ground describing the Congressman as a "weak fundraiser." Just today, Republicans launched an attack on Kissell over comments he made about the war in Afghanistan.
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Dome's colleague, Barb Barrett asked members of the state's Congressional delegation to weigh on on President Barack Obama's deliberations on how to handle the war. Most of the members were hesitant to stake a position.
"I don't want to be prejudging or presuming anything," said Kissell, a member of the House Armed Services committee whose district includes part of Fort Bragg.
"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee who represents hundreds of American soldiers, it’s Larry Kissell’s responsibility to take a position," said Andy Seré, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "His refusal to do so amounts to an abdication of duty and gives North Carolina families every right to ask why their congressman is AWOL on an issue that hits so close to home."
Fayetteville businessman Lou Huddleston, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for the seat.
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Re: Kissell gets the 'Biden treatment'
LET THE GENERALS FIGHT THE WAR
Why I say - Pull the troops out of Afghanistan, now!
By Tim D’Annunzio for Congress 8th District NC
timvote.com
I have a copy of the McChrystal report, and it clearly lays out the changes needed for victory in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is vacillating on this war, while trying to calculate what impact it will have on their domestic socialization agenda. Secretary Gates refuses to stand against the political pressures and the Republican leadership seems willing to let the current administration flounder at home and abroad.
The truth is that Obama used Afghanistan as a straw-man argument during the election. He wanted to appear strong on national defense and only opposed the “unjustified” war in Iraq.
We have seen how quickly Obama shifted policies on Iraq. After taking office he quickly changed strategy on a defined timetable for withdrawal. Of course nothing had changed on the ground, his shift in position came after he began to deal in reality and not in political posturing.
I would assert that his new Iraq strategy came at a time when his approval ratings were high and he thought his charisma would overcome any negative repercussions he might face in reversing his previously stated position.
Now his Afghan straw-man has come to life and the charisma bank is almost insolvent. He needs his remaining resources of good-will to finish his domestic agenda of destroying the current US system. His priority has always been destroying this country and replacing it with a long desired leftist-socialist-utopia.
If he agrees to more troops in Afghanistan – as is needed – the US will achieve victory, but he will offend his base, which wants the US to lose. If he refuses the troop increase, he won’t offend his base, he keeps the support for his domestic agenda, but he will further stir up the opposition.
The longer we do nothing in Afghanistan, the more dangerous it becomes for the troops. I say Obama’s inability to make the hard decision is reason enough to pull the plug. If he can’t do the right thing and let the generals make war, we should call for an immediate withdrawal.
The politically safe thing for Obama is to leave the troops in place and do nothing. The politically safe thing for the Republican leadership to do is nothing except call for Obama to implement General McChrystal’s plan. Both of these have their priorities wrong because they use our soldiers in the field as political pawns and subordinate them to political agendas.
I say give the Commanders in the field everything they ask for and thereby enabling them to achieve victory. If the Obama Administration refuses, I would call for an immediate withdrawal of all troops; and I don’t care about the politics of it.
My conclusion is that the Obama administration and my Congressional opponent, Larry Kissell are using our troops as political pawns and refuse to make the hard, but right, decision. This is why I say, “Pull the troops out of Afghanistan, now!”
From the Raleigh News & Observer a quote from Kissell when asked for his position.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/kissell_gets_the_biden_treatment
“"I don't want to be prejudging, or presuming anything," said Kissell, a member of the House Armed Services committee whose district includes part of Fort Bragg.”
This piece also says that Biden and therefore the Obama Administration have decided to help Kissell in his battle against me.
Give the generals what they need to achieve victory. If not, pull the troops out now. This isn’t and shouldn’t be about politics or political battles.