In sixteen months, the messiah has become a pariah

Yesterday Obama was to give a speech in Pittsburgh, and had invited all the region’s top elected officials to attend, the type of opportunity politicians normally leap at, as it raises their media visibility and their campaign contributions. But according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Michelle Malkin’s site):

Elected officials say no thanks to Obama invite

Congressmen Jason Altmire and Tim Murphy have previous engagements. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Rep. Mike Doyle are out of town on anniversary trips with their wives. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will be campaigning in Philadelphia.

When President Obama and Sen. Arlen Specter land at Pittsburgh International Airport today, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will receive them by himself.

The rest of the region’s top elected officials declined White House invitations to attend Obama’s speech at Carnegie Mellon University this afternoon, their offices said.

If these trends continue, in another 16 months Obama will be giving speeches only at military installations, just like his predecessor, because the only audiences he will be able to attract will be those with no choice in the matter.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 03, 2010 10:42 PM | Send