Another Republican Ditches Bush

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was Jack Abramoff's best friend in Congress. The two were so close that Rohrabacher was the only member of Congress to sign a letter asking a federal judge to give Abramoff a reduced sentence.

"Over many years, I've known a far different Jack that the profit-seeking megalomaniac portrayed in the press," Rohrabacher wrote. "Jack was a selfless patriot for most of the time I knew him."

But when President Bush visited Rohrabacher's Orange County locale yesterday to pitch immigration reform, the OC Congressman wanted nothing to do with W.

"I don't want to be behind him looking glum and not applauding," Rohrabacher told the LA Times. "So as not to be rude to the president---which I think is inexcusable---I think I'll just be staying away."

Wow. Is Rohrabacher insinuating that Jack Abramoff is less toxic than President Bush?

As political scientist John Pitney said of the White House: "I'm not sure they had their OC antennae up."

UPDATE: Also see New York Times today: "Once Boon, Ties to Bush May Be Bust."

Comments (14)

1. This STORY with its headline is some of the lamest political opportunism The Nation has pulled this month or so, Ari Berman. Are we supposed to be all happy that a major right-wing nut, a notoriously racist whipper upper of anti-immigrant feelings, doesn't like Bush any more?

   Um, doesn't that actually make Bush look GOOD?

   Posted by Vic Perry at 04/25/2006 @ 12:29pm

2. (Sometimes the enemy of my enemy is still my enemy...)

   Posted by drhammer at 04/25/2006 @ 12:41pm

3. Rohrabacher just put his finger in the wind. That's all. Nothin' personal.

   Posted by proudlib at 04/25/2006 @ 1:29pm

4. I think this was about the immigration issue, not a more general response to Bush's "toxicity." As I understand it, Orange County, though one of the few Republican strongholds in California, is largely composed of two different groups: a more entrenched population of wealthy suburbanites who arrived there after a "white flight" from Los Angeles and a more recent influx of Latinos that makes up the county's urban population.

   As you might imagine, these two different groups have radically different opinions on the immigration issue: the former tends to advocate a harsh crackdown, and the latter a more liberal program of amnesty. So Bush's middle-of-the-road "compromise" solution to the immigration issue isn't popular with either group, and Rohrabacher just didn't want to be seen as supporting it.

   Posted by breasonable at 04/25/2006 @ 1:44pm

5. Yeah, have to agree. There are definitely Goppers abandoning Bush overall, but Rohrabacher is an anti-immigrant demagogue playing t his base, nothing more. Now, if he condemned Bush on WMD, torture, Katrina, leaks, NSA THAT would be news. This is a dog bites man story

   Posted by coltraning at 04/25/2006 @ 2:55pm

6. News flash from Orange County (where I am currently sitting as I type this). Posts from BREASONABLE and COLTRANING are dead on. Rohrabacher wasn't displaying Bush's elevated toxicity... he was reflecting Orange County's disagreement with Bush's guest worker plan. Illegal immigration is a huge hot button here in OC. Bush was NOT preaching to the choir.

   Posted by tkacg at 04/25/2006 @ 4:03pm

7. immigration is a lose lose issue for the Tories

   Posted by johannesrolf at 04/25/2006 @ 6:45pm

8. I think many here would do well to understand the difference between facts and opinions stated as incontrovertible truth.

   Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/25/2006 @ 5:58pm | ignore this person

   While I would agree with that statement, let me present as "Exhibit A", this...

   Many articles have been written about the idea that Liberals think Conservatives are evil.

   You see MBB, these articles (by Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, etc. no doubt) are opinions. And, they are wrong.

   And BTW, I'm getting just a bit tired of apologists for "The Decider" telling me what Liberals think. You MBB have devoted several posts to doing exactly that. It serves no purpose other than to demonstrate how deeply you have drunk from the koolaid well.

   Posted by Lillian at 04/25/2006 @ 7:06pm

9. You are correct that my generalization about what Liberals think of Conservatives isn't verifiable. It just fits perfectly with my experiences.

   Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/25/2006 @ 7:09pm | ignore this person

   MBB, I have a young niece who has had many unpleasant experiences with people of a particular "racial heritage." It has lead her to become quite prejudiced and bigoted. When I try to discuss the issue with her, her counter argument sounded exactly like your...nearly word for word in fact.

   As I explained to her, one of the fundamental qualities of intellect is the understanding that their is a vast world of knowledge beyond your experiences. You will find greater knowledge by keeping your heart and mind open and asking questions of a variety of sources.

   In this particular case, you might try refraining from TELLING liberals what they think and instead try ASKING them what they think.

   Posted by Lillian at 04/25/2006 @ 7:22pm

10. Somehow, I doubt that Mr. Rohrabacher will be joining us on our side of the barricades any time soon.

    Posted by Jack Rabbit at 04/25/2006 @ 8:36pm

11. Mary Mary

    so... let me understand this. Liberals think conservatives are evil because conservatives say so.

    deeeeeeeeep

    Posted by Will C. at 04/25/2006 @ 8:46pm

12. Here's a quick list of authors who have written that "Liberals think Conservatives are Evil"

    Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/25/2006 @ 8:19pm | ignore this person

    You know MBB, I've been a Liberal for well over 50 years now. I've seen al lot of demonizing of liberals, calling us evil and stupid, even the full-on campaign by Newt back a decade or two to demonize all things liberal. I might even have pointed out that this is EXACTLY what Hitler did in his rise to power.

    I started to compile a list of my own that would include Michael Savage, Michelle Malkin, Bill O'Reilly, etc. And of course all of the websites like freerepublic.com and townhall.com. And all of the radio talkshow personailities like Dennis Prager, Rush Limbaug, etc.

    I was even going to include the full Krauthammer quote that actually says this...

    "To understand the workings of American politics, you have to understand this fundamental law: Conservatives think liberals are stupid. Liberals think conservatives are evil." Jul 26, 2002

    But to what end? I had thought to engage you in a civil conversation to educate you that your preconceived notions about what liberals think are wrong. But, as with my niece, it is obvious that no amount of reasoned discourse will penetrate your bigotry and prejudice.

    Posted by Lillian at 04/25/2006 @ 9:06pm

13. So, off to the ignore heap you go MBB, with LibZ, and Barry, and Nacl. Buh bye.

    Posted by Lillian at 04/25/2006 @ 9:10pm

14. Probably a dead thread but I just came across a wonderful post over at Couterpunch.org that seems to fit.

    "The World is Uniting Against the Bush Imperium" By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS at http://counterpunch.org/roberts04252006.html.

    Mr. Roberts was an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review.

    The piece asks the question "Is the United States a superpower?" The resounding answer..."I think not." The evidence he presents not only underscores the answer, but serves as a pretty damning indictment of the vast multitude of recent neocon failures.

    Posted by Lillian at 04/26/2006 @ 6:45pm