Sherrod Brown hides from Obama. Again.

Sherrod Brown indicates his level of desire to be seen with Obama in Ohio

Barack Obama campaigned in Ohio again yesterday. He is returning to Shaker Heights High School, where he spoke 2 years ago. From Henry Gomez of the Plain Dealer:

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — When he came to Shaker Heights High School in July 2009, full of first-year optimism and salesmanship, President Barack Obama called on Congress to work with him on an overhaul of the nation’s health care system.

When he returns Wednesday afternoon, expect a different tone.

The Cleveland-area visit, which the White House bills as remarks on the economy, is likely to present Obama in a new, election-year narrative.

That new narrative, of course, is to blame Republicans for the complete failure of his entire economic policy. Blaming Republicans for all of the world’s evils is also a favorite pasttime for Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the country, just like Obama used to be. I’m sure he jumped at the chance to join President Downgrade in Shaker today, right?

Nope.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) will be in Ohio on Wednesday when President Obama delivers a speech on the economy at a Cleveland-area high school, but he won’t be appearing with the president.

Sherrod can’t use Senate business as an excuse. He is in Ohio today.

What Sherrod Brown and Obama WANT you to believe is that he had pre-existing appointments. But we are talking about the President of the United States here. Most members of Congress are eager to be seen with the leader of the free world in front of their constituents.

And when you look at Sherrod Brown’s history of attending Obama’s visits to Ohio, his excuse makes even less sense. Here is a complete list of Obama’s visits to Ohio as POTUS. (I believe this list to be complete and accurate. Please inform me if it needs corrected.)

1. January 16, 2009 – Bedford Heights – Brown NOT there (Obama not inaugerated yet)
2. March 9, 2009 – Columbus – Brown joins Obama
3. July 23, 2009 – Shaker Heights – Brown NOT there
4. September 15, 2009 – Lordstown – Brown joins Obama
5. January 22, 2010 – Elyria – Brown joins Obama
6. March 15, 2010 – Strongsville – Brown joins Obama
7. May 18, 2010 – Youngstown – Brown joins Obama
8. June 18, 2010 – Columbus – Brown joins Obama
9. August 18, 2010 – Columbus – Brown joins Obama
10. September 8, 2010 – Parma – Brown joins Obama
11. October 17, 2010 – Hunting Valley and Columbus – unknown if Brown attended
12. October 31, 2010 – Cleveland – Brown joins Obama
13. February 22, 2011 – Cleveland – appears that Brown was NOT there
14. June 3, 2011 – Toledo – Brown joins Obama
15. September 13, 2011 – Columbus – Brown NOT there
16. September 22, 2011 – Cincinnati – Brown NOT there
17. January 4, 2012 – Shaker Heights – Brown NOT there

Josh Mandel, Brown’s likely challenger this year, isn’t fooled by Sherrod’s flimsy explanation, either. Mandel spokesman Joe Aquilino said yesterday:

“Sherrod Brown can no longer get away with being one person in Washington and someone different back here in Ohio,” stated Mandel spokesman Joe Aquilino. “Brown championed the Obama agenda in Washington — he can’t change that fact by hiding when President Obama is in Ohio. Ohioans will hold Sherrod Brown accountable for his unwavering support of Barack Obama’s failed economic policies and unprecedented government intrusion into healthcare,” Aquilino continued. “Sherrod Brown may be able to hide from the President, but he can’t hide from his disastrous record in Washington.”

Sherrod also skipped out on a visit by VP Joe Biden on 9/20/11 in Cleveland. So, as you can see, Sherrod had a very good attendance record to Obama’s Ohio events. Until 2011, that is, when he started thinking about his own reelection. And Obama’s dismal approval numbers. Maybe Senator Brown will send his wife, Connie Schultz, to videotape the appearance. Ha.

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