Sestak's Top 10 Blunders of 2009

Posted on 12/30/2009 @ 11:13 AM

It's been quite a year for Congressman Joe Sestak, as he shifted his focus from his job in the House of Representatives to his faltering campaign for the U.S. Senate. A year of misquotes and missed votes, Cong. Sestak has kept the campaign trail interesting, to say the least. Since there’s been so many, it was easy for us to create the Top 10 Sestak Blunders of 2009:

10. Pandering Prize goes to Sestak

At a political dinner this fall, Joe Sestak summoned biblical references of Moses, sacred tablets, the holy spirit, and other spiritual stories to a gathering of Dauphin County Democrats in Harrisburg. Reporters at the event noted that attendees were “shocked” and “dismayed” over the language and references used by Sestak.

9. Sestak's non-announcement announcement

On July 1 in Wayne County, Sestak unequivocally announced his candidacy for the US Senate race to the Wayne Independent during an interview. However, the next day Sestak had to retract the statement, claiming he had been misquoted, and delayed entering the race for more than a month. John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News called Sestak's uncertain announcement, “The gonna-happen-someday-soon-I-really-mean-it candidacy.”

8. Sestak claims all military officers are Democrats

On numerous occasions on the campaign trail (including at the Montgomery County Democratic Committee’s fall dinner), Joe Sestak has made the assertion that “all military officers are Democrats,” and that “they just don’t know it yet.” He told Andrea Mitchell the same thing on MSNBC. This might come as a surprise to some officers, such as Gen. Colin Powell.

7. Sestak called out on DailyKos for spam fundraising emails

Joe Sestak, looking to make some quick campaign cash, began a campaign of spam emails. In one week, Sestak sent three emails asking for money. In one 300 word email, Sestak asked for contributions 11 times. Supporters on the receiving end of the emails were fed up, and Steve Singiser of DailyKos finally scolded Sestak to cool down.

6. Going Japanese? Sestak votes one way and invests another

As American automakers stood on the verge of collapse, Congressman Sestak decided to invest in the auto industry – in Japan. It was revealed this year in financial disclosure reports that Sestak bought $8,500 worth of stock from Japanese automakers Honda and Toyota.

5. Sestak criticizes, then seeks out endorsements from national Democrats

Repeatedly during the campaign, Cong. Sestak has downplayed the role of endorsements from national Democratic leaders. However Sestak also sought and promoted endorsements from Cong. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Ned Lamont of Connecticut.

On a conference call with reporters to announce Cong. Frank's endorsement, Sestak said:

"I have yet to have anyone ask me, as I go around, you know, who's standing behind you? What they wanna know is what am I going to do to keep my job. This is a pretty tough time out there, and I honestly believe that they're not asking who Ed Rendell is standing behind, they're not asking who President Obama is standing behind."

Sestak has yet to reveal whether anyone has asked who Frank or Lamont is standing behind.

4. Sestak caught misquoting Democratic leaders to give the impression of party support

Democratic leaders called out Cong. Sestak when he misquoted them in an effort to imply their support for his candidacy. In an email to supporters, Sestak referred to support from Democratic leaders in Allegheny County and southeastern PA. Those leaders quickly corrected him. From Politico:

“I do not appreciate the way my quote was misused by your office. In my opinion you are attempting to create an inference that perhaps I have endorsed Congressman Sestak when I have not.” -Jim Burn, Allegheny County Democratic Chairman.

“This blast email from the Sestak campaign grossly mischaracterizes my quote from another independent publication. I never used the term ‘swift boat.’ Your campaign literally put words in my mouth.” -Penny Gerber, Southeast Caucus Democratic Party Chairwoman.

3. Sestak's Imaginary Obama Endorsement

Facing overwhelming support of Senator Specter by Democratic leaders such as President Obama, Vice President Biden, Governor Rendell, Senator Casey and more, Cong. Sestak picked up a big-name endorsement from... his imagination. Shown here posing with a cardboard cutout of the President, Congressman Sestak frequently implies that “in his heart of hearts,” President Obama supports Sestak. President Obama disagrees.

2. Sestak's Holiday Attack

Not all was merry this Christmas, as Cong. Sestak used his holiday greeting email as an opportunity to attack Senator Specter. From PoliticsPA:

“Who sends out a negative holiday card? Apparently Joe Sestak does. In his Seasons Greetings email to supporters, Sestak blasted Arlen Specter over the economy, his voting record, and aligned him with the ever-unpopular George W. Bush. Taking just one day off from the usual mud-slinging for tidings of comfort and joy? Not Joe Sestak’s style.”

1. Sestak goes AWOL

As Cong. Sestak traveled the Commonwealth campaigning for a seat in the U.S. Senate, Sestak's seat in the House of Representatives went empty. Joe ‘the skipper’ Sestak missed 127 votes in 2009 – the worst attendance record of any Pennsylvania member of Congress and the 14th worst attendance record in the entire Congress. Sestak responded that his 127 missed votes weren't important, calling them, “a few primarily procedural votes.” But it's tough for Sestak to make the case for a promotion when he's skipped work more than 100 times.