A few questions for Rep. Angie Craig…
Angie Craig campaigned as a moderate, bipartisan politician in a hyper-partisan world. At her first town hall today, Mrs. Craig, now a congresswoman, won’t be able to run from her record or hide behind canned talking points.
Here are 4 questions her constituents deserve to have answered today:
- Why didn’t Craig admit to voters that she was going to support Pelosi for speaker? When asked at a debate if she would fall in line and back Pelosi, Craig misleadingly said she was “open to new leadership.”
- How could Craig grandstand about the plight of federal workers when she repeatedly voted to hold their paychecks hostage? Is it because she followed orders from party bosses?
- Now that she is in congress, will Craig still support moving in the direction of single-payer now that her party is laying the groundwork to eliminate private health insurance?
- Why won’t Craig stand up to her party and call out Democratic leaders who label the president the “grand wizard of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue”? (Hint: maybe it’s because Hakeem Jeffries was a big $upporter of her campaign)
We’ll keep holding our breath… but here are some bullets on Craig actually campaigning as a moderate – just to convince you it happened.
VIDEO: One Of Craig’s Campaign Ads Features Multiple Republicans With A Caption That Says She Will “Work With Both Parties,” And Where She Says “It Really Shouldn’t Matter If It’s A Democratic Or A Republican Idea. If It’s A Good Idea, We Ought To Do It.” (“Solved,” Angie Craig For Congress, 10/29/18) Minute 0:00 – 0:30
VIDEO: Craig Said That She’s “Said All Along, If The President Has A Good Idea, I’ll Support It,” And That She “Would Stand Up To [Her] Own Party.” CRAIG: “I’ve said all along, if the President has a good idea, like expanding E15 sales year round that’s going to help corn growers in this district, if he has a good idea and will invest in infrastructure, I’ll support it. But if it’s going to hurt the people of Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district, I’m going to stand up to the administration on those issues. And I also would stand up – and you can ask me this when I do it the first time – to my own party if I think it’s going to hurt the constituents of Minnesota-02. (Eagan Television, 11/9/18) Minute 5:35 – 6:08
VIDEO: After Winning The 2018 DFL Endorsement, Craig Said She Was “Not Going To Spend All Of My Time [During The Campaign] Just Talking To People Who Already Agree With Me,” And That She Was Working To Talk To “As Many Independent Voters And As Many Lean Republican Voters” As She Can. “We are going to be everywhere and we’re going to be in places where I can hear from all different kinds of voters. I’m not going to spend all of my time just talking to people who already agree with me. I’ve got to find as many independent voters and as many lean Republicans voters who I can tell them, ‘This is what I’m going to do to work hard for your family.’” (Angie Craig, Interview With UpTake And Pioneer Press, 4/16/18) Minute 9:22 – 9:41
Craig Has Described Herself As A “Social Progressive And A Fiscal Moderate.” “Soon, she’ll be a full-time member of Congress – ‘a social progressive and a fiscal moderate,’ she said, but one with Mid-South roots.” (John Belfuss, “Meet The Former Commercial Appeal Reporter Who’s Now In Congress,” Commercial Appeal, 11/9/18)
Craig Said Her Campaign Was “Very Focused On How Are We Going To Find Common Ground In This Country Again,” And She Is “Going To Work With The Administration,” And “Be Reaching Across The Aisle.” “Do you see your election as a repudiation of President Donald Trump? ‘I see my campaign, in a swing district, as a campaign that was very focused on how we are going to find common ground in this country again … what that really means to me is that if the administration has an idea that I believe is going to hurt Minnesota families, I’ll stand up to the administration. But if the administration has an idea – if we can tackle the high cost of prescription drugs, investment in infrastructure, opening up trade with Cuba or other markets for our farmers – then I’m going to work with the administration. This district is 38 percent independent. Those independents aren’t voting for a party, they’re voting for a candidate.’ […] With Democrats taking the House and Republicans controlling the Senate, what role will you play in a divided government? ‘To me, in a divided government it forces people even more to look for common ground. And I’m going to be reaching across the aisle, looking to work with folks like Congressman Tom Emmer on opening up trade with Cuba. I’m going to be looking to work with any Republican who will support campaign finance reform. The thing about a divided government is it almost forces you to figure out where you can find that common ground.’” (Ryan Faircloth, “Q&A: Angie Craig Talks 2nd District Priorities, Bipartisanship And Nancy Pelosi,” Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 11/11/18)
During Her 2016 Campaign For Congress, Craig “Boasted” That “You Won’t Find The Word Democrat On My Campaign Literature,” And That She’s “A Little Bit More Fiscally Moderate” Which Is “A Really Good Fit For This District.” “Craig eschewed partisan labels during last year’s campaign. ‘You won’t find the word ‘Democrat’ on my campaign literature,’ she boasted in an interview in her district last fall. ‘I’m a little bit more fiscally moderate and that’s, we believe, a really good fit for this district.’” (Simone Pathe, “Angie Craig Back For Rematch Against Jason Lewis In Minnesota,” Roll Call, 7/17/17)