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He has been seen. The illusive "Silent Joe" Donnelly has made one of his first television appearances since announcing that he is running away from a rematch with Jackie Walorski in 2012. The Michiana Fox59 crew caught up with the "Silentus Donnellus" species as it left its natural habitat of Washington for a tour of the state he "represents."
"There has never been a thought in my mind that I wouldn't win this next Congressional race," Donnelly said.
But Joe Donnelly isn't running for re-election to the House next year.
He's running for Dick Lugar's Senate seat, a move most pundits think is a way to avoid facing Republican Jackie Walorski in a in a redrawn 2nd District.
"I wouldn't be afraid of a race against Ms. Walorski. We beat her in 2010 in possibly the worst political climate for a Democrat in decades and decades and decades. And so, this new Congressional District, a Democrat can win it, and I expect that a Democrat will win it," Donnelly said.
Worst political climate because of the very policies that Joe Donnelly still supports, mind you. And he squeaked out that victory in one of the most heavily gerrymandered districts in the nation - something that even national Democrats reluctantly acknowledge. None the less, Mr. Donnelly has decided to be put out to pasture...er, go graze in greener pastures.
"I will tell you that I think Richard Lugar has a very, very tough race on his hands in the Republican Primary. I'm not sure who will be coming out of that Republican Primary, but I'm not focused on that. I'm focused on going to every corner of our state, making sure that we have in place the kind of programs that are necessary for job creation, talk to every single resident of our state that I can and tell them the same message that I've had up here, which is that we'll work non-stop for you and your family," Donnelly said.
WHAT?!?!?! Going to every corner of our state??? Talk to every single resident of our state that he can??? Mr. Donnelly has been offered for 342 straight shows, the opportunity to talk to a number of them by coming on our program and answering questions about why he thinks his votes facilitate the "kind of programs that are necessary for job creation." Not only has he refused, he has insulted our listening audience - his constituents - by not even granting the courtesy of a polite decline. No phone call, no email, no form letter, no nothing.
We should correct Mr. Donnelly's blatantly false, exaggerative rhetoric to more accurately reflect his true intent:
"I'm focused on going to every corner of our state that I view as sympathetic to my views, and talk with every single resident of our state that agrees with me," Donnelly said.
If Silent Joe wants people to believe he's truly interested in hearing the concerns of all citizens, he can prove it. I'm pretty sure he knows the number...but just in case, we'll keep trying.
