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Indiana Democrat: Fleeing State Is Like Serving in Afghanistan

Via HoosierPundit, a glimpse at the enormous self-regard that fleeing Democratic state lawmakers have for themselves: Indiana Democratic state representative Dave Cheatham explains why he fled across the state line rather than stay in the state capitol and provide a quorum for a labor-reform bill:

CHEATHAM: The thing that sticks in my mind, I guess, more than anything else — and this is something that has happened. My wife teaches first grade. This past week, one of the kids in her class, a little first grader’s dad is getting sent to Afghanistan. And he was really sad. And she said, ‘Eell, you know, your dad is doing something really good. He’s going to a country where people there are trying to take away the freedoms of other people there, keep them from living a good life. So he’s leaving to do something good.’ And one of the little girls in class just on her own — and this has never been talked about in class, because my wife doesn’t do that — said, ‘It’s kind of like Mr. Cheatham, he left to make our schools better.’ And when I heard that, that gave me a reason —” (drowned out by applause.)

Oh, I see. Fleeing the state and refusing to show up for work as a state legislator is just like serving in the U.S. military in Afghanistan! And I guess that would mean Republican state legislators are the Taliban and al-Qaeda in this metaphor.

Perhaps Mr. Cheatham would like to reconsider his remarks.

Tags: Indiana, State Legislatures

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COMMENTS   14

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right3
   04/01/11 09:27

Umm. Who told this 1st grader that Mr. Cheatham left the state to "make our schools better"?

Would that be the wife/1st grade teacher? Glad to know they start the propaganda early.

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   04/01/11 09:50

Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

As I've said previously, Dems know that all the campaign ads against them next year have already been written.

"Vote for me and I'll show up for work!"

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   04/01/11 10:17

As an Indiana Iraq vet looking at going to Afghanistan in the next year or so, this makes me madder than just about anything has in quite some time.

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   04/01/11 10:42

What a pig. Makes me sad to say I grew up in the State. I have family members who have and are serving in the military and have (and are) in these rathole countries. I would love for this guy to give that speech to the American Legion or VFW. That would be an old-fashioned tail-kicking.

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   04/01/11 10:55

Hey, wait a minute! In Hillary's words, he's just quoting the opinion of others.

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Leem
   04/01/11 12:23

How dare you compare yourself the fine men and women of our nations military. You do not have the single ounce of the courage and patriotism of our military. You ran away from your job and responsiblities. AGAIN HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

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ed357
   04/01/11 12:24

SHAME..........

Rep Dave Cheatham to compare the cowardly act that you did by running away and shirking your duties............

to our BRAVE SOLDIERS fighting overseas is beyond despicable.

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   04/01/11 12:32

Why ought we to think he should reconsider his remarks? That would assume reflection, critical thought, and perspective on the part of this Democrat.

So, again, why should we think he would like to reconsider his remarks?

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   04/01/11 20:31

Simple solution: Send Cheatham to the front lines, and bring a soldier home to represent his district. To paraphrase WFB, I'd rather be represented by the first several hundred names on the roster of ANY serving U.S. Military command in-theater than by the first several hundred Democrat legislators.

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 Huey
   04/02/11 12:30

The worst part of this isn't the ridiculous comparison to the soldiers and civilians working in faraway lands on various kinetic military actions. The worst part is that a 6 year old already has the notion that it's unions that make schools better.

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Rich
   04/02/11 13:38

I was thinking the same thing Huey, a more accurate description would be that he's helping his wife steal from you guys. Oh well, indoctrination is inevitable, I guess we're the Taliban now. (Although I think they teach children the same way)

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JBurkFso
   04/02/11 14:44

Mr. Cheatham did far more than neglect his responsibility as an elected official by leaving the state, he violated the constitution he was elected to uphold. If he really believed his position to be the right one, the constitutional way to object to the opposing position is to show up and vote against it.
He should have been jailed, then fired, and then declared ineligible for any future public service position. Fleeing the state in an effort to keep the majority of elected officials from passing a bill is the equivalent of declaring votes of voters void simply because they do not support his position.
Had the Republicans pulled a similar stunt the remaining Democrats would simply have created a new law permitting them to pass their bill without the necessary votes.

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Nunya
   04/08/11 13:03

What a disgrace!! Bet he won't get re-elected. Guess we Conservatives & Tea Baggers are "the enemy" & the Unions are the Messiah?? Give me a BREAK!!!! Sad to be a Hoosier :(

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JoDare
   09/14/11 11:42

You said it right, dude, republic state legislators are indeed acting like the Taliban and al-Queda! Kudos to the Dems for their bravery in protecting American values and decency!

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