St. Louis Globe-Democrat

I guess the political alarm clock finally rang in Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s home and she realized she is running for the U.S. Senate.

She hasn’t had much to say lately about the national health care reform battle. She released a statement on Christmas Eve when it looked like passage of a national reform bill was imminent. There has been silence since the proposed bill hit tough times.

She’s been awful quiet about Missouri’s budget woes and Gov. Nixon’s proposed dramatic cuts to many vital programs. She was elected to statewide office, so she has to have something to say, right? We’re still waiting.

I’ll give her credit for her critical comments on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on campaign finance saying she was “disgusted” that working families are having their voices muted while big corporations are handed “a megaphone.”

But that statement is like hitting a baseball off a batting tee. It’s hard to swing and miss on that one.

With her likely opponent Roy Blunt raising more money and riding a wave of momentum following the Massachusetts U.S. Senate triumph by Scott Brown, Carnahan finally decided to come out swinging.

But the punches weren’t aimed at Blunt or the Republican Party.

Following the tradition of “kick ‘em while their down,” Carnahan had harsh words for President Obama.

“From where I stand here in Missouri, I’m disappointed in the president’s budget recommendation,” she said.

“Budgets are about setting priorities and it’s time Washington started making fiscal discipline and tackling the long-term budget deficit higher priorities.”

Hey, the budget is out of control and the deficit is too high. But Obama did inherit a mess and he is trying to deal with it. I ask Carnahan the same thing I do of GOP members.

What is your plan?

She began her statement on Obama’s budget with the words “From where I stand.”

From where she stands? Where does she really stand on many, many issues?

You might not agree with Blunt, but at least you know what he believes in and where he is coming from.

Blunt is campaigning for U.S. Senate.

It seems like Carnahan is waiting for someone to campaign for her. That’s how Martha Coakley managed to lose in Massachusetts. That’s why Democrats no longer have the super majority needed to pass health care reform.

It seems like she’s letting her name do her campaigning. Blunt, on the other hand, is not taking his name for granted.

Carnahan has to help cash-strapped Missouri as its secretary of state. She cannot devote every waking hour to winning the Senate seat soon to be open with Christopher “Kit” Bond’s retirement.

While the August Democratic primary is seven months away – and Carnahan is a sure-fire bet to win the nomination – it’s time for her to get moving.

Being a Carnahan won’t win the election in November. She can only do that by telling Missourians what she would do if she wins the Senate seat.

She should be spelling out ways to reduce the budget while still pumping life into the economy. She ripped into Obama’s budget, but didn’t offer any alternatives. She also didn’t mention the proposed spending freeze that Obama detailed in his State of the Union address.

Blunt said he thinks the spending freeze is a good idea, but added that it is too little too late. That was the perfect way to play it.

Blunt will continue to rip everything Obama offers and anything the Democratic Party supports. That should be expected. He doesn’t have to offer alternatives. It is not expected.

But Carnahan must prove to folks that she isn’t attempting to win the office based on her name alone.

That’s why she needs to speak up much more often. We should not have to guess where she is on matters of importance to Missourians.

She also needs to let the good people of this region know what her thoughts on issues such as city control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and repeal of the 1 percent earnings tax in the City of St. Louis.

Paul McKee has a heavily subsidized plan to revitalize the city’s north side. The sitting senator will watch this plan succeed or become an all-time boondoggle. What does Carnahan think about this bold gamble?

What are her thoughts on education funding? Heck, how would she help save the St. Louis Rams should it look like the franchise was considering a move elsewhere?

Right now, all that most Missourians know about Carnahan’s plans for the U.S. Senate is that they would recognize the name on her office door in Washington, D.C.

If she needs an example of how to get the job done, she has Sen. Claire McCaskill right here in her home state.

I get a press release a day almost from McCaskill. Sometimes it is something I want to read. Sometimes it is not. But her constituents know she is busy working on their behalf. You don’t have to agree with her or support her.

You don’t even have to like her. But you know exactly what’s on her mind.

With Carnahan, I’ve had to do a bit too much mind reading.

• Email
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• Comment