Terry’s Re-Election Bid: Lucky 7 or Unlucky 37?
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In his six elections to the House of Representatives, Congressman Lee Terry (NE-R) has taken every punch the Democrats 
have thrown.
Whether he was running against men (Michael Scott, Jim Simon or Jim Esch), women (State Senators Shelley Kiel and Nancy Thompson) or (in the Esch rematch) the shadow of Barack Obama’s 2008 win in the 2nd Congressional District, in the end it was Terry who was left standing.
So why might 2010 be any different? What does Terry’s Democratic opponent, State Senator Tom White of Omaha, have going for him that all those other Democrats didn’t have? Well for starters Republican anger, the fall-out from Tuesday’s GOP family feud. Matt Sakalosky lost the Republican Primary to Terry, by a closer margin than many expected, 63%-37%.
Terry’s campaign manager David Boomer says that 37% will be with Terry in November. According to Boomer, “They’re not going to vote for Tom White.” 
Boomer also says they won’t “stay home “on election day.
But White’s campaign manager, Ian Russell tells Nebraska Watchdog the Sakalosky voters are “free agents” who are frustrated with politics as usual. More importantly Russell says that big 37% wasn’t a vote for Sakalosky but “a vote against Terry.”
Whether you like Boomer’s spin or Russell’s it’s clear that Sakalosky’s underfunded, under appreciated fight with Terry finds the Congressman going into November like never before.
Terry said so himself several months ago telling Nebraska Watchdog that he expected to come out of the May Primary, weaker. As Terry put it last September, “He’s (Sakalosky) going to make me spend some money (he did) and he’ll take his shots at me (he did that too), that doesn’t strengthen me.” Terry added, “The only thing he’s going to achieve by it, is soften me up for Tom White.”
According to the latest campaign finance reports as of April 21 Terry had $618,000 in the bank, White had $473,000. Terry had shelled out $470,000; White (who ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary) had only spent $82,000. Boomer tells Nebraska Watchdog that only $30,000 out of that $470,000 was directly tied to the Sakalosky fight.
In the end both sides could have plenty of money. Terry told his supporters on Tuesday that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-D) has promised to give White’s campaign $1 million dollars. Boomer says if that happens the National GOP will help Terry out as well.
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Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
Posted under Blog, State Politics.
Tags: David Boomer, Ian Russell, Lee Terry, Matt Sakalosky, Tom White
16 Comments For This Post So Far
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History of Omaha Congressional Race Cuts Both Ways
[...] In ‘94 Hoagland’s primary opponent, Jess Pritchett, received 27% of the vote. In 2010 “Tea Partier” Matt Sakalosky got 37% of the vote in the GOP Primary against [...]
2:29 pm on May 12th, 2010
I suppose you can read it how you want, but Terry is one of the few Conservatives in the House that can be counted on.
I believe there is more anger in this state against the Democrat Machine forcing health care down our throats than anything Terry has done. I wish people would look at the voting records of people before they begin pontificating about the Congressman’s chances.
While Sakalosky presented a new face, the similarities were closer than pundits claim. Both are for limited government, reduced taxes and spending, and were adamantly against the health care bill. With Cap and Trade on the horizon, that will be another point Terry is against.
As to White’s qualifications, he’s already said he’s in line with the Obama agenda. I don’t think that speaks well of someone who wants to spend more, have amnesty and almost unlimited illegal border crossings, more control from the UN, higher taxes, and who knows what else.
As a nation, we are going to be very hard pressed to afford what the first two years of this administration have given us. I can’t see the voters of the 2nd District laying down for more government intervention in their lives, less prosperity, an a course that’s taking us in the same direction as Greece.
3:11 pm on May 12th, 2010
Ian Russell says 37% wasn’t a vote for Sakalosky but “a vote against Terry”. If that were the case, the 37% would have voted for Tom White, Democrat. Beware 2012.
Btw, several times on KFAB’s post-election analysis, I heard the announcer describe Matt Sakalosky as the Democrat challenger.
“It IS difficult to get the news from poems” but the truth from news, let alone the poetry from news…welll, fugghedabout it!
3:18 pm on May 12th, 2010
Lee has considerable fence mending to do. 37% of the most active, Conservative voters (his bedrock base) did vote against Terry as a direct protest of his drift from Conservative principles — like TARP, cash for autodealers (clunkers), cash for home sellers, cash for not working, higher car-fuel standards nannies, and just recently — windmills for Creighton U. All this on the backs of taxpayers and our children (future taxpayers). Hideous and immoral. It sometimes looks like Democrat-lite.
So, the 37% may not come home in November in Lee’s favor. Sure, we are Conservative and vote in every election. We won’t vote for White. However, we may just skip voting for anyone in the 2nd District race. Lee has to convince us that his past drift is a thing of the past. Mea Culpa? Swear off pork?
– Six-time Terry voter
3:47 pm on May 12th, 2010
Clarification: Voter anger is palpable. A “closed” Nebraskan primary would not have stopped the 37% of determined voters to switch to Democrats. But quadrupling our nation’s problems by voting Democrat does not persuade conservatives conserving our constitutional liberty.
8:35 pm on May 12th, 2010
David Boomer, you just do not get it. The problem David is that when we Nebraska Conservatives sent Lee Terry to Washington it was with great hope that he would impact and help change Washington. Unfortunately as with most politicians Washington seemed to change Lee.
Please tell me how Lee Terry can HONESTLY campaign for smaller less intrusive government and lowering taxes. Lee has lost any credability on those issues with his recent votes for the first bailout, cash for clunkers and other big government programs.
Unfortunately for you David, and the Lee Terry campaign facts and a voting record can be a very stubborn thing. You see it is impossible to sell us any longer that Lee Terry is a Fiscal Conservative. He has stood too often on CRUCIAL votes with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid as a big government liberal.
Voting for Lee Terry because he is “better than the alternative” is no longer going to cut it. I will engage in the election in November by being at as many Lee Terry events as possible asking the tough questions that he dodged by refusing to debate Matt Sakalosky.
David you may have a rude awakening in November. As for Tom White winning and going to Washington. Perhaps better the devil you know.
I can tell you I have voted for Lee Terry 5 times and it will not happen again.
10:30 pm on May 12th, 2010
Dave Boomer perhaps if you would listen to the voters, November would not be such a concern for the Terry campaign. Below is a letter sent to Lee Terry right after he voted for the first bailout. This pretty much sums it up!
October 4, 2008
Congressman Lee Terry
1524 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Terry, I have read your press report concerning your recent vote to support the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Please understand that for me this is not a Democrat or Republican issue. In an effort toward full disclosure, I have voted for you in every one of your Congressional races. Unfortunately my support for you returning to Washington has come to an end. Make no mistake I realize the dire consequences this nation faces if we do nothing. I also recognize that to continue to do the same thing and expect a different result is the very definition of insanity.
In your report you speak of all of those that you have heard from. Hundreds of Nebraskans who have contacted you by phone, email, or come up to you when you were at home. You are very correct we are all angry. As a matter of fact we are mad as hell. Angry at the greed, arrogance, and just reckless nature of Wall Street and Washington, angry at Congress and the Administration who have the audacity to now propose using taxpayer dollars to bailout those greedy investment bankers, traders, CEO’s and yes those greedy self serving power grabbing politicians. Congressman Terry, this anger is justified, and properly placed at the feet of those that voted to pass this 700 hundred billion dollar bailout package while holding NO ONE in Washington accountable.
Congressman Terry, you said to Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi that you share our anger. With all due respect Congressman please do not patronize the citizens of Nebraska. Had you shared the anger that we in Nebraska feel over this complete and total failure of Wall Street and Washington perhaps you would have stood tall on the floor and voted NO. Perhaps you would have found the same conviction to principle this week that you found last week when you voted against the first bailout package.
Congressman Terry, I find your name calling of those on Wall Street as “greedy pigs” somewhat shameful. Have you looked in the mirror, have you looked around the halls of Congress? How is it that you have found it so easy to attack those on Wall Street but you are blind to those that you work with every day? Do you need to come back to Nebraska where we can all clearly see who in Washington has had their pockets lined, their campaigns donated to, and their special interest catered to. Is it, at all ironic to you, that while you could not vote for a bailout bill last week. Once the bill was put back in front of you laden with pork you seemed to have forgotten your core convictions that led you to vote against the bill the first time. Now Congressman Terry where do those “greedy pigs” really reside? It would appear the pork is in Washington.
Congressman Terry how can you speak with such passion and anger about those on Wall Street but you say nothing about those that sit on the House Committee on Financial Services? Since you seem to be oblivious as to their role and responsibilities in this financial crisis, I have provided you an outline below of what this committee should have been doing.
The Committee oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. The Committee continually reviews the laws and programs relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and international development and finance agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Committee also ensures enforcement of housing and consumer protection laws such as the U.S. Housing Act, the Truth In Lending Act, the Housing and Community Development Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and financial privacy laws.
Congressman please tell the taxpayers of Nebraska, has this committee done their job? Are you blind to their role in this economic mess or just mute? We in Nebraska have heard you say nothing about removing those on this committee for a complete and utter failure in their job. What we do hear you saying is give them 700 billion dollars and another chance.
We don’t expect anyone to sit by and watch this country brought to it’s economic knees. Unfortunately because of the complete incompetence in Washington and on Wall Street We the taxpayers are going to have to step up to the plate and fix this mess. What we had no intention of doing was writing a 700 billion dollar check to those that participated in creating this mess in the first place. Please tell the citizens of Nebraska you are kidding. I ask you Congressman do you honestly want or expect that we the taxpayers will trust you or others in Washington that are responsible for creating this mess?
Please Congressman tell me there is no double standard between Washington and Main St. Certainly we can agree that if this train wreck would have taken place on Main St those responsible would have been fired immediately. Congressman please tell me where I can find your outrage at the audacity of those that want to keep their positions in The House Committee on Financial Services? Those that want us to bail them out instead of humbly apologizing and stepping down. Please Congressman tell me that somewhere out there I can find something that would show that you had the courage to stand up to those in Washington and say you will earn my vote and my support when those that are responsible will NEVER be in a position of leadership again. Tell me Congressman that you recognize the greedy pigs in your own pen. For the taxpayers of this great nation to send 700 billion dollars to those in Washington right now would be akin to offering an alcoholic a drink to help them recover from a hangover.
Congressman I don’t question that you are a good man. I don’t question that you have done good things with your time in Washington. Unfortunately Congressman you have failed the biggest test of your career. You underestimated the power of your vote. You failed to hold those in Washington accountable. You found it easy to point the finger at those on Wall Street but you just could not muster the courage to stand up and let those in Washington know that we in Nebraska are mad as hell and we will not take it any longer. We will not tolerate a double standard. When those on the House Committee on Financial Services step down, we taxpayers will step up. Until then Congressman, you have lost our confidence, support, and certainly you have lost our vote.
9:45 am on May 13th, 2010
So we know what Lee Terry represents, sort of. With all his flaws and foibles, which seem to be considerable, what are the alternatives? Do you really expect the Democrat to cross party lines and think independently? How many times have we seen a Democrat say he/she is open minded: which is really code for saying that they agree to trash a Republican, but sit quietly with Democrat poster children like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reed, Chuck Schumer, Chris Dodd, and Charles Rangel are doing all sorts of misdeeds. Until the Democrats clean up their, corruption, compromised ethics and partisan politics we are probably stuck with Lee Terry. IMHO.
11:00 am on May 13th, 2010
Thriftybob that is the problem of re-electing Terry. Lee Terry has also sat with the Democrat poster children on many occassions. At what point are we conservatives going to be honest enough to say that Lee Terry is liberal-lite.
Unless we are willing to take a stand and make these politicians EARN our vote rather than taking it for granted we end up as you say “stuck” with a less than desireable candidate.
I for one am tired of voting for Lee Terry simply because he is better than the alternative. We just had a primary with a strong Regan Conservative (Matt Sakalosky) that had to run against the GOP establishment because their money and support was behind Lee Terry. Since when does the Republican party come out and endorse a candidate in its own primary. This makes it very tough for We the People, to choose our representatives. The result is that we are again as you say “Stuck” voting for Lee Terry or sitting this one out.
Who knows maybe this time around we look across the Isle to the Democrats to help us get rid of Lee Terry. It is obvious the GOP is not interested in holding Lee Terry accountable for his voting record. Their money just keeps flowing to his campaign.
7:36 am on May 14th, 2010
Wow, do you really think that anyone believes that you are all Republicans? Nice spin.
Sit home if you wish. I for one will be shocked to see Nebraska vote for another Ben Nelson/Bart Stupak style Democrat. We have all seen what they do when pushed in a corner. They will not stand with conservatives, they will stand with whomever is buttering their bread (or at least has the power to put them into timeout.)
Tom White fought Governor Dave at ever turn when trying to cut the budget. He then cast multiple votes to increase the budget. I wonder how much the “no age limit” White addition to, No Child Is Too Old To Be Dumped In Nebraska Bill cost and is still costing our state?
As for the Creighton U turbine project? Don’t know anything about it. What I do know is that if that money goes to Father Schlegel, then it is not going to be spent on lattes and massages for the Head of the Department of Energy or the EPA (whichever budget is came out of). Earmarks are dollars taken out of the control of bureaucrats and directed to specific projects. Without them, states with very few CD’s due to their population, would never see a single dollar of their federal taxes returned to their communities.
Spending needs to be reduced across the board. There needs to be a better process for determining the true needs of our military so defense dollars go where they most need to be. I propose cutting the EPA and Dept of ED in half. The Dept of Ed has never taught a single child to read and the EPA has helped no community with the expense of cleaning up their water and sewers, they have just told them to clean it up. After these 2 Depts are reconditioned, I would propose the Department of Energy be dismantled. Congress has the authority to designate our Country’s energy policy, not tens of thousands of east coast staffers.
2:33 pm on May 14th, 2010
GOP Gal, I can assure I am very conservative. It does not serve us or our cause any benefit to argue but I would be very interested in hearing what you as a Republican are most impressed with on Lee Terry’s record? What has he done? What leadership has he offered?
Would you rather have a Congressman more like Michelle Bachman out of Minnesota, Mike Pence out of Indiana, Paul Ryan out of Wisconsin, Eric Cantor out of Virginia or Lee Terry. Come on, all I ask is that you be honest. Lee is an embarrassment to this state and his voting record is starting to be more in line with that of Chuck Hagel when he was in the Senate.
Why do you want to just settle? We can do so much better. Does Lee Terry’s vote in support of the first bailout, cash for clunkers, higher cafe standards and other big government programs NOT concern you?
Let see did Congressman Smith or Fortenberry vote for the bailouts or cash for clunkers??????? NOPE. Did Ben Nelson vote for those programs?? YES
GopGal are you going to vote for Nelson in 2012?? Probably not….. Then why are you supporting Terry?????
5:22 pm on May 16th, 2010
And the Lee Terry supporters fell silent when faced with the truth of Congressman Terry’s voting record. I am still looking for just a small, very small list of things that one could point to that Lee Terry has done with his 12 years in Washington that you as a voter are most proud of and it makes you want to race to the polls and re-elect this guy?????? Poor Lee Terry is the only person I know that makes President Bush look like a great public speaker.
6:46 pm on May 16th, 2010
Sorry, enjoyed the weekend. Ryan and Cantor both voted for TARP and Cantor even voted for TARP before the money was divided up for disbursement authority and commitments of oversight and changes to Wall Street were made by the Treasury and the SEC (none of which did they follow through on. Lee Terry voted No on the first TARP vote in September. Dan, you can go ahead and vote the way your conscience directs you, but if you think sending the numbers to Washington to put Pelosi back in the Speaker’s chair next year is the way to go, then you better just go ahead and help Tom White get elected.
Tom White will be as reliable a vote for Pelosi and Ben Nelson has been for Reid. He will only stray when it will line his own pocket. Just ask Chris VanHollen, he has been to town twice to give Tom White money from Pelosi and her reliable friends.
7:20 pm on May 16th, 2010
GOP Gal, I am honestly looking for a reason to hold my nose and vote for Lee Terry but I have not yet been given one except he is better than Tom White.
I used that logic in Lee’s first race against Esch. All I am saying is that if we are serious about changing what is going on in Washington the only real way to do that is to change those we are sending to Washington.
I understand you not wanting Tom White in congress. That thought pains me to no end. If you are being completely honest, are you EXCITED to send Lee Terry back to Washington? If so why?
9:52 pm on May 25th, 2010
I think we’ve learned what happens when turn to the alternative (Democrats) It’s not pretty. Lee Terry may not be exactly what we want, but he is better than the alternative like it or not. Personally I thought his ideas on the Health care plan were far better than what we ended up with, which is an absolute disaster. While I’m not excited about Terry I can’t imagine voting for a Democrat.
9:45 pm on November 24th, 2010
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