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Senate Breaks Republican Filibuster and Protects Teachers’ Jobs
News from the DNC blog - Wed, 08/04/2010 - 17:05
Earlier today the Senate overcame a Republican filibuster and passed a bill to prevent more than 100,000 teacher layoffs that had been scheduled across the country this fall. Without adding a dime to the deficit, the bill also helps states caught in a severe budget crunch to pay for police officers and firefighters’ jobs and Medicaid for low income Americans. The bill passed 61-38 with all but two Republicans voting ‘no,’ clearing the 60 vote hurdle needed before a final vote in the House and Senate.
The Associated Press explained what happened and what’s next:
President Barack Obama and his allies in the Senate have won a key vote to advance a bill to help states and local school boards with their severe budget problems.
The bill would extend programs enacted in last year's stimulus law to help preserve the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.
The 61-38 vote Wednesday ensures the measure will pass the Senate shortly. A final vote in the House will be needed to deliver it for Obama's signature....
Moderate Maine Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins cast the key votes to break the GOP filibuster.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
DCCC Announces Fall Kickoff Campaign
DCCC Blog - Wed, 08/04/2010 - 15:20
Sign up to host a House Meeting or join a Fall Kickoff canvass today >>
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today announced their Fall Kickoff week in August to recruit thousands of volunteers and knock on hundreds of thousands of doors across the country to remind voters of the choice in this election between moving America forward or letting the Republicans bring back the exact same agenda of former President Bush.
The Fall Kickoff will begin on August 21st with House Meetings throughout the week, where volunteers and neighbors come together for face-to-face discussions about what is at stake in this election and build an energized base of volunteers from the ground up. On August 28th, the DCCC will sponsor a Nationwide Day of Action where volunteers will knock on more than 200,000 doors in some of the most competitive districts across the country.
“The DCCC Fall Kickoff will energize volunteers and voters across the country so we can keep America moving forward, not go back to the failed Bush economic policies of the past,” said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen. “The DCCC is committed to reaching more people in districts across the country than ever before to talk to their neighbors at doors and by phone about this election and to highlight the choice voters have at the polls. Our Fall Kickoff will ensure we have a large and energized base of trained volunteers to communicate Democrats’ message and get out the vote, which is critical to our success in November.”
The battle tested DCCC voter contact program has started earlier than ever before and is using new technologies and data-driven analysis to support our Frontline members and candidates. The DCCC tested the effectiveness and improved its enhanced voter contact programs with each of the special election victories in NY-20, NY-23, and our 8-point victory in PA-12. Working with State Parties across the country, field staff have been recruiting and training volunteers for the fall elections. In turn, those volunteers are knocking on doors and making phone calls, talking to their friends and families about the importance of continuing to move the country forward.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Morning Open Thread
News from the DNC blog - Wed, 08/04/2010 - 09:00
Good morning.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden talk with Stephen Neal, during a tour of K Neal International Trucks in Hyattsville, Md., June 4, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Video from Chairman Kaine: Progress on LGBT Equality
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/03/2010 - 19:35
DNC Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillion sent the following email sharing a video Chairman Tim Kaine recorded on the feedback he received during LGBT Pride Month:
Back in June, at the beginning of Pride Month, we asked for feedback about what the Democratic Party can do to promote equality. More than 5,000 LGBT and allied Americans responded.
We delivered those responses to Gov. Tim Kaine -- the chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- and he just filmed a video to answer some of the questions we received.
Check it out and share it with your friends.
LGBT Americans have helped build the Democratic Party into what it is today.
And since taking office, President Obama has worked with Democratic leaders in Congress to promote equality for LGBT families and end policies like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
We still have plenty of work to do, but we are making progress.
Can you take a minute to watch Gov. Kaine and then pass the video along?
http://my.democrats.org/pridereportback
Thanks,
Jen
Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee
Categories: Democratic Blogs
President on Republicans: "They don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas—not one."
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/03/2010 - 13:31
When you get in your car, when you go forward, what do you do? You put it in "D." When you want to go back, what do you do? You put it in "R." We won’t do want to go into reverse back in the ditch. We want to go forwards. We got to put it in "D."
-- President Obama
While Democrats have made progress by passing the Recovery Act, health care reform, and Wall Street reform, Republicans have tried to block moving forward at every turn. Now their strategy for November, as the President told a crowd in Atlanta yesterday, is "betting on amnesia" and hoping voters forget their record of obstruction.
The President spoke yesterday about the choice voters will face at the polls this November:
The choice is whether we want to go forward or we want to go backwards to the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place....
(Republicans) have not come up with a single, solitary, new idea to address the challenges of the American people. They don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas -- not one.
Instead, they’re betting on amnesia. That’s what they’re counting on. They’re counting on that you all forgot. They think that they can run the okey-doke on you. Bamboozle you.
These are the folks who were behind the steering wheel and drove the car into the ditch. So we’ve had to put on our galoshes, we went down there in the mud, we’ve been pushing, we’ve been shoving. They’ve been standing back, watching, say you’re not moving fast enough, you ain’t doing it right. Why are you doing it that way? You got some mud on the car. Right?
That’s all right. We don’t need help. We’re just going to keep on pushing. We push, we push. The thing is slipping a little bit, but we stay with it. Finally -- finally -- we get this car out of the ditch, where we’re just right there on the blacktop. We’re about to start driving forward again.
With 91 days until November 2nd, supporters are out every day talking with voters and spreading the word that we can’t afford to go backward now. As the President said, we need to keep moving our country forward—find out how you can help.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
@Stake: Fall Kickoff
DCCC Blog - Tue, 08/03/2010 - 13:10
Executive Director Jon Vogel just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
Bring it on.
That's the message grassroots Democrats have sent to Republicans following another goal-shattering month.
On behalf of the DCCC, I can't thank you enough for helping us surpass our July $1 million grassroots goal. As a special thank you, we're pleased to bring you our latest @Stake, showing how your generous contributions are making a big impact right away.
The calendar may say August, but as far as we're concerned, the fall campaign has already begun. Thanks to your generous support, we have mobilized our state-of-the-art field operation across the country earlier than ever before.
We know the best antidote to Republican swift-boat attacks is early outreach to your friends and neighbors. That's where you come in.
- During the week of August 21st, we're asking supporters to open their homes to their friends and neighbors to discuss the upcoming elections.
- On August 28th, we will launch a massive door-to-door and phonebank Day of Action to remind voters of the choice between moving America forward or letting Republicans bring back the exact same Bush agenda.
Sign up to host a Fall Kickoff House Meeting today!
On The Air: Television Ads to Set the Record Straight
LA Times:
"...conservative groups are preparing a flood of campaign money to try to wrest control of Congress from the Democrats."When Karl Rove's shadowy outside groups hit the air, we will be ready. Your support has allowed the DCCC to reserve television airtime in 40 districts to ensure that our campaigns can set the record straight the very minute that Rove's swift-boat ads appear.
Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming ad campaigns that your support is making possible. Latest DCCC Petition
Share: Unmarried Women Need "Big Brother"?
Speaking at a recent fundraiser for a House Republican, conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly leveled an offensive attack on unmarried women, saying "when you kick your husband out, you gotta have big brother government be your provider."
Denounce Phyllis Schlafly's latest attack on women and the House Republicans' continued silence about it. There are now less than 100 days to go until the November elections. Stay tuned to future editions of @Stake for all the news as it breaks from the campaign trial.
Thank you again for helping us blow past our July grassroots goal and for all that you do for House Democrats in this critical Midterm Election year.
Onward!
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director Team Pelosi Tote Bag
There is still time to claim one of the limited number of Team Pelosi tote bags designed exclusively by Diane Von Furstenberg. Best of all, every dollar will be used to support Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats under attack this year.
Show your support for Team Pelosi by picking up your limited edition summer tote bag. Shop today and save 25% using the special discount code DVF2010.
Help Us Hit 150,000 Fans on Facebook!
We're just 315 fans short of 150,000 on Facebook! Help put us over the top: Get the latest updates from the campaign trail by joining us on Facebook today.
Already signed up? Help us show our strength by inviting your friends to become fans of Democrats on Facebook.
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Categories: Democratic Blogs
Morning Open Thread
News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/03/2010 - 11:00
Good morning.
President Barack Obama meets with Warren Buffett in the Oval Office, July 14, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Today in the Senate: The Fight for Teachers, Cops, and Firefighters
News from the DNC blog - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 17:10
An important vote in the Senate today will decide whether we protect the jobs of 140,000 teachers, as the President and Democrats have been fighting to do, or whether these folks get sent out looking for work amidst the tough economy. The bill would prevent massive scheduled layoffs for teachers as well as firefighters and police officers across the country—layoffs that would squeeze schools and cut critical resources from public safety.
Republicans have objected to bills like this one because of their effect on the deficit. But today’s legislation is fully paid for and doesn’t add a dime to our debt.
As The Hill reported, “Republicans have demanded that these bills be offset with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget, and the state aid bill is.”
DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse called out the GOP for being willing to defend Wall Street CEOs and big oil while refusing to stand up for those who teach our kids and keep our communities safe:
“Efforts to prevent such layoffs in the Recovery Act helped stabilize shaky state budgets, helped our economy recover and kept critical public employees on the job serving their communities. Yet despite this proven success, Republicans are standing up for corporate interests over the needs of the hard-working Americans who elected them. Today’s vote in the Senate offers Republicans the perfect opportunity to reverse that trend. But if Tea Party Republicans want to maintain their backward priorities and continue to stand up for big CEOs on Wall Street, big oil and the insurance industry, we’ll be sure to remind voters of that choice come November.”
In advance of the vote the DNC put out a new video highlighting Republicans’ choice on obstructing this vote--and the choice voters will have in November.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Republican Whip Eric Cantor Admits Extending the Bush Tax Cuts Will Increase the Deficit
DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:29
Extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and lowering the deficit is House Republicans' "agenda." Unfortunately for Republicans, today House Republican Whip Eric Cantor admitted what we have long known -- extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy increases the deficit by $678 billion.
While on MSNBC’s Morning Rundown, Republican Whip Eric Cantor admitted that extending the Bush tax cuts would actually increase the deficit. Cantor was asked "will you just simply acknowledge that passing these tax cuts worsens the budget deficit problem? I mean, you can't deny that, right?" After being pressed to answer the question, Cantor admitted, "Certainly, you're going to dig the hole deeper."
Check out the video, from Media Matters:
GUTHRIE: ...will you just simply acknowledge that passing these tax cuts worsens the budget deficit problem? I mean, you can't deny that, right?
CANTOR: Savannah, let's look at it through the prism of the working families who are seeking jobs and the small businesspeople who are creating them. It's not -- it's not a tax cut they're looking for, they don't want a tax hike.
GUTHRIE: But that wasn't my question. [...]
GUTHRIE: I just was wondering if you had a — if you had any dispute with the notion that it does exacerbate the deficit picture.
CANTOR: What I — what I said in the beginning is, um, if you have less revenues coming into the federal government, and more expenditures, what does that add up to? Certainly you're gonna dig the hole deeper. But you also have to understand, if the priority is to get people back to work, is to start growing this economy again, uh, then you don't wanna make it more expensive for job creators. You don't wanna hike their taxes so that they won't hire people. I mean, that's the fundamental decision here. Do you wanna make it more expensive for small businesspeople right now, and no, I don't think you do.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Weekly Address: Auto Industry Progress While Republicans Block Help for Small Businesses
News from the DNC blog - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 13:23
In the weekly address, President Obama talks about the progress we're now seeing in America’s auto industry as a result of some of the tough decisions the administration made last year. President Obama met with workers at Chrysler and GM last week and spoke about the one million auto industry jobs saved because of actions taken by Congress and the administration.
President Obama also used his address to call on Republican leaders in the Senate to stop blocking assistance for small businesses, as they have been doing by refusing to allow a vote on the small business jobs bill.
"If some folks had their way, none of this would be happening at all. This plant might not exist. There were leaders of the “just say no” crowd in Washington who argued that standing by the auto industry would guarantee failure. One called it “the worst investment you could possibly make.” They said we should just walk away and let these jobs go.
Today, the men and women in this plant are proving these cynics wrong."
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Morning Open Thread
News from the DNC blog - Sun, 08/01/2010 - 09:00
Good morning.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with members of the national security team in the Situation Room of the White House, July 29, 2010, to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan. Photo by Pete Souza.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
45 Years of Progress on Health Care, Brought to You by the Democratic Party
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 18:14
Forty five years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. From 1965 until this year’s passage of health reform amidst Republican opposition, the Democratic Party has made 45 years of progress on health care for the American people.
As DNC Chairman Tim Kaine explained in a POLITICO op-ed today, health reform strengthens Medicare by extending its solvency by nearly a decade, providing relief to seniors who fall in the prescription drug “donut hole” and providing free preventive care to seniors. Chairman Kaine described the lengthy fight for Medicare’s passage and what health care for seniors looked like before 1965:
In March, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson vowed his administration would fight to pass a program of medical assistance for elderly Americans. “If not this week,” he pledged, “if not this month, if not this year, [then at] the earliest possible date.”
Nearly 20 years had passed since President Harry S. Truman first called for a national program to guarantee health coverage for all Americans. When Johnson finally signed the Medicare and Medicaid Bill on July 30, 1965 – 45 years ago today – he declared, “We marvel not simply at the passage of this bill, but that it took so many years.”
Yet despite the lengthy fight, the new program offered near-immediate benefits to elderly Americans. The year before Medicare became law, only about one in four seniors was fully covered in a hospital emergency or for other extensive medical treatment. Medicare changed that. For the first time in U.S. history, seniors could count on receiving all necessary treatment without worrying about burdening their children with massive medical bills.
This year, President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress built on Medicare’s promise of affordable, accessible medical care. With the Affordable Care Act, they extended to Americans of all ages the ability to receive needed care.
While Americans are celebrating the anniversary of Medicare today, and as support for the Affordable Care Act continues to rise, Republican leaders have proposed to end Medicare as we know it and repeal the health reform law which is already helping young people, seniors and small businesses.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
DCCC Adds Cedric Richmond to Competitive Red to Blue Program
DCCC Blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 14:49
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today that Cedric Richmond (LA-02) has earned a place in the DCCC's highly competitive Red to Blue program. The addition of Cedric Richmond brings the total number of candidates on the DCCC's Red to Blue program so far this cycle to 27. Richmond has qualified for Red to Blue by running the strongest campaign to defeat his Republican opponent, by showing strong early fundraising, and by demonstrating that he will represent his district on critical issues like job creation and health insurance reform.
"Cedric Richmond has come out of the gate strong and built a lot of early excitement for his campaign to put this seat in the hands of someone who reflects this district and supports President Obama. Red to Blue will give him the financial and structural edge he needs to remain on the road to victory in November and ensure the people of this New Orleans based district are represented by someone who shares their values," said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen. "As Cedric Richmond continues making his case to voters back home that he will work to create jobs and will stand with President Obama on critical issues like health insurance reform, we look forward to giving him the extra boost he needs to win in November."
The CBC PAC is supporting Cedric Richmond’s campaign.
The Red to Blue Program
Since 2004, the Red to Blue program has been a proven success for House Democrats in winning Republican-held seats.
The Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program introduces Democratic supporters to new competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising bases for these campaigns.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Today: The President at GM and Chrysler
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 12:51
UPDATED: The events have now ended.
Over the coming week, President Obama will meet with auto workers and visit each of our country's three big auto makers. Today, he'll be speaking at Chrysler and GM about how some of the Administration's tough choices to rescue the auto industry have helped save a million jobs for American auto workers.
Listen live to the President's speak at GM at 12:15 p.m. ET, and his remarks at Chrysler at 1:40 p.m. ET:
Just over a year after President Obama made tough decisions to save Chrysler and GM, these companies are returning to profitability, hiring workers, and keeping plants open. And because of the steps the administration and Congress have taken with Cash for Clunkers and the Recovery Act, the industry overall is strengthening.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Karl Roveâs American Crossroads GPS Must Come Clean About Wyly Brothers
DCCC Blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 12:29
Yesterday, major Texas Republican contributors Samuel and Charles Wyly were charged with using secret overseas accounts for the last 13 years to massively defraud the American taxpayers and reap more than half a billion dollars. The Wyly brothers are closely connected to Karl Rove and the Bush family, both directly and through the Swift Boat Veterans. In light of yesterday’s news about the Wyly brothers $550 million fraud and their past with shady Republican groups, Karl Rove must come clean about the Wyly’s participation in American Crossroads GPS.
“Karl Rove’s American Crossroads has been raising millions of dollars from secret Republican sources. With the news of the Wyly’s $550 million fraud against American taxpayers, Karl Rove must come clean about how much of this shady Wyly money is being use to fund American Crossroads and their lies against Democrats,” said Jennifer Crider, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Voters deserve to know if people who used overseas accounts for a half a billion fraud are funding shady right wing groups like Karl Rove’s American Crossroads.”
The Wyly brothers have a long history with President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush, and Karl Rove. The brothers have contributed thousands of dollars and raised President George W. Bush an additional $100,000. The brothers also contributed $200,000 to President George W. Bush’s inauguration. Additionally, using Karl Rove tactics, the Wyly brothers funded the Swift Boat Veterans in 2004, which directly helped President George W. Bush get reelected.
BACKGROUND
According to today’s Washington Post, two billionaire brothers in Texas, Sam and Charles Wyly have been accused in a complaint by the SEC of violating federal securities laws and committing fraud by using offshore accounts to secretly trade the shares of public companies whose boards they sat on, reaping more than $550 million in profit [Washington Post, 7/30/10]
Sam and Charles Wyly Funded Most Notorious 2000 Republican Group. “Sam and Charles Wyly -- the wealthy Dallas-based brothers who funded and ran ‘Republicans for Clean Air,’ a 527 group that attacked McCain for his environmental record during the 2000 primaries. In the aftermath of his defeat, McCain specifically cited the group in his plea for more and better campaign finance reform, saying the groups were ‘making a mockery of existing campaign finance laws.’” [Washington Post, 4/21/06]
Wyly Brothers Funded Swift Boat Veterans in 2004 Along with American Crossroads Donor Harold Simmons. Among the largest donors to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were the Wyly brothers and Harold Simmons, the Dallas billionaire who is bankrolling American Crossroads. [Bloomberg, 9/11/04; Los Angeles Times, 10/5/04; National Journal, 3/31/10]
Wyls Helped Bankroll Bush Inauguration. According to the New Republic, “Now the Wylys have found a still stealthier way to curry favor with the new administration: They each contributed $100,000 to Bush's presidential inaugural committee.” [The New Republic, 1/22/01]
Karl Rove’s Republican front group, American Crossroads, set up a separate committee to accept secret contributions to fund advertizing attacking Democrats. The CEO of Rove’s group conceded that the reason for creating American Crossroads GPS was to conceal the identity of donors who seek to influence the 2010 elections. [Politico, 7/20/10]
Categories: Democratic Blogs
In the News: "Dems label GOP as 'Republican-Tea Party'"
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 12:13
With August just around the corner, Democrats are coming out swinging with the launch of the new Republican Tea Party Contract on America. The new push highlights the Tea Party’s influence on the Republican Party, and challenges the GOP to side with--or denounce--some of the Tea Party’s most extreme positions. It’s been generating great buzz--check out a few of the highlights:
The Associated Press: Dems election strategy: Equate GOP and tea party:
The Democrats' national chairman on Wednesday trotted out his party's fall election strategy to limit potential GOP gains, claiming Republican goals are inseparable from the tea party's, from killing off Medicare to abolishing the departments of Education and Energy....
Kaine portrayed the November elections as a choice between his party, which under President Barack Obama has put into law a health care overhaul and tougher Wall Street rules, and a GOP-tea party combination that wants to roll back Democratic accomplishments.
"The Republican Party agenda has become the tea party agenda, and vice versa," Kaine said.
If the GOP were to retake the House and Senate, they would try to privatize Social Security, end Medicare and shutter those two federal agencies, he said.
Democrats cited tea party activists' statements and GOP support as they introduced a "Republican-Tea Party Contract On America," a send-up of the 1994 GOP Contract With America that helped Republicans win control of the House for the first time in four decades.
Kaine said the Republicans would repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and the recent Wall Street regulations.
"We're determined to make sure Americans understand this," Kaine said.
The Hill “Democrats’ campaign strategy aims to link Republicans with Tea Party”
Democrats want to be on the offensive this summer as lawmakers head into the fall campaign season. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said Wednesday that members will not shy away from town halls but plan to make the argument the GOP and Tea Party are one and the same. “You don’t know where the Republican Party ends and the Tea Party begins, and they have to own that,” she said. Wasserman Schultz said the Tea Party had some “disturbing elements” and noted, based on her own observation, “there are racist elements in the Tea Party.”
PBS News Hour “Democratic Party Chief Aims to Equate Republican Party With Tea Party”:
Democrats Wednesday tried to paint Republicans and tea party supporters as members of the same political party, with a common goal: to move the country backward. Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine, flanked by six congressional Democrats, ticked off a list, entitled "The Republican Tea Party Contract on America," at a press conference at DNC headquarters in Washington. A satirical take on the "Contract with America" Republicans used to help win control of the House of Representatives in 1994, the "Contract" lists ten agenda items Republicans would allegedly strive to do if they were to gain control of the Congress in the November midterm elections. As Chairman Kaine read the list aloud, a common theme quickly emerged, with seven of the ten points in the "Contract" beginning with the words "repeal," "end," or "abolish." On the Republican-tea party agenda, as crafted by the Democrats, are such items as privatizing Social Security and "ending Medicare as it presently exists." The Democrats have also included more obscure items that a couple of candidates have proposed in the past, such as abolishing the Department of Education, and attempt to attach it to every Republican running for office this year. "The Republicans can take a break and relax," Kaine joked, now that Democrats have provided them with a "handy blueprint" for the Fall. "The Republican agenda has become the tea party agenda and vice versa," he added.
The Caucus "Democrats to Talk Up the Tea Party":
Many Republicans have been very eager to associate themselves with Tea Party followers, hoping to tap into the movement’s deep enthusiasm. Now Democrats say they are more than willing to help Republicans do so. [...] Calculating that moderate and independent voters might be turned off by some of the more extreme positions postulated by Tea Party types and Republican conservatives, the Democratic National Committee and Congressional Democrats are trying to join the two in the minds of voters. [...] Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, said it is hard to tell where the Republican Party ends and the Tea Party begins [...]
Reuters "Democrats tie Republicans to Tea Party agenda":With memories of last year's bitter town hall meetings still fresh, Democrats vowed on Wednesday to go on the offense during the August congressional recess and aggressively link Republicans with the conservative Tea Party movement. Democratic leaders said the Republican Party had moved out of the mainstream to adopt Tea Party goals like privatizing the Social Security retirement program, extending tax breaks for the rich and abolishing some federal agencies. They promised to paint November's election as a stark choice between moving ahead with a healthcare overhaul and tougher regulations on Wall Street, or backing a Republican Party that wants to repeal those initiatives. "The Republican Party agenda has become the Tea Party agenda, and vice versa," Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine told reporters. [...]
POLITICO 2010 "DNC's bet: Tea party a negative":
[...] At a press conference in Washington, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and other Democratic leaders unveiled a “Republican Tea Party Contract on America” – a document that highlights hard-line issue positions favored by some tea parties, such as abolishing the Departments of Education and Energy and repealing health care reform, and attributing them to the GOP. [...] Though both Republicans and tea party activists have insisted that there’s a difference between the GOP and the tea party, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz insisted at the event Wednesday that “you don’t know where the Republican Party begins and the tea party ends.” “They have to own that,” Wasserman-Schultz said.
MSNBC First Read "DNC attack: GOP = Tea Party":
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine and several Democratic House members today unveiled the new Democratic midterm attack plan against Republicans: GOP = Tea Party. In an effort to demonstrate what they see as the dangers of Republican Congressional control, Democrats will spend the next few months until Election Day trying to tie all Republicans to policies advocated by some members of the Tea Party, including repealing the health care and Wall Street reform laws, abolishing the Departments of Labor and Education and the EPA, and ending Medicare. Kaine said the DNC has an "aggressive" plan, along with the White House "to make sure the American people know what the Republicans really believe what their blueprint for governing is," tracking candidates' comments on the campaign trail, distributing research, and airing commercials nationwide. [...]
CBS Political Hotsheet “Democrats: Republican Party = Tea Party Movement”:
The Democratic National Committee today unveiled a new initiative to brand the Republican Party as synonymous with the Tea Party movement. A DNC document laid out what it says are the plans of the "Republican Tea Party," among them repealing the health care bill, privatizing Social Security, ending Medicare in its current form, extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and abolishing the Departments of Education and Energy. They call the ten-point platform the "Republican Tea Party Contract on America." DNC Chair Tim Kaine pushed the initiative at a press conference today, saying "the Republican Party agenda has become the tea party agenda, and vice versa." Democrats hope that by linking the Tea Party to the GOP they will convince moderate voters who might have considered voting Republican that the party is too extreme. [...]
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Morning Open Thread
News from the DNC blog - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 09:00
Good morning.
President Barack Obama walks with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon from Air Force One to the nearby Smith Electric Vehicles at the Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., July 8, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Chairman Kaine Hails New Poll that Shows Increasing Support for the Recently Enacted Health Insurance Reforms
News from the DNC blog - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 13:45
A new poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows increased public support for the health insurance reforms enacted by President Obama this spring and decreased public opposition to those reforms. Specifically, only 35 percent of respondents now oppose the Affordable Care Act reforms, down 9 percent from May, and 50 percent of respondents now view the law favorably, a 9 percent increase from May – an 18 point swing in favor of the Affordable Care Act in just 60 days. In response, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:
“As this poll and others have shown, the more Americans learn about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, the more they embrace the historic changes enacted by President Obama and Congressional Democrats this spring. The number of Americans who support reform is growing, the number who oppose it is falling and since May nearly one in ten Americans have changed their mind about the law and now view it favorably. And there is every reason to believe the number of Americans who support reform will continue to grow as more businesses, workers, and families begin to realize the benefits of reform, and as it becomes increasingly obvious that the fear and myths spread by Republicans – from death panels to rationing – were simply not true.
“Instead, health insurance reform is conveying new benefits to millions of Americans. From young people who can now remain on their parents’ insurance as they look for work or complete their degree to older Americans who are receiving new help to purchase life-saving prescription medications to small business owners who may be eligible for a health care tax credit worth thousands of dollars to help cover the cost of insuring their employees, this law makes health insurance more available and affordable for Americans of all kinds. In addition, it ends the worst practices of the insurance industry and guarantees that no American need every worry again that their coverage will be revoked when they need it most or that they won’t be able to get coverage in the first place.
“Those changes are quite simply historic. It took nearly a century to enact comprehensive health insurance reform but, as this poll and others have shown, it will take far less time for the vast majority of Americans to embrace their new health care rights and benefits.”
Read the Washington Post story on the Kaiser Family Foundation poll.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Something Republicans Don't Have: Supporters Like You
News from the DNC blog - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 12:53
DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillion sent the following message to supporters, asking them to volunteer and help fight the Republican special-interest agenda:
They just couldn't help themselves.
On Tuesday, 40 Republican senators blocked the passage of legislation that would counteract the growing influence of corporations in the wake of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.
The DISCLOSE Act would have helped shed light on the hundreds of millions of dollars corporations and special interests plan to spend to influence our elections this fall -- and would have helped ordinary Americans to make their voices more clearly heard in campaigns across the country.
Republicans believe that killing the bill and strengthening corporate power gives them a tactical edge, allowing right-wing groups to raise more than ever to help their candidates win.
It's a stark reminder, both of what we're up against in November and the reason we all need to fight so hard to elect Democrats. Now more than ever, we need people like you on sidewalks and doorsteps, talking to your friends and neighbors about what meaningful reforms like these would mean in their lives -- and why it's so vital that they make their voices heard this fall.
Sign up now to volunteer for our Vote 2010 efforts and help fight the Republican special-interest agenda.
Despite the fact 80 percent of Americans disagreed with the Citizens United decision -- which eliminated limits on corporate spending in political campaigns -- obstructionist Republicans have sided with the special interests yet again. But that doesn't mean we can't hold them accountable for it.
Republicans believe the support of the big corporations and the special interests is all they need, but we have a different approach. We're building a new Democratic party -- one driven by the opinions and support of Americans around the country and focused on grassroots organizing.
That's something Republicans just don't have: supporters like you.
The obstruction of bills like DISCLOSE affects every voter in the country -- and we're all in this together. We need your help on the ground now, helping to make the case to friends and neighbors about the importance of their vote in November's elections. Please sign up to volunteer today:
http://my.democrats.org/DISCLOSEVolunteer
Thanks,
Jen
Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee
Categories: Democratic Blogs
Republicans Embrace Extreme Tea Party Ideas
News from the DNC blog - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 11:58
Yesterday, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, DNC Vice Chairs Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Mike Honda, and other Democratic Members of Congress held a press conference announcing the release of the Republican Tea Party Contract on America, a compilation of ten extreme conservative Tea Party ideas that Republicans have adopted as part of their own platform.
The Contract includes, among other things, repealing health insurance reform and Wall Street reform, ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them, and extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy while growing the federal deficit. Every single one of those positions has been advanced by Republican leaders in Congress or Republican candidates nationally, but even we would have supposed that at least a few Republicans would take issue with some of the most extreme positions. After all, could it really be true that there’s not a single Republican willing to stand against the dismantling of Social Security? At least for now, that seems to be the case.
As the Washington Post reported yesterday, a spokesman for the RNC “would not say whether the RNC disagrees with any of the 10 agenda items.”
And despite contacting the offices of multiple Republican leaders in Congress including Congressman Mike Pence, Congressman Eric Cantor, and Congressman Kevin McCarthy, CNN’s Political Ticker couldn’t find any Republicans who would disagree either.
In a statement to the Political Ticker, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, who also refused to disavow any of the extreme conservative policies highlighted in the Contract, said:
"Not only has this tired line of attack already been proven to be ineffective, it is offensive to voters.”If the NRCC considers it an ‘attack’ simply to highlight some of their candidates’ most closely held positions, perhaps they should rethink the Republican Party’s support for unpopular policies like enabling insurance companies to once again raise rates unfairly and rescind Americans’ coverage when they get sick or empowering big Wall Street banks to once again gamble taxpayers’ money away.
In the meantime, voters are more likely to be offended by Republicans’ continued allegiance with big banks, big insurance, big oil and other special interests – to the detriment of the American Middle Class – than by those who are simply willing to point out those ongoing relationships.
Categories: Democratic Blogs
