DSCC

QUESTION FOR SARAH PALIN: WHO WILL YOU ENDORSE IN FLORIDA SENATE RACE?

Eric Schultz, DSCC

Will You Endorse Stimulus-Supporting, President Obama Hugging Charlie Crist Or Club For Growth Endorsed Marco Rubio?

To: Governor Sarah Palin
Cc: Governor Charlie Crist
Cc: Senate candidate Marco Rubio
From: Eric Schultz, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director

Dear Governor Palin,

I noticed that you will be in Florida next week to promote your new book Going Rogue. As you know, Florida is home to a competitive Senate race, with either Governor Charlie Crist or former state House Speaker Marco Rubio to face off against Democrat Kendrick Meek. I’m not sure how familiar you are with Governor Crist, but he is a politician who has a history of putting politics above principals, something you surely look down upon. Whether the issue is off shore drilling, supporting the stimulus, or opposition to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Crist has either flip-flopped, flip-flop-flipped, or been motivated purely by politics. Crist has the support of the Washington establishment, while Rubio has the support of many grassroots Republicans across Florida. However, you do have something in common with Charlie Crist in that both of you effectively quit on your states. Although Crist is still governor, he has been noticeably absent from his job and has failed to provide the kind of leadership Florida deserves. On the other hand, Marco Rubio is comfortable in his own skin as an extreme right-winger, who has the backing of the Club for Growth, Karl Rove, and Senators DeMint and Inhofe. I know you are in three Florida cities next week, any of which would be the perfect setting to give your blessing to either Crist or Rubio. With the NY-23 special election over, many are now calling the Florida Republican Senate primary, “the next battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.” With so much at stake, everyone wants to know – who will you endorse in the Florida Senate race?

GOP now the Party of `Noooooooooo!'

Chicago Tribune

Eric Zorn

Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is, well, yikes, where do I start?...How Rep. Mark Kirk might update Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first inaugural address.

Jihadist guerrillas, attempting to spring their buddies with a raid on the remote supermax prison, deciding, while they're in the neighborhood, to attack a nuclear power plant 22 miles away and bomb skyscrapers in Chicago 150 miles away!

Followers of Osama bin Laden recruiting American prisoners to their evil cause!

Radical Islamists attacking local jurors and prosecutors involved in the effort to bring their soldiers to justice!

Key leaders acquitted and taking up residence in our towns!

Kirk, the North Shore Republican congressman now seeking his party's nomination for U.S. Senate, has been peddling such hysteria since the news broke last week that the Obama administration hopes to transfer some detainees now held at Guantanamo to the now largely unused Thomson Correctional Center.

Representative quote:

If (the Obama) administration brings al-Qaida terrorists to Illinois, our state and the Chicago metropolitan area will become ground zero for jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization . . . As home to America's tallest building, we should not invite al-Qaida to make Illinois its No. 1 target.

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Andy McKenna also bleated in opposition to "this extreme plan . . . to put terrorists in our neighborhoods."

Illinois will become a "magnet for terrorists," predicted U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, a Republican from Rockford. "They could one day be released into our communities."

Republican U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale added, "These detainees pose a unique threat to America's security. They should (be) kept away from our shores, and far from America's heartland."

In his first inaugural, FDR went on to blast "nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror," the very emotion that Kirk and his and his fellow Republicans are now promoting.

The GOP has lately been branded "The Party of 'No' " for its single-minded efforts to derail virtually every plan or program coming from the Democratically controlled Congress and White House.

That's not necessarily shameful. In our republic, the role of the minority opposition is to act as a brake on the legislative enthusiasms of the majority and to say "hold on a sec'" as proposals are rushing toward enactment.

But lately, the "The Party of 'No' " seems to have become "The Party of 'Noooooooooo!' " -- a coalition of shameless cynics and true cowards who whip up and exploit fear of change and distrust of all things having to do with the government.

The fight against health insurance reform, against marriage equality for gays and lesbians and against resident undocumented immigrants, to name three, are marked not by calls for caution or prudence, but by appeals to the anxieties and nameless dreads that haunt us in our weakest moments.

Kirk's objections to the prison plan -- "Great Lakes Gitmo" is his coinage, though Thomson is a Mississippi River town -- are illustratively preposterous.

U.S. prisons already house more than 340 international and domestic terrorists and have done so without incident. Gitmo detainees will be kept isolated from other prisoners and not allowed visits from friends and family members.

And, yes, there's a risk associated with operating an open system of justice, whether we're trying mobsters, gang bangers or violent extremists. But that's just one of the risks of living in a free society, risks most of us are glad, even proud to assume.

Remember the last words in our national anthem? We're the "home of the brave." We don't defer to the terrorist threat, we defy it.

Updating FDR, the only thing we have to fear are the fearmongers themselves.

Why having 10 candidates doesn’t help GOP

Las Vegas Sun

Jon Ralston

There was this moment during the first forum of the 2010 U.S. Senate race Thursday that encapsulates the Republican Party’s problem and could undermine its unprecedented opportunity to excise the Senate majority leader from the D.C. landscape:

Nine — count ’em — GOP Senate candidates lined up together (No. 10, the recently announced Chuck Flume, was not there) and smiled for a group photo at the event sponsored by the Boulder City Republican Women’s Club. “I will guarantee you that picture says a thousand words about 2010,” moderator Sherm Frederick — the part-time journalist, full-time Harry Reid-hater — declared. (Frederick also added that yours truly “knows more about politics in his little finger than I do,” which is a quote to savor and use as a testimonial far into the future.)

Frederick was right about that picture, though, but perhaps not for the reason he thinks. At a time when the national Republicans are salivating about a Tom Daschle-removal campaign redux in Nevada, the only thing they have to fear is themselves — or, that is, their candidates.

With Rep. Dean Heller taking a pass, and the plunge precipitous to the next candidate tier, the national GOP surely hoped that one B-teamer would have been good enough to take out Reid, whose disapproval rating indicates he is in the political ICU. But as we know, the rich have better access to health care in this country, so the $25 million man may well be able to make a miraculous recovery, especially if the injuries the Republican 10 (and counting) inflict upon themselves are even more severe.

Yes, whoever emerges from that crowded primary will have access to millions in third-party, GOP-linked money. But this surely is not the blueprint for defeating Harry Reid the Republicans drew up.

Countering that, though, and perhaps a harbinger for next year, was that the room at the Railroad Pass was jammed and various folks in the crowd were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Dump Reid!! 11-02-2010.” The two exclamation points reflected the intense desire among the faithful to dispose of the Nevada and national GOP’s bête noire. If they can translate that into voters and infrastructure — two areas in which they are now dominated by the Democrats — Reid could be returning to Searchlight.

Some brief musings and observations about the first gathering of Snow White and the dwarves:

Winners: Danny Tarkanian, John Chachas, Sharron Angle. Tarkanian was most focused on Reid, engaged the crowd and he brought his daughter, Lois, to do a joke about the senator with him at the end. He knows how to campaign. Chachas, except for one comment (see below) that showed he might be irony-impaired, gave the most substantive discussion of the financial crisis. If he really spends that $1 million he put in, he could be a factor — assuming the Wall Street resident really moves back. And Angle was a crowd-pleaser with her epigrams (“Red is not Dead” and “Harry Reid, you’re fired”). She will not have much money, but she can fire up the base in a low-turnout primary.

The rest served up red meat, too, but of a blander variety. Lowden worked the crowd early because she had to catch a plane after she spoke. State Sen. Mark Amodei was his usual wry self but did not thrill the partisans. And the others — Chuck Kozak, Mike Wiley, Bill Parson and Robin Titus — were varying degrees of nondescript.

There were a series of memorable quotes:

• Lowden explained why she left her successful TV career: “Very simple. My husband wanted me to. He wanted me to help him grow the family business and be with the children.” I am woman, hear me purr?

• Amodei boasted of the Chamber of Commerce “taking out full-page ads to thank me for helping to kill the 2003 gross receipts tax.” For some reason, Amodei failed to mention that during the same session he co-sponsored what would have been the largest tax increase in history.

• Chachas assailed Reid for having “absolutely no connection” to Nevada. Seemed a strange dig considering Chachas has lived in New York City for 10 years and left Nevada at age 17.

• Ex-talk radio host Wiley actually feigned a Chinese accent (an offensive caricature) to tell a joke. The crowd seemed to enjoy it.

• Angle derided those who tell her they might vote for Reid or anyone else because of friendship. She said no one should put “friendship over principle” and reminded the crowd she “didn’t go to Carson City to make friends.” (She succeeded.)

Why having 10 candidates doesn’t help GOP

Las Vegas Sun

DESPITE POLITICAL POSTURING, PAT TOOMEY CAN’T HIDE THE FACT THAT HE IS FAR OUTSIDE THE PENNSYLVANIA MAINSTREAM WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE REFORM

Eric Schultz, DSCC

Far-right Toomey Can’t Hide From His Extremist Record Of Opposing Meaningful Reform Every Chance He Gets

Today, far-right Senate candidate Pat Toomey published an op-ed in the Philadelphia Daily News, in which he laid out his views on health reform. Toomey never mentions the fact that he has been vehemently opposed to any health care reforms that would help the people of Pennsylvania in a meaningful way. Recently, Toomey has likened the health care system to grocery stores, has been completely disingenuous with his claim that health care reform will deny choice and cost jobs, and has even suggested that the United States can’t afford health care reform, even though the Democratic plan reduces the deficit and cuts costs. As a member of Congress, Toomey racked up a voting record that places him significantly to the right of defeated former Senator Rick Santorum, with Toomey’s extreme voting record making him “unelectable” in Pennsylvania, according to Republican Senator Orrin Hatch.

“Pat Toomey can try to reinvent himself all he wants, but he can’t hide his record of opposing health care reform at every turn,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Toomey racked up a voting record to the right of Rick Santorum and is so far outside the Pennsylvania mainstream that even Republican leaders admit he can’t win a statewide election. With credibility like this, Toomey is the last person the people of Pennsylvania should listen to when it comes to reforming health care.”

NRSC Vice-Chairman Orrin Hatch: "I don't think there is anybody in the world who believes he can get elected senator there.” http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F2A56248-18FE70B2 A8ECA08F25BCAA87

Toomey Said He Would Outlaw Abortion, Penalize Doctors that Perform Abortions. During an interview on MSNBC in August 2009, Toomey told host Chris Matthews that he believes that “states should be free to restrict abortion,” and that he would support “legislation in Pennsylvania that would ban abortion.” When asked whether or not he would throw doctors who perform abortions in jail, Toomey said, “At some point, doctors performing abortions, I think, would - would be subject to that sort of penalty.” [MSNBC, “Hardball,” 8/5/09]

The American Conservative Union gave Toomey a lifetime rating of 97 (out of 100), while Santorum only has a lifetime rating of 88.1. http://www.acuratings.org/

Toomey: We Can’t Afford Healthcare Reform. Speaking at a healthcare town hall meeting with Democrat Joe Sestak in September 2009, Toomey argued that the country can’t afford the healthcare reform, coming after the multibillion-dollar bailouts and stimulus spending packages and growing deficits. “We have such a staggering amount of debt, it's economically unsustainable,” Toomey said. [Philadelphia Enquirer, 9/2/09]

Toomey Likened the Public Option to Government-Owned Grocery Stores. Speaking at a healthcare town hall meeting with Democrat Joe Sestak in September 2009, Toomey compared President Obama’s proposal for a public health insurance option to government-run grocery stores. “Do we believe we can't have competitive grocery stores unless we have a government grocery store?” Toomey asked. [Philadelphia Enquirer, 9/2/09]

Toomey: Healthcare Reform Will Deny Choice, Cost Jobs. In an opinion piece published in the Times Leader in August 2009, Toomey argued that healthcare reform proposals being considered by Congress would, “deny millions of people choice, cost American jobs and give government bureaucrats the power to dictate what should be private medical decisions between a doctor and patient.” [Times Leader, 8/11/09]

AS DEMOCRATS RELEASE HEALTH CARE BILL, AMERICANS STILL WAITING FOR REPUBLICAN PLAN

Eric Schultz, DSCC

With Democrats Presenting Comprehensive Plan To Lower Costs, Republican Senate Candidates Flounder With Health Care Issue

Fiorina Says It’s Too Complex, Vitter Says He Doesn't Understand It, Portman Says Republicans Need A Plan, Blunt Says They Don't, Burr Hopes For Failure

Today, as Senate Democrats release a historic health care reform bill, the American people are still waiting for Senate Republicans to release their own health care reform plan. However, instead of offering any solutions, Senate Republicans have spent the last months blocking any attempts to fix our broken health care system. Republicans continue to flounder and obstruct, without offering a plan that would help the American people.

“We are approaching a historic moment in our country and Republicans will be on the wrong side of it," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Instead of offering an alternative, Republicans have complained and demagogued. Democrats were elected in 2006 and 2008 to get things done in Washington. Unfortunately for Republicans, saying no to everything doesn't help lower costs for anyone. Next November, voters across the country will remember who worked hard to reform health care, and who stood in the way."

While Democrats have been hard at work putting together a health care plan which will increase coverage and reduce the deficit, Republican Senate candidates have been sputtering:

· Congressman Roy Blunt was named the Chairman of the House Health Care Solutions Group, but has yet to release a plan for reforming health care. Instead, he released a vague, four page list of talking points many months ago. Blunt called the creation of Medicare a mistake, all while taking over $2.04 million from health and pharmaceutical industries, more than any other Missouri, Kansas or Oklahoma lawmaker.

· Former Congressman and George W. Bush Administration official Rob Portman criticized his own party back in May when he told a reporter that he didn’t “think there is a Republican alternative at this point.” Portman continues to attack the current health care reform proposals, but has yet to offer his own plan despite telling CNN in June that he would offer a plan.

· Senator David Vitter continues to do everything in his power to stand in the way of health care reform that would benefit Louisianans. Several months ago, Vitter endorsed the privatization of Medicaid and has even endorsed “scrapping” employer-based health insurance all-together, calling it “commonsense.” Vitter even admitted to a Louisiana town hall audience in August that he didn’t “understand” the health care bill and that it was too long.

· Senator Richard Burr is the top recipient of health care industry campaign donations in all of Congress. Burr “Vehemently Opposes” all health care reform proposals that both the House and the Senate have put forth and has said he hope health care reform efforts will fail. Burr has even gone as far as to say that North Carolinians should keep their feet on the throats of their representatives in Congress until they have killed health care reform.

· Failed ex-CEO Carly Fiorina is against health care reform, citing the “complexity” of the bill.

Blunt Has Taken Over $2.04 Million From Health and Pharmaceutical Industries, More Than Any Other Missouri, Kansas or Oklahoma Lawmaker. As reported by the Joplin Globe, “U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt leads all congressional delegates from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma in career contributions from the health-care, pharmaceutical and insurance industries, according to campaign contribution data from the Web site www.opensecrets.org. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.: $2,047,980.” [Joplin Globe, 8/5/09]

POST DISPATCH: Blunt Said Government Should Never Have Gotten In The Health Care Business, Suggested Medicare Never Should Have Been Created. During a radio appearance on, Blunt suggested that government should never have gotten in the health care business, citing Medicare and Medicaid as examples of government intervening in the health care business “in a big way.” HOST MIKE FERGUSON: What is the proper role of government, and what are the potential impacts of the direction that we're going right now? BLUNT: Well, you could certainly argue that government should have never have gotten in the health care business, and that might have been the best argument of all, to figure out how people could have had more access to a competitive marketplace. Government did get into the health care business in a big way in 1965 with Medicare, and later with Medicaid, and government already distorts the marketplace.” [The Eagle 93.9, 7/10/09; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/10/09]

Portman: Republicans Do Not Have An Alternative Health Care Proposal. In May of 2009, Rob Portman told CongressDaily that after speaking with Senate leaders and lawmakers, he had concluded that the Republican Party does not have an alternative to the Democrat’s health care proposal. “I will tell you, I don't think there is a Republican alternative at this point,” Portman said. [National Journal’s CongressDaily, 5/27/09]

· Portman: Republicans Need An Alternative Health Care Proposal. In May of 2009, Rob Portman told CongressDaily that the Republican Party needs an alternative to the Democrat’s health care plan. “We have to have an alternative,” Portman said. “There isn't one. There's a task force, and I applaud them for that.” [National Journal’s CongressDaily, 5/27/09]

Vitter Endorsed Privatization Of Medicaid. In September 2009, Vitter endorsed a report from the conservative Pelican Institute that promoted privatization of Medicaid into vouchers for private insurance as a solution for the health care debate. Vitter said, “Besides stating that Louisiana's economic growth would shrink by 4.3 percent by 2019, the report also notes that the more detrimental effect on Louisiana may be related to Medicaid and providing for lower-income Louisianans. Under the president's plan, states like Louisiana will pick up more Medicaid responsibilities, meaning that state tax increases are all but certain.” [New Orleans City Business, 9/15/09]

Vitter Endorsed “Scrapping” Employer-Based Health Insurance. In September 2009, Vitter endorsed a report from the conservative Pelican Institute that promoted ending the employer-based health insurance system. According to the Times-Picayune, “U.S. Sen. David Vitter has endorsed a new study from a conservative think tank that calls for scrapping the nation's employer-based health insurance system in favor of individually owned policies and converting the Medicaid program into vouchers for private insurance.” Vitter called the report “an important contribution to the debate.” [Times-Picayune, 9/15/09]

Pelican Institute President Said The Plan Would Be Unlikely To Pass, Vitter Said It Would Be “Common Sense.” In September 2009, the President of the Pelican Institute Kevin Kane stated that his think tank’s report promoting the end of employer-based health insurance and the privatization of Medicaid would be unlikely to pass, but Vitter endorsed the plan as an example of “common sense conservative reforms.” According to the Times-Picayune, “Kane conceded that some of his group’s policy priorities — particularly a wholesale shift away from employer-based insurance and traditional Medicaid — are unlikely to be enacted this year. But he and the senator said it is important to put as many ideas as possible on the table.” Vitter, however, wrote on his Twitter page that the plan was an example of “common sense conservative reforms” against “Obama’s health care takeover.” [Times-Picayune, 9/15/09; Vitter Twitter Post, 9/14/09]

Vitter Admitted To Not Understanding The Health Care Bill, But Opposed Its Length. At a town hall meeting in August 2009, Vitter claimed that he had read some of the proposed health care bill, which was 1,018 pages at the time, but did not understand it and did not like bills over 1000 pages. Vitter said, “I have a fundamental problem with any 1,000-page bills.” Vitter also said that he and his staff had read a portion of the House bill, but “Do I understand it? No.” [Alexandria Town Talk, 8/20/09]

Vitter Promised Constituents At Town Hall That He Was “Totally And Unalterably Opposed” To Health Care Reform. In August 2009, Vitter promised his constituents at a town hall meeting that he was “totally and unalterably opposed” to the Democratic health care reform plan in Congress. Vitter said that under the Democratic plan, employers would opt to pay the $750 penalty for not providing health insurance to employees, instead of actually providing health insurance, which would be too costly. [Daily Town Talk, 8/9/09]

Burr Top Recipient of Health Care Industry Campaign Donations. As reported by the Charlotte Observer, “North Carolina's lawmakers in Washington have received millions of dollars from health-related companies in the past three campaigns, according to a new analysis by Democracy North Carolina, a government watchdog group. Top among them: Republican Sen. Richard Burr, a member of the Senate health committee who has submitted his own legislation for health reform. Burr, of Winston-Salem, received nearly $1.7 million from health and insurance interests from 2003 through 2008, according to the organization. It conducted its analysis using data compiled from the Center for Responsible Lending and the Federal Election Commission.” [Charlotte Observer, 8/14/09]

· Burr Hoped Current Health Care Reform Effort Will Fail. As reported by the Charlotte Observer, “Burr, during a separate appearance in the Triangle, said Thursday that he hopes the current health care reform effort in Congress fails and that lawmakers start over with a more bipartisan approach. [Charlotte Observer, 8/28/09]

· Burr “Vehemently Opposes” All Health Care Reform Proposals on House and Senate Floor. According to The Fayette Observer, “Republican Sen. Richard Burr said he "vehemently opposes" all the bills on the floor of the House and Senate, although he's in favor of comprehensive health care reform. ‘They're different versions of the same thing, and they're all incomplete,’ he said.” [The Fayette Observer, 8/29/09]

· Burr: Don’t Take Your Foot Off Their Throat With Health Care Protests. In 2009, Burr encouraged North Carolinians to continue making themselves heard on health care reform. "If the American people get past August when the town meetings are over and their representatives go back to Washington and they say, 'I did my part and now I?can go home and feel good,' nothing will happen."My message to the American people is do not take your foot off their throat. Keep it there where the American people have it today until they have committed to pick another direction to go." [The Pilot, 8/27/09]

AS DEMOCRATS RELEASE HEALTH CARE BILL – DAVID VITTER CONTINUES TO SERVE AS SHILL FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES

Eric Schultz, DSCC

With 869,000 Louisianans Lacking Health Insurance and Louisiana Ranked 47th In The Country In Overall Health, Vitter Hasn’t Proposed A Single Idea To Expand Coverage, Or Lower Costs

Today, as Senate Democrats release a historic health care reform bill, admitted sinner Senator David Vitter continues to do absolutely nothing to address the health care needs of Louisianans. Instead of offering up his own constructive ideas, Vitter has spent his summer and fall obstructing and doing everything in his power to block any sort of reforms which would help the people of his state. Vitter has resorted to fear-mongering and scare tactics, which has shown Vitter to be far outside the Louisiana mainstream. Vitter’s health care record is below.

“As Senate Democrats release a health care bill which will be a major step forward towards reforming our broken health care system, David Vitter continues to do nothing,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Instead of offering up a plan of his own, David Vitter has resorted to shilling for the insurance companies. Once again, instead of siding with the people of Louisiana, Vitter stands shoulder to shoulder with his special interest friends and corporate backers. Louisianans deserve better than Vitter.”

David Vitter endorsed a privatization of Medicaid just several months ago, ignoring the fact that thousands of low-income and at risk Louisianans rely on Medicaid for basic health care needs. Vitter has even gone so far as to give his endorsement to a plan which would “scrap” the current employer-based health insurance system, calling it “common sense.” Vitter continues engage in fear-mongering tactics, claiming people with insurance are “going to get dumped off their plan.” Vitter told Louisianans at a town hall that he was “totally and unalterably opposed” to health care reform. Perhaps most ludicrous of all, Vitter admitted to not “understanding” the basic tenets of the health care reform proposals put forth, and suggested he was against health care reform because he has a “fundamental problem with any 1,000-page bill.”

Vitter Received $66,500 From The Health Insurance Industry. Since coming to Washington, Vitter has received $66,500 from health insurance political action committees and health insurance employees. [CQ Moneyline, accessed 11/12/09]

Vitter: It’s “Crystal Clear” Obama’s Health Care Plan Is “First Step To Socialism.” In November 2009, Vitter bashed President Obama’s health care plan and advocated for a handful of shorter bills instead of comprehensive reform. Blasting “Obamacare,” Vitter said, “A government option is the first step to socialized medicine. It’s crystal clear to see.” [Houma Courier, 11/1/09]

Vitter Endorsed Privatization Of Medicaid. In September 2009, Vitter endorsed a report from the conservative Pelican Institute that promoted privatization of Medicaid into vouchers for private insurance as a solution for the health care debate. Vitter said, “Besides stating that Louisiana's economic growth would shrink by 4.3 percent by 2019, the report also notes that the more detrimental effect on Louisiana may be related to Medicaid and providing for lower-income Louisianans. Under the president's plan, states like Louisiana will pick up more Medicaid responsibilities, meaning that state tax increases are all but certain.” [New Orleans City Business, 9/15/09]

Vitter Endorsed “Scrapping” Employer-Based Health Insurance. In September 2009, Vitter endorsed a report from the conservative Pelican Institute that promoted ending the employer-based health insurance system. According to the Times-Picayune, “U.S. Sen. David Vitter has endorsed a new study from a conservative think tank that calls for scrapping the nation's employer-based health insurance system in favor of individually owned policies and converting the Medicaid program into vouchers for private insurance.” Vitter called the report “an important contribution to the debate.” [Times-Picayune, 9/15/09]

AS DEMOCRATS RELEASE HEALTH CARE BILL – RICHARD BURR CONTINUES TO SERVE AS SHILL FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES

Eric Schultz, DSCC

With 1.5 Million North Carolinians Lacking Health Insurance And With Our Broken Health Insurance System Costing The North Carolina Economy As Much As $8.3 Billion This Year, Burr Hasn’t Proposed A Single Idea To Expand Coverage, Or Lower Costs

Today, as Senate Democrats release a historic health care reform bill, Senator Richard Burr continues to do absolutely nothing to address the health care needs of North Carolinians. Instead of offering up his own constructive ideas, Burr has spent his summer and fall obstructing and doing everything in his power to block any sort of reforms which would help the people of his state. Burr has resorted to fear-mongering and scare tactics, which has shown Burr to be far outside the North Carolina mainstream. Burr’s health care record is below.

“As Senate Democrats release a health care bill which will be a major step forward towards reforming our broken health care system, Richard Burr continues to do nothing,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Instead of offering up a plan of his own, Richard Burr has resorted to shilling for the insurance companies. Once again, instead of siding with the people of North Carolina, Burr stands shoulder to shoulder with his special interest friends and corporate backers. North Carolinians deserve better than Burr.”

Senator Richard Burr is among the top recipient of health care industry campaign donations in all of Congress. Burr “vehemently opposes” all health care reform proposals that both the House and the Senate have put forth and has said he hopes health care reform efforts will fail. Burr has even gone as far as to say that North Carolinians should keep their feet on the throats of their representatives in Congress until they have killed health care reform.

Burr Top Recipient of Health Care Industry Campaign Donations. As reported by the Charlotte Observer, “North Carolina's lawmakers in Washington have received millions of dollars from health-related companies in the past three campaigns, according to a new analysis by Democracy North Carolina, a government watchdog group. Top among them: Republican Sen. Richard Burr, a member of the Senate health committee who has submitted his own legislation for health reform. Burr, of Winston-Salem, received nearly $1.7 million from health and insurance interests from 2003 through 2008, according to the organization. It conducted its analysis using data compiled from the Center for Responsible Lending and the Federal Election Commission.” [Charlotte Observer, 8/14/09]

· Burr Has Received Over $235,300 From Health Insurance Companies. According to campaign finance records, Burr has received at least $235,340 in contributions to his campaigns and political action committee from health insurance companies and their employees. [Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 11/6/09; CQ Moneyline, Accessed 11/18/09]

Burr Hoped Current Health Care Reform Effort Will Fail. As reported by the Charlotte Observer, “Burr, during a separate appearance in the Triangle, said Thursday that he hopes the current health care reform effort in Congress fails and that lawmakers start over with a more bipartisan approach. [Charlotte Observer, 8/28/09]

Burr “Vehemently Opposes” All Health Care Reform Proposals on House and Senate Floor. According to The Fayette Observer, “Republican Sen. Richard Burr said he "vehemently opposes" all the bills on the floor of the House and Senate, although he's in favor of comprehensive health care reform. ‘They're different versions of the same thing, and they're all incomplete,’ he said.” [The Fayette Observer, 8/29/09]

Burr: Don’t Take Your Foot Off Their Throat With Health Care Protests. In 2009, Burr encouraged North Carolinians to continue making themselves heard on health care reform. "If the American people get past August when the town meetings are over and their representatives go back to Washington and they say, 'I did my part and now I?can go home and feel good,' nothing will happen."My message to the American people is do not take your foot off their throat. Keep it there where the American people have it today until they have committed to pick another direction to go." [The Pilot, 8/27/09]

Fiorina faces the D.C. press corps, but offers few specifics

San Jose Mercury-News

Mark Zapler

WASHINGTON — It was meet the press time for Carly Fiorina on Wednesday. But, judging from her responses to many questions, it was not time for this rookie candidate to let the press pin her down.

In a question-and-answer session with reporters, the just-announced Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard straddled the fence on issues ranging from climate change to immigration, refusing to give specific answers on the most controversial aspects of those debates.

She deemed climate change a "serious issue" but at the same time suggested the science surrounding global warming is less than conclusive. She said she supports "controlling the border" against illegal immigration and establishing a better temporary worker program, but she declined to say whether she would vote to create a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants now in the country.She deemed climate change a "serious issue" but at the same time suggested the science surrounding global warming is less than conclusive. She said she supports "controlling the border" against illegal immigration and establishing a better temporary worker program, but she declined to say whether she would vote to create a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants now in the country.

"I think it's very unproductive to talk about single issues in isolation or to answer hypothetical questions," Fiorina said when pressed by a reporter about her views on immigration. "I'm not trying to dodge your question."

Aiming to unseat three-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer next fall, Fiorina also held forth on some political questions — albeit with similar vagueness — ranging from how she intends to finance her campaign to whether she would seek Sarah Palin's support.

Fiorina, who received a $21 million severance package after she was fired by HP in 2005, said, "I don't have millions of dollars to put into the campaign." But she did not rule out spending a smaller amount of her personal wealth.

The 40-minute session underscored the balancing act that the political newcomer is attempting to pull off over the next year. At a time when Republicans across the country are battling over whether to take the party in a more pragmatic or ideologically pure direction, Fiorina will need to ward off a popular figure among grass-roots conservatives, state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, in the June Republican primary. But if she tacks too far to the right to win the primary, Fiorina could damage her chances in the general election, given the leftward tilt of the California electorate.

A poll conducted last month for the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California had Fiorina and DeVore locked in a dead heat. That survey was conducted before Fiorina kicked off her campaign two weeks ago, but it nevertheless indicated that the primary may not be a cakewalk for her.

In an interview, DeVore accused Fiorina of offering "platitudes without specifics" and predicted that primary voters would demand more from her.

One of Fiorina's main apparent advantages over DeVore, political analysts say, is money. But Fiorina's reluctance or inability to bring her own wealth to bear in the race could erode some of that edge, said Republican pollster Adam Probolsky of Orange County, suggesting to donors that she is not fully committed to her candidacy.

"If you're viewed as being wealthy, you're expected to commit some of your personal wealth to your campaign," Probolsky said.

But Fiorina, who was in Washington for a fundraising event for her campaign Tuesday evening, did leave herself wiggle room on the money front. She said she has loaned her campaign a sum she wouldn't disclose, and, she added, "time will tell" how much more, if any, she spends on her bid. Although Fiorina is by all indications a multimillionaire, her wealth does not apparently approach that of Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner, the former business executives who are spending millions of dollars of their personal fortunes running for governor.

Fiorina faced several questions about climate change, an issue in which Boxer is deeply involved. The Republican said that global warming demands a serious response, but when asked whether she would back mandatory caps on carbon emissions, Fiorina said she would not comment on a bill she hasn't read. As for what course of action she believes the government should take, Fiorina suggested engaging in bilateral talks with China to curb greenhouse gases, and easing regulations for alternative energy companies to build manufacturing plants.

When a reporter followed up by asking whether she believes in global warming, Fiorina said, "I think we should have the courage to examine the science on an ongoing basis."

On some other issues, Fiorina was more direct. She came out squarely against health care reform legislation pending in Congress, and she said she backs the so-called Stupak amendment, which would severely restrict access to abortion for those who enroll in a government-run insurance plan or who receive federal subsidies to buy private insurance.

Fiorina was asked a few times whether she would reach out to two celebrity Republicans, Schwarzenegger and Palin, to back her bid. But Fiorina, a celebrity in her own right in the business world, turned the queries aside. In response to a question about her interest in a Palin endorsement, Fiorina responded: "I think what's most important right now is for me to spend time with the people of California and with people in California who voters respect and understand."

Fiorina says health-reform bill too complex

Associated Press

KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON—Carly Fiorina has advice for Washington lawmakers as they tackle issues such as health care and immigration reform: Don't take on so much at once.

The newly announced candidate for the U.S. Senate in California used the nearly 2,000-page health care bill recently passed by the House to make her point before a group of reporters Wednesday. She said the sheer scope of the undertaking has made people wary about how it will affect their access to care and their pocketbooks.

"What this health care bill does is create a vast new entitlement. It tries to boil the ocean—let's throw absolutely everything we can into this bill," she said. "As a result, it's creating as many problems for people as it is solving problems for people. That's why I think it's in trouble."

The former Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive was in Washington to attend a fundraiser and meet with various interest groups and political leaders as she embarks on a campaign to challenge Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. She also spoke to about a dozen reporters for about 45 minutes and used the forum to promote her conservative positions even as she praised Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. She also praised Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his attempts to solve the state's water shortage.

Fiorina said Hewlett-Packard had a host of problems when she arrived, but she focused on tackling a few she thought could get solved first before moving on to others. She didn't cite specifics but said she would favor a similar incremental approach to fixing the nation's health care market.

For example, Congress could focus on limiting medical malpractice awards and help people with pre-existing conditions obtain health insurance before moving on to the next set of problems, she said.

In the same fashion, changes to the nation's immigration laws should focus on securing the border and improving a temporary visa program for workers, she said.

Fiorina hopes to win the state's Republican primary next June against state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, her main challenger.

The winner will take on Boxer, who is seeking a fourth term, in November's general election. Fiorina touted her pledge not to raise income taxes and said she met with the promoters of that pledge, Americans for Tax Reform, during her visit.

"If someone has a spending problem, you stop giving them money," she said in explaining the pledge.

On the issue of money, she declined to say how much she had loaned her campaign. Fiorina received a severance package from Hewlett-Packard of about $21 million, a fortune that could help her compete with Boxer if she chose to spend part of it on her campaign. Boxer has used the threat of a Fiorina challenge as a fundraising tool.

Fiorina said she has given some of her own money to the campaign in the form of a loan but tried to dispel the notion that she would tap her personal bank account.

"I don't have millions of dollars to put into the campaign," she said.

She was highly critical of Boxer, describing her as opposed to all free trade bills and voting with unions "100 percent of the time."

Boxer spokesman Zachary Coile said Fiorina was wrong about Boxer's record on trade agreements. He said Boxer has supported free trade agreements with Israel, Canada, Jordan, Australia, Morocco and Bahrain, representing half the free trade agreements now in force. She also voted to extend permanent normal trade relations with China, Coile said.

Fiorina also criticized Boxer's attempt to pass legislation this year that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill passed her committee but is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate this year.

Her campaign on Wednesday promoted an endorsement from Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who is one of Congress' most vocal skeptics of global warming. Fiorina said the U.S. said the U.S. should treat global warming as a challenge and an opportunity for job creation, adding, "We should have the courage to examine the science on an ongoing basis."

Utah: Possible Bennett Foe Has Audience With Club

Roll Call

John McArdle
Roll Call Staff

Attorney Mike Lee (R), who is mulling a primary challenge to Sen. Bob Bennett (R), was making the rounds in Washington, D.C., this week. His visit included a sit-down with the anti-tax group Club for Growth on Wednesday to talk about the race.

The club, which has pegged Bennett as a “Republican in name only,” has been one of the three-term Senator’s biggest critics this cycle.

The group has slammed Bennett for his vote to pass the controversial Wall Street bailout bill and went after the Senator again this fall in a television ad and letter-writing campaign to potential GOP convention delegates for his efforts to promote the Healthy Americans Act, a piece of legislation he created with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Lee “seems like an impressive guy and a committed fiscal conservative, but it’s too early to speculate about our next move in the Utah race,” club spokesman Mike Connolly said.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Lee declined to comment about his potential candidacy.

Three other Republicans, including conservative activist Cherilyn Eagar and former Congressional candidate Tim Bridgewater, are already in the race.

Fiorina Has Much to Prove in California Race

Roll Call

Emily Cadei
Roll Call Staff

As her Senate campaign finally gears up in earnest, Carly Fiorina has a lot to prove.

The big test, they say, will come in the next several months — the stretch from her campaign launch Nov. 4 to the state Republican convention in mid-March.

“Fiorina has the potential to be the most formidable opponent that Boxer’s ever faced. The key word there is potential,” said Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California and a former Republican political strategist.

Signs of how successful she is at realizing that potential include, first and foremost, her January fundraising report, a crucial benchmark in a race that is expected to cost $30 million or more. In addition, strategists said Fiorina needs to quickly draw a diverse coalition of backers beyond just the business community.

Lastly, they will be watching to see how well she is able to enunciate a clear message about what she would do in office and “give voters a really clear choice” versus Boxer, Republican strategist Bob Shuman said.

Democrats and conservative Republicans have pounced on a series of early missteps and negative headlines during the exploratory phase of Fiorina’s campaign in an effort to paint her as not ready for prime time. “Given how well her debut went in the exploratory campaign, the entire campaign should be as entertaining,” said Eric Schultz, communications director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

There were the flurry of stories in August about her poor voting record and the campaign’s changing account of when and where she voted, the roundly mocked launch of the beta version of her Web site in September, and questions about her business practices and leadership both during her stormy tenure at HP and afterward. The campaign has rebutted a number of the attacks, but questions surrounding her voting record and particularly her time at HP are expected to be major issues in the campaign.

All the while, Fiorina was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer, which she just wrapped up last month. Her stepdaughter died suddenly in October, as well.

“For very understandable reasons, she’s been in somewhat of a political limbo the last several months,” Schnur said. “As the campaign moves forward, the dialogue is necessarily going to become more balanced.”

Voters, however, are not paying much attention to any of it right now. A USC-Los Angeles Times poll released Nov. 7 found that just 29 percent of California voters could identify Carly Fiorina, and just 19 percent knew her GOP primary opponent, Chuck DeVore.

“What most voters will know for the most part will be what the paid advertising says,” said political consultant Allan Hoffenblum, publisher of the California Target Book on state elections

Hence the need for candidates to raise copious amounts of money.

Fiorina created a bit of a stir this fall when her campaign said she does not intend to entirely self-fund her campaign. Spokeswoman Julie Soderlund said Fiorina will, in fact, “invest in her campaign,” but not to the tune of Meg Whitman (R), the former eBay CEO who has discussed spending as much as $150 million on her 2010 gubernatorial bid in the state. Soderlund said Fiorina will also “actively seek the support of a broad base of donors.”

Fiorina has started by tapping her business connections to assemble a roster of big-dollar donors. She rolled out the 60 initial members of her “campaign leadership team,” which reads like a who’s who of California’s professional elite. It includes nine individuals or couples who bundled at least $50,000 for Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign.

She attended a fundraiser Tuesday in Washington, D.C., hosted by another batch of McCain bundlers — Judy and Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Frank and Becki Donatelli and Fred Malek — as well as other D.C. heavyweights such as former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie and Business Roundtable President John Castellani.

“From what I’m hearing from the donor community, she’s been very well-received,” said Tim Clark, a veteran Republican campaign consultant in California.

Clark also predicted that despite Fiorina’s initial resistance to spend large sums of her own money, “at the end of the day, if she’s in this thing ... if she gains momentum, she’s going to have a hard time not putting some of her money in.”

Fiorina’s fundraising capacity is one of the major reasons she is viewed as the favorite in the June 8 Republican primary against DeVore, despite the fact that the two are tied in the USC-Times poll at 27 percent. Her self-funding capability is also why strategists in Washington like her chances against Boxer better.

DeVore, a third-term state Assemblyman from Orange County, is mounting a dark-horse conservative bid. But despite campaigning for a full year, he had raised just more than $700,000 through the end of September. And he had a high burn rate, ending the period with just $145,000 in cash on hand and $88,000 in debt.

DeVore spokesman Joshua Trevino said there is “no question” the campaign needs to raise money to be competitive, but it’s not “the most important metric.”

“California is littered with the political corpses of well-funded multimillionaire candidates who outspend their opponents by orders of magnitude and lose by orders of magnitude,” Trevino noted.

He said the campaign was putting a big chunk of its donations back into what he promised will be “a gold standard list for political fundraising on the Republican side.”

Observers say the DeVore campaign could also potentially capitalize on its high-profile online presence, particularly among right-wing bloggers. “Because of blogs, because of talk radio, because of [Rush] Limbaugh and Fox News, who knows how much free publicity DeVore can get,” Hoffenblum said.

To pre-empt any sort of grass-roots insurgency, strategists said, Fiorina needs to obtain the early backing of some credible conservatives. Clark said he will be watching to see if she is able to “put together a broad base of endorsements” to “signal a consolidation” behind her campaign.

DeVore has nabbed nearly all the GOP members of the state Assembly and half the Republican state Senators. He is also touting the endorsement of conservative Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.).

Fiorina has begun courting the conservative blogosphere to a mixed reception. The party establishment has been quicker to embrace her: The day after her campaign launch, she announced the endorsements of eight prominent GOP Senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and staunchly conservative Sen. Tom Coburn. On Wednesday, she received the backing of Oklahoma’s other Senator, James Inhofe (R).

Even as Fiorina is guarding her right flank, she also has to begin laying out her rationale for ousting Boxer, which even the most optimistic of Republicans believes will be an uphill climb.

Her campaign has already launched a Web site and Web ads criticizing the three-term Senator’s record. But to have any shot against Boxer, a wily politician and tireless campaigner, Fiorina also has to create a positive and detailed agenda that resonates with voters, particularly independents.

“Her biggest challenge going forward is to fill in some of the blanks,” Schnur said. “Voters need to know not just what she believes but what she intends to accomplish if she’s elected.”

Danny Tarkanian’s ad narrator can’t pronounce Nevada; pulls down web ad within minutes

Las Vegas Sun

Jon Ralston

Yes, that's what happened today. Hoping to capitalize on the phantom congressional districts in stimulus reporting story (first discovered by yours truly two weeks ago), GOP Senate contender Tarkanian announced a web ad today attacking Harry Reid. The semi-clever ad uses an X-Files motif to lampoon Reid for the phantom districts and jobs (the districts were erroneous, the jobs were real, as the AP reported today). Problem was the narrator says Ne-vah-duh in the ads -- not an out-of-state narrator! Someone must have realized this immediately because the ad was pulled down. Indeed, reporters who tried to click on the link the campaign provided found no video. Whoops.Yes, that's what happened today. Hoping to capitalize on the phantom congressional districts in stimulus reporting story (first discovered by yours truly two weeks ago), GOP Senate contender Tarkanian announced a web ad today attacking Harry Reid. The semi-clever ad uses an X-Files motif to lampoon Reid for the phantom districts and jobs (the districts were erroneous, the jobs were real, as the AP reported today). Problem was the narrator says Ne-vah-duh in the ads -- not an out-of-state narrator! Someone must have realized this immediately because the ad was pulled down. Indeed, reporters who tried to click on the link the campaign provided found no video. Whoops.

The spot was re-edited and a new release went out an hour and 15 minutes later. An apology, but no explanation. Now you have one.

Nice idea (the X-Files motif) despite the silliness of blaming Reid for the erroneous reporting and the ad being wrong about the jobs not existing. Abysmal execution.

I have posted the comical original ad at right (yes, I got a copy somehow).

So so far, the GOP frontrunners against Reid have engaged in an embarrassing yukfest about a car bomb (Sue Lowden) and put up a web ad that had to be pulled because the state's name was mispronounced (Danny Tarkanian). Not an auspicious start for Snow White and Little Tark.

It's early, but fair warning: The Reid machine eats these kinds of amateurs for breakfast.

Mark Kirk, R-Trout Stream

DSCC Rant

We haven't seen this much flip-flopping since we went trout fishing.

Senate candidate Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, is developing quite a pattern. He was for climate change legislation before he was against it. He doubted Sarah Palin's ability to be VP, before he started begging for her endorsement. He voted against the stimulus, before taking credit for the projects it created.

Now, in a whiplash-inducing rightward pander, Kirk has decided that holding terrorists in maximum-security prisons in America is simply too dangerous – even though he voted LAST MONTH to allow prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay to be brought to the U.S. mainland.

What's changed since then? Kirk is desperately afraid that his primary opponent, Patrick Hughes, will attack him from the right. In order to avoid the fate of one Dede Scozzafava – the Republican forced out of her New York congressional race by a conservative challenger – he's tacking rightward. Hard.

He's adopted the fearmongering that has infected the GOP, saying that if prisoners end up in Illinois, “our state and the Chicago metropolitan area will become ground zero for jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment and radicalization.”

Unfortunately for Kirk, this time, two big Chicago newspapers are calling him out. The Chicago Tribune opined, “give us a break,” and the Chicago Sun Times said, “Kirk's scare talk might do him wonders with the GOP base, but it won't convince a single terrorist that this nation has a backbone.”

Kirk does have a backbone. The backbone of a trout. Flip-flop.

WHAS: U.S. Senate: Grayson confident, but Bailey could enter race A different kind of uncertaintly is on Bailey's mind.

WHAS 11

Joe Arnold

As Republicans Trey Grayson and Rand Paul quarrel over who is the true conservative in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race, GOP stalwart Cathy Bailey appears unconvinced by either campaign and might enter the race, herself.

Asked by WHAS11's Joe Arnold if she is now considering entering the U.S. Senate race, the former Ambassador to Latvia under President George W. Bush said she and other conservatives are "watching it closely."

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson had been widely viewed as the frontrunner in the Republican primary, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly hosting another fundraiser for Grayson in December.

But, Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul, spurred by libertarian minded supporters of his father, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, has stunned the GOP establishment with more than $1.3 million in campaign cash and a narrow lead in last week's WHAS11/Survey USA poll of the Republican primary.

"I'm confident that when they hear my views, my experience, my track record, we're going to be fine, no matter what those polls say," insisted Grayson.

But Cathy Bailey, is less than convinced, and is questioning Grayson's conservative credentials.

"Obviously, this race is wide open," Bailey said in a statement, "The establishment's moderate choice has slipped and hasn't lived up to the hype. At the same time, what Rand Paul has accomplished is impressive despite some of his extreme positions. I am watching it closely, as are several other concerned Kentucky Republicans who want to keep this seat in true conservative hands."

WHAS11 News has learned that a recent telephone poll gauged voters' opinions on Bailey, who could rely on an extensive GOP donor Rolodex and personal wealth to enter the race months after Grayson and Paul.

"I've talked to mutual friends and I'm comfortable that if she were to run, that our mutual friends would support me because they know I'm the one who has the best chance of winning the primary, the best chance of winning the fall and keeping this seat in conservative hands like it is," Grayson said.

And Grayson says he will not bow out.

"I have zero, zero concern that Senator McConnell or anyone else that's been a big backer of mine or big supporter, or just an advisor of mine is going to jump ship because of what's going on right now. Because of this little phenomenon, where you guys have this crush on this doctor from Bowling Green who has some crazy ideas."

Grayson insists that the underlying premise of doubts about his candidacy is way off. Yes, he will have to fend off the national fundraising support Rand Paul is getting from libertarian minded contributors. But he says that he has more in common with mainstream, conservative Kentucky than the libertarian brand of Republicanism. He says the top priority of any Senate candidate should be jobs.

"One of the things we have to is focus on getting the government out of the way of the private sector. We're curbing government spending so those are kind of all related. Some of these bills that are being talked about are not helping recovery."

Grayson says he will fight for Kentucky jobs, saying employers have told him, "Their health care costs are actually going to go up and not down if cap and trade passes or if the EPA won't let us do any mining in Kentucky that electricity rates in the state are going to skyrocket. These uncertainties prevent job hirings."

A different kind of uncertaintly is on Bailey's mind.

"Hopefully we will all know by January's filing deadline if either the establishment moderate or his insurgent opponent is truly capable of running a campaign that can survive the upcoming onslaught from the National Democratic Party," Bailey said in the statement.

The WHAS11/Survey USA polls so far show only Grayson as the candidate who would defeat either of the Democratic frontrunners.

REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO SKEWER MARK KIRK’S BASELESS, KARL ROVIAN ATTACKS OVER THOMSON PRISON

DSCC

"I saw Mark Kirk making some comment about potentially a terrorist attacking Chicago," Republican State Rep. Jim Sacia said. "For Christ sakes. Chicago is 150 miles from Thomson... I'm very upset about [his rhetoric]. I understand people wanting to take a stand. But before you take a stand get the facts. I didn't make a comment on this until I sat through a three hour briefing yesterday."

Today, Illinois Republican lawmaker, State Representative Jim Sacia, took Congressman Mark Kirk to task for his rush to politicize the potential transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to a maximum security prison in Thomson, Illinois. Sacia’s comments come several days after Kirk penned a letter to President Obama, blasting his plan to potentially transfer prisoners from Guantanamo to Thomson – a plan which has won support from both Democrats and Republicans in Illinois. Since then, Kirk’s rash rush to engage in the politics of fear has been blasted by editorial boards across the state and by many prominent conservatives. Even worse for Kirk, his sudden opposition to transferring prisoners from Guantanamo to the United States is a blatant flip-flop, as Kirk voted “yes” just last month to H.R. 2892, which gave the President authority to do just this.

“Mark Kirk’s rush to politicize this key national security issue and disregard the facts around it does Illinois voters a disservice,” said Kathleen Strand, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Instead of working towards a bi-partisan solution, Kirk has resorted to engaging in Karl Rove style fear mongering, which Illinois voters became fed up with a long time ago. With members of his own party openly criticizing his actions, Kirk should stop this divisive, unhelpful behavior immediately."

Huffington Post: Illinois Republican: We Would Be "Idiots" Not To Take Gitmo Detainees
Sam Stein
November 17, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/17/illinois-republican-we-wo_n_361114.html

A Republican lawmaker in Illinois said his GOP colleagues would be "idiots" to kill a proposal to transfer terrorist suspects from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the maximum-security prison in Thomson, Illinois.

Representative Jim Sacia of the state's 89th District accused Republicans in Washington -- including Senate candidate, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill) -- of risking thousands of local jobs in their demagoguery of the detainee issue.

"My thinking on this is extremely positive," Sacia told the Huffington Post. "If we lose this opportunity. All I can think of is we literally are idiots. I mean that sincerely."

"I understand I'm on different pages of music with others in my party. First of all this should not be a partisan issue in anyway. If President Obama brings the detainees on U.S. soil and we sit here with a brand new state-of-the-art, max security prison, sitting vacant for the last eight years, and pass on an opportunity to sell it to the federal government, which we would fill it with 1,500 regular prisoners and 800 detainees, what is the problem? The building was designed to do that.

"The only reason we have rhetoric now is because of the closing of Gitmo," Sacia concluded. "It makes no sense at all. This is a tremendous opportunity and we would be idiots to waste it."

A town of 450, Thomson found itself thrust into the national political spotlight after Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and others pushed it as a potential home for Guantanamo Bay detainees. Defenders of the proposal say it could create as many as 3,000 jobs. Sacia, whose district is in the neighboring area, notes that when the facility was built in 2001, businesses popped up all around it anticipating that it would be fully operational. Today, only 200 minimum-security inmates are housed in the 1,600-cell prison, requiring the attendance of only 82 staff members.

"We have so many citizens in my district and bordering my district who have suffered unbelievable economic hardship because they planned for and built businesses all for a prison they believed would be open," Sacia said.

A former law enforcement official, Sacia saved one of his main complaints for those who warn that transferring detainees to Thomson would make the site a target for terrorists -- a concern aired by his home-state Senate candidate and fellow Republican, Mark Kirk.

"I saw Mark Kirk making some comment about potentially a terrorist attacking Chicago," he said. "For Christ sakes. Chicago is 150 miles from Thomson... I'm very upset about [his rhetoric]. I understand people wanting to take a stand. But before you take a stand get the facts. I didn't make a comment on this until I sat through a three hour briefing yesterday."

"It certainly wouldn't be my position if I were running for [the Senate]," Sacia added.

For Sacia, the preferred course of action would be to keep the facility at Guantanamo Bay in operation. But with President Obama committing his administration to closing the controversial detention center, he adds, "I don't see why we would not be carrying the torch say, 'Hey we have a facility that logically can be used.'"

DAVID VITTER FOR SALE: IS THERE ANYONE HE WON’T SELL OUT FOR?

Vitter Takes Money From Halliburton, Votes Against Justice For Sexual Assault Victims; Vitter Takes Money From Formaldehyde Lobby, Squashes Study That Could Help Displaced Louisianans

Instead Of Selling Out To Special Interests, Vitter Should Find Himself A Moral Compass

Eric Schultz, DSCC

As if the residents of Louisiana needed any more proof that Senator David Vitter wasn’t looking out for their interests in Washington, two recent events prove he isn’t. Last month, Vitter voted against an amendment to prohibit the government from working with contractors who deny victims of rape or assault the right to bring their cases to court. The amendment was bitterly opposed by contracting corporations like Halliburton, which have poured in thousands of dollars into Vitter’s campaign coffers over the years. Vitter has also placed a block on President Obama’s nominee to head the Research and Development Office at the Environmental Protection Agency, due to the fact that the EPA plans on conducting studies looking into the potential negative health effects of formaldehyde use; formaldehyde was used in the FEMA mobile homes that sickened thousands of Katrina evacuees in Louisiana. It turns out that Vitter has been on the receiving end of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the formaldehyde lobby, which includes big oil PACs.

“For years, David Vitter has carried the water of the special interests in Washington, but now he’s doing it at the expense of the people of Louisiana,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Vitter sides with his big campaign contributors over victims of sexual assault and those sickened by exposure to formaldehyde. With each passing day, David Vitter proves he’s a craven politician who will stop at nothing to get re-elected.”

Vitter Has Received $42,520 From Known Formaldehyde Producers. Since coming to Washington Vitter has received $42,520 from known formaldehyde producers including Dow Chemical’s PAC, Monsanto’s PAC, ExxonMobil’s PAC, and the American Forest and Paper Association PAC. [CQ Moneyline, accessed 11/17/09]

Vitter Has Received $9,000 From Halliburton. Since coming to Washington, Vitter has received $9,000 from Halliburton Energy Sources Inc. Political Action Committee. [CQ Moneyline, accessed 11/17/09]

Vitter Has Received $21,500 From Known Formaldehyde Producers For 2010 Election. In just the 2009-2010 election cycle Vitter has already amassed $21,500 from the formaldehyde industry. [CQ Moneyline, accessed 11/17/09]

ULM Professor: Vitter Put Interests Of Companies That Produce Formaldehyde Over Cancer Victims and Katrina Evacuees. In November 2009, ULM Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley blasted Vitter in an op-ed for serving the interests of companies known to produce formaldehyde linked to cancer instead of cancer victims and Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Following the interest of formaldehyde companies, Vitter placed a hold on Paul Anastas, who was unanimously approved by a Senate committee to head the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development, in order to drag out his confirmation for months. Dr. Stockley wrote, “It turns out that the EPA has signaled plans to assess formaldehyde's health effects and its concomitant usage in building materials and household products because studies have found a link between formaldehyde and cancer. An EPA under Anastas would likely restrict the use of formaldehyde in building materials, like the FEMA mobile homes that sickened thousands of Katrina evacuees.” [Dr. Joshua Stockley, The News Star, 11/14/09]

The Advocate: Vitter Placed Hold On EPA Researcher Because He Wanted To Study Formaldehyde. In 2009, the Advocate stated that Vitter’s reason for placing a hold on Paul Anastas to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development was to protect the formaldehyde industry. The article read, “The Louisiana Republican has a hold on the nomination of an Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator because he wants a National Academy of Sciences study on formaldehyde.” [The Advocate, 10/31/09]

Potentially Deadly Formaldehyde Could Impact 34,000 Hurricane Katrina Victims. In 2009, the Advocate reported, “In March 2008, the federal government warned 34,000 people living in travel trailers distributed after Hurricane Katrina to vacate after tests showed high levels of formaldehyde in trailers. The material was blamed for causing respiratory problems with some trailer occupants exposed to five times the amount that is considered safe.” [The Advocate, 10/31/09]

Louisiana Environmental Action Network: Louisiana Is A “Living Experiment” Of Formaldehyde Danger. In 2009, the Louisiana Environmental Action Network told members to ask Vitter to remove his hold on Paul Anastas and cited the urgency of formaldehyde study for Louisiana. LEAN Executive Director Marylee Orr said, “There is absolutely no question that formaldehyde is a health problem. We were a living experiment here in Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.” [The Advocate, 10/28/09]

MARK KIRK TAKES A HARD RIGHT TURN – NEW VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS KIRK’S SARAH PALIN FLIP-FLOP

Kathleen Strand, DSCC

Sarah Palin Is On Oprah Today, Will She Endorse Kirk Or Anti-Establishment Patrick Hughes?

Truck Found at http://dscc.org/truck

Today, in advance of Sarah Palin’s appearance The Oprah Winfrey show, Democrats release “Truck,” a new webvideo highlighting Mark Kirk’s rightward turn and his ever changing opinion of Sarah Palin. After initially praising her nomination, Kirk realized that he was facing a tough re-election campaign in 2008 and tried as hard as he could to distance himself from Palin, saying she “would not have been my choice for Vice President” and that he “didn’t know if Palin is qualified to be President.” Now, facing skepticism from Illinois Republicans and a primary challenge from anti-establishment candidate Patrick Hughes, Kirk has once again flip-flopped and is now actively seeking Palin’s endorsement for his U.S. Senate campaign. “Truck” shows once again that Mark Kirk is willing to put politics above principals, and embrace the right-wing.

“After initially supporting Sarah Palin, Mark Kirk took a look at the polls and decided to oppose her during his last campaign,” said Kathleen Strand, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Now, facing an anti-establishment primary challenger, Kirk has decided to embrace Sarah Palin and the far-right wing of his party. As if they needed more proof, Illinois voters now know once and for all that Kirk is willing to put politics above principals and is just another typical Washington politician looking out for himself.”

Earlier this month, Mark Kirk penned a memo to Republican strategist Fred Malek, hoping that he could help him secure an endorsement from Sarah Palin. Kirk noted that Palin will be in Chicago today to appear on Oprah and said he was looking for “quick and decisive” action from Palin, hoping she would say something like “Voters in Illinois have a key opportunity to take Barack Obama's Senate seat. Congressman Kirk is the lead candidate to do that.”

After Initial Praise for McCain’s Choice of Palin, Kirk Said He Would Have Picked Someone Else. After initially praising John McCain’s choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, Kirk caved to political pressure during his tough re-election campaign and changed his mind about her. Kirk told the Chicago Tribune that he “would have picked someone different.” After the Palin announcement, Kirk said he was “encouraged” by McCain's choice of Palin and credited conservative political parties around the world as the ones that break through “key barriers,” such as gender. [Chicago Tribune, 10/1/08]

· Kirk Called Palin the “Patrick Fitzgerald of Alaska.” In a release from the Illinois Republican Party praising Senator John McCain’s choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, Kirk called Palin the “Patrick Fitzgerald Of Alaska” for her grit and determination in taking on the old-line Republican guard in Alaska. [Illinois Republican Party release, 8/29/08]

· Female Voters Criticized Kirk for Supporting Palin. In September 2008, a group of 75 female voters sent Kirk a letter strongly criticizing his support for Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and accusing him of not “standing up for women in the 10th District.” “There is nothing encouraging about Palin's extreme political views, including her opposition to a woman's right to choose even in the cases of incest and rape, equal pay for equal work, and gun control,” they wrote. “Your support for Sarah Palin shows that you are more concerned with supporting the Republican Party and continuing with more of the same disastrous policies of the last 8 years.” [Washington Post, 9/11/08]

· Kirk: Palin Would Not Have Been My Choice for Vice President. Kirk told the Chicago Sun Times editorial board that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would not have been his choice for John McCain’s running mate. [Chicago Sun Times, 10/13/08]

· Kirk: I Don’t Know If Palin Is Qualified to be President. In October 2009, Kirk was asked by the Chicago Tribune editorial board if he believed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had the qualifications to become president. “Quite frankly, I don't know,” Kirk responded. [Chicago Tribune, 10/1/08]

KELLY AYOTTE ON STIMULUS: SHE WAS FOR IT, BEFORE SHE WAS AGAINST IT

Eric Schultz, DSCC

First Crist, Now Ayotte Forgets Her Support for Stimulus Programs

Video Ayotte Does NOT Want The Club For Growth To See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3juQx6pXBs8

On the heels of Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s awkward flip-flop over his support for the Economic Recovery Act, Kelly Ayotte seems to be suffering from the same amnesia. In Sunday’s Union Leader, Ayotte’s campaign chairman, Steve Merrill, argued that while Crist has been criticized by his primary opponent, Marco Rubio, for supporting the stimulus plan “that sort of connection does not exist among these Republicans in New Hampshire.” However, Kelly Ayotte is the only Republican in the primary field who did support the President’s stimulus package.

“Kelly Ayotte gets an A+ for trying to be all things to all people,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Despite lauding stimulus spending a few months ago, with Ayotte’s dramatic moves to the right comes her own reinvention. New Hampshire voters are not going to fall for this trick, and with her stimulus hypocrisy, Kelly Ayotte is proving herself to be just another say one thing, do another politician.”

In Florida, Governor Charlie Crist gave his strong support to the President’s stimulus package and even appeared with him at a campaign-style event in Florida in February, designed to drum up support for the stimulus. Since then, Crist decided to run for the Senate and has been locked in a tough primary battle against the more conservative Marco Rubio. Faced with sagging poll numbers and an angry Republican base, Crist flip-flopped and now claims that he didn’t really endorse the stimulus itself, but endorsed the “concept.” The bleeding hasn’t stopped for Crist, with the Club for Growth recently endorsing Marco Rubio over Crist, a large reason being Crist’s initial support for the stimulus.

NH Political Report: Ayotte Made “Strong Endorsements” Of President Obama’s Stimulus Plan. In 2009, the New Hampshire Political Report noted that as Attorney General Ayotte praised the stimulus and said it was useful to fight crime. The article read, “While Attorney General, Ayotte made strong endorsements of President Obama's Recovery and Reinvestment Act. She told the press that a stimulus bill was necessary to stem a rise in crime during the economic downturn, saying: ‘in times of economic uncertainty and with the potential for increasing crime, we need to continue to support these programs.’” [New Hampshire Political Report, 7/17/09]

Ayotte Used Stimulus Money To Create A Homicide Unit. As Attorney General, Ayotte used stimulus money to cover the costs of a new cold-case homicide unit after lawmakers decided there wasn't enough state money to pay for the four-year project. [State House Dome, 8/16/09]

Ayotte Turned Against Cold Case Squad She Started With Stimulus Dollars. In September 2009, Ayotte stated that the cold case squad she started as AG using stimulus money was not a good use of stimulus money. She said while a cold case squad “is an appropriate use of law enforcement grants, I don't believe that particular program is going to stimulate the economy and the purpose of the stimulus was to stimulate the economy and create jobs.” [Union-Leader, 9/27/09]

MARK KIRK FLIP-FLOPS ONCE AGAIN – DESPITE RECENT RHETORIC, KIRK VOTED TO ALLOW GUANTANAMO DETAINEES TO BE MOVED TO U.S. MAINLAND JUST LAST MONTH

Kathleen Strand, DSCC

Kirk’s Karl Rove Style Tactics Fly in Face Of Kirk’s Voting Record

Over the weekend, Congressman Mark Kirk sent a letter to President Barack Obama blasting him for potentially transferring Guantanamo detainees to a state prison in Illinois. The problem for Kirk is that he actually voted just last month to allow Guantanamo detainees to be moved to the U.S. Mainland. Kirk voted yes to H.R. 2892, which gave the President authority to do just this. Now, locked in tight primary battle, and moving further and further to the right, Kirk has flip-flopped on his position. Kirk’s hypocritical, fear-mongering tactics come straight out of the Karl Rove playbook, and show once again that he is just a typical Washington politician, willing to do or say anything if he thinks it will help him cover his political bases.

“Mark Kirk’s hypocrisy on this important national security issue is disappointing yet revealing,” said Kathleen Strand, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Kirk’s fear-mongering tactics come straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook, at a time when Illinois voters are fed up with the destructive politics of fear and division of the past. Instead of working towards a commonsense solution, Kirk’s ploy is completely hypocritical, and does not contribute in a meaningful way to the national security debate at hand.”

Kirk Voted With House Democrats To Allow Guantanamo Detainees To Be Moved To U.S. Mainland. In October 2009, Kirk joined with House Democrats and voted in favor of transferring prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. mainland. According to conservative blog Illinois Review, “Last week, we got another slap at reality when Kirk apparently forgot he ‘supports’ the Republican position on keeping Guantanamo Bay open. The U.S. House voted this week on H.R. 2892, transferring prisoners out of Gitmo. A large majority of House Republicans opposed it, but a faction of them did not. In the Illinois delegation, for example, Peter Roskam strongly opposed the legislation. However, Mark Kirk voted with Democrats Bobby Rush, Jesse Jackson, Dan Lipinski, Mike Quigley, Danny Davis, Melissa Bean, Jan Schakowsky, Debbie Halvorson, and Phil Hare (as well as nationally known Democrats like Barney Frank, Dennis Kucinich, and Charlie Rangel) to allow the Obama administration to move foreign terrorist suspects from the Guantanamo Bay prison to the United States mainland.” [Illinois Review, 10/19/09; Vote 784, 10/15/09]

Hall of Shame: John Ensign and Sue Lowden

Nevadans deserve better than John Ensign – and Sue Lowden. The two of them ought to be consigned to the dustbin of history – and the DSCC’s Hall of Shame.

Hall of Shame: Roy Blunt (Repeat Offender)

What will Missouri Congressman and Senate hopeful Roy Blunt do to fix America’s broken health care system? Absolutely nothing.

Hall of Shame: Richard Burr

North Carolina Republican Richard Burr offered his solution to the economic crisis– “withdraw all money from the bank”.

Hall of Shame: Norm Coleman

Now with even his own lawyers saying he'll lose, Norm Coleman is shamefully and spitefully refusing to admit defeat

Hall of Shame: David Vitter

It seems that Louisiana Republican David Vitter just can’t stop embarrassing himself or the people of his home state.

Hall of Shame: Roy Blunt

As more and more Americans are worrying about their homes, their health care, and their next paycheck, Missouri Republican Roy Blunt remains as clueless as he is shameless.

Hall of Shame: Saxby Chambliss

On Saxby Chambliss’ watch, hundreds of thousands of Georgia’s kids were left without access to health care, and Chambliss actually tried to stop the Senate from sending help.

Hall of Shame: Gordon Smith

There he goes again. For continuing his attempts to trick Oregonians into forgetting his record as a party-line Republican, we award Gordon Smith a place in our Hall of Shame.

Hall of Shame: Norm Coleman

For having the poor judgment and lack of shame to fly to the Bahamas and live in a cheap apartment, all while wearing clothes someone else paid for, Coleman gets another place in the Hall of Shame.

Hall of Shame: Mitch McConnell

We’re awarding McConnell an unprecedented fourth spot in our Hall of Shame for his disgusting decision to rip a World War II veteran’s comments out of context and twist them into a false political attack.