DSCC

DSCC STATEMENT ON CARLY FIORINA’S OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO THE CALIFORNIA SENATE RACE

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz released the following statement in response to Carly Fiorina’s official entry into the California Senate race today:

“The hallmark of Carly Fiorina’s resume is her tenure at Hewlett-Packard where she laid-off 28,000 Americans while shipping jobs overseas – just before taking a $21 million golden parachute. Given that record, the United States Senate is the last place Carly Fiorina should go next. Fiorina’s political debut has generated serious questions over her nonexistent voting record, an atrocious tenure at Hewlett-Packard, sidestepping of a trade ban with Iran, and a failure to register her foundation with the IRS. Given how well her debut went, the rest of her campaign should be equally entertaining.”

Fiorina Named One of Nation’s Worst CEOs By MSN-Money. “Carly Fiorina . . . Under her direction, a company that was once a paradigm of Silicon Valley entrepreneurship has simply failed to make any progress at enhancing shareholder value. It is now trading about where it did in 1995. Fiorina's reign at H-P -- combined with that of the CEO just before her -- makes a great case study of exactly what not to do.” [MSN-Money, 6/10/04]

Fiorina Named One of Worst Tech CEOs By VNUNet.com. “Iain Thomson: When Carly Fiorina joined HP in 1999 as chief executive it looked like a good fit... But as time went on the cracks started to show. The HP culture was always very egalitarian and that changed rapidly. Mass layoffs were announced at a time when we began to hear tales of lavish corporate jets and personal grooming assistants, and engineers were rumbling that they were being pushed out of decision making. And then came Compaq. The Compaq merger was disastrous for the HP Way and signaled the final death rattle of what had been one of the best work cultures in Silicon Valley.... It should also be noted that Fiorina is largely credited with the creation of a very dysfunctional boardroom, the same board whose persistent infighting and leaks to the press would set the stage for the infamous 2006 pretexting scandal. [VNUNet.com, 11/22/08]

Fiorina Received Severance Package Worth More than $21 Million. “Ousted Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina will get a severance package worth more than $21 million, according to a proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.” [MarketWatch, 2/14/05]

Fiorina “Threw the Company into Turmoil” Before Receiving Package. On her watch, the stock price tanked and over 20,000 employees were laid off; despite this, Fiorina walked away from the company with a $21 million golden parachute. “Her poise and freshness have been offset at times by her inexperience and her contentious tenure at HP, during which she cut more than 20,000 jobs and the venerable technology company's stock fell by nearly half. Democrats say that Fiorina is a ripe target, viewed as an elitist who threw the company into turmoil before walking away with $21 million in severance and other payments.” [Los Angeles Times, 08/06/08]

DSCC STATEMENT ON BILL BINNIE’S ENTRY INTO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE RACE

Eric Schultz, DSCC
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz released the following statement in response to Bill Binnie’s entry into the New Hampshire Senate race today:

“With multi-millionaire Bill Binnie’s entry into the New Hampshire Senate race today, Kelly Ayotte’s path to the Republican nomination got no easier. She now faces a well-funded opponent willing to sink personal money into a Senate run. As several more prominent Republicans appear close to announcing their intentions, Ayotte continues moving further to the right and out of the New Hampshire mainstream to cover her political bases. While it is not clear which Republican will emerge from the primary, it is clear that New Hampshire voters will be faced with two stark choices in 2010, going back to the failed policies of the past or moving the state forward with Paul Hodes as their independent voice in the U.S. Senate.”

MARK KIRK FURIOUSLY RACING TO THE RIGHT: NOW ACTIVELY SEEKING ENDORSEMENT OF SARAH PALIN
With GOP Purging Moderates From Party And Prospect Of Tough Primary, Mark Kirk Seeks Blessing Of Far-Right

Kirk Wasn’t Too Keen On Palin When Running In IL-10: “I Would Have Picked Someone Different” For VP

Several days after the Republican Party purged a moderate Republican in upstate New York and a day after a devastating special election in New York exposed the Republican Party in utter chaos, Congressman Mark Kirk continues to move further to the right – this time by actively seeking the endorsement of Sarah Palin. Congressman Kirk continues to show he is willing to put politics above principals every time he gets the chance. Kirk’s embracing of Sarah Palin might be the icing on the cake. 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 with the NRSC taking a hands off approach on funding Senate primary campaigns, Kirk is once again putting politics above principals, and embracing the right-wing.

“The 2008 election was one year ago today and Mark Kirk time and again voiced his opposition to Sarah Palin’s vice presidential nomination, but now desperately trying to court the right-wing of the Republican party, he thinks he deserves her endorsement,” said Kathleen Strand, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Mark Kirk is showing himself to be nothing more than a typical politician only looking out for number one.”

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]

ANOTHER MISTAKE FOR CARLY FIORINA: MAKES SENATE ANNOUNCEMENT AT SUBSIDIARY OF COMPANY FINED BY EPA FOR DUMPING TOXIC WASTE

Eric Schultz, DSCC
Today, Carly Fiorina made her already botched Senate run official by declaring her candidacy at the subsidiary of a company fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for dumping toxic waste. Fiorina announced her Senate run at the “Earth Friendly Products,” located in Garden Grove in Orange County. “Earth Friendly Products” claims to make environmentally safe cleaning products, but it’s parent company, Venus Laboratories, has been the subject of fines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for illegally dumping toxic liquid waste into a tributary in Illinois. The State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has also investigated Venus Laboratories.

“Another day, another mistake for the Carly Fiorina campaign,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Communications Director Eric Schultz. “By making her announcement speech at a subsidiary of a company fined for dumping toxic waste, Fiorina managed to insult all Californians who care about the environment. Her move raises serious questions as to whether she is remotely prepared to protect the Californian environment were she to serve in the Senate.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, Venus Laboratories, which owns Earth Friendly Products “pleaded guilty to four criminal violations of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Saturday. Venus Laboratories Inc. pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Magistrate Joan Lefkow to illegally discharging liquid wastes into a tributary of the Des Plaines River. The company agreed to pay a $10,000 fine. The discharges were made into an unnamed tributary in 1980. Both the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice brought suits against Venus.” [Chicago Tribune, August 4, 1985]

MEMORANDUM: QUESTION FOR SARAH PALIN: WHO WILL YOU ENDORSE IN ILLINOIS SENATE RACE?
Mark Kirk Blasted You In Past, But Now Wants Your Endorsement POLITICO: “And If Kirk, With His Deep Bankroll And Establishment Support, Can’t Defeat A Little-Known Political Neophyte In The Primary Without Tacking To The Right, Maybe His Chances Of Winning Are Overstated”

To: Governor Sarah Palin
Cc: Congressman Mark Kirk
Cc: Fred Malek
From: Kathleen Strand, Senior Advisor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Dear Governor Palin,

Yesterday, following the purge of a moderate Republican in upstate New York and the devastating special election in NY-23, it was revealed that Congressman Mark Kirk is actively seeking your endorsement of his candidacy in the U.S. Senate race in Illinois. However, Mark Kirk has not had kind words to say about you in the past. Faced with a difficult re-election race in 2008, Kirk told reporters he “would have picked someone else” for Vice-President and that frankly he “didn’t know whether you are qualified to be President.” Now that Kirk is facing a tough primary challenge from the anti-Washington, anti-establishment candidate Patrick Hughes, he is suddenly racing to embrace you. I’m not sure how familiar you are with Mark Kirk but he is a politician who has a history of putting politics above principals, something you surely look down upon. Whether the issue is cap and trade, extending unemployment benefits, or health care reform, Kirk has either flip-flopped, been AWOL, or motivated purely by politics. On the other hand, Patrick Hughes is comfortable in his own skin as an extreme right-winger. Unlike the pro-abortion Kirk, Hughes is firmly pro-life, anti-gay marriage, and pro-gun…sounds like your type of Republican. I know you are in Milwaukee tomorrow and will be in our great state of Illinois later this month, both would be a perfect setting to give your blessing to one of these two candidates. With so much at stake in the next election, everyone wants to know – who will you endorse in our Senate race?

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]

DSCC STATEMENT ON TOM WIENS’ ENTRY INTO THE COLORADO SENATE RACE

Eric Schultz, DSCC
One day after Republicans announced they will not financially back their recruit Jane Norton, multi-millionaire Tom Wiens kicked-off his campaign for U.S. Senate today in Colorado. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz released the following statement:

“With multi-millionaire Tom Wiens’ entry into the Colorado Senate race today, Republican Party establishment candidate Jane Norton’s path to the Republican nomination got even trickier. Norton, yet to prove herself up for this challenge, now faces an opponent with a deep rolodex and the will to sink personal money into a Senate run. As the Republican candidates move further to the right and out of the Colorado mainstream, Michael Bennet is working hard every day to deliver for the people of Colorado. While it is not clear which Republican will emerge from the primary, it is clear that Colorado voters will be faced with two stark choices in 2010: going back to the failed economic policies of the past or moving the state forward with Michael Bennet as their strong advocate in the Senate.”

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE TO ROY BLUNT: YOUR HEALTH CARE PLAN INCREASES UNINSURED BY 6 MILLION, HIKES COSTS 50%

Eric Schultz, DSCC
Many months after he was named Chair of the Republican House Health Care Solutions Group, Congressman Roy Blunt finally unveiled his health care plan – problem is, it would cause serious harm to Missouri families by swelling the ranks of the uninsured, increasing premiums, and allowing insurance companies to continue their abuses unchecked. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office recently scored Blunt’s bill and concluded that by 2019 the number of uninsured would actually increase to about 52 million. Blunt’s plan also allows insurers to continue denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, with some people paying up to 50 percent more for insurance coverage. This is what happens when you let the insurance industry write your bill for you. Blunt has received nearly $600,000 from the insurance industry over his career and has close connections to a number of registered lobbyists. Blunt’s health care plan shows once again that he spends his time in Washington fighting not for the people of Missouri, but for special interests.

“Months after promising to release a health care bill, Roy Blunt finally cobbled together a plan that only the insurance lobby could love,” said Eric Schultz, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director. “Instead of offering solutions to the health care crisis, Congressman Blunt’s plan makes it worse. Missourians are looking for a Senator who will put their interests first, not one who is only looking out for the interests of K Street.”

What they’re saying about Congressman Roy Blunt’s health care plan –
· Their legislation won’t prevent health insurers from denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions, and it won’t provide money to help those without health insurance.” [MSNBC, 11/03/09]

· “The House Republican bill would not explicitly prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because of pre-existing medical conditions, even though many Republicans have said they agree with Democrats that the federal government should outlaw such denials.” [New York Times, 11/04/09]

· “People with pre-existing medical conditions would pay up to 50 percent more for insurance coverage under a draft version of House Republicans’ health care plan.” [Roll Call, 11/3/09]

· “The Republican legislation won’t end insurance industry practices that discriminate against high-risk individuals or provide tax credits to help the uninsured purchase coverage, even though both were included in rank-and-file GOP bills.” [Politico, 11/02/09]

UPDATE: SIX Things You Need to Know About David Vitter

DSCC Rant

UPDATE: Sometimes, a list of five bad things just isn’t long enough. There is a sixth thing you need to know about Senator David Vitter:

6. David Vitter Has No Shame. It’s bad enough that Vitter has admitted to “very serious sin” with prostitutes. But he also voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He voted to deny health coverage to pregnant women. And have you heard of the Franken Amendment? The one that would make sure rape victims get their day in court? Vitter voted against that, too. Later, at a town hall meeting, Vitter was approached by a rape victim who wanted to know why. Vitter, showing no compassion whatsoever, talks over her, dismisses her concerns and walks away from her in mid-sentence. You can watch the video here.

Sen. Vitter’s lack of shame appears to know no limits.

Original Post

There's great news out of Louisiana. U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Napoleonville Democrat, has decided to take on the state's junior senator and all-around embarrassment, David Vitter. Melancon, a longtime champion of working families and veterans, helped lead recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. One Louisiana political analyst said Melancon "will make it tough for Vitter" to keep his Senate seat. Longsuffering residents of the Pelican State deserve that sort of relief.

As we think about the 2010 elections, The Rant would like to present the following:

Five Things You Need To Know About Senator David Vitter

1. David Vitter Thinks Canadians Shouldn't Have Health Care, Either. It's evidently not enough for Vitter that more than 45 million people in America have no health care. Now, he wants to expand that lack of coverage to our friends up north. Vitter recently told a town hall audience that his plan to reimport drugs from Canada has an aim beyond saving money. "My ultimate goal is to use that to cause that system to collapse," he said.

2. David Vitter Held up FEMA Nominee Just Before Hurricane Season. Remember Katrina? Remember how important disaster management is in a hurricane-prone state like Louisiana? Vitter evidently doesn't. Shortly before the start of this year's hurricane season, Vitter held up the nomination of President Obama's choice to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Craig Fugate. Vitter was willing to compromise safety in an attempt to score political points against the White House. Not cool.

3. David Vitter Was President Bush's "Point Man" in Louisiana; Hoped Obama "Fails." From 2001 to 2008, Vitter voted with President Bush nearly 90 percent of the time, ranking him among the president's top supporters. His go-along attitude shifted abruptly with the inauguration of President Obama. He agreed with Rush Limbaugh, who said he wanted the new president to "fail." "I hope he fails in advancing leftist policy that I strongly disagree with," Vitter said. "I think what [Limbaugh] was saying was largely what I'm saying."

4. David Vitter Threw a Tantrum in Dulles International Airport. According to Roll Call, Vitter set off an alarm in March after opening a security door to a jet bridge in an attempt to make a flight for which boarding had ended. Roll Call said Vitter then had an exchange with an airline employee, described as a "'do-you-know-who-I-am' tirade that apparently grew quite heated." The Transportation Security Administration even investigated the incident.

And last, but certainly not least...

5. David Vitter Confessed to Using D.C. Escort Service. In a revelation embarrassing to the entire state of Louisiana, Vitter in 2007 admitted to being a client of the infamous "D.C. Madam" after his phone number showed up in her records. He later apologized for his "very serious sin."

One thing's certainly clear: It's long past time Louisiana retired David Vitter. As Charlie Melancon says, Louisiana deserves better.

WITH CLUB FOR GROWTH EYEING NH SENATE RACE, AYOTTE MOVING FAST AND FURIOUS TO THE RIGHT -- ENDORSEMENT OF HOFFMAN PUTS AYOTTE FIRMLY IN FAR-RIGHT CORNER OF PARTY

Eric Schultz, DSCC
Ayotte Follows Ovide Lamontagne And Endorses Far-Right Candidate In NY-23 Special Election

Hoffman/Ayotte Policies Would Hurt Upstate New York And New Hampshire

With her endorsement of far-right Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman in New York’s 23rd Congressional District special election, Kelly Ayotte has firmly placed herself in the Jim DeMint, Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. Ayotte, who had refused to tell Granite Staters if she would be more of a Jim DeMint or an Olympia Snowe Republican, continues to make it clear that she is throwing her lot in with the far-right wing of the party, this time with her endorsement of the TEA Party, Club for Growth backed Doug Hoffman.

“With her endorsement of the far-right Doug Hoffman and her continued pandering to the right-wing of the Republican Party, Kelly Ayotte is showing herself to be out of the New Hampshire mainstream,” said Eric Schultz, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director. “The more voters get to know Kelly Ayotte, the more they will realize that Ayotte is not a moderate, but someone who takes cues from far-right groups like the TEA Party protesters and the Club for Growth. New Hampshire voters are looking for an independent voice, not someone catering to the extremists in the Republican Party.

Make no mistake about it, Kelly Ayotte’s preferred candidate Doug Hoffman is a far-right extremist, who is far outside the mainstream of New Hampshire. Hoffman supports going back to the failed George W. Bush economic agenda, which did little to help Upstate New York and New Hampshire. He supports the Bush tax cuts for the super wealthy, which helped turn a record surplus into a record deficit and won’t do a thing for the families in Upstate New York and New Hampshire that are hurting right now.

St. Petersburg Times: Club For Growth launches TV spot smacking Charlie Crist on stimulus

St. Petersburg Times
“Yesterday, Charlie Crist said he never endorsed the stimulus, but that’s simply not true,” said Club President Chris Chocola. “Crist embraced the stimulus, and Florida’s economy has suffered for it. The Club for Growth’s ad sets the record straight, and we encourage Floridians to remind their governor that jobs are created by free markets and competition, not big government spending and debt.”

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial: Moving right might cost Kirk election

Chicago Sun-Times

November 6, 2009

Rep. Mark Kirk has long been a voice of reason in Illinois. A moderate Republican with an independent streak, Kirk isn't known for pandering.

In our endorsement of Kirk for re-election last fall, we noted the North Shore congressman's efforts at bipartisanship, his knack for doing his homework and his penchant for speaking his mind.

Take, for example, his blunt answer last fall to our question about then-presidential candidate John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate: Palin, he told us, would not have been his choice. Few other Republicans at the time dared say that out loud.

Fast-forward one year later.

Whose endorsement is Kirk seeking in his bid to win a U.S. Senate seat? None other than Sarah Palin.

The same Sarah Palin he dismissed.

The same Sarah Palin who is so fiercely partisan it's hard to imagine her uttering the phrase bipartisan.

The same Sarah Palin whose history of failing to do her homework has earned her well-deserved ridicule.

Since announcing his bid to win President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat, Kirk has tacked right to woo more conservative voters.

In June, he disavowed his crucial vote in favor of a climate bill. Then it came out this week that Kirk wants Palin's support. She is coming to town later this month to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show.

We appreciate the political realities Kirk faces. To win, he must appeal to a broad spectrum of voters, including the most conservative.

Those pressures forced another moderate Republican out of a special election for a New York congressional seat just last weekend.

Leading national conservatives went after the moderate, with many, including Palin, rallying behind one opponent, Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman.

Knocking off the moderate initially looked like a win for conservative Republicans.

But the final outcome offers a cautionary tale for Kirk. In Tuesday's election between a Democrat and conservative Hoffman, the Democrat prevailed in a district that has been a Republican stronghold.

For Kirk, courting conservatives may help him solidify a primary win; he is the presumed front-runner. But it also could easily cost him a general election win in Democrat-leaning Illinois.

Kirk built a successful political career by staying true to his values and beliefs.

Now is not the time to abandon them.

Original article »

The Wait Is Finally Over: Congressman Blunt Pays Back The Insurance Industry In Unveiled National Gop Health Care Plan

Eric Schultz, DSCC

National Republican Proposal By Congressman Blunt Shows What Over $560,000 Pays For: Allowing Insurance Companies To Write Your Health Care Policy

Congressman Roy Blunt and House Republicans have finally released a health care reform plan of their own. Up to this point, all that Congressman Blunt, who is Chairman of the Republican House Health Care Solutions Group and was tasked with coming up with a health care plan for Republicans, has had to offer is a vague, three and half page list of talking points. Late Friday night, though, Congressman Blunt finally released the long-awaited Republican health care reform proposal, which will do nothing to improve the health care system in Missouri. Congressman Blunt's so-called health care "solutions" would have dire consequences for Missouri families and small businesses by increasing premiums, expanding the deficit, undermining employer-sponsored health care, and allowing insurance company abuses to continue unchecked.

"Nine months after he was named Chair of the House Health Care Solutions Group, Congressman Blunt and House Republicans finally released their health care plan that puts insurance companies before working families," said Eric Schultz, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director. "Congressman Blunt's health care plan was essentially written by the insurance lobby, who've poured in thousands of dollars into his campaign coffers over the years. Instead of looking out for the people of Missouri, Congressman Blunt has once again gone to bat for his favorite constituency group, the corporate special interests."

This is what happens when you let the insurance industry write your bill for you. Blunt has received over $560,000 from the insurance industry over his career and has close connections to a number of registered lobbyists. Blunt's health care reform "solutions" shows once and for all that he spends his time in Washington fighting not for the people of Missouri, but for the corporate special interests.

Roy Blunt's Silence Continues -- As Gop Rival Purgason Endorses Hoffman, Blunt Won't Return Phone Calls, Refuses To Take A Position On Special Election

Eric Schultz, DSCC

Chuck Purgason: I Want To See Roy Blunt Take A Position On NY Congressional Race

The Hill: Roy Blunt: Not Anxious To Talk About Race, Refusing To Return Phone Calls

With Congressman Roy Blunt's primary opponent, state Senator Chuck Purgason, firmly behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 Congressional special election, Congressman Blunt has stayed conspicuously silent on the issue and is now refusing to return phone calls. The Hill wrote "the candidates...weren't anxious to talk about it. Rep. Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) campaign didn't return multiple requests for comment." Blunt's silence prompted his Republican primary opponent Chuck Purgason to come out swinging. Purgason put out a statement calling for Blunt to take a position on the NY-23 special election, which Purgason says is dividing conservative and moderate Republicans.

With many calling the NY-23 special election a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, Roy Blunt owes it to Republican primary voters to follow Purgason's lead and tell voters if he is standing with the far-right, TEA Party approved Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, or Republican Dede Scozzafava, the candidate of the establishment.

"Now that Chuck Purgason has made his choice clear, Roy Blunt should follow his lead by breaking his silence and telling Missouri Republican primary voters who he supports in the NY-23 special election" said Eric Schultz, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director. "As a candidate running for higher office, Blunt needs to break his silence and start returning phone calls."

Wilmington News-Journal: Danberg Publicly Backs a Biden Senate Run

Wilmington News-Journal

Esteban Parra
November 5, 2009

Delaware's prison commissioner says he has no ulterior motive in encouraging state Attorney General Beau Biden to run for the U.S. Senate, even though he has admitted an interest in running to be the state's top prosecutor.

Last month, a group surfaced on the social network Facebook asking people to encourage Biden to run for the Senate. Nearly 670 people have become members of "Draft Beau Biden," including Carl Danberg, commissioner of the state Department of Correction.

Danberg said he became a member after learning about the page.

"It was sent to me by mutual friends and I certainly support Attorney General Biden if he wants to run for Senate," Danberg said. "As a friend I'm supporting him in whatever he chooses to do -- whether he chooses to run for re-election or chooses to run for the Senate."

Read more »

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Sen. David Vitter Defends Vote Against 'Franken Amendment' When Confronted by Rape Victim

New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jonathan Tilove
November 04, 2009

A week ago, Jennie Waldrop, a 30-year-old animal science major at LSU, was a stranger to partisan politics, and had never heard of the Franken amendment, or of Jamie Leigh Jones, whose allegation that she was gang-raped while working for a military contractor in Iraq inspired it.

But on Tuesday, Waldrop, herself a rape victim, was on a Louisiana Democratic Party conference call with reporters to describe her videotaped confrontation with Sen. David Vitter, R-La., at a Saturday town hall meeting in Baton Rouge over his opposition to the amendment.

The amendment, which would prevent the Pentagon from contracting with companies that require employees - even someone like Jones who alleged rape - to seek a resolution through arbitration instead of the courts, passed on Oct. 6 by a vote of 68 to 30. All 30 "`no'' votes came from Republican men.

Read more »

Fort Myers News-Press Editorial: Crist's Lies Won't Help Campaign

Fort Myers News-Press
November 6, 2009
The fashion for males to publicly embrace each other can be dangerous to their health, if they are politicians and their huggee turns into a liability.

John McCain's awkward clutch of George W. Bush may have helped him get the 2008 Republican nomination, but it came back to haunt him in the general election, when he would like to have distanced himself from the unpopular president.

And Gov. Charlie Crist's brief clinch with President Obama in Fort Myers in February has become a vivid reminder of why conservative Republicans don't like him: He's not conservative enough, they say. Crist, in fact, has emerged as a top national target in the right's battle against GOP moderates, which may explain why he is willing to lie, even in the face of video evidence that he is not telling the truth.

The hug came at an appearance where Crist supported the president's $787 billion economic stimulus package.

Now Crist is pretending that he did not endorse the stimulus. He told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday, "Well, I didn't endorse it. I - you know, I didn't even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians."
In fact, what Crist told a cheering crowd in Fort Myers in February was, "... it's important that we pass this stimulus package. It is important that we do so to help education, to help our infrastructure, and to help health care for those who need it the most - the most vulnerable among us. And let me finish by saying, Mr. President, we need to do it in a bipartisan way. ... This is not about partisan politics. This is about rising above that, helping America and reigniting our economy."

Read more »

Huffington Post: Kirk Slammed From Right And Left For Courting Sarah Palin

Huffington Post

Tim Taliaferro
November 5, 2009

When word broke that self-described moderate Republican Mark Kirk was angling for kind words from Sarah Palin for his U.S. Senate bid, the response from his rivals was savage and uniform.

All three leading Democrats, as well as Kirk's Republican challenger, accused him of inconsistency, a criticism that has nagged Kirk ever since he backed away from his vote in favor of climate change legislation in June.

Kirk said he voted for the Democratic climate change bill because the constituents of his North Shore Congressional District wanted him to. As a senator representing an entire state, he said, he would vote against the same bill.

Kirk's rightward evolution was seen as an attempt to appeal to a Republican base that remained skeptical of his conservative bonafides. And while his courting of Palin could be seen as another effort to shore up support of the base, opponents seized on Kirk's snubbing of Palin during the 2008 presidential race as further evidence of his lack of conviction.

Read more »

Politico: Vitter: Talk with Rape Victim Not a "Confrontation"

Glenn Thrush, Politico

Glenn Thrush
November 5, 2009

From my colleague Manu Raju:

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) told POLITICO that he didn't think his recent flap with a rape victim in Baton Rouge amounted to a confrontation.

"I didn't consider it a confrontation on my part," Vitter said when asked if he regretted the confrontation.

But he added that "any incident" like the one described by the rape victim is "absolutely horrific."

"It's just a very, very sad case."

Last Saturday, a rape victim approached Vitter at a Baton Rouge town hall and questioned his decision to vote against an amendment that proponents said would allow victims of sexual assault to take the cases to court, rather than through arbitration. She told Vitter that the person who attacked her was only put behind bars because she took him to court.

Vitter disputed the woman's interpretation of his vote, and engaged in what seemed to be a heated exchange, and then abruptly Vitter left the facility.

Since then, Democrats who are targeting Vitter in next year's Senate race have sought to capitalize on the flap and the Louisiana Democratic Party hosted a press conference call this week with the woman. A YouTube video of the incident has been viewed more than 160,000 times.

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Gainesville Sun: Crist, Rubio Spar at Local Republican Fundraiser

Gainesville Sun

Nathan Crabbe
November 5, 2009

NEWBERRY -- Radio talk show host Laura Ingraham was the keynote speaker Thursday at the Alachua County Republican Party's annual fundraiser, but Florida's U.S. Senate race was the main event.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and his opponent in the Republican Senate primary, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, both spoke at the 7th Annual Ronald Reagan Black Tie and Blue Jeans BBQ. The event, held at Canterbury Equestrian Showplace, typically serves up plenty of red meat for the party faithful.

The high-profile Senate race provided an extra helping this year. Rubio gave the event's invocation, but first made comments along his campaign theme of being the race's true conservative.

"It's very simple: We already have a Democratic Party in America," he said. "We do not need two Democratic parties in America."

Crist gave a speech running through a long list of positions to prove his conservative bona fides, from support of gun rights to tax cuts. But he received a less enthusiastic greeting than Rubio from the grassroots activists in attendance, even getting a small smattering of boos.

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Five Things You Should Know About Charlie Crist

DSCC Rant

When Senator Mel Martinez, R-FL, retired, national Republicans coronated Governor Charlie Crist as their 2010 candidate. He's popular. He's tanned. He has good hair. He can't lose!

Or can he?

Click here to help the DSCC defeat Charlie Crist and other Republican candidates.

Here are five reasons why you should give money to beat Charlie Crist:

1. America's Worst Governor. As said in Forbes magazine: "Charlie Crist is an extraordinarily gifted politician, known for his unpretentious and warm demeanor. He might also be America's worst governor. Given that there is a great deal of competition for this dubious honor, that's saying rather a lot."

2. Skips Work ... A Lot. Charlie Crist is a slacker. A recent review of his schedule shows that he takes up to 10 weeks off per year. Must be nice!

3. Putting Politics First. Charlie Crist appointed his former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to Sen. Martinez's seat. Given LeMieux's lack of experience, it's obvious Crist's only requirement was that his pick step aside in 2010.

4. Hard Right Turn. A recent Charlie Crist fundraising letter bragged about how he was nicknamed "Chain Gang Charlie." He said he's "about as conservative as you can get." Stand by for multiple appearances at antigovernment "tea parties."

5. He Will Lose. Charlie Crist's campaign is getting nervous. Marco Rubio, his ultraconservative Republican challenger, is steadily raising his profile -- and cash. Crist might not even win his primary, let alone the Senate race.

We can beat Charlie Crist and other likeminded Republicans - but only if we can match them dollar-for-dollar on fundraising. It's only a year until the 2010 elections, and if we let them get ahead of us, we could lose all hope of meaningful progress.

Click here to donate to the DSCC. We must raise $937,564 before November 2, and we need your help. If you give $5 or more, you'll receive a free "If 'No' Wins, America Loses" car magnet.

Charlie Crist offers us a great opportunity to pick up a Republican-held seat. But if we want to keep our Democratic majority, we have to do more than that. Republicans are aggressively targeting a number of our senators, and they're flush with millions of dollars in Ohio. Florida. Connecticut. Not to mention the third-party money machine that soon will kick into high gear for the GOP's benefit.

Crist might be tanned and have good hair. But scratch him and each of the other Republican candidates, and underneath the polished exterior lies the same tired Republican philosophies that America cannot afford.

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.