The Stakeholder
Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 19, 2010
Paul Begala just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
An atomic bomb exploding.
That's one of the visuals now being used in an attack ad against Democrats who support health care reform. I'm surprised it took them this long to play the mushroom cloud card.
But it gets even scarier. The fear-mongering thugs running this ad against pro-health care Democrats are from the very same special interest group which got the Supreme Court to allow corporations to spend unlimited special interest cash in elections. Coincidence?
One thing's clear: there has never been a more important time to stand up to right-wing special interests spending whatever they want on swift-boat style ads like this to try and kill health insurance reform. We are in the final stretch and opponents of reform will throw everything they have in to stopping us.
Stand up to right-wing special interests. Contribute to House Democrats' Million Dollar Match before the FEC's critical March 31st deadline and a group of Democrats will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar.
It's really simple. Republicans are hoping to use the Supreme Court's radical decision to allow unlimited special interest cash to target any Democrat who dares to cross them by voting for health insurance reform.
And the closer the House gets to taking the final vote, the more these special interests spend and the nastier their attacks get.
With no limit now on these kinds of special interest attack ads, if grassroots Democrats don't fight back, nobody will.
Stand up to right-wing special interests. Contribute to House Democrats' Million Dollar Match before the FEC's critical March 31st deadline and a group of Democrats will match your contribution dollar-for-dollar.
Let's use this March 31st FEC deadline to show the world that our democracy has not yet been bought by the tidal wave of Republican special interest money.
Thank you,
Paul Begala
P.S. We're too close to winning the fight for health insurance reform to surrender to the special interests who are now free to spend whatever they want. Contribute before March 31st and your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
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Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 16, 2010
Speaker Pelosi just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
After nearly a century of false starts, more than a year of debate, and countless stories of struggle from hardworking Americans, it all comes down to this.
The Republicans have embarked on a desperate last-ditch effort to kill health insurance reform by shouting as loud as they can and spending as much as they can in this final push. Their misleading attacks cannot be the last word as the House prepares to vote.
March 31st marks the first FEC quarterly deadline since we began our final health care push and the nation is closely watching to see which side is willing to fight harder. Democrats have set a $1 Million Goal to fight back against their attacks and demonstrate just how determined we are to get this done for the American people.
With the world watching, please contribute to our Million Dollar Match. Contribute before March 31st and a group of committed Democrats will match your generosity dollar-for-dollar.
The closer we get to taking the final historic vote, the harder our opponents are fighting and the more misleading their attacks become. Thousands of you have already helped to knock down their falsehoods by adding your real health care stories at SpeakerPelosi.com. I cannot thank you enough.
However, our work is not done yet. We need to make a powerful show of momentum and determination to win this fight that only grassroots support can provide.
With the world watching, please contribute to our Million Dollar Match. Contribute before March 31st and a group of committed Democrats will match your generosity dollar-for-dollar.
As President Obama said this week, we need 'courage' to win this battle. Let us show our courage to stand up to the worst insurance company practices and the worst Republican attacks in this final critical push and win this fight for America's families.
Thank you,
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
P.S. As the first FEC quarterly deadline of our final health care push quickly approaches, the world is closely watching to see which side is willing to fight harder for health insurance reform. Contribute to our Million Dollar Match before March 31st and a group of committed Democrats will match your generosity dollar-for-dollar.
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Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 14, 2010
Speaker Pelosi just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
Real, comprehensive health insurance reform has never been closer than it is today.
But even as I work with my colleagues in Congress day and night to finish the job of repairing America's broken health care system, opponents of reform are mounting their biggest effort yet to kill reform and preserve the status quo.
Our Republican opponents and their special interest allies are spending millions on ad campaigns based on misinformation, distortion and fear. We cannot let them stand in the way of these critical reforms.
When Republicans attack, we must knock down their smears and falsehoods with the truth - with stories from real, hardworking Americans who have been forced to put their dreams on hold because of our country's broken health care system - and that's why I need to hear from you.
Click here to visit my new website, SpeakerPelosi.com, and add your voice to the millions calling for reform by sharing your health care story today.
This fight is too important to leave to the special interests and defenders of the status quo. We are in the home stretch for passing real, meaningful health insurance reform that will lower costs, improve quality, rein in the insurance industry, and expand access to quality health care for all Americans.
Please help me finish the fight by sharing your story today.
Thank you,
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
P.S. We are closer than ever to real health insurance reform for America's families. Help me finish the fight by visiting SpeakerPelosi.com and sharing your personal health care story today.
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Posted by Brandon English
Mar 12, 2010
DCCC Press released this response last night after Pennsylvania Republicans nominated millionaire Tim Burns to be their nominee in the special election to serve out the late Congressman Murtha's term in Pennsylvania's 12th District (PA-12):
Though Republican Tim Burns may have finally won over party insiders this evening, his record proves that he’s going to have a long way to go when it comes to winning over Western Pennsylvanians. This evening Pennsylvania Republicans nominated Tim Burns to be their candidate in the upcoming special election in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional district; they did so despite the fact that Burns sold his company to get rich while showing no concern for job loss in Western Pennsylvania.
“Tim Burns only cares about his bank account and not about jobs in Western Pennsylvania,” said Shripal Shah, Northeast Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Tim Burns sold out the jobs of Western Pennsylvanians just so he could get rich quick.”
“With Western Pennsylvanian families already struggling, the last thing they need right now is someone like Tim Burns who only cares about himself.”
BACKGROUND:
In 2002, Burns said he supported NDCHealth buying his company TechRx despite the fact that he knew it could lead to layoffs in Western Pennsylvania. [Pittsburgh Business Times, 5/31/02]
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Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 11, 2010
Executive Director Jon Vogel just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
The House of Representatives voted today 416-0 to ban misleading fundraising letters disguised as 2010 Census forms.
Our Republican counterparts at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) recently sent out deceptive political fundraising letters that looked like U.S. Census letters so they could fill their campaign accounts with cash from a misleading and deceptive fake census letter, leaving taxpayers like us to foot the bill!
The Census Bureau was concerned that these misleading mailings would undermine response rates for the official census forms, which arrive in mailboxes next week. By misleading and confusing Americans about which forms to return, lower mail response rates of Census forms increase government costs because a census employee is sent to every home that does not respond by mail.
The US Census estimates every one percent decrease in the mail response rate costs taxpayers approximately $85 million to send census workers back to re-count.
Republicans once again made clear they will do anything for campaign cash. The news of these fake Census surveys comes on the heels of the leaked outrageously offensive RNC presentation which showed they planned to use fear through socialist imagery to win the elections next November.
You have my assurance that the DCCC will never send anything like this to you, our valued supporters, or to any American taxpayer.
Please take this time to forward this information to your friends and family to warn and make sure they are filling out their official US Census form.
Thank you,
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director
P.S. If you see any other deceptive mailings like these or receive any dishonest robocalls at your home, please contact Democratic headquarters at (202) 741-1350 to our tip comment line or email us at info@dccc.org. You can also alert us to Republican smears on our Rapid Response Tips page and get our latest Rapid Response alerts in your web browser with our 2010 Campaign Action Bar.
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Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 11, 2010
The House of Representatives voted yesterday 416-0 to ban misleading fundraising letters disguised as 2010 Census forms. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) recently sent out political fundraising letters that looked like U.S. Census letters from House Republican Leader John Boehner and RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
The Census Bureau was concerned that these misleading mailings would undermine response rates for the official census forms, which arrive in mailboxes next week. By misleading and confusing Americans about which forms to return, the Republican fundraising letters increase the cost to American taxpayers. Lower mail response rates of Census forms increase government costs because a census employee is sent to every home that does not respond by mail. The US Census estimates every one percent decrease in the mail response rate costs taxpayers approximately $85 million to send census workers back to re-count.
"As Republicans fill their campaign accounts with cash from a misleading and deceptive fake census letter, American taxpayers are left with a higher bill,” said Ryan Rudominer, National Press Secretary of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Even if it means costing taxpayers millions of dollars and undermining the American people’s opportunity to be fairly represented, Republicans once again made clear they will do anything for campaign cash. House Minority Leader Boehner and RNC Chairman Steele have a responsibility to tell every Republican who received their fundraising solicitation that it is not an official U.S. Census form and encourage them to fill out their census form."
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Posted by Brandon English
Mar 10, 2010
DCCC Press:
That cracking noise you just heard was Republican National Committee Michael Steele's glass house shattering. While Republicans hypocritically try to make ethics an issue, they would be well served to remember a few facts:
- It is the Democrats who passed and enacted historic ethics reform that broke the link between lobbyists and legislators: no gifts, no private jets, and no meals from lobbyists.
- It is the Democrats who passed and enacted unprecedented levels of transparency and disclosure, shining sunlight on the activities of Members of Congress and lobbyists.
- It is the Democrats who established the Office of Congressional Ethics.
- It is the Democrats who got the Ethics Committee – which didn’t function under Republicans – back to work.
- When questions about ethics have been raised about any Member of Congress, Democrats have acted quickly to make sure it the question was addressed by the appropriate entity.
The Republican culture of corruption under Tom DeLay and Republican leadership had devastating consequences that the American people are still paying the price for: a complex and costly prescription drug bill written by drug companies, an energy policy written by the Big Oil companies, and record deficits to pay for tax breaks for their most wealthy friends. That’s why it’s not surprising to see disgraced former Republican Congressman Richard Pombo—who embodied the Republicans’ culture of corruption—win the endorsement of NRCC Recruitment Chair Kevin McCarthy.
Here are some of the residents of Republicans' ethical glass House:
- Representative John Boehner, (R-OH-8th) – House Minority Leader John Boehner handed out campaign checks from the tobacco industry to members on the House floor at a time when lawmakers were considering eliminating a tobacco subsidy. Former Representative Chris Shays, a Connecticut Republican, criticized Boehner’s ties to lobbyists. ``The problem John faces is that he's so close to K Street; that's the challenge he's got,'' said Shays. [Bloomberg News, 1/10/06]
- Representative Eric Cantor, (R-VA-7th) – House Minority Whip Eric Cantor has faced a number of ethical questions including ties to lobbyists and misuse of taxpayer money for political purposes. In 2009, he started the National Council for a New America, a group that ultimately ”flamed out” after a number of questions about its use of taxpayer money for political meetings. A Roll Call editorial said, “Cantor should reimburse his House account from his campaign account or leadership political action committee for the staff resources that he has used.” Cantor also had close ties to disgraced lobbyists Jack Abramoff who actually named a sandwich at his deli after Cantor during a fundraiser, an even that drew criticism since Cantor initially failed to report the debt to Abramoff’s deli. During legal problems surrounding Tom DeLay, Roll Call wrote that “Cantor appears to have acquired a new role: chief defender of Majority Leader Tom DeLay.” [Roll Call, 5/13/09; Time, 11/28/05; Jewish Forward, 6/20/03; Politico, 8/10/09]
- Representative Pete Sessions, (R-TX-32nd): Just hours after federal agents charged banker Allen Stanford with fleecing investors of $7 billion, the disgraced financier received a message from one of Congress' most powerful members, NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. ‘I love you and believe in you,’ said the e-mail sent on Feb. 17. `If you want my ear/voice -- e-mail,’ it said, signed ‘Pete.'' [Miami Herald, 12/27/2009] Earlier in the year, Sessions came under fire for steering a $1.6 million earmark for dirigible research to a company with no experience in government contracting or building blimps. The company hired a former aide to Sessions to lobby on their behalf. [Politico, 7/30/2009] Sessions held a fundraising event at a Las Vegas strip club for his leadership committee, joined by casino executives and payday lenders at Forty Deuce nightclub, located in the Mandalay Bay Restort. [NPR, 7/22/08]
- Representative Don Young, (R-AK-AL): Yes, Rep. Don Young is still in Congress, even though he has been the subject of at least two recent federal criminal investigations. One involved a $10 million earmark for a Florida company Young dropped into a 2006 bill just before it passed; another dealt with a broad investigation into political corruption in Alaska, tied to the (ultimately flawed) case that led to former Sen. Ted Stevens's defeat. [Salon, 3/5/10]
- Representative Ken Calvert, (R-CA-44th): Rep. Ken Calvert has reaped the benefits of his own earmarks. Calvert is under investigation by the FBI after a story in the Los Angeles Times alleged that Calvert’s earmarks have benefited his own property holdings. In one particular case, Calvert sold a property less than a year after purchasing it for a 79 percent markup after earmarking almost $10 million for the area. Despite his ethically questionable land deals, the House Republican leadership chose Calvert to replace Rep. Doolittle on the powerful Appropriations Committee. In an attempt to make up for his tarnished reputation, Calvert plans to run all earmarks through the House ethics panel in the future. In addition, Calvert is involved in a community controversy surrounding a parcel of land he and his partners bought without competition. In 2007, a Riverside County grand jury found that the services district violated state law when it sold the land to Calvert and his partners. [Los Angeles Times, 5/15/06; Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 2008; Washington Post, 6/22/06; Riverside Press-Enterprise, 5/23/07; Riverside Press-Enterprise, 7/03/07]
Read the rest of this story ...
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Posted by Greg Berlin
Mar 10, 2010
Executive Director Jon Vogel just sent this message to DCCC supporters:
Friend --
You came through again!
When the swift-boat attack machine targeted our Democrats supporting health insurance reform, you came out swinging. Together, we shattered our goal by raising $131,655.
In the process, you also helped expose the RNC's fear-and-smear tactics PowerPoint presentation. Check out this clip of Howard Dean on MSNBC's Countdown praising DCCC supporters for your grassroots response.
On behalf of the DCCC, I cannot thank you enough. But we know the defenders of the status quo won't give up without a fight. Check out the latest updates in the final battle to secure reform in our latest edition of @Stake.
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Red to Blue List Unveiled
Today, we are unveiling the first slate of Democratic candidates that have qualified for our competitive Red to Blue fundraising program by running promising campaigns in GOP-controlled districts.
Following historic victories in 2006 and 2008, we know Democrats are facing a strong headwind going into the 2010 election year. But as each of these races makes clear, the DCCC plans to stay on offense with a full slate of grassroots candidates committed to challenging Republican incumbents and capturing open seats from coast to coast.
Click here for the full list of candidates and to learn more about the Red to Blue program.
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Thanks again for all that you do to drive our success and stay tuned for the next edition of @Stake.
Sincerely,
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director
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