Stealth Fusion - World Breaking News - View Single Post - Stupak the Democrats Anti-Hero-AND Dems Going After Pailin

Mrs L · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 06:01 AM

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Morning Fix: Stupak as Democratic anti-hero
1. Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, the author of an amendment to the House health care bill that would ban federal funding from being used for abortions, has become a whipping boy of fellow Democrats on the campaign trail of late. New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes, who is running for retiring Sen. Judd Gregg's (R) seat next November, sent out an e-mail to his supporters Wednesday asking them to sign a petition insisting that the Stupak amendment be stripped from the final bill. (It is not currently in the Senate's version being carried by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.) "This amendment goes further than any other federal law in restricting a woman's right to choose," writes Hodes. "That's why I voted against it and that's why I'm fighting to ensure it is not included in the final bill."Cheryle Jackson, the president of the Chicago Urban League and a Democratic candidate for the Senate seat vacated by President Obama, is holding a press conference tomorrow in Chicago where she is expected to denounce the Stupak amendment. And, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called the amendment "discriminatory" and represented a "grave risk" to women. The strong reaction against Stupak -- and his measure -- highlights the fissures within a Democratic party that has seen its longtime base on the east and west coasts expand rapidly into the deep south and the mountain west in recent cycles. Many of the House Members elected in 2006 and 2008 voted for the Stupak amendment (64 Democrats voted yes) and may find themselves in a significant political peril if the final bill is stripped of such language. It's the problem of a big majority -- a problem Republicans would love to have but a problem nonetheless.

2. The 60 Plus Association, a conservative leaning group, is keeping up its campaign against House Democrats who voted for President Obama's health care bill, with a national cable advertising buy launching today. "What does health care reform mean for seniors?" asks the ad's narrator. "A new report from the agency which runs Medicare says it could be devastating." The ad goes on to suggest that the president's plan could mean $500 billion in Medicare cuts and limited access to care for seniors. "Don't make us pay for health care reform by cutting Medicare," says one elderly man in the ad. "Seniors won't forget," pledges an older woman. The ad campaign, which is costing 60 Plus $500,0000 according to a source familiar with the buy, comes on top of $5.5 million in spending since August by the group -- all of which has been aimed at voters 65 and older. Targeting seniors is smart politics as older voters are extremely reliable voters in low-turnout midterm elections. If seniors turn against the Obama heath care plan in large enough numbers, there will be a number of very nervous Democratic members heading into 2010.

3. And even more on the health care front...The Democratic National Committee is going after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) for "using every trick in the book to delay a fair debate and vote on reform," according to an email from DNC executive director Jen O'Malley that will be sent to supporters today. A video of McConnell's alleged "mistruths" accompany the email, which is being sent to the full 13 million-plus person list managed by Organizing for America. (Watch the video for a guest appearance by Democratic strategist Michael Feldman.) These sorts of appeals are aimed directly at the party's base, seeking to energize them in what has been a long slog with no certain end date in sight.

4. The National Republican Senatorial Committee outraised its Democratic counterpart in October but still stands at a nearly two-to-one disadvantage in terms of cash on hand, according to reports to be filed at the Federal Election Commission. For October, the NRSC brought in $4 million as compared to $3.7 million for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Despite that fundraising edge, the DSCC actually increased its cash edge between September and October; at the end of last month the DSCC had $11.3 million in the bank while the NRSC had just $5.8. Republicans point out that the DSCC is well behind their 2008 pace when, at this time, the committee had more than $23 million on hand. Still, the DSCC's current cash edge is nothing to sneeze at particularly when you consider the number of big and expensive states -- Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri -- that are hosting competitive Senate races this cycle.

5. While former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's traveling road show continues -- making a stop today in Fort Wayne, Indiana -- there's new evidence that Democrats will use her to attack aspiring Republican candidates in 2010. Evidence: Connecticut Democrats sent around a quote on Wednesday from former ambassador Tom Foley, who is running in a Republican primary for the right to challenge Sen. Chris Dodd (D), saying he would "certainly welcome her" to the state to campaign on his behalf. "We'd welcome Sarah Palin to Connecticut, too, especially if she 'goes rogue' while she's here," joked state Democratic party spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan. It's a near-certainty that other Republican candidates running in high profile statewide races will be forced to answer the question of whether they want Palin to campaign with them -- especially those running in blue states like Delaware, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

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The Fix - Morning Fix: Stupak as Democratic anti-hero