Free Republic

For weeks now, Republicans have attacked Democrats for voicing support for the Occupy Wall Street protesters, in particular faulting the DCCC for standing up for them. And the incidents of violence and excess have led some neutral commentators to predict that Dems will pay a political price if they align themselves with the movement. So it’s interesting to see that the DCCC is sticking by Occupy Wall Street. Indeed, the DCCC is now raising money off that recent report of a GOP-connected corporate lobbying firm’s proposed smear campaign against the movement. Nancy Pelosi has authored a DCCC fundraising email that...

Protestors [sic] are assembling in New York and around the country to let billionaires, big oil and big bankers know that we’re not going to let the richest 1% force draconian economic policies and massive cuts to crucial programs on Main Street Americans. Out-of-touch Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor said he is “increasingly concerned by the growing mobs.” Mobs? That must be what Republicans refer to as the middle class, or maybe the millions of unemployed Americans across the country. As Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters, “The message of the American people is that no longer will the recklessness...

The Democratic Party has officially gone 'all in' with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Robby Mook just sent an e-mail to supporters urging them to sign a DCCC petition to "help us reach 100,000 strong standing with #OccupyWallStreet protestors."

Democratic party leaders insisted the loss wasn’t a harbinger of things to come. “It’s a very difficult district for Democrats,” said Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, noting its Democratic margins there tend to be the second lowest of all the districts in New York City. House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), dismissed that idea. “This is a very seriously Democrat district,” Mr. Boehner said. “This is not a district that Republicans have any right to believe we could win.” Read the Wall Street Journal article for paid subscribers

DCCC removes footage of plane flying low over Manhattan skyline from ad attacking TurnerThe Daily Caller – Fri, Sep 9, 2011 Two days before the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the Democratic Congressional Campaign committee was forced to pull footage from a television ad in the New York 9th Congressional District special election that showed a Bob Turner plane flying low over the Manhattan skyline. However, a press release from the Turner campaign Friday morning says the ad is in fact still on the air in its unedited version, and “has been running all morning on New York City television stations.”...

FINE WINE, BEST ENJOYED AMONG FRIENDS AND DONORS?: Cliff Asness, the founding and managing partner of hedge fund AQR Capital, and Rutgers University professor Susan Feinberg may have irreconcilable differences about two $350 bottles of wine at Washington D.C.'s Bistro Bis, but they once found common ground in the campaign of President Barack Obama. Cliff Asness, and his wife Laurel, each gave Obama $2,300 during his 2008 campaign, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. Feinberg, too, was a 2008 Obama campaign donor, giving $1,700 in support of his presidential bid. Obama was just the second federal-level candidate...

Former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director promoted to top Democrat role by Kathleen Gilbert WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The co-founder and longtime executive director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Philadelphia has been tapped for an expanded role heading up the Democrat party’s program for recruiting new members of Congress. Last month it was announced that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) would promote U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania to run candidate services in addition to her current role as chairwoman of national recruiting. Schwartz, rated 100% pro-abortion by NARAL Pro-Choice America, is overtaking a...

The dam is beginning to break for Rep. Anthony Weiner as he battles to save his career from a sex-scandal made for the Internet age. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a leading official at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called for the New York Democrat to resign on Wednesday after a picture of a man’s genitals — purportedly a Weiner self-portrait — began circulating on the Internet. Contacted by POLITICO, a Weiner spokesman neither confirmed nor denied that the picture was of Weiner. “Having the respect of your constituents is fundamental for a member of Congress. In light of Anthony Weiner’s offensive...

Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania is one of the fastest rising stars in the Democrat Party, taking on a recently announced leadership role at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.Schwartz, a four-term suburban Philadelphia congresswoman, is taking on the position left vacant by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz who was just tapped to chair the Democratic National Committee. One fact that has gone unmentioned in all the media reports trumpeting Schwartz’s ascendancy is that Allyson Schwartz, besides having a perfect pro-abortion record in Congress, co-founded and acted as Executive Director of an abortion clinic in Philadelphia for 13 years (1975-1988).The clinic...

The House Democrats’ campaign wing is trolling for Medicare protesters at town halls this week in 20 Republican-held congressional districts, The Caucus Blog of The New York Times reports. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DSCC), which has launched a website called Don’t End Medicare, will provide picket signs and budget talking points to anyone who wants to attend. DSCC robo-calls denouncing Medicare reform are going out to seniors in Florida, Arizona, and other states in an attempt to ratchet up the noise level at constituent meetings with pro-reform lawmakers. Republicans say House Democrats are showing more interest in GOP meetings...

The Democrats have a new ad out demagoguing the Medicare issue. Basically it says that only Big Government protects seniors from the indifference of the public. Also there is sexual content. Stay classy, DCCC.

While the budget for the current fiscal year remains in limbo, Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, fired the first broadside of next year's budget debate on Sunday. Ryan spoke publicly -- albeit without many details -- about his budget proposal which is to be released on Tuesday. Asked about the scale of his budget's spending reductions, Ryan said they would exceed $4 trillion. "We're looking at more than that right now," Ryan said on "Fox News Sunday." "We're fine-tuning our numbers with the Congressional Budget Office literally today, over the weekend. But we're going to be...

Democrats took aim at U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann just hours before she dips her toe into presidential waters among Republican activists. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today launched a website targeting the 6th District Congresswoman’s efforts to create jobs under new GOP rule in the U.S. House. Woodbury is in Bachmann’s 6th District. “House Republicans like Rep. Michele Bachmann said their campaign was about creating jobs, but in the first 30 days it’s clear that everything from social issues to special interests has come first,” Jesse Ferguson, of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a news release promoting the...

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has taken out a $17 million line of credit for use of the final weeks of the campaign, signaling the party leadership’s commitment to having the money to counter an onslaught of millions of dollars in pro-Republican TV ads. The new line of credit was disclosed in a DCCC report filed Thursday night with the Federal Election Commission.

Grasping to keep control of Congress, Democratic leaders are turning their backs on some of their staunchest supporters in the House and propping up stronger candidates who have routinely defied them on health care, climate change and other major issues.

After Representative Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) voted for the Obama agenda at every turn, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has pulled their resources from the freshman Congressman's campaign saving its cash for the precious few seats it has a chance to hold. So Mr. Dreihaus has put out his own low cost web video claiming he was abandoned by the Democratic Party because he supported the Democratic Party.

  It is almost beyond belief that Rep. John Adler, a Democrat from southern New Jersey and his allies could successfully plant a fake Tea Party candidate on the ballot in order to draw votes form the Republican candidate Jon Runyon. It is possible that Adler and operatives of the Democratic Congressional Campaign  Committee (DCCC) violated a number of statues and House Rules, but the more pressing priority is for Adler to fully explain his knowledge of these events. Moreover, DCCC Chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen, at right, must fully explain any role he played, and the role of...

""Midnight tonight is the deadline. I wanted to give you and a guest one more opportunity to join President Obama at a dinner the evening of Monday October 11th in Miami. The stakes could not be higher right now for the American people. I have been criss-crossing the country talking with voters and helping our candidates in the final countdown to Election Day. More than ever, Grassroots Democrats like you know your power. Your actions will make a difference on Election Day for our candidates and that's why as a special thank you, I wanted you to join President Obama...

A national Democratic committee has asked local television stations to stop airing a campaign commercial that attacks U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski's support of the health care reform law. In a letter dated Friday to the stations, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee lawyers sharply challenge the accuracy of the commercial paid for by the 60 Plus Association, a conservative-leaning group that bought $465,000 in air time on the local stations starting last week. "This advertisement is false, misleading and deceptive," the lawyers wrote. The commercial argues Mr. Kanjorski voted for a $1 trillion health care bill that raises taxes, cuts $500...

Streisand and Jeffrey Katzenberg were no-shows at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser.....billed as co-hosts w/ Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams. Notables included Judd Apatow, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Reps. Howard Berman, Brad Sherman, Judy Chu and Laura Richardson. The price to be a co-host was $30,400 per couple, which included a photo with Obama — though POTUS said photo ops weren't the point of the evening. "I hope you understand why we're here tonight,'' said Obama. "It's not to take a picture with the president. We're here to make sure those who took the tough votes are rewarded."

In another sign that House Dem leaders are eager to silence talk about them losing the House, top Democrats are circulating a memo on Capitol Hill that lays out a detailed case for why Republicans will come up short this fall. The argument in the DCCC memo, which was sent over by a source and opens a window on Dem thinking about the political landscape in a difficult year, is two-fold.The key points: First, Republicans simply can't put enough seats in play to win the House. Second, the Tea Party has become a massive liability nationally in multiple unappreciated ways....

As many as 70 House seats are in play this election cycle, DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen said Thursday as he sought to downplay a rift between House Dem leaders and the WH. "It's between 60 and 70 seats in play. That includes Democrats and Republican seats in play," Van Hollen said on MSNBC Thursday morning, maintaining the midterms will be a choice between Dems and GOPers.(snip) Van Hollen maintained that Dems still have a few targets this Nov., pointing to seats being vacated by Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Mike Castle (R-DE). He also cited seats held by Reps....

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) is already practicing for her new job. Once the American people vote her party out of power and, in effect, vote her out of the Speaker's job; Madame Pelosi is evidently ready to begin a new career as one of those tacky carnival fortune tellers/con artists who claim to see nothing but great fortune in your future as they're picking your pocket. Imagine the rubes on the midway's delight when they hear things like what she told potential Democratic donors today.

The Democratic Party is moving faster and more aggressively than in previous election years to dig up unflattering details about Republican challengers. In House races from New Jersey to Ohio to California, Democratic operatives are seizing on evidence of GOP candidates' unpaid income taxes, property tax breaks and ties to financial firms that received taxpayer bailout money. In recent weeks, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has circulated information to local reporters about Republican candidates in close races. Among the claims: -- That Jim Renacci of Ohio once owed nearly $1.4 million in unpaid state taxes. -- That David Harmer of...

The Democratic Party is moving faster and more aggressively than in previous election years to dig up unflattering details about Republican challengers. In House races from New Jersey to Ohio to California, Democratic operatives are seizing on evidence of GOP candidates' unpaid income taxes, property tax breaks and ties to financial firms that received taxpayer bailout money. In recent weeks, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has circulated information to local reporters about Republican candidates in close races. Among the claims: -- That Jim Renacci of Ohio once owed nearly $1.4 million in unpaid state taxes. -- That David Harmer of...

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is asking supporters for contributions to help prevent the "subpoenas and investigations" that would result from a GOP majority. In a fundraising letter for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Pelosi says if Republicans take back the House, they'll initiate "endless investigations against President Obama" and "bring back the days of Ken Starr and the politics of personal destruction." "Remember a Republican-controlled Congress that devoted more time to subpoenas and investigations than to solving our country's problems?" Pelosi asks. "There is far too much at stake for our country now to allow it to happen again." Rep....

According to a new Gallup poll, Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents are much more enthusiastic about voting in the upcoming mid-term elections than they have been in previous years while Democrats' enthusiasm has dwindled to a new low by comparison. But rather than trying to improve the product they're trying to sell, the Democratic Party has decided to respond the way they always do - throw money at the problem.

The importance of the 2010 mid-term elections, not only to elect or re-elect a local member of Congress or governor, but also to further the progressive direction of the country, is not widely understood. Only a few, most notably the labor movement and its allies, have already drawn up plans for mobilization. And while the Democratic National Committee, along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (as well as their opposing counterparts on the Republican side), have always sought to increase their number of seats in the House and Senate, there has hardly ever been...

President Obama has been happy to beat up on Wall Street "fat cats," but tonight he'll be even happier to take their money. The President is slated to headline a superswank, $50,000-per-couple fund-raiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at Manhattan's gilded St. Regis hotel on Fifth Ave.The high-dollar affair will feature fine French food, a bevy of Wall Street titans and 23 Congress members - including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).Not everyone is thrilled that Obama and Pelosi are looking to use New York as a campaign ATM at the same time that they are trying to rein in Wall...

While some try to rehabilitate the corruption laden reputation of the late Congressman John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania) by naming a Navy ship in his honor, voters in his district are poised to rehabilitate their representation in Washington. The latest poll shows Republican businessman Tim Burns leading his Democratic challenger in the May 18 special election former Murtha aide Mark Critz 46% to 40%. And in typical 'Desperate Democrat' fashion, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has responded with one of the most misleading political ads you'll ever see.

Wow, this is lame. The DCCC is getting involved in Hawaii's special House election, except that the Republican candidate, Charles Djou, is about as menacing as a Care Bear. So their line of attack is . . . for signing a pledge not to raise taxes. Djou signed the Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, stating that he opposes any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar-for-dollar by further reducing tax rates. The DCCC contends Djou is "protecting tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas." And every other company, and every other individual. You...

House Democrats plan to revive the political ghost of former President George W. Bush in their bid to retain the majority this fall, according to Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the head of the party’s re-election efforts. Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, on Tuesday signaled House Democrats will try to repeat their success in the last two election cycles by once again running under a change banner. "This time we will make the case that supporting a Republican is simply turning back the clock to Bush economic policies, the same policies that got us into this...

When you get an invitation from the city's hottest lobbyists for a dinner in honor of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, expect to pay. But even with the promise of dinner prepared by "celebrity women chefs," ticket prices ranging from $5,000 to $30,400 are enough to choke on. "Whatever," Democrats will say as they fork over the money to attend the exclusive fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at the home of überlobbyists Heather and Tony Podesta. And the truth is, this is now an annual event. Several top Dems plan to attend the February 9 soiree, including DCCC Chairman...

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has come up with a novel way to energize the base and capitalize on the left’s antipathy to Fox News—a “Fact Check Fox” State of the Union rapid response team staffed by grassroots activists. “This group of Democratic Party activists will stand at the ready to counter the lies and distortions that erupt from the rightwing media and Republican spin doctors like Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck following President Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday night,” reads the email, which will be sent out Wednesday to its 4 million-plus list. “You will receive...

Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said THIS about Ted Kennedy's Senate seat...“Why would you hand the keys to the car back to the same guys whose policies drove the economy into the ditch and then walked away from the scene of the accident?”

WASHINGTON – An already difficult situation for Democrats in Congress is worsening as the 2010 political season opens. To minimize expected losses in next fall's election, President Barack Obama's party is testing a line of attack that resurrects George W. Bush as a boogeyman and castigates Republicans as cozy with Wall Street. Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who heads the House Democrats' campaign arm, said his party wants to remind voters who was on their side at a difficult time. "The Republican Party in Washington today is no different than the Republican Party that ran the Congress before," he said....

Democrats have lost yet another touted recruit, this time in Kansas. State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) just announced her withdrawal from the race to face Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.). She becomes the fifth formidable recruit to bow out in recent weeks. “I have been forced to make a decision between honoring the pledge I made to the people in my Senate district and my firm conviction that the people of the 2nd congressional district deserve a truly independent voice in Congress," Kelly said in a statement. “This has been a very hard decision, but it is the right one.” Kelly...

Democrats have lost yet another touted recruit, this time in Kansas. State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) just announced her withdrawal from the race to face Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.). She becomes the fifth formidable recruit to bow out in recent weeks. “I have been forced to make a decision between honoring the pledge I made to the people in my Senate district and my firm conviction that the people of the 2nd congressional district deserve a truly independent voice in Congress," Kelly said in a statement. “This has been a very hard decision, but it is the right one.” Kelly...

DCCC goes after Palin and 'lunatic fringe' By Eric Zimmermann - 11/30/09 03:52 PM ET The DCCC is using Sarah Palin as a bogeyman to raise money, calling her book a "lie-riddled work of fiction." An excerpt from a fundraising email DCCC Executive Director Jon Vogel sent to supporters today: You and I know that the only thing dead on arrival whenever Sarah Palin grabs a microphone is the truth. Only now, her lie-riddled work of fiction called "Going Rogue" is selling like gangbusters - and it's up to us to give it a proper response. The media is closely...

As you head out over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house for a fine Thanksgiving turkey, consider yourself forewarned that cousin Cathy and Aunt Alice, the family flaming libs, have been armed with Democrat talking points to stoke the fire in the annual Thanksgiving political brawl.   Control issues much?  The downloadable cheat sheet gives a list of potential myths the family conservatives might trot out and supplies the family liberals with "facts" for effective "myth-busting." First off, the term myths, as used by liberals, requires an Inigo Montoya retort: " You keep using that word. I do...

Here is the Rat's cheat sheet. Is it a surprise that it is called a "cheat" sheet. Rats can't do anything honestly.

During two heated Democratic challenges, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park was targeted by millions of dollars in TV ads painting him as a far right Republican in his north suburban district. Much of the time, it was the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee paying for and writing those ads. Kirk spent millions of dollars himself on ads to cultivate a moderate, independent brand in the 10th District. Now it seems the DCCC agrees with him. DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen said during a C-SPAN interview Sunday that Kirk is a "moderate," contradicting his own organizations efforts to paint him...

Despite claiming victory with getting 80 advertisers to dump Glenn Beck's show, the left clearly still views him as a big threat. Now Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) have entered the fray--sending out a mass email to sign a new petition to "Denounce Glenn Beck!".But the site is NOT CENSORED. So go there now and post your message IN SUPPORT OF GLENN BECK. Let's overwhelm their petition with Pro-Glenn messages.

Link to video.Note to mods: not promoting what DCCC has to say. Merely providing link in the spirit of "know your enemy".It is has a well-deserved "Barf Alert" and hoping the thread would stay as a motivator for many to stay tuned into to and engaged in the (Doug) Hoffman vs. "The Establishment" hot race in New York state, voting scheduled for next Tuesday.

Yes, it is THE uberputz Alan Grayson, the nutbag who has called Republicans everything from murderers to "enemies of America", and compared the American healthcare system (of which 71% of Americans were satisfied) to "the Holocaust". Well now he has himself a "moneybomb" site (his words) to try and raise tons of cash, which he will certainly need since he is now Enemy #1 of the RCCC. This site is for folks to make pledges of support. So let's have a bit of fun. You can pledge up to $4800. Let's make as many pledges as we can. It currently...

Mr. Carville, I happen to be one of those so-called birther's. By the way, where IS Mr. Obama's Long form Birth Certificate? And since we're on the subject, how about his Kindergarden records, high school records, college records (financial aid forms and transcripts), and any other record indicating his nationality at the time? Is there something in those records Mr. Obama does not want the people of America to see? Perhaps the good Mr. Obama is not a Natural Born Citizen of the US. Could that be the reason? And how were the activities of honest American citizens at the...

It looks like someone has gotten me on the DCCC e-mailing list and I get a daily SPAMMING from them. I have decided to reply in kind and counter-SPAM them. Today, My counter-SPAM message is to Paul Begala. Mr. Begala, So, when Congressman Joe Wilson told truth to power you call him a clown. And calling his statement "Classy"? Spare me. Apparently you Democrats can dish it out, but you sure can not take it. Stop whining. Quit sounding like a gaggle of spoiled kindergardeners denied their icecream. Your party complains more in a week than President Bush did in...

Currently, leftists have reportedly generated $1 million in donations for Rep. Joe Wilson's opponent last time, Rob Miller. Wilson, for his part has reaped about $750k. But there is a big difference beneath the surface: : Kos and DCCC immediately organized fundraising against Wilson. Wilson's $ is based on his own appeal and spontaneous contributors. From Paul Kane of the WaPo:

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is outspoken, conservative, media-friendly — and for many in the Democratic Party, a new public enemy No. 1. Now that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is out of office, there are few Republican officials in the country Democrats would rather unseat in 2010 than Bachmann, a two-term congresswoman with a habit of pushing the buttons of liberals on everything from ACORN to global warming to even whether President Barack Obama is, as she once asked, "anti-American." "She's definitely somewhere up there," Bachmann chief of staff Michelle Martson said of where the Minnesota congresswoman sits on the...

The White House damage control team is out in force on the internet trying to counter sitizen outrage agaiinst the healthcare "reform" advocated by Obama and Democrats. White House Office of Health Reform communications director Linda Douglas has a video out crying Obama' words have been "taken out of context." Whitehouse - Facts Are Stubborn Things Included in the countering efforts is, "Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send...