Democratic Party campaigns on "Occupy Wall Street"

Protesters from the Occupy DC movement, marching in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street in New York's Financial District, demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Cliff Owen

The ongoing "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations against corporate greed began with no political affiliation, but in Washington, debate about the protests has cast them as a partisan struggle. Now the campaign arm of congressional Democrats is using the ongoing protest to build support for the party.

In an email to supporters, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Robby Mook notes that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor last week referred to the protesters as "mobs."

"Mobs? That must be what Republicans refer to as the middle class, or maybe the millions of unemployed Americans across the country," the email says. It asks Democratic supporters to "send a message" to Republican leadership and sign a DCCC petition to "help us reach 100,000 strong standing with #OccupyWallStreet protestors."

Cantor is one of several Republican politicians in recent days to denounce the protests, which started about three weeks ago in New York City and have spread to cities nationwide. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said the protests amounted to "class warfare," while presidential candidate Herman Cain accused the anti-Wall Street protesters of playing the "victim card."

Democrats, meanwhile, have expressed sympathy for the protesters, saying they speak to the problems that Democrats have been trying to solve with laws like the Dodd Frank Act.

"We share the anger and frustration of so many Americans who have seen the enormous toll that an unchecked Wall Street has taken on the overwhelming majority of Americans while benefitting the super wealthy," Reps. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the co-chairs of the House Progressive Caucus, said in a statement last week.

Many of the protesters that have taken to the streets have expressed anger at Washington and the political system in general -- not necessarily the Republican party specifically. Groups that are allied with the Democratic party, such as unions and political grassroots groups, have attempted to capture the energy of the "Occupy" protests to advance their causes -- without alienating the disenchanted and angry protesters by co-opting the burgeoning movement.

Occupy Wall St.'s drumbeat grows louder
Photos: Anti-Wall Street protests, coast-to-coast
"Occupy" protests: Complete coverage

[majorjames25]

I like your post. It is very interesting.

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[MTATL67]

Anyone who calls protesters un-American, un-Patriotic either failed or did not grasp American history. The United States was born out of protest, literally . Was the Boston Tea Party jealous of the Brits. As Mr. Cain says of OWS. Were the colonists who protested the actions of the crown un-American as Rep. Broun suggest of the OWS. I am no fan of the extremists in this country but by GOD I support the AFL-CIO to KKK and everyone in between's right to assemble/protest and voice themselves. Any elected official or person who is seeking to become an elected official who does not support our rights to assemble will be one of the first to start stripping away everyone's rights until no one has rights and needs to take American History.

[noloyalisti]

Wall Street corruption has destroyed the futures of millions of Americans. They deleted 20% of the wealth accumulated over 200 years in less than 2. And the greedy btards did not know when to stop. Well now they have let out the rage and fury of the American people and it will only grow bigger and bigger and bigger.

I an not surprised at how terrified and hysterical the right wingers are because everything they stand for has been wrong for so long and now it is being exposed for the 99% to see. Power to the people. Time to dump the greedy few from America.

[TimSullivanR]

Incredible. The Dems never change. They can't resist a screaming mob - as long as they have left wing anger.

The Democrats are joining with the radical left mobs that are growing angrier and more left-wing every day.

This guarantees that the independents and the moderates will turn away completely from the Democrats.

Why are politicians so incredibly stupid?

[noloyalisti]

Keep deluding yourself, no one will be stupid enough to go against the 99% of Americans at some point. If they do they will lose.

[lg144]

TimSullivanR,

Please state any republican bill, policy or current political stance that favors struggling Americans over corporations, big oil and the wealthy? Of course this looong list will justify republicans deserving the votes of struggling Americans and those involved with OWS over President Obama and Democrats, right?

[formerdem-2009]

This is just TOO funny!!! of course the democraps and the Obama mainstream press corp are hitching their wagons to these Hypocrites that claim to be against the mean banks and corporate bad guys Maybe they should burn their mac cards since they don't have the draft anymore and god forbid give up their cell phones and tablets. Besides their golden boy is turning to lead and it's getting much harder to spin it up for him and of course pissalosi and dread and big Al (where's Jesse?)have to have something to cry about. Free speech is right in this country !!! So more power to ya kids just keep in mind you also have the right to make a fool of yourself too. From the pictures Iv'e seen you all are doing a fine job keep up the good work. Can't wait to see Nancy out there with you in a tie dyed t shirt and a head band LOL

[noloyalisti]

It's just that when someone like you America comes out against workers, middle class and freedom and democracy, we assume you are paying attention to the Fox Propaganda Channel, the mouthpiece of the failed Republicon Party. If that is not true, where do you get these bad ideas?

[noloyalisti]

Fox Propaganda Channel stands for everything that is bad in America. Lying, cheating and corporate greed. Monopolization of media and providing nothing but reactionary misinformation that keeps anyone listening ignorant and stupid.

[you_MAY_be_right]

I listen to some of these "political leaders" and GOP POTUS candidates and just laugh. All of a sudden they mostly want to just throw out The First Amendment for convenience sake. They are just as bad as the Dems wanting to throw out The Second Amendment. And the Teabaggers wanting to get rid of the 16th Amendment.

[Zann-Zel]

The Democratic Party does not have throwing the 2nd amendment out as part of their platform. They never have.

[Zann-Zel]

Hi Ranger! .......and Bye Ranger! LOL! Thats all I got time for today!

[anonymous010]

Sorry dems, too little, too late. You had your chance to turn this mess around just this past summer with the debt talks, and instead, you caved to the republicans. No more. Neither party in power speaks for the American people anymore and it's high time they both go.

[noloyalisti]

I'll tell you what Class Warfare is: the Top 1% owning 40% of the wealth of America. The greedy evil banksters and other Wall Street robber barons did not know when to quit. We have been letting these turds get away with rape and pillage of workers and the middle class since the disaster of Reagan.

Well now it is time to change it all. Capitalism (American predatory and crony style) has failed, maybe we should try democracy. Occupy Together: this is what democracy looks like!

[credibility2]

..you mean like the Main St. types that siphon off taxpayer funded programs to avoid paying any income taxes at all...or the Main St. types that defraud taxpayers out of money that goes into government programs they get which supports them...or the Main St. types who don't do anything to earn their keep, yet have been made to feel entitled just because they're breathing air...you are aware that much of the billions in stimulus has been paid back to the taxpayers...but, of course, why would you want the truth...Main St. is just as guilty as Wall St. and just as guilty as both political parties and especially this president for creating the financial mess and now making it worse...go after the Wall St and political types, but don't pick and chose which ones to leave untouched, like the types on Main St...now that's equality, social justice, fair and balanced and correct...that's also shared sacrifice...