February 2, 2009 5:01 PM

Dems, MoveOn Target GOP Lawmakers Opposing Stimulus

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Economy
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Earlier today, liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org sent an email to its members asking for donations to run ads following the Senate vote on the stimulus package "letting the public know where key senators—both Republican and Democrat—came down on the bill."

MoveOn, which claims a membership of 5 million, asked members to "pledge now to make sure senators know that voters will hold them accountable for their vote."

"...right now, the stimulus doesn't have the votes to pass," the group said, citing an Associated Press report that GOP leaders doubt the bill will attract enough support to get through the Senate. "Republicans and conservative Democrats are teaming up to strip out the good stuff—college loan assistance, health research, tax cuts for poor folks, and more—in favor of more tax cuts for corporations. If they don't get their way, they'll block the plan."

Last week, MoveOn and other groups launched an ad campaign pushing five GOP senators – Susan Collins, R-Maine, Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Judd Gregg, R- N.H., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, – to back the bill.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meanwhile, has launched a national radio campaign targeting Republican lawmakers who opposed the bill in the House. (The bill got no support from House Republicans.)

"The ads are tailored to highlight specific elements of the bill that House Democrats believe will resonate with voters," reports the Washington Post. "Some knock the GOP members for voting against a bill that cut taxes for '95 percent of American workers,' while others are tailored for specific districts, such as one that hits freshman Rep. Christopher Lee (R-N.Y.) for opposing legislation that would 'immediately create and save over 390,000 New York jobs.'"

More than two dozen Republicans are being targeted in the ads, including Minority Whip Eric Cantor. The DCCC also plans to send out three million e-mails and make 100,000 phone calls.

Add a Comment
by sjc_1 June 30, 2009 2:21 PM EDT
There are going to be lots of people running out of unemployment benefits soon. This can not go on forever and the private sector must be put back on track.

Roads, bridges and schools have long been an area that can be worked on in down times, especially when they have been neglected for 8 years.

Get with getting the contracts out NOW, so that good paying jobs can be restored and we get the benefits of repairing and expanding needed resources NOW, not later.
Reply to this comment
by actornaught February 3, 2009 3:23 PM EST
As much as limbaugh and foxnuts try to paint the primary news outlets as "liberal", MoveOn, Air America and Media Matters are more consistent as balance for the neocon (not conservatve) extremism. The neocons will always attack the messengers that are only trying to inform the public.

It should be pointed out the real liberal media uses alot more intelligence, while the neocons go for sensationalism and tweaking audience petty self-interests.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 February 3, 2009 1:52 PM EST
This is why the Republicans have been moved back into the minority and that%u2019s where they should stay. We%u2019ve all experienced what the Republicans will do to Americans when they have the opportunity and, it will be a constant effort to keep the beast (Conservatism) in control.
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by tjm509 February 3, 2009 8:14 AM EST
I''m SHOCKED that Republicans (Who, in part caused this mess in the first place)won''t support the solution. "To much wasteful spending" they say. HELLO, please look at 2000-2006 and say again! Can you even figure out why you lost elections in 2008??
Reply to this comment
by pmts2 February 3, 2009 1:11 AM EST
Mr. President,
I believe I can speak for every unemployed person in the country when I ask you to please include the suspension of Federal Income Tax on unemployment benefits for 2008 and 2009 to your stimulus plan. We promise not to spend the money in foreign lands on expensive vacations,or for extravegant remodeling of our homes which in many cases we are in danger of no longer owning. Thank you, and all our best hopes to you and your administration.
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