DCCC Continues To Hit GOP On War Funding Legislation

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has expanded its media blitz against a handful of House Republicans who voted “present” on recent legislation to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The expanded blitz includes a new series of Web videos against the targeted Republicans and a recorded phone message from retired Gen. Wesley Clark.

In his phone message, Clark says, “Congressman [name] had the opportunity to stand up for our veterans. Instead he voted against expanding the GI bill for the first time since World War II to provide a free college education for veterans. That’s leaving our veterans behind.”

The messaging targets House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and four vulnerable Republican incumbents: Reps. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), John “Randy” Kuhl (R-N.Y.), John Shadegg (R-Ariz.). A separate generic DCCC call was made to Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) for not supporting the most recent war funding legislation.

Earlier this month, 132 House Republicans including Boehner voted “present” during the recent House vote on Iraq and Afghanistan funding to protest against domestic-spending items inserted in the legislation, which helped led to the defeat of the measure. 

Said DCCC Communications Director Jennifer Crider: "This new phase of our campaign will hold Republicans accountable for their double speak and playing politics with the bill to fund our troops and veterans."

For its part, the conservative advocacy group Freedom’s Watch launched its own automated phone calls against vulnerable Democrats over Memorial Day weekend, accusing Congress of putting “its vacation ahead of the needs of our soldiers.”

"Rep. Boehner has always supported the troops and always will," said Don Seymour, spokesman for Boehner's political action committee, the Freedom Project.  "He has said that he is open to increasing education benefits for our veterans, but he opposed the Democrats' cynical plan to use and abuse our troops by tying a massive tax increase to a bill providing the funds our troops need."