GOP Spring Break Includes Double-Barrel Hit On Democrats

Congressional Republicans and the Republican National Committee plan to use Congress' Easter break to hammer Democrats for jeopardizing war funding and pushing a fiscal 2008 budget that would end the Bush tax cuts.

"We're going to be telling voters that they [Democrats] gave the war to the enemy and are raising their taxes," said a GOP strategist working on the spring break offensive. The dual approach opened today when the RNC started a time clock on their web page counting the days until funding cuts hit the troops in Iraq. It's called: "Countdown To Troop Funding Cuts."

In talking points titled "Spring Break Party: Dems Break for Recess Before Giving Troops What They Need," the RNC notes that spending could start to dry up as early as April 16 if emergency funding isn't approved fast. President Bush has vowed to veto the spending package because it includes time limits on how long troops should stay in Iraq.

Hill Republicans and the RNC are also planning to hit the Democratic budget, claiming that by not extending the Bush tax cuts, the average family will see a tax increase of $1,100. Those talking points are titled: "Spring Broke: Dems Go On Vacation After Voting For $400 Billion Tax Hike."

Strategists believe that the GOP can make up some ground agaainst Democrats if they stay aggressive on the two issues. A Democratic strategist, however, said that his party has the momentum now to push harder on the war and fight "Bush tax giveaways to the rich."

By Paul Bedard