House Democrats hit GOP over town hall protests in Twitter ad campaign
Source: The Hill
House Democrats campaign arm is launching Twitter ads that will target House Republicans in nearly two dozen districts over the backlash theyre facing at town halls over ObamaCare.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees (DCCC) ads, which were provided first to The Hill, will be running in 23 GOP-held districts ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. The digital ads will feature an image of a packed crowd at a town hall with an empty chair on the stage.
Will Hurd voted to repeal the ACA with no plan to replace it, one of the ads reads. How he wont hold a town hall with constituents.
Protesters have been flooding town halls in lawmakers home states, particularly over the looming battle over ObamaCare and pushing back on repeal of former President Obamas signature healthcare law.
Republicans many of them in swing districts are seeking to avoid protesters at these in-person gatherings and opting instead for virtual town halls.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/320575-house-democrats-hit-gop-over-town-hall-protests-in-twitter-ad-campaign
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)There's a lot of anger that Elise Stefanik only announces her schedule until after the fact and refuses to meet with constituents. There was even a protest of about 80 people outside her local office last week. But the best news is that she already has a challenger - a Democrat from Stillwater who was a Bernie Sanders delegate at the last convention. He's holding his first meetup/fundraiser next month! It's a great sign that they're thinking of 2018 already!
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)in the nation, literally among the top 5, 10 or 15 depending on the criteria used, so electing a liberal or other from the left would be a fantasy.
But just maybe what the pubs are up to will finally hurt our current congressman with his voters. He's felt so safe that he actually lists membership in ALEC among his credentials, he wants the extremist-run Congress to decide how much of our privacy Apple and others will be allowed to protect (!), and his phony "town halls" have always been listen-only phone, protecting him even from questions from an overwhelmingly friendly constituency.
There ARE good conservatives who care about saving our republic from the barbarians intent on destroying it. They've been sitting government out for a couple of decades, but it's time for them to run for office and win. Real differences aside, I'd be so glad to vote for one.
Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)And here I thought mine was irredeemable! I worked on both of two campaigns for the last Democratic candidate who won here. He won the first time he ran and lost the second, told us that the time he won it was by the smallest margin in the House that term. After decades o Republican representation, we finally managed to elect a Democrat - Kirsten Gillibrand. But after she was appointed to the Senate to replace Hillary Clinton, her successor won the "special election" that followed, and then that was the end of it.
We really need to be proactive, return to the "50 state strategy." And not only GOTV efforts, but we need help from those who can make a real difference - President Obama, Vice President Biden - when Kirsten Gillibrand first won, President Clinton came to the region! And even in this traditionally red district, it was SRO just to see him!
Though one thing we have to our advantage - everywhere - is that voters tend to vote for change. And after Trump (or Pence, as the case may be), any voter who's been paying attention will be desperate for it!
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)a major wave of change toward liberalism after the wave toward conservatism that was ushered in with reaganism, but huge money committed to moving the electorate and thus government right altered that--somewhat. The wave did come late and elect Obama and a majority did elect a Democratic successor.
Btw and fwiw, I really don't understand this blanket commitment of some to a 50-state strategy-fits-all-situations thing. Imo, we should commit to developing a really well-equipped tool box and using whatever the current situation calls for.
Pub strategy and ruthlessness, and dark money investments, have been winning for them, and they definitely didn't choose a screwdriver based on ideology where a hammer was needed. They didn't bother with big vote suppression efforts and/or flooding of campaign attention in all 50 states, or even in most districts in each state chosen. Just some very carefully chosen ones, based on research, that would yield the big bang, and those changed as needed between their 2010 takeover in Congress and 2016.
Just a thought. I envy you living in a great political region with so many good people and possibilities. When we moved to Georgia, I thought the liberalization wave would raise its boat at least somewhat with the rest, not dump it in a trough.
Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)So there's hope for even traditionally conservative states. I'm in Northeastern New York, Governor Cuomo didn't even win here. The only reason New York is considered a blue state are the more Democratic population centers downstate. When Kirsten Gillibrand finally won here (NY-20), it was the first Democrat I can remember since I've been voting. Most elections, the Democrats didn't even bother fielding a candidate.
And by "50 state strategy," I mean that there are no areas we can afford to write off. That's the way I understood Howard Dean's plan. If a Democrat can win here, there's hope for any district. And it looks like the DCCC is starting early, taking advantage of the disgust the majority of voters have for Trump.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Look, Democrats don't "write off" people. That's not who we are. Just look at the 10-20-30 strategy we planned for going after pockets of intractable rural poverty, most of them in profoundly conservative areas. And so much else. The Tennessee Valley Authority-type many-pronged commitment we planned to bring prosperity to conservative "coal country." Anyone who says that is lying, tearing ourselves down from inside--behavior that should not be approved.
We really need to be proud of ourselves and what we stand for so that we can communicate that message. And accusing ourselves of being like uncaring Republicans isn't just wrong, it's very stupid.
As for the value of investing resources exactly where needed, we now know that right-wing leaders have quietly pursued extremely carefully researched and long-prepared surgical strategies, dissect here, tie off there. Their 2010 takeover of Congress didn't just happen. There was no grassroots movement, but one very carefully encouraged, planned, funded, and directed by agents of extremist billionaires. The party itself and dark-money PACs also focused tremendous attention and money on a few very carefully chosen districts, a very few among the thousands around the nation, whose votes would flip Congress.
Of course, this happened in the context of an entire nation that has been awash in right-wing, white-oriented propaganda for a couple decades now. Their version of "not writing off" their white people even as they work to transfer wealth and power away from them.
JudyM
(29,236 posts)Wishing her success!
Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)She was a very good congresswoman, but she really has grown in the job as senator. She's stepped up to the plate for those still affected by 9/11, has done a great job representing all New Yorkers. And I was pleased to hear that she's evolved on the gun issue. You could tell Seth was impressed by her, too! Thanks so much for the video!
Cha
(297,196 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)I actually feel slightly better even though I can't imagine things continuing as they are until 2018! But the news has been so unrelentingly dire, that this is a most welcome announcement - and provides a little hope - finally!
mantis49
(813 posts)He is having a "Tele-town Hall" and you need to register to be on it. Chicken-shit! R, of course.
Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)She doesn't post her schedule until after the fact - avoiding disgruntled voters. But people here - even in a Republican district - are getting fed up, letters to the editor, showing up where they think she's going to be, and there was even a protest at her local headquarters last week. I think the disgust over Trump is gaining traction - and all Republicans who support him are going to feel the heat.
Rhiannon12866
(205,305 posts)A newly formed coalition of progressive groups in the 21st Congressional District will hold a vigil and petition-signing event at noon Friday outside the Glens Falls district office of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, the Greater Glens Falls Democracy for America chapter announced Monday.
"This is a respectful, vigil-type event without speeches, dedicated to a single, simple request -- to hold town hall meetings open to all," Larry Dudley, the group's coordinator, wrote in a group newsletter.
Stefanik has said she will meet with small groups of individuals, and she has scheduled a meeting with members of the local Democracy for America chapter.
"This is great, and we thank her for her willingness to meet with us," Dudley wrote. "Small meetings like the one we have been offered are good, but that is just a start."
http://poststar.com/blogs/all_politics_is_local/new-progressive-coalition-to-hold-vigil-outside-stefanik-s-office/article_eab40407-efd8-56c4-b85a-96c1066134fa.html
ebbie15644
(1,214 posts)mantis49
(813 posts)13th District Illinois
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I hope people remain energized for the next two years.
mountain grammy
(26,620 posts)Rallies, strategy meetings, getting people to run for offices. We've got to stop these Nazis..