Pundits and Republicans agree: Dem attack on Chamber is a flop

[ProSense]

Pundits and Republicans agree: Dem attack on Chamber is a flop

The full-scale assault from the White House and Dems on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove's groups shows no signs of abating. But is it already a political flop?

Some commentators are rushing to proclaim this offensive a political failure. Mark Halperin, for instance, wondered allowed today: "I'm not sure how this appeals to voters." Halperin then stated this as outright fact: "It's just not relevant to voters."

Republicans are now entering the fray -- and they, too, agree it's a political flop, claiming that it will make Dems look anti-business. "All that Democrats have done is remind people of their anti-business fervor while drawing attention to the fact that their anti-growth policies have failed to put Americans back to work," reads a statement from Eric Cantor's office.

<...>

It's not easy to gauge whether this attack is working. But polls clearly show strong public discontent with corporate influence over our elections. A recent Washington Post poll found an overwhelming majority, 80 percent, opposes the Citizens United decision allowing unfettered corporate spending in elections, including strong majorities of both parties. And 72 percent support Congressional limits on corporate (and union) spending.

<...>

Given the electorate's clear discomfort with corporate influence over the political process, it's possible that the Dem assault on the Chamber's foreign money risks being a distraction. It has led virtually every news organization to cast this dispute as one over the narrow question of whether the Chamber's foreign cash bleeds into election spending. That has moved the focus away from the larger issue: That groups like the Chamber and Rove's outfits think it's fine and dandy to spend millions upon millions of dollars swaying our elections without disclosing where that money is coming from. The pressure is on Dems to keep the focus on those uncontestable facts.

I don't have any idea whether the overall White House and Dem attack is working or not. But it seems questionable for folks to conclude already that it's a failure, especially since there isn't any empirical evidence to support that claim.

A flop, heh?

[Enrique]

1. I'm touched by Mark Halperin's concern n/t

[karynnj]

17. In 2007, Charlie Rose asked Teresa Heinz Kerry to comment on Halperin's

extremely negative comments on the 2004 campaign. Ignoring Teresa's polite and classy response that "he was not a friend" said in a way that obviously meant more, he goaded her to respond further - suggesting that JK didn't want her to say to more (he smilingly rejected that) and that she was opinionated, Teresa then gave an incredible defense of her husband, his goals, his platform and the heart that he showed working so hard in 2004 - ending by saying that she was sorry for Halperin that he saw nothing good in the campaign. (Paraphrased from over 3 years ago) Even JK looked blown away - and appreciative - and Teresa got the most applause given either of them for anything they said. (This was at a March 2007 book event for This Moment on Earth.)

Although I loved Teresa's eloquent, obviously heart felt response, she also had it right the first time -- and not just for John Kerry. For Democrats, John Halperin is not our friend.

[tularetom]

2. More confirmation that it's working

If it's so bad they should just shut up and let the Dems continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

Now they even have their whores in the liberal media trashing it.

I think the Dems have struck a nerve with this one.

Now they need to be a bit more specific and refer to funds from Islamic countries coming into the US to influence our elections.

[okieinpain]

28. EXACTLY. N/T.

[babylonsister]

3. I cannot stand halperin. He's clueless...

Mark Halperin Still Doesn't Know What He's Talking About.

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=10&year=2010&base_name=mark_halperin_still_doesnt_kno

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. I completely agree. And I agree with Drunk Irishman that his crap should be...

banned at DU. :thumbsup:

[flamingdem]

4. It's one thing so see repuke feathers ruffled..

and another to see main stream media ruffled.
That's today's attack on Obama meme.

[TygrBright]

5. They wish. Oh, how they wish. But sayin' don't make it so. n/t

[DearAbby]

6. Hammer it hard until Election day

Somehow I just don't believe the GOP out of the goodness of their hearts would be warning Democrats. HIT THIS ONE HOME

[ladywnch]

7. just yesterday i was reading how it was gaining traction and thugs were

screaming like scalded cats. hmmmmmmmmm who should I believe...........it's a conundrum

[bigdarryl]

8. The pundits are CLUELESS they never know what the public thinks

[Cognitive_Resonance]

9. Rove wouldn't be frantically squealing if it were a flop. Keep pressing the issue. nt

[deminks]

10. The MEdia want you to believe it is a flop. Who is also gaining from the influx of money?

How much foreign money did GEM$NBC take in for ads so far this season? Faux Newz? ABC? The Chamber and the lobbyists are all buying ads for their favorite nutty candidates. Ads on their favorite news-like teevee networkz.

Money laundering is money laundering.

[disillusioned73]

11. Well, if pundits & repubs say it is so...

damnit, I thought we had something!! :sarcasm:

Dems need to realize the media will not go along with this, they gotta force the issue and keep pounding it

[NatBurner]

12. you would think they'd put as much effort into investigating the issue

as they do dissecting meaningless polls about it

the allegations ar either wrong or they are right: THAT'S what they should be concerned about

FACTS

let ME worry about how i'm supposed to feel about it

assholes

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. Why doesn't the COC open it's books up for the rest of us to see

and clear things up if these are baseless allegations? :shrug:

I mean, if they have nothing to hide...................

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

14. *snicker*

For the right wing, this is one hell of a constipation aid. :)

[Dawson Leery]

15. It is working so the GOP and their wealthy pundit friends

are going to do what they always do, attack the Democrats for fighting back.

[Sheepshank]

16. CoC has everything to lose by opening up their books

....this is a no win situation for them whether they are innocent of receiveing millions in international money or not. US Contributors are unlikely to be happy at having their contribution info and names bandied around publically. Foreign contributors even moreso.

It is in their (and their contributors) best interests to keep those books tightly sealed. Even if it means losing this election. There will be other elections to buy and influence.....unless there is sweeping campaign finance reform.

[rocktivity]

31. Another example of great minds thinking alike

Sheepshank: ...(T)his is a no-win situation for them whether they are innocent of receiving millions in international money or not.

Me: ...(A)s Bon Jovi might say, it doesn't make a difference if they're guilty or not.

:rofl:
rocktivity

[WI_DEM]

18. well aren't the pundits and republicans both controlled by the Chamber?

[BootinUp]

19. A good stand to take, lets see what happens

then we will know for sure.

[Arkana]

20. Well, if Republicans are saying it's a flop, it must be true!

And Halperin is turning into more of a hack every day. I'd say the violent reaction Democrats got from this means it's working.

[ProSense]

21. Van Hollen says calling out the Chamber is "having resonance"

Chamber president vows to 'ramp up' political efforts in face of Dem attacks

By Michael O'Brien

<...>

Still, some Democrats said their attacks on the Chamber and groups like American Crossroads, which is affiliated with GOP strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, who were both advisers in President George W. Bush's administration, is getting their party political traction.

"I think it is having resonance," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the leader of House Democrats' campaign efforts, about the attacks on the Chamber during an appearance on MSNBC.

"I think that people are understanding that there's this very important nexus between the special interests who are spending these millions of dollars and an agenda that doesn't serve the interests of the American people," Van Hollen added, calling his party's attacks a "wake-up call" for voters.

But Donohue said the increased pressure wouldn't keep the Chamber from its efforts on behalf of a number of Republican (and some Democratic) candidates over the next 21 days.

"We will not be deterred from full and vigorous participation in the political process," he said. "And, we will continue to successfully protect the rights and privacy of our members as they exercise their Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of association in supporting the Chamber’s programs and activities."

Of course, the media wants people to believe that "some Democrats" are uncomfortable, which prompted this reaction from Kevin Drum.

[Monk06]

22. It's hurting or they wouldn't bother calling it a flop. Time for a per-candidate cap on donations.

First corporations are given first amendment rights
to unlimited campaign spending. Now there's a push
to deny exposure.

Only spending limits will stop the corruption of the
electoral process.

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. You nailed it - the fact that they vocalize about it means it's threatening them harshly.

[MadMaddie]

24. Then we must have hit the bullseye!!

They wouldn't be squeeling this loud if they weren't afraid.

We all know they are cowards....time to put up or shut up. Show the records you bastards.

[budkin]

25. Job Killing Democrats!!!

[AndrewP]

27. To me, all this hand wringing shows that it's working

[rocktivity]

29. Rocktivity and ProSense agree: Dem Attack On Chamber So Effective

It Has Made Even Karl Rove Shake In His Shoes



:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[otohara]

30. Nothing To See Here....Please Move On

if it's such a flop, why has it struck such a nerve at the Chamber of Outsourcing?

Time Warner Halprin or millions of American's who've lost their jobs to outsourcing?