RAWSTORY: Moveon.org to run ads targeting Democratic leader Steny Hoyer

[arcos]

Moveon.org PAC to run ads targeting Democratic leader in House Steny Hoyer

MoveOn.org PAC will run sharp radio ads attack against the Democrats' number two in the House, Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-MD) along with ten Republican congressmembers, RAW STORY has learned. The ads will be made available tonight.

The attack marks a new strategy for the group, which in the past has abetted campaigns of Democratic candidates.

The issue, it seems, is Hoyer's vote on the bankruptcy bill, and what MoveOn sees as Hoyer's failure to bring the party together against the bill. The bill has been mired in Congress for years, and a significant share of Democrats have always supported it.

Progressives, particularly online bloggers, see the bankruptcy bill as a gift to the financial services industry. Democrats supporting the bill say it wasn't what they would have passed were they in the majority, but that there were many good aspects and protections for low-income voters. Those opposing the bill disagree.

<snip>

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/moveon_attacks_hoyer_415.htm

[New Dealer]

1. I hope this doesn't turn out bad...

[paineinthearse]

2. I can imagine the field day Rush "oxycontin" Limbaugh will have with this

"DEMS EATING THEIR OWN"

I say right on! We should out the DLC and the DINO's.

[PassingFair]

24. I agree, a good house cleaning is

...long overdue. An enemy of the people is an enemy of the people, no matter WHAT consonant follows his/her name.

[MADem]

3. I am not familiar with Steny's stance on this issue

...but I have met him, and I have to say, I liked him. Nice guy. Not pretentious. Looks a lot more polished and Hill-ish (political) on TV than he does in person, when wearing regular clothes and not in the power suit. Doesn't ask for special treatment, just one of the guys, very easy to talk to, good listener, good memory, puts you at ease.

[Eloriel]

31. You've just described the stereotypical "good" politician

But he's NOT such a good guy IMO. See my previous post in this thread, near the (current) bottom.

[MADem]

36. I spent almost a week with him

on a CODEL. In assorted environments...it wasn't just a political meet and greet at a rubber chicken thing.

I liked the guy.

[Zorra]

4. I'd rather know who my enemy is rather than have a traitor in my house.

Good for Moveon.

We need to weed the RW plants out of the Democratic party before they completely destroy it.

[neuvocat]

7. Agreed.

Move On isn't so much a Dem organization as it is an organization to stand up for the downtrodden. If Rush and the rest of the repukes want to blather on about "eating their own" then let them. They never want to see the light of day anyhow.

[Cha]

21. LOL! So true!

"They never want to see the light of day anyhow."

[Voltaire99]

26. Well said! Out with right wing Democrats.

Purging the party of its resident Bushies is the first step toward making it functional again.

[lupita]

5. This can't be a good idea...

I don't like the bankkruptcy bill either, but you can't attack the Dems like that. We have the republican machine to do that.

I don't know...

[Just Me]

9. The ad addresses TEN Republicans and ONE Democrat.

:shrug:

I dunno,...the Republican "wealthfare" machine is obvious. A Democrat joining in that machine is unacceptable.

[Doctor_J]

15. Spot on, Lup

Let's form the circular firing squad. Wouldn't it make alot more sense to run the ad against all the repugs who voted for the bill instead of someone who votes well 90% of the time?

We have radio, cable, and the newspapers bashing Dems day and night, 24/7. What possible good can come out of this?

[havocmom]

29. When DINOs roll over for the junta, they attack us.

They need to be replaced with DEMOCRATS.

[tblue37]

37. Dems need to be afraid of pissing off

their base, just as Republicans are. Votign agaisnt our interests should exact a price, otherwise they will bend where the pressure is greatest--from the Republican side.

[clem_c_rock]

6. I'm glad - I sometimes get tired of MoveOn's undying support of Dems

When the fact is that a massive amount of dems are just as dangerous and not on our side as the Repukes.

When we have all the Dems in congress voting yes on the Iraq war when a moron could have seen it was based on lies

-WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM

[Just Me]

8. Interesting. Sounds like they are pursuing more consistency in,...

,...protecting the interests of "the people". I hope their strategy works,...I really do. At this point, any 'experimental' strategy is worth pursuing in order to pull back to center the interests of "the people" in balance with corporate welfare.

[movonne]

10. I think that Moveon should also try and get other Dems to run against

these Repugs light.

[Ian David]

11. As soon as I see the ad, I'm donating to MoveOn again

[Just Me]

14. More individuals would be willing to run IF they have such support!!!!

Seriously. Honest, pro-democracy, pro-progressive folks simply don't have the solid backing to even risk running for office.

It would be spectacular if Moveon can become a solid, networking and support association for progressive hopefuls. That would SOOOOOO advance our progressive movement!!!

On edit: I am quite excited at the prospect of Moveon becoming OUR progressive network! That is POWERFUL!!! :bounce:

[xchrom]

12. good!

that bankruptcy bill is a fucking nightmare -- he needs to be held responsibe -- remember the regular folks -- you schmucks -- not just your fat cat friends.

that's ''personal responsibility''.

[Ken Burch]

20. Why didn't MoveOn do this with all the Democrats who voted

to repeal the Glass/Stegall Act, and by so doing opened the door to radically increased consolidation of financial services in a single financial institution?

Those Dems who voted to repeal Glass/Stegall were basically pissing on FDR's grave.

[Teaser]

13. Good. Make him sweat.

more of this please.

[Iowa]

16. This is very good. I'm with MoveOn on this one...

Outing these republican light phonies displays some integrity. This may not be the best issue to test this approach on, I don't know, but we're the party that represents the little guy. Any politician who calls himself a Democrat, and then proceeds to play footsie with the corporate regime and sell out the folks he represents should be severely thrashed. Go MoveOn! I'll be sending them another donation.

[JRob]

17. The Bill is an outrage!

...in light of the Corporate scandals, bankruptcies and the billions of dollar it's cost the American public.

It's a total sellout to the financials' like Social Security Reform is a sellout to Wall Street. Of course the biggies have their feet in both of those barrels.

The wealth is gettin' spread around...

[realFedUp]

18. I'm ready to make MoveOn a major political party

this is the way to fight for us.

[davidinalameda]

19. good for Move On!

maybe I should start donating again!

too many people on here think that just because a politician has a D after his or her name, they can do no wrong

[JRob]

22. Oh yeah, what's right is right regardless of the party affiliation

The Democrats need to be held accountable too. But it's sickening to image anyone sucking up to this administration, even their own Moderates.

[Goldeneye]

23. I like Steny Hoyer,

but maybe its time we show them we're serious. If you want our support, politicos, start voting like it.

[JI7]

25. didn't Robert Byrd vote for the Bankruptcy Bill ?

didn't moveon just a while ago AFTER he voted for the bill ask people to donate to his re-election campaign ?

[trudyco]

28. I thought it was Obama stumping for Byrds war chest -nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

46. He certainly did

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00044

[Toots]

27. This is a very good move by Moveon because it takes away the partisan

aspects that Republicans wail about. It is about the issue and not partisanship. It also sends a strong message that it is one thing to vote as a representative but it is quite another to be a whip and not whip for the Democratic position. This is a very good thing and should get attention....

[Helga Scow Stern]

42. Yes! Make an example of this guy.

Make an example of this guy.

Edit to add, since it wouldn't be prudent to go after Harry Reid, at this time, but it sure as hell sends a strong message.

I spent all afternoon faxing all of Reid's offices plus every CA Dem Representative who voted for it. There were six.

[Eloriel]

30. Good deal -- and there's another huge beef I've got with Steny

and that is he's in the pockets of the voting machine companies and/or their lobbyists (ITAA). He's the one who is behind HAVA, written primarily to get the federal govt to spend money on voting machines.

[Vadem]

33. I wasn't aware of that, Eloriel....I called Jim Moran's office and...

told them I was against the bankruptcy bill and requested that Jim Moran vote against the bill....well, guess who voted for the bankruptcy bill! On Monday, I will call his office again, and tell them that Jim Moran has received his last vote from me! I have voted for him for all of his elections; I supported him in his last election, which was very controversial due to his voting on bills in which he had a financial interest. That is it! I will support his competitor in his next election!

[bvar22]

32. MoneOn just got another gold star from me.

Those who will advance the agenda of the RICH and POWERFUL at the expense of LABOR, the Working Class, and the Poor are my political enemies.
I am SICK of republicans in Donkey suits.

[paineinthearse]

34. Here's the moveon news release

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=45943

Steny Hoyer & GOP Reps Targeted in Radio Ad Campaign; Votes for Bankruptcy Bill Called War on Middle Class & Bonanza for Credit Card Companies; Ads to Run in Districts of 10 Republicans & Democratic Whip

4/15/2005 4:06:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: Jessica Smith or Trevor FitzGibbon, 202-822-5200, both of Fenton Communications

WASHINGTON, April 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- MoveOn PAC announced that it will begin airing a radio ad campaign in the Congressional districts of House Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer (MD) and 10 Republican members of Congress who voted for a bankruptcy bill yesterday that would hurt middle class families. The bankruptcy bill is the latest in a series of Republican initiatives to benefit corporate special interests and the super- rich at the expense of middle- and lower-income American families.

"Our ad campaign will serve notice to politicians in both parties, that when they masquerade as populist friends of the middle class but vote the other way, we'll be there to hold them accountable," said Tom Matzzie, MoveOn PAC's Washington Director.

"Democrats need to be united in their opposition to bills like this that attack hardworking Americans. This is especially true for Steny Hoyer, the Democratic Whip, who has a good record on most issues, but should have stood up against the credit card companies and been a leader in his party. Democrats should be the defender of the middle class. Every time they defend the middle class values against Republican assaults, they'll inspire people to vote for them; give them hope that the political process is worth engaging in; which means they will win national elections," Matzzie continued.

"When Republicans legislate in Washington for corporate special interests at the expense of working families, we'll be there to blow the whistle at home," Matzzie concluded.

MoveOn PAC will run radio spots in the districts of the following ten Republican congressmen: Marilyn Musgrave (CO), Katherine Harris (FL), Jim Nussle (IA), Chris Chocola (IN), Jim Hostettler (IN), Mike Sodrel (IN), Charles Taylor (NC), Heather Wilson (NM), Thelma Drake (VA) and Randy Kuhl (NY). The ads criticize Members of Congress for being friendlier to the banks and other companies that issue credit cards than they are to the majority of their constituents.

Audio of the ad will be available at http://www.moveonpac.org/bankruptcyads after 8 p.m. ET today. A script of the ad follows:

SAMPLE: "Bankruptcy Radio" -- Steny Hoyer

(Note: the ad will be adapted to the specific districts where they run.)

MoveOn PAC

:60 Radio

They worked hard. They had health insurance.

Then a medical emergency and the bills started to pile up. Now they're facing bankruptcy.

Last year, half the personal bankruptcies in America were ordinary working people with extraordinary medical debt.

You'd think Congress would've helped them.

You'd think Steny Hoyer would've helped them. Think again.

Steny Hoyer just voted for a bankruptcy law practically written by the credit card companies. Steny Hoyer got $333,000 in contributions from those companies.

This new law won't make it tougher for corporate giants like Enron and WorldCom. But the law will burden decent, hard-working people with more debt.

Face it. The credit card companies sure have a friend in Steny Hoyer.

Do you?

Call Steny Hoyer at 301-474-0119.

Paid for by MoveOn PAC, http://www.moveonpac.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. MoveOn PAC is responsible for the content of this advertisement.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[madfloridian]

35. Good. They need to run one against FL's Jim Davis, who will run for Gov.

He co-sponsored that horrible bill, and he never answered me on the subject.

[Carolab]

38. This makes me want to give MoveOn a donation again.

Thank God. Someone is telling the Dems to stop acting like Repukes!

[lala_rawraw]

39. What I don't understand...

Is why they would attack a Dem, who by the way has little control over 70 people, when Delay is hot topic. My god, this will take pressure off Delay. What are they thinking, if they are thinking?

[Toots]

45. What do you mean little control?....He is the Democratic Whip for Christ's

sake. If he has no control then he should not be the whip and if he is the whip then he should damn well be whipping for the Democratic position. It is one thing for an individual to vote how they wish but not the damn whip if it goes contrare to the Democrats position..

[orleans]

40. good. go moveon!

[Helga Scow Stern]

41. Glad to see it. Dem hypocrisy has got to end.

[saigon68]

43. The DINOs need to GO

Especially the Limp Man from Conn.

[cestpaspossible]

44. Why are they not targeting Reid?

He voted for it: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00044


BTW, I'm not saying they should target Reid, I'm just wondering why they chose to go after Hoyer and not him.

[Freddie Stubbs]

47. MoveOn just raised $$ for Byrd, and he voted FOR the Bankruptcy bill

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00044

Are these people bi-polar?

[Deja Q]

49. GOOD CALL.

If this is hypocrisy, then it must be brought up. (as I said in my other message, if they were fakes they'd be sussed out by DUers.)

That or MoveOn didn't raise enough money for Byrd, but that shines light on a different problem.

[Deja Q]

48. Sorry but I have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with them doing that.

Put me ignore on me all you want but the bill is wrong and this issue is one I feel VERY strongly on.

Never mind how the SAME group of people is lumping in 10 repukes at the same time.

Now everybody whines when a Dem votes for what is obviously a repuke bill. Yet few want to do anything about it. I myself am just as guilty of doing little.

Well, MoveOn.Org seems to want to do something.

Don't piss on them for at least TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

We can't have it both ways.

And if they're wrong in their attack, they'll get the berating that Nader had gotten and deserved thanks to DUers sussing out what a crooked creep he is.

[hyphenate]

50. This is perhaps a good time to start

targetting Dems who are aligned with the Repukes. The 2006 election will be crucial for us, and right now we can go after Dems who are trying to stay in their seats. Running an opposing Dem with stronger Democratic leanings will--and should--scare the shit out of those with seats in play.

And perhaps some, like Mary Landreiu, will find that their cushy seat isn't a given, but a privilege for serving their constituency.

[raysr]

51. I agree with MoveOn

these would-be dems need to be weeded out or we'll never get close to a majority again. i.e. Lieberman, x-Z. Miller , others.