All-Out for Specter
The big question since Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties was just how hard his new Democratic patrons would fight to get him re-elected next year. The early answer? Hard enough that Majority Leader Harry Reid is willing to shut down the nation's business on behalf of the Pennsylvania Senator this afternoon.
Mr. Reid announced on Friday that the Senate would hold no votes after 3 p.m. today. According to CQ Politics, "His office later said that the scheduling decision was meant to accommodate a long-planned fundraiser that President Obama is headlining in Philadelphia to benefit Specter's campaign," CQ reported. And not just any fundraiser: The event will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and feature many of the state's prominent Democrats, including Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
One of the organizers, Comcast executive and Democratic heavyweight David L. Cohen, circulated the details to potential guests in a widely reported email: The night will include a cocktail reception at $1000 per head, a special reception open to those who raise at least $10,000, and a super-special dinner for which "an individual must write (not raise) a minimum of $10,000 or raise $50,000 to attend." Attendees at the dinner, Mr. Cohen added, will get their picture taken with President Obama and Senator Specter. Organizers are hoping to raise $2.5 million.
One Pennsylvania Democrat not likely to show up is Rep. Joe Sestak. The party went to great lengths to dissuade Mr. Sestak from running against Senator Specter in next year's Senate primary. Gov. Rendell at one point promised that the Democratic congressman would "get killed" and "marginalized" and fade "into political obscurity" if he defied the party's wishes. But Mr. Sestak sensed an eagerness among the liberal base for an alternative to the party's Republican-turned-Democrat designee.
Yesterday, the now-candidate fired off a pointed response to the Reid announcement: "I urge Arlen Specter to speak with Harry Reid and ask that the Senate hold votes Tuesday afternoon, instead of delaying the public's business. This gets to a larger issue, and why I am running against the establishment's wishes, because too often it favors the powerful and well-connected who are also too often rewarded at the cost of those who are at the bottom. Can Arlen Specter -- or anyone in this fundraiser -- explain why it is okay to hold up the entire U.S. Senate to benefit his political campaign, but it's -- in Arlen's own words -- a 'court martial' offense for missing a few primarily procedural votes?"
That's a question some Pennsylvania Democrats are probably asking themselves. A Franklin & Marshall poll late last month showed Mr. Specter still leading his challenger by 26 points, even as his "unfavorable" ratings have also been rising steadily since his party switch. But party leaders appear to be doubling down. The fundraiser is part of a bigger Specter strategy to stockpile enough to cash to swamp his lesser known rival, whose greatest foreseeable challenge will be in raising enough money to remain competitive.
-- Kim Strassel
Showing posts with label democrats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label democrats. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
BREAKING: A Honeymoon Cut Short - from WSJ.com Political Diary
Fractured Fairytale
A surprising development in off-year races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia is just how much trouble the Democratic nominees have had in nailing down African-American voters.
Yesterday, Sheila Crump Johnson, the billionaire co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor of Virginia. Ms. Johnson has been a prominent contributor to Democrats for years -- boosting Barack Obama's candidacy and serving as the second-largest donor to sitting Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
Ms. Johnson told reporters yesterday she was backing Mr. McConnell because "he understands that we have to help businesses in our state -- both big and small -- thrive so that we put Virginians back to work."
Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor, is worried about other potential Democratic defectors. Former Gov. Doug Wilder says he hasn't responded to appeals from aides to President Obama to endorse Mr. Deeds. "I told them, 'You need to tell me why,'" Mr. Wilder told reporters, noting that he's had differences with Mr. Deeds during the latter's 18-year-career in the legislature.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine continues to struggle to nail down black support despite a fly-in appearance by President Obama last week. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Mr. Corzine winning African-American voters by only 66% to 29% -- well below normal numbers for a Democratic nominee. Republican Chris Christie has some appeal to minority voters because of his reputation as a crusader against public corruption.
The Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, leader of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey, says Mr. Corzine could bolster his inner-city support by backing a pending bill in the legislature that would allow companies to use tax deductions to pay tuitions for poor kids to attend the public, charter or private school of their choice. "If you announced today that you have $500,000 in scholarships in Orange tomorrow, people would line up in Orange tonight," Rev. Jackson, who heads a large church in Orange, told North Jersey News. But he says Mr. Corzine appears to be boxed in by his need to placate the powerful New Jersey Education Association, which represents the state's public school establishment.
It would be a rich irony if a year following the election of the nation's first black president, Republicans might be elected in two key Obama states this fall on the strength of their minority support.
-- John Fund
A surprising development in off-year races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia is just how much trouble the Democratic nominees have had in nailing down African-American voters.
Yesterday, Sheila Crump Johnson, the billionaire co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor of Virginia. Ms. Johnson has been a prominent contributor to Democrats for years -- boosting Barack Obama's candidacy and serving as the second-largest donor to sitting Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
Ms. Johnson told reporters yesterday she was backing Mr. McConnell because "he understands that we have to help businesses in our state -- both big and small -- thrive so that we put Virginians back to work."
Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor, is worried about other potential Democratic defectors. Former Gov. Doug Wilder says he hasn't responded to appeals from aides to President Obama to endorse Mr. Deeds. "I told them, 'You need to tell me why,'" Mr. Wilder told reporters, noting that he's had differences with Mr. Deeds during the latter's 18-year-career in the legislature.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine continues to struggle to nail down black support despite a fly-in appearance by President Obama last week. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Mr. Corzine winning African-American voters by only 66% to 29% -- well below normal numbers for a Democratic nominee. Republican Chris Christie has some appeal to minority voters because of his reputation as a crusader against public corruption.
The Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, leader of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey, says Mr. Corzine could bolster his inner-city support by backing a pending bill in the legislature that would allow companies to use tax deductions to pay tuitions for poor kids to attend the public, charter or private school of their choice. "If you announced today that you have $500,000 in scholarships in Orange tomorrow, people would line up in Orange tonight," Rev. Jackson, who heads a large church in Orange, told North Jersey News. But he says Mr. Corzine appears to be boxed in by his need to placate the powerful New Jersey Education Association, which represents the state's public school establishment.
It would be a rich irony if a year following the election of the nation's first black president, Republicans might be elected in two key Obama states this fall on the strength of their minority support.
-- John Fund
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Top Secret Stimulus - Post from WSJ Political Diary
Democrats apparently are in a mad rush to pass their stimulus bill before the public or Members of Congress have much chance to read it. Just a few days ago the House overwhelmingly passed a new procedural rule requiring 48-hour public notice before any bill faces a roll call vote. The idea was to allow voters to review bills online before they are approved by Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been crowing about this new era of transparency.
But the stimulus bill, which numbers more than 700 pages and was just renegotiated by the House and Senate Democratic leadership, may be voted on less than 24 hours after the agreement was reached. Last night, House Republicans were vocally complaining that they still didn't know the line-by-line details of the biggest spending bill to hit Capitol Hill since World War II. We also hear that House Blue Dog Democrats are furious with Ms. Pelosi for forcing a vote that clearly violates the party's own brand new sunshine rule.
Many squeamish House Democrats who represent mostly Republican districts are getting slammed back home for voting in favor of the original House stimulus bill. These moderates are also angry that the Democratic leadership bill made more room for pork by slicing Barack Obama's much-heralded tax cut for families by 20%. Couples were supposed to get $1,000, now they will get $800 off their income taxes.
A House Republican leadership staff member tells me: "Yep, looks like they will waive that [disclosure] rule even before the ink is dry on it." Rep. Dave Camp, ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, adds: "Frankly, because this process has been so rushed, we are literally flying blind."
One rumor is that Democrats want to speedily enact the bill in the House without public vetting because Nancy Pelosi has to fly to Italy over the weekend. Democrats in the leadership are also getting weary of this stimulus debate. They're aware of the shrinking public approval and want to strong-arm the bill through Congress before rank-and-file House members get cold feet.
So the era of transparency and openness on Capitol Hill has come and gone. Mr. Camp pleads: "The American people have a right to know what's in this bill." Ms. Pelosi thinks it best that they learn about the bill's contents only after Barack Obama has signed it into law.
-- Stephen Moore
But the stimulus bill, which numbers more than 700 pages and was just renegotiated by the House and Senate Democratic leadership, may be voted on less than 24 hours after the agreement was reached. Last night, House Republicans were vocally complaining that they still didn't know the line-by-line details of the biggest spending bill to hit Capitol Hill since World War II. We also hear that House Blue Dog Democrats are furious with Ms. Pelosi for forcing a vote that clearly violates the party's own brand new sunshine rule.
Many squeamish House Democrats who represent mostly Republican districts are getting slammed back home for voting in favor of the original House stimulus bill. These moderates are also angry that the Democratic leadership bill made more room for pork by slicing Barack Obama's much-heralded tax cut for families by 20%. Couples were supposed to get $1,000, now they will get $800 off their income taxes.
A House Republican leadership staff member tells me: "Yep, looks like they will waive that [disclosure] rule even before the ink is dry on it." Rep. Dave Camp, ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, adds: "Frankly, because this process has been so rushed, we are literally flying blind."
One rumor is that Democrats want to speedily enact the bill in the House without public vetting because Nancy Pelosi has to fly to Italy over the weekend. Democrats in the leadership are also getting weary of this stimulus debate. They're aware of the shrinking public approval and want to strong-arm the bill through Congress before rank-and-file House members get cold feet.
So the era of transparency and openness on Capitol Hill has come and gone. Mr. Camp pleads: "The American people have a right to know what's in this bill." Ms. Pelosi thinks it best that they learn about the bill's contents only after Barack Obama has signed it into law.
-- Stephen Moore
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Local Business Woman Outraged!
"I Get It From My Momma" Natural Progression of Louisiana Buckwheat
For Immediate Release--
Scranton, PA: Hazel Boykin, a 75-year-old civil rights activist who helped desegregate Louisiana restaurants and schools, helped Democratic Louisiana State Representative Carla Blanchard Dartez get voters to the polls earlier this month. At the end of a private telephone conversation thanking Boykin for her efforts, Representative Dartez said, "Talk to you later, Buckwheat."
Known for beginning her passionate speeches with the phrase “I am proud to be an American true, but I am even more proud to be a Louisianan first”, Tanya Callaway Crews today is heartbroken.
“I am saddened today with the lack of media attention or outrage in the community with the recent events that have happened in Louisiana. I continue to be amazed with the “surprise” in the community over the Jena 6. It was a lack of involvement in the early stages that allowed the madness to continue. So here we are on the eve of another election in Louisiana, and the embers are warming for another firestorm, and no one is sounding the alarm.”
Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie is criticizing both the lawmaker for saying it and the media for once again appearing to take a pass on reporting about a liberal politician's racial foible. "Representative Dartez's comments were offensive and pejorative," said Massie. "There is no way in this day and age that 'Buckwheat' can be construed as anything but an insult, and there is no reason a politician should get a pass based on their record or party affiliation. She should resign her seat."Crews notes that the youth of today are passionate and have few outlets to release their feelings. Young people are fed up the ideas that they hear at home from their parents, which continue to be unaddressed. They are watching the adults and how we interact with each other and how passive we have become and they feel they need to act on our behalf. “We need to show our youth how the system can work to correct injustices and racist behavior, before the firestorm wells up once again in our schools, otherwise kids will be bringing Buckwheat wigs to school.” Crews explains.
Tanya Callaway Crews served as Prosecutor for Louisiana’s Fourth Judicial District’s Teen Court from 1984 to 1988, and served on the Governor’s Commission on Juvenile Justice. She is a founding Board Member of The Louisiana Network of Washington, DC, and Northeast Louisiana Mobile Christian School as well as the Founder of First Touch Communications, Inc. and CEO of Crews, Callaway & Associates. A true renaissance woman, she often speaks for political, non- profit and business groups. For scheduling please call (866)767-9880 or visit www.firsttouchinc.com.
-End-
For Immediate Release--
Scranton, PA: Hazel Boykin, a 75-year-old civil rights activist who helped desegregate Louisiana restaurants and schools, helped Democratic Louisiana State Representative Carla Blanchard Dartez get voters to the polls earlier this month. At the end of a private telephone conversation thanking Boykin for her efforts, Representative Dartez said, "Talk to you later, Buckwheat."
Known for beginning her passionate speeches with the phrase “I am proud to be an American true, but I am even more proud to be a Louisianan first”, Tanya Callaway Crews today is heartbroken.
“I am saddened today with the lack of media attention or outrage in the community with the recent events that have happened in Louisiana. I continue to be amazed with the “surprise” in the community over the Jena 6. It was a lack of involvement in the early stages that allowed the madness to continue. So here we are on the eve of another election in Louisiana, and the embers are warming for another firestorm, and no one is sounding the alarm.”
Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie is criticizing both the lawmaker for saying it and the media for once again appearing to take a pass on reporting about a liberal politician's racial foible. "Representative Dartez's comments were offensive and pejorative," said Massie. "There is no way in this day and age that 'Buckwheat' can be construed as anything but an insult, and there is no reason a politician should get a pass based on their record or party affiliation. She should resign her seat."Crews notes that the youth of today are passionate and have few outlets to release their feelings. Young people are fed up the ideas that they hear at home from their parents, which continue to be unaddressed. They are watching the adults and how we interact with each other and how passive we have become and they feel they need to act on our behalf. “We need to show our youth how the system can work to correct injustices and racist behavior, before the firestorm wells up once again in our schools, otherwise kids will be bringing Buckwheat wigs to school.” Crews explains.
Tanya Callaway Crews served as Prosecutor for Louisiana’s Fourth Judicial District’s Teen Court from 1984 to 1988, and served on the Governor’s Commission on Juvenile Justice. She is a founding Board Member of The Louisiana Network of Washington, DC, and Northeast Louisiana Mobile Christian School as well as the Founder of First Touch Communications, Inc. and CEO of Crews, Callaway & Associates. A true renaissance woman, she often speaks for political, non- profit and business groups. For scheduling please call (866)767-9880 or visit www.firsttouchinc.com.
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