Dems Play Hardball: Target Republican Senators For Stimulus Support (VIDEO)

Democrats are planning to aggressively target vulnerable Republican Senators on the stimulus package passed by the House Wednesday night without any GOP support.

Greg Sargent has the ad -- here's the version targeting Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley:

The ads will be sent widely to the press later this morning by the coalition funding them, which includes Americans United for Change, MoveOn.org Political Action, AFSCME and SEIU.

The spot shows some arresting images of the recession -- chained up factories, empty warehouses -- and features Obama talking about our dire economic times and his economic package, an effort to harness Obama's popularity to push the plan at a time when Republicans are training their fire on House Dems, rather than the White House.

The rest of the ads can be seen on the website Americans United For Change.

Along with the ads, Democrats "will run campaigns in their districts," an official tells Politico.

The White House plans to release state-by-state job figures "so we can put a number on what folks voted for an against," an administration aide added. "It's clear the Republicans who voted against the stimulus represent constituents who will be stunned to learn their member of Congress voted against [saving or] creating 4 million jobs."

Over 30 groups have joined the campaign, including the SEIU and AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org, ACORN, and the Campaign for America's Future.

Comments

[MaryanneAZ]

I'll be honest. I wish the entire plan would be scrapped altogether. It seems that it would make as much sense to give a large sum to every taxpaying citizen ($150,000 per person) and let us spend that money and stimulate the economy in the natural way. The Government's bill would be the same as the Recovery Plan being proposed. People would pay off home mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit card debt, and also purchase cars, appliances, electronics, etc. If we all remember correctly, the economy hummed when we Americans were out there spending like crazy (although much of it was credit card spending and loan money and not greenback cash). The unmistakeable truth is that spending begets jobs and economic prosperity. I have seen comments similar to mine, but wonder why the Government seems intent on funneling economic recovery only through the major institutions and corporations who created the problem. We should also have strict laws on giving credit cards and loans to people who do not qualify by a simple means test. If you do not earn X, then you cannot secure a credit card or loan over Y amount. For my part, I have good sized savings accounts, but have been withholding all spending in fear that my job will be lost or the economy worsen. My fears prevent me from normal household spending and further hurt the economy.

[blues101]

It sounds good. But i'm willing to bet that many getting 150,000 will stimulate a car dealership or carribbean island, and some of the economy, but they won't pay off their bills or credit card debt they have now. It'll be like a cash prize and people are not as smart as we'd all like them to be. They'll still be in debt and credit won't be loosened or spurred on by the actions or inaction of these folks. And we can't tell people what to spend the check on - so some will benefit, but those irresponsible people who had a part in the taking down of the economy by wanting more than they can afford will continue to do so.

[GeoLee]

So did you bother to multiply 150,000 X 300 million people (number of citizens) and realize your stimulus plan would total 45 trillion dollars? OR if we cut it to even 100 million citizens assuming a third are "tax paying citizens" (when in fact in many ways everyone who buys anything pays taxes somewhere in the tax chain) you are still talking 15 trillion. No, I doubt you did the math. MOst folks who make this argument don't do the math, they just listen to the likes of Rush Limbaugh or their favorite republican or get the figures from the email that went around a few months ago that stopped at my email site when I did the math. I guess having taught math for a few years I am pretty skeptical by this type of argument.

[pup sydney]

The dems did the right things so far: now push it down their Rs throats after a campaign that shows exactly what is going on and the emptiness of the neo-fffasc#$ts plans. Up and down vote, now.

[newmexicogold]

The blow back on this from the Democratic leadership needs to be" this was a bipartisan approach to a stimulus.

1. The legislation was written in committee, which has members of both parties, and both parties contributed suggestions. (Note to Republican Party - tax cuts were included, though not populat with the Democratic Party.)

2. Pushing forth an alternate bill is a partisan ploy. It is a way of saying 'we won't support your plan, and we're pretty sure you won't support ours, but now we have something to complain about."

3. There were 12 years of Republican majority in Congress, in which the root causes of this recession/­depression were planted. (Note to Republican Party - you sponsored the financial sector deregulation, and we haven't forgotten.)

3. More of the same ideas yeild more of the same results. Tax cuts result in less income for the federal government, They have historically not resulted in greater consumer spending. Why would they this time?

4. Your version of tax cuts don't benefit ALL of your constituents. A stimulus package with spending on infrastructure benefits everyone.

5. If you are thinking only of your district, you are not thinking of your country. There may be districts outside of yours that need help, and you were elected to help the country.

[moderatemom]

All of your points were great. One description of crazy is to keep doing the same things over and over again. without good results......which reasonably leaves one to observe the Republicans are crazy! The tax cuts never did any lasting good to the economy; those that didn't need them, saved them, and those that did spent them on groceries and necessitie­s....hardl­y what our economy is based on. They don't make jobs either. The greedy corporations ( and if their actions during this economic meltdown haven't proven that greed, what on earth will?) will not start hirering again until they absolutely have to- they will want to build up their reserves again. Only through programs designed to build infrastructure, and not only repair roads and bridges, but very needed sewer system repair/rebuilds and new water treatment plants and mass transit, will open up long lasting and valuable jobs. Cities and towns across the country have been crying for these necessary and health related things for several years; states can't help them, they haven't the money and most cities are hurting for money as well. Taxes on property and other revenue taxes were already about as much as the public could bear and now we have millions unemployeed!

[Tom Payned]

As we learned during the campaign, if we all work together, we can be the change we've been waiting for. The R's are already having Senators declare they will not run for their seats in 2010 and 2012.

The house R's, thinking they can be obstructionist and retain the few seats they have, haven't learned the lessons of the last two elections or gone back and look at FDR's time.

R's went into the wilderness for decades. Let them put themselves back where they belong.

YES WE CAN!

[cheo]

After all the compromises and hand-holding to keep the Repubs happy, they not surprisingly showed their true colors. Bi-partisanship be damned. If the more fanatic R's want to keep moving in the direction of the dark ages and feudalism, let them so the public can see them for what they are. The more ads illustrating that the better.The Dems need to learn something from the Right about PR.

The Dems need to cut back on the tax cuts, add back in more investment (including health care) and do what is right for the country. We already own this Plan after the House vote; if it is too watered down to work we will get blamed. So forget about getting thesee neanderthals on board and go for the better plan. (Sorry for insulting neanderthals.)

[gisellestwocents]

If they're down on the stimulus plan, I guess their districts/states don't need any help. GREAT!!!

That should result in reduced spending and that's what they want. Win-Win.

[moderatemom]

Now that the Repubs have indeed shown their true colors, the Dems need to take to the airwaves and tell the people just what those crazy R's have done to hamstring any help for the average family and working person...who may well not be working and out of a job. There are parts to the package I don't quite get either, and I would bet it is pork. But if it passes the Senate, I think Obama will trim pork out of it. Having lived in Chicago myself, I know he is well aware of what 'pork' is!

[KIMBER]

Are these real threats, or are these Democratic "stop or we'll say stop again" threats? We need to push our reps hard the days of invertebrate Dems needs to be over. The Republicans really haven't gotten it through their heads that they lost, and it appears that some of the Dems haven't really gotten it through their heads that they won, either.

[ladydragon]

to the Republicans:

When a man is trying to hang himself, you don't tie the noose for him; you hand him the rope and stand back
(Col Brad Farber, 1995)

[moderatemom]

No, what you do is take the rope, throw it out the window and then sit down and listen to the man.

[billw8017]

Who afraid of the Socialists? What about the Communists? Bernie Sanders of Vermont runs as a Socialist. Of course, Kerry was the "most liberal" Senator in 2004 and Obama was the "most liberal" Senator in 2008 after winning his nomination and taking the title from Clinton. Voters weren't impressed.

You know the Southern Republicans are racial bigots. They were the Democrats who supported Strom Thurmund in '48 when the Democrats put a civil rights plank in their platform. The big switch followed the civil rights legislation of the '60s. The one issue carried all the Southern states, and it was racial bigotry. Times are changing, and today's kids don't feel that same way. They don't need Elvis to accept Black music.

Both parties need big money. Winners in 2008 tended to be the candidates with the most money. That hasn't changed except that more people are contributing to the Democrats.

So, it should seem that the Republicans are losing their reason for being and the money is shifting away, too.

Perhaps, it is time to make the big push and drive the Republicans out of business. Within the decade, the Democrats will splinter, and politicians will continue to cover the same ground, just with different names. Their policies will be slightly different because current Republicans have nothing to offer except a certain shame.

[Grommitt]

You call that hardball? Gimmie a break. NO PRISONERS !!!

[rosal]

When the people learn the Great Obstructionist Party voted for the continuation of the meltdown, there'll be heck to pay. All the people that are losing their job, or losing their home, take note.

[newmexicogold]

Not just the continuation - their own conservative talking point magazine (the Weekly Standard) says their stimulus plan wouldn't work either. Even the conservative thinkers say they've got their heads in the sand.

[brighterlight]

Those old white male ReThuglicans in the Senate need to be stimulated.

[neesy08]

Good for the Dems and their supporters. The GOP are deliberately trying to sabatoge the stimulus package. Take the GOP DOWN!!

[Annette truth teller08]

What makes them (RePugs) think that the same folks that voted for Obama, are suddenly going to have a change of heart in 2012 (if the economy is not totally back on track) and vote in another Republican??

Do they not know that we are all sitting back watching them trying to make him fail?

[Discipulus04]

unfortunately it didn't work. Not a bad strategy though they should keep hammering it and the public ire will be on the GOP for obstructionism.

[clsmithj]

So much fodder for nothing.
Dems play it cool, they'll keep the house in 2010