Palin's 20 House Dem Targets Use Her As A Fundraising Ploy

With a critical fundraising deadline approaching on Wednesday evening, a host of congressional candidates in tight races are trying to draw Sarah Palin into the race. And not just Republicans.

At least four different House Democrats, who have been specifically targeted by Palin for their health care reform votes, sent out fundraising appeals on Wednesday using the former Alaska governor to solicit donations.

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL.), in a tough race in Florida, emailed supporters the following under the title, "Help Send Sarah Palin a Message":

In a recent attempt to mobilize her Tea Party supporters after they failed to "Kill the Bill," Sarah Palin said "Don't Retreat, Reload."

Now Sarah Palin has literally put my Congressional district in the bullseye, attempting to kill our momentum and take back Florida's 24th Congressional District. She has specifically identified me as one of the top four targets for defeat this November.

Rep. Chris Carney (D-Penn.), a critical vote on health care reform, emailed supporters:

I don't care who comes after me - Sarah Palin can put a target on our district - it's not going to stop me from standing up for what we know is right; bringing jobs and resources to PA-10.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Penn), sent the following solicitation from her campaign committee:

With the first fundraising deadline of 2010 fast approaching at 11:59pm tonight, Wednesday, March 31st, Kathy needs your help. After voting YES on Healthcare and standing up for us, she is now being targeted by Sarah Palin and special interests from outside of Pennsylvania.

Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO), meanwhile, had a fundraising solicitation sent out from Wes Clark's PAC under the header, "What Palin wants."

Well, last week's passage of the historic health care reform bill provided her some clarity. Immediately after President Obama signed the bill, Palin asked her radical supporters to "target" 20 Democrats, complete with crosshairs taking aim at each of them.

Two of them our Clark community helped elect: Rep. Betsy Markey (CO-04) and Rep. Chris Carney (PA-10). When called upon, they stood up courageously and voted for reform. Now Sarah Palin and the right wing have targeted them for defeat.

Each of these four candidates was placed on Palin's list of 20 House Democrats to be targeted for their votes on health care reform -- which it seems they view as a blessing of sorts. Caught in tight races, the lawmakers are using the conservative lightning rod to nationalize the election and draw in more money and attention.

And with little apparent downside -- as the prominent Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg pointed out Wednesday morning, Palin, for many, has come to symbolize the edge of acceptable conservative politics (the line of demarcation between Tea Party extremism and mainstream Republicanism).

"Sarah Palin is becoming the face of the Republican Party in part to keep the Republican Party under control," he said, during a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. "But the face of the Republican Party to the country is not the Tea Party, it is Sarah Palin."

Greenberg's colleague, James Carville was a bit blunter.

"Do me a favor, call five Democratic consultants and leave them a message and say, 'I'm doing a story on Sarah Palin'. Then call five Republican consultants and see who returns your call," he said, pausing for laughter from the gathered reporters. "Democrats will be on the phone so fast."

Comments

[me again]

12:19 PM on 04/08/2010

Smart, Palin is scarier than a cornered moose in heat......

[DoTheMath]

06:58 PM on 04/03/2010

Good job, HP Progressives. We did it! Democrats raised more $$$ than Republicans by the March 31 deadline.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/02/AR2010040202684.html

[crow3]

05:22 PM on 04/03/2010

All you born again Republicans { I can't call you Christians anymore } Watch how much the Alaskan Queen helps McCain in Arizona ... This will show all you t-bags what people think of your brand of politics. Bye, Bye to the Red Baron

[munki]

02:04 PM on 04/03/2010

If this woman can do it in Florida or any other states...

I am glad that I am in California.

[Minimax]

02:04 PM on 04/03/2010

Can you imagine how much better America could have been without Nixon, Reagan, Ford, and the Bushes? Can you just imagine world peace and prosperity?

[BigPictureReg]

01:09 PM on 04/03/2010

Why Can't Teabaggers Spell?

Now we have vizual evidunce of sum of there problums!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pargon/sets/72157623594187379/

[magtig]

02:43 PM on 04/03/2010

SUCH an awesome collection of hilariously stupid teabagger signs. Thank you!

[alumtrix]

02:52 AM on 04/04/2010

Good question. Any reason in particular that you capitalized the first letter in each word?

[MOTORVOTER]

12:42 PM on 04/03/2010

Why are dems trying to run against Palin, she is not running for any form of office. If you cannot win on substance you create the strawmen or in this case women. Retire from public office and go run a business and see how tough Obama is making this country for those who try to make it everyday.

[Weehawk]

01:03 PM on 04/03/2010

Why not? She's a big motivator. Are you pissed that it's working?? Sorry about your business, but you have to look a little further into the past for reasons why small business in this country is struggling.

[ChristianProgressive]

01:07 PM on 04/03/2010

What, exactly, has Obama done to make things tough on small businesses? I own two businesses (one service-oriented, one consulting). The tax-cuts Obama put into motion have helped me and the cummulative tax savings for one of my employees was equal to a month's wages.

It is going to be easier and less expensive for me to provide heath insurance to the people who work for me.

Business is starting to increase after four years of straight decline.

The majority of the small business owners I know and work with are finding that things are getting better. The ones with poor plans, bad service, shoddy goods are having a tough time (and almost all of them blame it on our President rather than their own short-comings and/or poor business practices) but the ones who provide their customers with service, selection and/or necessary skill sets are beginning to do well.

So, again, what is it that Obama has done to make things toughter for you?

[alumtrix]

02:48 AM on 04/04/2010

.........."Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, cut corporate taxes for firms that invest and create jobs in the United States, and provide tax credits to reduce the cost of healthcare and to reward investments in innovation"........

You sound like a pretty savvy business guy. When does a small business pay capital gains taxes? I'm not sure what you mean by the "cummulative tax savings" but that's a really good deal for that employee to realize an 8.5% tax cut. Mine only totalled about $13.00 per month.

It sounds like your business is recovering thanks in part to your sound business plan and quality service and supplies. Although Obama is restoring fairness to the market so that we all play on an even playing field, I'm sure you would have done quite alright without him. Do you by chance do consulting for sales positions?

[spark41]

05:19 AM on 04/03/2010

why so serious???!!! Sarah Palin scares the hell out of me. Thank Goddess The American people are not fooled by her. She is all evil and needs to get her very disfunctional family in order. She is a cancer that will spread if she is not put back in the cereal box she came from.

[Newsguy]

12:16 AM on 04/03/2010

Palin the next president? Dream on. I don't even want to try what "Palin for Prez" people are smokin'

Palin for prez? I would just as soon vote for Ronald McDonald.

There's a bumper sticker for the Teapublicans, Ronald McDonald for President. Makes as much sense as Sarah Palin.

[feed the enemy]

11:42 PM on 04/02/2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3OkXi5osfU

[PNOGUY]

09:51 PM on 04/02/2010

That "blood, tears and sweat" thing was SO scary when Churchill said it 70 years ago. He must have been some kind of evil psycho.

[Rudy2shoes]

09:02 PM on 04/02/2010

Come on folks, why so serious? First of all, who cares who the next president is? Like that really means anything to working class Americans? Might as well go for entertainment value. You can't say that "W" wasn't a non-stop "hoot" for eight solid years. Palin has the potential to go over the top with her "Tina Fey" as commander in chief act and do enough serious damage to put us out of our misery. After all, the sooner this thing goes aground, the sooner we can refloat it and start over again. Might as well go out laughing! And what? You think that if you play the old Democratic Party "well, were gonna need another 4 years to get anything past those darn ole Republicans, bla, bla" game that there is somehow going to be a sudden working class+Democarts, romantic riding off into the sunset ending to this sad, sick, 60 year old repertoire.... Well, go for it (yet again).

[medvidek72]

08:26 PM on 04/02/2010

I heard this on Benn Gleck:

"SARAH PALIN" is the code for the secret Christian "SHARIA PLAN" to implement theocratic rule.

Don't say (choking up) I didn't warn you (cue teardrop).

[Bismarck]

02:18 AM on 04/03/2010

ROFL

[JoelHorn]

08:22 PM on 04/02/2010

I just gave a contribution to each of the four representatives mentioned in the article that have been targeted by Palin. We need to help these folks fight Palin and to thank them for giving health care to so many of our kids, friends, and parents. Thank you. Joel Horn

[top notch]

08:31 PM on 04/02/2010

yes i agree....we the working people will give to the non working lazy so they can have health care. Thank you very much for doing this for us.

[cdouglas]

10:28 PM on 04/02/2010

What's it like to be so simple? Yes, I agree with you, let's end Medicare for all those non working lazy people.

[JoelHorn]

02:58 AM on 04/03/2010

Interesting to see such anger from people like Top Notch. I know many people who are very hard working and benefit from the new health care plan. I know young adults who are working, and can now stay on their parents plan longer, the parents are working as well. I also know two people with pre-existing conditions who have a difficult time getting insurance even from their employer's plan who are now covered. This is a great thing for them, for the country and even for you because it lowers the total cost to the country when they can get insured and get medical care before they have even larger costs. I assume you do not believe the SBO and that is too bad but for years they have been the honest broker in politics, both under Republicans and Democrats. They proved that the health care plan will lower the deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars. So, even you benefit. I look forward to your reply tirade.

[top notch]

07:39 PM on 04/02/2010

you all just are so scared because you know she will be your next pres.....just face it and move on.

[feed the enemy]

11:43 PM on 04/02/2010

yer next prez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3OkXi5osfU

[DC Democrat]

01:05 AM on 04/03/2010

You're right. That Americans are so unbelievably stupid that they might elect a president whose IQ is lower than their shoe size does enter my mind from time to time. I'd be surprised if she could locate half of the U.S. states on a map, let alone Russia. Giving the nuclear launch codes to someone like that should scare the bejeezus out of everyone.

[Randy Bennett]

06:10 AM on 04/03/2010

Perhaps you should do some research on your president. At least Palin knows how many states are in the United States of America.

[Randy Bennett]

06:11 AM on 04/03/2010

57 States????????????? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrsBKGpwi58