Down the ballot: The Dems' PR blitz

Posted: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:05 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The Hill reports that the House Democratic leadership is embarking on a PR blitz. "Democratic leadership aides huddled with rank-and-file chiefs of staff, legislative directors and press secretaries on Monday to persuade them to do more to promote a positive message. Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster, and Mike McCurry, one of President Bill Clinton’s former press secretaries, also were on hand to press for a concerted effort.”

“In a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter sent last week to lawmakers, the six senior House Democratic leaders noted that bipartisan majorities have passed lobbying and ethics reforms, an increase in the minimum wage, a massive increase in student aid, legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations and other initiatives that President Bush has signed into law."

The only announced candidate -- who may self fund, by the way -- against North Carolina GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, announced yesterday that he is gay. "Although he is willing to acknowledge his sexual orientation, Neal said he did not want to talk in detail about his private life. Neal, who grew up in Greensboro but lived most of his adult life in New York, said he married young and had two sons. He said his marriage broke up after 10 years when he realized he was a homosexual -- about 18 years ago.”

“‘I loved her,’ Neal said. ‘I cared very deeply about her. My marriage ended because I realized I was gay. There was no sham to my marriage. When I came to accept myself, which I did, it wasn't easy. I felt that I can't live my life as a fraud. It's not fair to my children, it's not fair to her and it's not fair to me.’”

The Boston Globe’s Canellos writes that Niki Tsongas’ victory last week should have been a time for celebration for Democrats -- “the all-Democratic Massachusetts delegation, gained a new face, its first woman in decades… Instead, the focus was largely on what some saw as Tsongas's disappointingly small margin, amid growing worries that the Democratic-led Congress was going off its rails.”

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Comments

All this talk about Niki Tsongas is a lot of bull anyway. The way people were talking, it should have been a cakewalk, not a victory on a last second field goal. She was expected to win by at least 5 touchdowns and her win tells everybody this is not going to be the landslide victory in 08 that democrats have been bragging about. You would expect in a liberal state like Massachusetts she should have won big, but she barely won.

he only announced candidate -- who may self fund, by the way -- against North Carolina GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, announced yesterday that he is gay. "Although he is willing to acknowledge his sexual orientation, Neal said he did not want to talk in detail about his private life.

It's funny how everybody wants to talk about the GOP's private life, but nobody wants to talk about their personal life on the liberal side. I guess the Senate seat in North Carolina should stay safe. I have to say i admire the guy for coming out like he did, but in the same sense, he seems to try and make political hay out of it.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:55 AM)

Positive message? The Democrats have no message. They've been in leadership positions for 10 months now, and still behave like they are the minority. The voters next year will show many of the Democratic legislators to the door for their non-efforts. The message the Democrats are putting out now is nothing more then CYA.

Rex Grossmen, Gainesville, Florida (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:04 AM)

Positive message? Democrats?

Why doesn't someone go over to Nancy Pelosi's house and ask the Code Pink Gals sleeping in her garden?

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:11 AM)

I love how the media rips apart the conservative GOP members' personal lives, but when it comes to the personal lives of the liberal democrats, it's as if the media is scared to dig in. Maybe it's because the democrats have such screwed up lives that no one dares dig any deeper for fears of getting messy.

The democrats are a joke! They promised to clean up the House and Senate when they took the majority, but they haven't done anything. Americans are smart enought to know that come election time, they'll go back to a party that will actually carry through on their promises.

Vegas Boy (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:20 AM)

Bipartisan? Let's get past it, even!

goto: http://www.explorehuckabee.com

Huckabee worked with Democratice legislature for 10 years as Gov. of Arkansas.

Huckabee wants to help bring America together, without all the bipartisan bickering.

So much wasted time magnifying differences, instead of pooling our common attributes, common goals.

Vote Huckabee '08, the Good Choice. I've never known of another politician, in my 30+ years in politics, to do more good, simply for the sake of doing good that Gov. and Mrs Mike Huckabee. check 'em out. you'll see.

Jaye fl (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:26 AM)

"I love how the media rips apart the conservative GOP members' personal lives, but when it comes to the personal lives of the liberal democrats, it's as if the media is scared to dig in. - Vegas Boy"

If you are reffering to the disgraced Republican Sen. Craig who chooses to continue to lie to his family and supporters, then poor example. You have to give Neil credit for coming forward and keeping it real. Even if he has no chance. I rather be a loser than fake.

Jersey Boy (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:37 AM)

Keep spinning jerry, Rex, and Vegas Boy. On issue after issue the people prefer the Democratic approach. All they need is to stitch it together into a good narrative of how their legislative package will result in a better life for average Americans. That in combination with the incredible amount of frustration people feel with GWB and the GOP will be all that's required for a banner Demmocratic year.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:53 AM)

Vegas Boy, have you thought WHY the "media rips apart the conservative GOP members' personal lives"?

Its called HYPOCRISY. Do I need to provide specific, factual examples here?

Not sure if you lived in the U.S. during the Clinton administration, but there was a little bit of "digging in" into their personal lives from what I recall...and I'm not just talking about Monica.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

As to the second paragraph, the truth is, the Dems have got a lot accomplished, especially in regards to cleaning things up. There's 6 years of absolute corruption to go after...its going to take more than 10 months! Though forcing that criminal Gonzales out is definitely a win. And Libby and Rove are also gone. They're getting there...these things take time, especially when faced with an adminstration and minions that defy the Constitution, due process, subpoenas, etc.

Midwest Mike (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:14 AM)

the democrats proposals might make life a little better for the trailer park and the budweiser people who lay around the house and do nothing all day, but expecting the real americans who do put in a honest day's work to pay for their laziness, that would last too long.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:26 AM)

I grant that perhaps Democrats haven't done enough to oppose the idiocy of the Republicans since taking Congress, but I fail to see how electing more Republicans will help. I anticipate further gains by the Democrats because other than a few stubborn extremists, most people got a pretty clear picture from '00 to '06 of what Republican control gets us and reject it entirely.

Jason Cincinnati OH (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:35 AM)

I guess that the right just can't handle someone with the testicular fortitude to come out as an openly gay man, as opposed to Larry Craig, who sniffs around airport bathrooms looking for... whatever. I can't imagine this guy is going to get elected in NC now that he's out, but he probably wasn't going to win anyway.

Mike Richards, Davis, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:46 AM)

I love it when the Dems have to beg the MSM to trumpant their legislative "successes."

"Gee, I don't know what to do. Let's send out a letter telling people everything we're doing." Did it occur to them that maybe people already know and that's why they're polling barely above 10%?

"They're getting there...these things take time, especially when faced with an adminstration and minions that defy the Constitution, due process, subpoenas, etc." Yeah, is possible in the midst of all this stuff the Dems could pass at least 1 of 12 appropriation bills and get it signed into law?

It seems to me that if the Dems anticipate this huge wave of support and better numbers in 08, they'd get busy on the stuff that matters and when their numbers "significantly" improve as they believe, they'd have more than enough votes to actually do something they want... like hold endless hearings. Oh, never mind. They do have majorities and can set the agenda.

Mark, Palmdale, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:47 AM)

"The Democrats have no message"
??????
Are you freaking kidding me? The best message the Dems have is that they aren't the party that has put us into massive debt, and into a war we can't get out of. Remember, sports fans -- and it's not a particularly uplifting message -- that when the party in power "mucks" up, the other party usually gets swept into power. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and all the rest of the whacko right may say they hate Hillary, but they really want her to win; think of all the bitching that they will do for the next eight years!!

Mike Richards, Davis, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:52 AM)

What I love about the GOP'ers is that all they can say is what the Dems have not accomplished. Yet they forget that they have pushed bills through Congress and that their president veto's the bills and unfortunately the dems do not have a super majority in both the house and senate to override the vetos. Last time I checked they put stem cell research through "VETOED", to get the troops home "VETOED", to fund the childrens health insurance "VETOED" after this voting cycle the dems will have the majority that they need and the repukes can sit in the corner and be powerless.

Marc, Lake Worth, FL (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:02 PM)

a note to jerry, if anyone had any smarts they would take a look at gwb and you will find one of the dumbest people that ever lived in the white house. your great president would be nothing and it showed in the 06 elections that your partie was not to bright with the shape of this country. i was a republican for a good long time until this jackass got in the white house thats when i became an indepentent. if you ever looked at the bush family you might find out how the sons of the former president bush sr. are lacking in the brain deptment. if karl rove wasnt in the white house during these past 6 years gwb would have never been reelected president. karl rove is the brains behinds gwb. as far as the the congress the demicrats may have gained the congress there are not enough to beat bush because of the idiots in the republican congress have enough to stop the democrates from ending this war.

joebo5845 clayton ga (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:05 PM)

With all the crack-pots slandering the Democrats they all fail to mention that their great leader "W" when selected in year 2000, inherited the largest "SURPLUS" in history. Presently, this idiot in the White House has the nation in the largest deficit in history.
To set the record straight, Bush inherited $236 Billion surplus. In 2006 we had a $248 Billion budget deficit.
We lost the war, thanks to the utter incompetence of Bush, Cheney, and the neocons, who used a patchwork of LIES to sell us on a faith-based war plan drawn up on the back of a cocktail napkin!!!!!

Wayne Doering (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:15 PM)

A message for democrats in New Orleans who want to learn how to handle a disaster. This is from MSNBC.com.

Updated: 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
SAN DIEGO - Like Hurricane Katrina evacuees two years earlier in New Orleans, thousands of people rousted by natural disaster have fled to a NFL stadium, waiting out the calamity outside San Diego and worrying about their homes.

The similarities ended there, as an almost festive atmosphere reigned at Qualcomm Stadium.

Bands belted out rock 'n' roll, lavish buffets served gourmet entrees, and massage therapists helped relieve the stress for those forced to flee their homes because of wildfires.

I guess it depends on the state you live in.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:17 PM)

The Repubs have been blocking the Democratic Congress from day one. The Democratic Congress has passed a minimum wage bill, they have moved the ball in Iraq beyond anything resembling the first 4 1/2 years of rubber stamping the White House and absolutely no accountability what so ever from the previous Congress... NONE! The Repubs have been out of real ideas since the Contract with America. FakeNews and its minions like some of those I just read from are only good at changing the subject and attacking the messenger rather than sticking to the prehistoric principles, which at least was something you could say about the Repubs in the past. They hardly care about the 10 million kids without healthcare and for that matter the other 40 million. They care not that this Administration was complicit in treason when they purposely out-ed a covert CIA operative so to meet there selfish political agenda. This to what end?

At the Hillary bashing event that the Repubs and FakeNews put on the other night I was amused at the level of mischaracterizations of everything Clinton, the lack of anything that resembles a new idea and all of this at the expense of being able to get in one cheap shot after another. What a joke.

The polls that correctly show a low approval rating for Congress are only so because those of us that either voted for and/or mostly agree with the Democrats don’t blindly follow our leaders like a herd of mindless sheep. Do those of you that I put in that category really think that the polls suggest that everyone agrees with you now and that you must be right?

That was meant to be rhetorical.

Nick L, Elizabethtown, KY. (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:28 PM)

Ah Rex, you suck as a quarterback by the way. Can't pick a winning political team either I see.

G (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 1:25 PM)

The issue with GOP politicians is not that they are gay. It's that they are breaking the law by engaging in sexual activity with children and prostitutes (including Senator Vitter, who is not gay), or in public places (like Senator Craig), while cheating on their wives (throw in Giuliani). There is no comparison between Neal and the GOP lot.

Andy Norton, Blacksburg, VA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 1:36 PM)

Hey Jerry from Texas!!! Howdy Partner!!! Let me be the first to let you in on reality. The difference bewteen the disasters in NO and SD is quite stark, but I guess it didn't occur to you that swimming for your life, not having clean water/food/power for days might be slightly more trying than hoping in a car and driving away from a fire to a Red Cross shelter. Each of your vindictive, mean-spirited, attacking posts are so indicative of why the conservative movement has imploded. The world of free-thinkers and realists are leaving you and your neandrathal views behind. It's called modern natural selection ... better get used to it.

Rob Evergreen Colorado (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 1:54 PM)

Rex Grossman, Gainsville, FL

This 10 month issue is getting really old. President Bush has been in office for how many years? We are stuck in a war that he and his advisors don't know how to win or end, we don't have money for health care and education, we are talking in terms of WWIII being on the horizon, we are making threats to Iran, a country that borders on Russia( our relationship
with the President of Russia has gone south,)
countries around the world have lost a level of
respect for the US, I could go on and on. And Congress should fix all this in 10 months?

I grant you that some of the resolutions and proposal offered in Congress have not been of sufficient moment, but there have been some bills proposed that would have helped solve problems in our country. These bills were usually rejected by the Republicans, and the SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush. Until the Democrats achieve a veto proof majority in Congress, they are limited in what they can do.

Perhaps more helpful would be the election of a President and member of Congress who put less emphasis on their political agenda (either Democratic or Republican) and give more attention to working for a concensus and a spirit of working together for the good of all Americans.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 2:16 PM)

Rob/Evergreen Co:

I think this why it is going to be a long cold winter in Colorado........

Ski resort's 'Impeach Bush' vote backfires
'Hundreds' cancel trips, homeowner threatens to move out

Posted: August 9, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Colorado's Telluride ski resort

Some of the ski fans who have patronized Telluride, Colo., now are calling the ritzy resort "the land of radical liberals" and canceling planned vacations there because the town board voted to approve an ordinance calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

One ski club of 175 people already has made plans to go elsewhere, another skier has threatened to sell his home there and another critic predicted the town soon would bow to Mecca.

"It's huge, unbelievable," said Telluride Mayor John Pryor. "Ski groups are canceling for the winter. Hundreds of people are bailing. The (town) website is flooded with people saying they're canceling their vacations here."

The storm of protest followed the town board's recent vote on the impeachment issue, according to the Denver Post. The report said among the labels being pinned on the town include: Moonbats, lunatics, boobs, bong smokers and left-bots.

While this does not show the difference between Sasn Diego and new orleans, it does show why liberals like you can make some strange decisions.........

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 2:53 PM)

Wow, I'm impressed with the level of intellect and expertise espoused in this blog. What better way to win someone over to your side than pointing out their deficiencies and producing as evidence some choice name calling. Have any of you closely examined your candidate. From what I'm able to gather there is no difference in the front runners of either party. They all say they will continue the war, increase spending, no talk of repealing encroachments on civil liberties created by the Patriot Act. It also appears as though the fighting between the parties is a creation to ensure that one or the other is put in power. See the link for a possible eye-opener.
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070928.html

Richard in Idaho (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:01 PM)

Rob Evergreen CO:

Another reason why San Diego seems to be so smoothly in comparison to New Orleans is that they have people out there who seem to care about what happens to people, unlike Ray nagin in New Orleans, who pretty much left everyone to take care of themselves. Some liberals do a better job of taking care of their cities then others.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:12 PM)

Jerry = Corpis C

Check back next year and see how much all of this has hurt Telluride. Don't get your hopes up that "You people" have that much effect on Colorado. In the mean time, why did you pawn The Little Cowboy off on the rest of the US. If you think he's go great, keep him in Texas.

GN Lars, Denver, CO (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 4:00 PM)

Thanks for your posts, Jerry froom Corpis Cristi. Whatever you do, please don't actually address the issue we're discussing. That would actually bring value to the conversation. Instead, please do what comes naturally to those arguing a point without merit, attack on a totally irrelevant point. Honestly, it's such a tired ploy and you're no Karl Rove. I applaud the town of Telluride for callng a spade a spade as both Cheney and Bush should be held accountable for their crimes against America and the world. I'm sure the ski resort is terrified about losing 300-400 skiers days of the 426,244 they reported last year. That would be such a huge political statement. BTW, Colorado is on the verge of having an epic ski year so please tell all your friends to boycott Telluride and the rest of the state ... just means more fresh tracks for people with a moral compass. And WorldNetDaily.com ... really?!?!? A quick glance at the source you referenced in your post about Telluride site ... which reads (and I'm not kidding): "Historian: The World was Created 6010 Years Ago Today" speaks volumes. I feel for you, dude. For your sake, I hope there is a god.

Rob Evergreen CO (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 5:01 PM)

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