Conservative attack group riling Democrats

cnredd · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Democrats are trying to chase from the political playing field a new conservative group expected to spend tens of millions of dollars this year attacking liberal candidates.

Using accusations of links to gambling and "forced abortions," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is striving to make the group, Freedom's Watch, too toxic for Republicans to stomach.

"House Republicans and Republican candidates need to decide whether they can afford to partner with Freedom's Watch, a group that embodies the Republicans' culture of corruption by consistently breaking the law and is bankrolled by money that is inconsistent with their values," said Jennifer Crider, communications director for the DCCC.

Billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson is the principal financial backer for the group, which has taken a major role in attacking Democratic candidates in recent special congressional elections.

Faced with the group's deep pockets, the DCCC has fired off mail and broadcast ads highlighting Mr. Adelson's gambling interests and ties with China, which they argue is "a country notorious for forced abortions." Democrats this week filed a third legal challenge to the group with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

"It's been reported that Freedom's Watch intends to spend up to $200 million this cycle against congressional Democrats, and that's money coming from sources that believe very different things than the people in Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere across the country," Miss Crider said.

Freedom's Watch officials said they would not discuss the organization's financial wherewithal, but disputed the reports of a budget upward of $200 million. Ed Patru, vice president for communications at Freedom's Watch, said the effort to sully candidates by association is silly.

"'Vote against candidate X because he has common values with philanthropist Y, who has business interests in China where, by the way, abortion is legal.' What a dynamite argument," Mr. Patru said, adding that the House's top Democrat is also susceptible to guilt by association. "Given Nancy Pelosi's relationship with Syria's [President Bashar] Assad, we're not surprised her campaign arm is going after one of Israel's most prolific benefactors."

"There are numerous degrees of separation between the issues in Mississippi and issues in Chinese provinces. We're looking forward to getting linked to Kevin Bacon next week," he said, referring to the parlor game of trying to link movie stars to the ubiquitous actor.

Last line was pretty funny...

This is the first instance of this back-and-forth smearing...And here's the scoop...

First, the DCCC breaks itself up 120 days before elections so one half stays tied to the Democratic Party while the other half becomes an unaffiliated 527 group (which gives them the freedom to say anything they want without anyone at the end saying "I'm (candidate's name) and I approve this message")...

Freedom Watch is a 527 group year round...They don't endorse any candidate at any time...

As you probably know, 527s are groups that are 100% free to speak on any cause or concern...as long as they don't endorse a candidate...99% of the time that means that instead of endorsing, they smear the candidate on the OTHER side of the aisle...

But, in this instance, a new tactic is on display...

Instead of smearing the opponent of a candidate they want, they smeared the GROUP that will eventually take shots at the candidate on the other side...

That way, when that group comes out with an ad on anything, it's already injected into the public that WHATEVER is said will automatically be discounted...

Sort of a pre-emptive strike against people they know will be attacking the candidate they want to win...

So that's what the general election will see more of...Instead of the standard procedure (527 attacks candidate), we'll be seeing a lot of the new tactic (527 attacks OTHER 527 who attacks candidate)...Of course, this could go on and on and on (527 attacks 527 because they attacked another 527 which was attacked by another 527 etc. etc. etc.)...

This could get interesting and/or annoying really quick...

foundit66 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

This could get interesting and/or annoying really quick...

And tomorrow's prediction is for mostly "annoying", with a chance of "morbid curiousity" in the afternoon...

cnredd · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

And tomorrow's prediction is for mostly "annoying", with a chance of "morbid curiousity" in the afternoon...

To the policy wonks like us; yes...

But the public isn't full of policy wonks...and they won't get to the bottom of the story...Only the top layer will stick...

As with most things...That's why there are still people who believe ludicrous things like McCain wants to continue the war in Iraq for 100 years or that Obama's really a Muslim...They hear something like that and it automatically becomes "fact" in their mind....

That's a goal I have for this forum...A place where people who've heard things can dig a little deeper...

saltwn · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 02:47 AM

If every chunk of mud each side threw at the other was a diamond, either side could support a third world country.

Spencer Collins · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 04:19 AM

"There are numerous degrees of separation between the issues in Mississippi and issues in Chinese provinces. We're looking forward to getting linked to Kevin Bacon next week,"

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