DCCC Shows A Sign Of Life

I can't count the number of posts I've done about the DCCC. I can count the number I've done that were complimentary... on the fingers of one hand. And one of my biggest beefs with them is how they consistently refuse-- what whatever reason-- to take on any Republican leaders of committee chairmen. Republicans always go after senior Democrats and regularly knock off senior committee chairs-- the in 2010 when they took out the chairmen of the Budget Committee, the Armed Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This year the Republican chairs of all three of those committees are vulnerable and could be beaten by Democrats, particularly Paul Ryan (Budget) and Buck McKeon (Armed Services). Obama won both districts in 2008 and both districts have extremely good Democratic candidates this cycle, Rob Zerban against Ryan in Wisconsin and Dr. Lee Rogers against McKeon in California. But the DCCC has shown as much interest in taking on these two Republican galoots as they ever have-- in other words, none whatsoever.

Until today. They're still ignoring the CA-25 race pitting Rogers against McKeon, despite the fact that the utterly out-of-touch McKeon is enmeshed in a serious of scandals that has roiled his L.A. area district. But they have made a tiny move in the direction of showing a modicum of support for Zerban. He's still not on their Red-to-Blue list (which signals big Democratic donors that it's OK to contribute to his campaign) but when picking 20 Democratic challengers to help with anti-Ryan robo-calls they actually decided to run some in Ryan's own district! It isn't much, but it's a step in the right direction and I am determined not to denigrate Steve Israel once in this post or for a period of at least 24 hours (starting yesterday). Even the Washington Post seemed shocked to see them include Zerban in their anti-Ryan attack. "Among the targeted Republicans is Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who faces Democrat Rob Zerban in November, but is still leading in polls in his southeastern Wisconsin district."

The DCCC website explains that they launched "new automated phone calls to expose 20 vulnerable House Republicans for their extreme agenda that they share with Congressman Todd Akin."

At the Republican National Convention in Tampa this week, Republicans will include the Akin-plank in their platform that would ban a woman's right to choose with no exceptions for rape, incest or if the life of the mother is at risk.

Instead of creating jobs, Republicans in Congress have pursued a relentless assault on women's rights-- trying to redefine rape, close down Planned Parenthood, and overturn Roe v. Wade.

"The problem for House Republicans isn't what one of their Members said, it's what many of Republicans believe and do-- support an extreme agenda that limits health care access for women," said DCCC Communications Director Jesse Ferguson. "Voters will hold Republicans accountable for the rest of this campaign for sharing some of Congressman Akin’s extreme beliefs and now making the latest attack on women's rights part of the official platform for Republican candidates."

In a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week, 54 percent of voters believe Republican candidates are “out of step” while only 38 percent believe they’re in the main stream.

An example of an automated phone call in Congressman Mike Coffman’s (CO-06) district follows:

Hello. This is Julie calling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  By now, I’m sure you’ve heard Congressman Todd Akin’s unbelievable comments about rape and his outrageous beliefs about women’s rights.

You know what’s even more worrisome? He’s not alone.

Republicans like your Congressman Mike Coffman share some of these radical, right-wing beliefs-- that the government should take away a woman’s access to making informed decisions about her own pregnancy.

It’s outrageous. This week, Congressman Coffman’s Republican Party platform will include a plank that says no to a woman’s right to choose without any exceptions even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk.

If you’re tired of this right-wing social agenda from Congressman Todd Akin and Congressman Coffman then call him now at (720) 283-9772.

Coffman's opponent is progressive state legislator Joe Miklosi. Most of the candidates the DCCC is helping with these robocalls are just standard New Dems and but, aside from Miklosi and Zerban, they're also doing some good for Ann Kuster and... and... oh, that's it for the progressives. Better than what they usually do. When they do one of these deals for Lee Rogers (or Patsy Keever, Sue Thorn, Nate Shinagawa, Wayne Powell, Aryanna Strader, Syed Taj or Jay Chen) I'll eat my hat... figuratively. Anyway, this seems like a more effective way to get the message across: