Blip. Blip. blip. Is Your Republican Candidate "On the Radar?"

The NRCC has announced candidates who are almost Young Guns. From the release:

The National Republican Congressional Committee today announced the third round of candidates to reach the ‘On the Radar’ level of the ‘Young Guns’ program. The ‘Young Guns’ program was started in the 2007-2008 cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI) as a Member-driven program, and in 2009 Chairman Sessions adapted the program as the NRCC’s official blueprint for recruiting candidates for open seats and unseating Democrat incumbents across the country. Reps. Cantor, McCarthy and Ryan remain active in the program, helping candidates fight the failed Democrat status quo in Washington. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) is leading candidate recruitment this cycle as the NRCC’s Vice Chair for Recruitment.

“These six candidates have proven themselves by meeting critical benchmarks toward building winning campaigns to defeat Washington Democrats’ failed agenda,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “These candidates are ready to fight for pro-growth solutions on behalf of middle-class families and small businesses that are struggling under Democrats’ tax, borrow and spend policies. With strong candidates like our On the Radar candidates, Democrats face an even more difficult road on their drive to make Nancy Pelosi Speaker again.”

In reaching the second of four steps in the ‘Young Guns’ program, these six Republican candidates are demonstrating their ability to reach important organizational and fundraising benchmarks that will bring their campaigns closer to victory over the Democrats who continue to control Washington.

“Our next candidates to reach On the Radar are business owners, job creators and dedicated public servants who represent Americans’ frustration with Washington’s job-destroying economic policies,” said NRCC Deputy Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “These candidates have all displayed the ability to establish strong campaigns very early in a cycle where, despite the historic gains in the last election, opportunities for pick-ups remain in play for Republicans. I congratulate these candidates for their leadership in achieving clear goals and securing resources towards election victory.”

“The Young Guns program was critical to retaking the House last cycle, but there is more we must do to move this country in the right direction,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). “That means continuing to identify, recruit and resource the best and brightest candidates using the Young Guns platform. I look forward to working with the NRCC to increase our majority next year and congratulate these candidates on their hard work.”

“The Young Guns program was designed to bring change to Washington and we are excited that around the country, strong candidates are doing what's needed to win in 2012,” said House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). “We need the strongest Republicans running in districts like these to ensure we are able to put in place policies to get people back to work and put our country on a path to fiscal sanity.”

The NRCC's latest 'On the Radar' candidates are:

Kirk Adams (AZ-06)
Matt Salmon (AZ-06)
Tom Cotton (AR-04)
Ricky Gill (CA-09)
Karen Diebel (FL)
Keith Rothfus (PA)

You can find out more about the Young Guns and those who are On the Radar here.

Democrat Déjà Vu: Space Hasn’t Changed Much Since Supporting Failed Stimulus

NRCC Release:

Washington --- Today marks two years since the stimulus package was signed into law, riding on a wave of support from Zack Space and his former Democrat colleagues. Unfortunately, during the past two years, the $814 billion stimulus effort has failed to produce the jobs and economic recovery that had been promised. Today, as Space considers a run for his old seat, his former House Democrat allies are united under President Obama’s budget plan which proposes even more of the stimulus-style spending that will continue to add to our national debt and bring more uncertainty to small businesses trying to create jobs.

 

“As Zack Space considers running again for his old seat, Ohioans should remember that in the two years since the stimulus was signed into law, more spending has produced more debt and fewer jobs,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Space had a hard enough time explaining why the first $814 billion stimulus package failed to create jobs.  But if Space the candidate is anything like Space the Member was, then we can only assume that he would now be standing by his party supporting a budget that insists on even more spending.”

 

The stimulus remains such a sore spot on the Democrats’ record that President Obama decided not to send anyone to defend it at a House panel on the law yesterday:

 

“The Obama White House won’t be sending a witness to defend the economic-stimulus package before a House Oversight Committee panel Wednesday.

 

“The committee is holding a hearing on the impact of the stimulus package, which President Barack Obama signed almost two years ago.”

 

“Public perceptions of the package have been dismal and during the November midterm elections, many GOP candidates ran on a platform of criticizing the stimulus effort, while Democrats barely mentioned it.” (Louise Radnofsky, “White House Economists Won’t Testify on Stimulus,” The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire Blog, 2/15/11)

 

Despite this, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel has frequent conference calls with ousted Democrats seeking to reclaim their former seats:

 

“The group, which includes members who lost their re-election bids as well as those who retired last cycle, first met during last year's lame-duck session of Congress. They now huddle by phone once or twice a month with Israel and DCCC recruiting chair Allyson Schwartz (Pa.) leading the chat. Roughly 90 percent of the Democrats who lost in 2010 participate.” (Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake, “Steve Israel's alumni association,” Washington Post’s The Fix Blog, 2/16/11)

 

Exactly two years have gone by since the $814 billion stimulus was signed into law, and we still face growing debt levels and abysmal job numbers. In spite of their failure, Space's former Democrat colleagues continue to push for more of the same stimulus policies they advocated for two years ago. As he considers another run, Space's former constituents in Ohio are left wondering when he and his Democrat allies will finally understand more spending is only hurting job creation.

New NRCC Videos for OH-06 and OH-18

OH-06:




OH-18:

Contract With America II

CQ Politics reports that Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- plans to put together a platform of ideas similar to the "cotract with America" that ushered in the Republican Revolution of '94.

If this is done right, this could be very B I G. Of course, the NRCC is going to have to be brought in line...

Space on National Energy Tax

Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) continues to snub the press and his constituents on his support for the Pelosi National Energy Tax. Now we hear news of a backroom deal among Democrats in Washington that does little to change the devastating impact this bill would have on families.

Consider the following:

Space Has Refused Repeated Requests To Comment On His Support For The National Energy Tax:

SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH: “It is unknown how U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, will vote on the legislation. However, Space, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce - from which the act originated - voted in favor of the bill in committee during a roll call vote May 21, during which the act was approved by a final vote of 33 to 25. Space could not be reached for comment.” (Ian Hicks, “Wilson Will Not Vote For Energy Bill,” Wheeling Intelligencer, 06/20/09)

TUESDAY, JUNE 23RD: “But U.S. Reps. Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall, both D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, haven't said whether they will vote for the bill. Messages left with the offices of each congressman were not immediately answered Monday.” (Joselyn King, “Mollohan, Rahall and Space Still Mulling ‘Cap and Trade,’” Wheeling Intelligencer, 06/23/09)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH: “Messages left both Monday and Tuesday with the office of U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, seeking his stance on the measure have not been answered.” (Joselyn King, “Members of Congress Waiting On Final Version of Energy Bill,” Wheeling Intelligencer, 06/24/09)

Space Was “Lobbied” By Special Interest Groups To Support The Legislation:

“Also stepping up their lobbying are interest groups supporting the legislation, such as the Blue-Green Alliance, which represents labor and environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, the United Steelworkers, the Communications Workers of America, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the Service Employees International Union……In advance of the vote to report the bill out of the Energy and Commerce Committee, members of the alliance lobbied Bart Stupak of Michigan, Zack Space of Ohio and other industrial-state Democrats on the panel. They are now focusing their attention on undecided Democrats. Lee Guisse, a Steelworkers member employed at a plant in Ohio, said she had come to Washington to meet with her own congressman, Democrat John Boccieri. She planned to present him with a packet of 350 signatures from fellow steelworkers supporting the bill, wrapped with a bow made of a hay-like twine, a nod to Boccieri’s position on the Agriculture Committee. ‘He’s having a hard time with it, just as Zack was,’ Guisse said.” (Coral Davenport, “Obama Lauds Energy Bill Before It Reaches House Floor,” CQ Politics, 06/24/09)

HYPOCRISY ALERT – Space Railed Against “Corporate Interests” During His 2006 Campaign For Congress:

“Our government in Washington, DC is broken. Politicians and their lobbyist friends are looking out for themselves at the expense of Ohio families. As your Congressman, Zack Space will accept no gifts, trips, or meals from lobbyists and will never put corporate interests ahead of working families.” (Space for Congress Website, 2006)

Paul Lindsay, NRCC spokesman: “It seems that the only people who are able to get an answer from Zack Space these days are the special interest lobbyists who bought his vote for this job-killing tax increase. It’s bad enough that Space is doing nothing to stop his party leaders from forcing this devastating bill through Congress at the expense of Ohio families, but it’s even worse when he openly ignores repeated requests to provide them with an explanation.”

Is this the hope and change that you voted for?

Does Steve Driehaus Still Support "Stimulus" that Could Ship Jobs Out of Ohio?

NRCC:

Washington- As Ohio officials are up in arms by the misuse of the Democrat-passed “stimulus” plan to potentially assist in the removal of jobs from the Dayton community and relocate them to Georgia, Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH) remains silent on this harmful effect from the bill he supported. Columbus, Ga., Mayor Jim Wetherington has requested a “significant amount” of federal stimulus money at Ohio taxpayer expense to help facilitate the move of NCR Corp. headquarters to an Atlanta suburb:

“Although Columbus, Ga., Mayor Jim Wetherington said he does not know if the federal government will approve his request, he wants stimulus money to help refurbish a 340,000 square foot facility and construct a 100,000 square foot building for NCR to make ATMs…

“Wetherington said he ‘personally wouldn't have a problem’ using federal stimulus dollars to lure jobs from one state to another, although he acknowledged that ‘other people might. This money that we've applied for is what President Obama said is going to be available.’…

“NCR announced yesterday that it was moving its headquarters and about 1,200 jobs from Dayton to Duluth, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. In addition, NCR plans to lease a new production facility in Columbus, Ga., creating an additional 860 jobs.” (Jack Torry, “Columbus, Ga., seeks federal stimulus money to help NCR move from Dayton,” The Columbus Dispatch, 06/03/09)

Even Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who cast the deciding vote in the Senate to pass the stimulus bill earlier this year, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke urging him to prevent the misuse of federal stimulus dollars to lure jobs from one state to another:

“’He is writing Secretary Locke to urge him to prevent funds from being used for the purpose of building a new facility that would take jobs from Dayton, Ohio, to Columbus, Ga.,’ said Meghan Dubyak, a Brown spokeswoman. ‘The senator would say the Economic Recovery Package (stimulus bill) was passed to create jobs, not help relocate them.'’” (Jack Torry, “Columbus, Ga., seeks federal stimulus money to help NCR move from Dayton,” The Columbus Dispatch, 06/03/09)

“Because Steve Driehaus and his party leaders failed to apply even a minimal level of scrutiny to this massive spending bill, thousands more Ohio families could end up paying the price with further job losses,” said Ken Spain, NRCC Communications Director. “Does Driehaus still support the so-called ‘stimulus’ despite the fact that it ships jobs out of Ohio, or will he continue to back a bill that has yet to produce the results that Democrats promised it would?”

Same questions to Charlie Wilson, Mary Jo Kilroy, John Boccieri, Dennis the Menace Kucinich, Marcia Fudge, Tim Ryan, Betty Sutton, Marcy Kaptur and Zach Space...

NRCC: Zack Space Willing to Send Ohio Jobs to China

NRCC:

Washington- Rep. Zack Space (D-OH) is working with his fellow Democrats on the Energy and Commerce committee today on a climate bill that would impose new and burdensome regulations that could cripple the power and manufacturing industries in America, which could send good-paying jobs overseas, further damaging the already weakened economy in the United States.

During the debate today, Zack Space voted against an amendment that could protect these vulnerable American jobs from being shipped overseas to places like China and India. If companies aren’t forced to abide by the same regulations abroad as they would be here, U.S. companies could take American jobs overseas and re-locate their businesses in countries that don’t force these strict standards on their companies. This amendment seeks to provide a level playing field for American industries by ensuring that, in order for this climate bill to continue regulating U.S. industries, China and India must adopt the same greenhouse gas emissions standards that the United States will be forced to comply with under this climate bill.

“Zack Space put the needs of his struggling constituents in Ohio aside to vote in lock-step with Democrats to defeat this common-sense amendment aimed at protecting American jobs,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “What sense does it make to put struggling American industries at an unfair disadvantage in the global economy, virtually ensuring that good-paying American jobs will be shipped to China and India?”

Zack Space claimed that he was concerned about how cap-and-trade legislation would affect his constituents, but today, his actions showed otherwise:

“‘We cannot afford to abandon coal for the next few years, because it would put us at such a financial disadvantage both nationally and internationally, and it would be devastating for the state,’ Space said in an interview.” (“Democrat Space faces hard choice on global warming,” Columbus Dispatch, 4/26/2009)


There is no doubt that under this bill, American energy costs will skyrocket and families’ incomes and employment will plummet. There is no mistaking that this bill will drastically burden already struggle families with increased energy costs.

How much more can Ohio families take?:
Ohio already has a 9.7% unemployment rate
("Bureau of Labor Statistics, Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, seasonally adjusted, April 17, 2009, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm)

The average household in Ohio pays over 9 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity
(Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government, Electric Power Monthly with data for January 2009, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html)

7.4% of people in Ohio are past-due on their electric utility bills by about $224.02

22.5% of people in Ohio are past-due on their gas utility bills by about $1,061.09
(2008 Individual State Report by the NARUC, Consumer Affairs Subcommittee On Collections Data Gathering, http://www.naruc.org/Publications/2008%20NARUC%20Collections%20Survey%20Report.pdf)

Deep Concern over Increased Costs:
An overwhelming majority of Americans are deeply concerned about the drastic increase in cost they would bear as a result of the National Energy Tax. Seventy-seven percent of Americans said they are concerned that federal regulation of greenhouse gases could substantially raise the price of things they have to pay for.
(Source: ABC News/Washington Post; conducted April 21-24, 2009; Survey of 1,072 Adults Nationwide)

President Obama Even Admitted Utility Rates Would “Skyrocket”:
“Under my plan of a cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket … that will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers …”
(President Barack Obama, Meeting with the Editorial Board at the San Francisco Chronicle, January, 2008)

A new study shows the devastating effects the National Energy Tax will have on the economy:

* Under cap and trade 1,105,000 jobs could be lost
* Peak-year unemployment losses could reach 2.5 million
* Gasoline prices would skyrocket by 74 percent
* Natural gas prices would rise by 55 percent
* Electricity rates would spike by 90
* The annual energy bill for an average family would increase by $1,500
* The federal debt would increase by 26 percent, or $29,150 additional federal debt per person
* Gross Domestic Product losses could hit $9.6 trillion

(William W. Beach, David Kreutzer, Ph.D., Karen Campbell, Ph.D. and Ben Lieberman, Heritage Foundation WebMemo #2450, “Son of Waxman-Markey: More Politics Makes for a More Costly Bill,” May 18, 2009)

View the text of the amendment offered by Rep. Mike Rogers here.

NRCC: Does Zack Space Take the Gitmo Issue Seriously?

NRCC:

Washington- Rep. Zack Space (D-OH) voted today to block an amendment that would put critical safeguards into place to protect American families from terrorists currently detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (House Roll Call 261).

“President Obama used a Jan. 22 executive order to give the military a year to shut down the prison facility. But nearly four months later the White House, the Defense Department and the Justice Department have not announced what they plan to do with the several hundred detainees still at the facility.” (Molly K. Hooper and Reid Wilson, “Boehner to call for GOP unity on Gitmo detainees,” The Hill 05/13/09)


As Congress takes up an important war spending bill, the issue about what to do with terrorists detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility is a critical component of the debate. Democrats in Congress and the President have promised to close Gitmo, but have outright failed to deliver a comprehensive plan for what to do with these detainees and have failed to install certain safeguards to protect Americans from these terrorists.

“Zack Space failed to protect his constituents today when he blocked a proposal that would hold the President and Congress accountable for their reckless idea of closing Gitmo with no real plan in place on what to do with the terrorists detained there,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Space has exposed his unwillingness to take national security seriously at the expense of the safety of American families.”

Today, Zack Space voted to block a critical amendment that would have prohibited taxpayer funds from being used to transfer or release Gitmo detainees into the United States. Additionally, this amendment would have required the President to certify in writing that anyone who would be transferred or released does not pose a security risk to the United States. Also, it would require that the President must receive consent from the Governor and State legislature of the State in which the President plans to transfer or release a detainee.

The amendment that Zack Space voted to block would have also required that the President submit to Congress a detailed cost analysis for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and related costs to transferring, detaining, prosecuting, or releasing a detainee in the United States by August 22, 2009.

Why doesn’t Zack Space want to hold the President and the Congress accountable for their vague idea of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility with no real plan in place?

House GOP Elects Leadership Team for 111th Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) announced the new leadership team elected by House Republicans today. During House Republican Conference organizational meetings for the 111th Congress, Boehner was re-elected by his colleagues for the post of Republican Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. He issued the following statement:

“The months ahead will present Republicans with an unprecedented opportunity to renew our drive for smaller, more accountable government and offer positive solutions to the challenges facing the American people. We have to seize this opportunity, and seize it together. I’m deeply honored my colleagues have placed their faith in me and the newly-elected members of our team to lead this effort.

“House Republicans will rebuild our majority coalition by winning the issues that Americans care about most, one issue at a time. We demonstrated our ability to do this last summer when we stood with the American people for more American energy and lower gas prices, and won the issue. President-elect Obama has expressed a desire to govern from the center. At times, his party will make it difficult for him to do this. When he extends his hand in good faith to put the needs of the country first, Republicans will extend ours in return.

“I’d like to thank Dan Lungren for his commitment to the principles of reform that have defined our party since the beginning. Dan worked tirelessly for years in helping to shape a majority coalition that produced important reforms on behalf of all Americans, and I look forward to working with him in rebuilding it once again.

“I also want to thank the outgoing members of our leadership team – Roy Blunt, Adam Putnam, Kay Granger, and Tom Cole. House Republicans look forward to their continued service in the years to come.”

New Republican Leadership Team. Today, House Republicans elected the following leaders for the 111th Congress:

Republican Leader: Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Republican Whip: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Conference Chairman: Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)
Policy Committee Chairman: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
Conference Vice-Chair: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Conference Secretary: Rep. John Carter (R-TX)
NRCC Chairman: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Boehner Backs Sessions for NRCC

Release:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today announced his support for Rep. Pete Sessions’ (R-TX) bid to serve as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 111th Congress. Boehner released the following statement:

“Tom Cole has guided the NRCC through a difficult time for our party, and I’m sincerely grateful for his service to our team. But I believe having Pete Sessions at the helm of the NRCC in the next cycle will give House Republicans our best shot at rebuilding a majority coalition. Pete has the skills needed to recruit top-tier candidates and give them the support they need to challenge a Democratic Congress that has been bought and paid for by liberal special interests. We need Pete Sessions at the leadership table as the next chairman of the NRCC.”

Sessions is an excellent choice...

NRCC: Space Consultant Allegedly Linked to Hush Money Scandal, FBI Investigation

Release:

Washington- Fletcher-Rowley-Chao-Riddle, Inc. (FRCR), a Democrat political consulting firm advising Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), is in the middle of an ethics scandal involving another client, Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL). In Mahoney’s attempt to hide his affair with Patricia Allen, a former legislative and campaign employee, the congressman paid over $120,000 in hush money. Additionally, as part of a settlement for a lawsuit filed by Allen against Mahoney, the Congressman ensured his former mistress a position with FRCR that would pay at least $50,000 per year.

With the firm wrapped in scandal, why hasn’t Zack Space fired his consultant?

According to ABC News, who broke the story on Monday:

“The agreement between the Congressman and Allen, reportedly promises her a job for two years at Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle or another company, beginning January 2009. Fletcher Rowley, a Nashville-based political consulting firm that offers ‘crisis management and creative strategy,’ lists Mahoney's 2006 election victory as one of its "success stories," according to its website.”

“According to people briefed on the settlement Allen was promised at least $50,000 a year or other employment if the Fletcher Rowley job fell through.” (ABC News, 10/13/08)

This leads observers to note that FRCR appears to have been a willing accomplice in Mahoney’s cover-up. More importantly, FRCR’s alleged role in the cover-up means that Mahoney could have illegally paid campaign money to his consultant, who could have used the cover Allen’s salary at the firm as part of an ongoing hush money scheme. Mahoney is already under FBI investigation for his actions, including the possibility that he used campaign funds to cover up the scandal.

“With his consultant and colleague embroiled in a front-page ethics scandal, Zack Space’s failure to distance himself from these shocking allegations speaks volumes about his character,” said NRCC spokesman Brendan Buck. “Unless Space condones these reprehensible actions by his strategist and his fellow congressman, he should immediately end his relationship with FRCR and denounce these immoral and potentially illegal practices.”

Blogger Conference Call with the NRCC

I just got home and during my ride, I listened in on a blogger conference call with NRCC Chairman Tom Cole on the #dontgo movement happening in Dee Cee.

I'm not going to be able to remember everybody who was on the call and asked questions, but let me hit the few that I can...

Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com asked a great question. He wanted to know if anyone had heard back yet from Team McCain on Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- 's request for an appearance by John McCain. Ed thinks John ought to RSVP immediately, and I concur.

Rep. Cole took great pains to make sure that everyone understood that this event was unplanned and is as spontaneous and unscripted as it appears. He made a great point that I also wanted to share and that is that quite a few members have scheduled events that simply could not be re-arranged so just because you don't happen to see a particular Member of Congress participating doesn't mean that they aren't there in spirit.

He also made the point that a few of these folks who have spent time in Dee Cee are in particular tough races. He singled out Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) and Jean Schmidt (R-OH) for particular praise for having made it to the floor even though they probably should be back in their home districts campaigning.

Check out the NRCC's blog for more...

UPDATE: According to his Twitter feed, Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05) will be back in Dee Cee on Tuesday to particpate in #dontgo

UPDATE 2: MediaLizzy was on the call...

UPDATE 3: Folks from the MI GOP crashed a Pelosi book signing today and demanded a vote on Energy...



UPDATE 4: To reiterate a point made earlier. This is not something that either McCain or Rep. Turner would have been able to reschedule all that easily.

UPDATE 5: Sign the petition: Call Congress Back!

OH-07: "Young Guns" May Support Austria

Here is some interesting news from PolitickerCA:

The National Republican Congressional Committee, with which the Young Guns is affiliated, has largely taken the tack of remaining neutral in party primaries. But in some instances this cycle House members have taken the lead in backing primary candidates.

...

The organization will be coming together later on this month to decide on its next steps, including which new candidates to add to its support network. In addition to the 14 candidates the organization has said publicly it is supporting, McCarthy said Louisiana 6th Congressional District candidate Bill Cassidy, Ohio 6th Congressional District candidate Steve Austria, Alabama 2nd Congressional District candidate Jay Love, and Connecticut 5th Congressional District candidate David Cappiello would be discussed as possible future beneficiaries.

Emphasis added.

Our friends in California have misidentified Austria's district (OH-07 not OH-06), but the news is encouraging nonetheless.

I should point out that the Young Guns includes WMD favorite Eric Cantor amongst it's membership...

The Path to 270 / NRCC

Over at TheNextRight, Patrick Ruffini has an analysis of the electoral map that makes a whole lot of sense. The two states that will make or break the McCain campaign are Ohio and Michigan. Read the whole thing...

UPDATE: Speaking of NextRight, Josh Kahn has a good piece about the NRCC's latest blunders...

Where to Spend Your Campaign Dollar

I am a strong supporter of encouraging people to contribute directly to campaigns and not fool around with the congressional campaign committees. Why? Because they support dolts like Gordon Smith (RINO-OR) who disses fellow "moderate" John McCain. The lesson here? These guys aren't in it for the principles or the agenda, they are in it to win and they absolutely do not care who they have to throw under the bus to do it. How'd that strategy work out for Lincoln Chaffee? These buffoons have still not learned their lesson. They actually promoted this absurd video of a bunch of 527 media types praising Gordo for his lack of support for the Republican presidential candidate.



If this is what passes for high campaign strategery from our friends at the NRSC, I think real Republicans can find a better place to invest their dollar. And my message to Mr. Smith is this: Just be who you are...if that is a Democrat, then change party affiliations and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. But if you are a Republican, then start acting like one. You whiners who act like it is some horrible affliction to be called a Republican are part of the problem.

Seriously, what is the matter with you people? Earlier today, I had to smack around House Republicans for crying like little girls...

UPDATE: Seriously, if this guy can't support John McCain, what does he think about the rest of us real conservatives???

NRCC "Clarifies" on Hemmert and Congressional Medal of Distinction

I have received a copy of a letter which the NRCC sent to Mr. Hemmert in regards to his appearance with the President and being awarded the Congressional Medal of Distinction.

Mr. Hemmert,

Thank you again for your recent contribution to the National Republican Congressional Committee. As you know, your contribution includes two tickets to the Presidential dinner and, as a token of our appreciation for your support, a Congressional Medal of Distinction.

Recent news reports have implied that the Congressional Medal of Distinction is a merit-based award based on your background, which is not the case. The Medal of Distinction is being given to you because of your continued support of the Republican Party and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Thank you for your time, and of course, thank you for your support of the Republican Party.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

Pete Kirkham
Executive Director
National Republican Congressional Committee

This response is seriously weak.

I submit to Mr. Kirkham and the National Republican Congressional Committee that the reason for all of the confusion is that you called the thing the Congressional Medal of Distinction instead of the Congressional Medal of Moneybags. I think maybe the NRCC ought to requisition a name change for this presentation.

I also do not think it is appropriate, regardless of the qualifications (or lack thereof), to be awarding Mr. Hemmert anything called the Congressional Medal of Distinction.

I realize that the NRCC is a bit strapped for cash, but I think returning this guy's money and stripping him of his "honors" would have gone a LONG way towards repairing the NRCC's image. And let's face it, the NRCC is not going to recover financially until the organization fixes problems such as this one.

UPDATE: Portions of this post were crossposted in to a larger piece for TheNextRight...

UPDATE 2: ...and now crossposted to RedState as well...

UPDATE 3 (4/19/11): PDF of the letter added.

Letter

Another Idiot Ohio Republican

From the Whistleblower (of all places...)

The National Republican Congressional Committee will be honoring Springboro, Ohio former city councilman Michael W. Hemmert, 53, with a Republican Congressional Medal of Distinction, an award he will accept later this month in a two day celebration including a dinner with President George W. Bush. Hemmert, shown in a photo from Talkingpointsmemo.com (not our usual provided photo we filch from the Fishwrap) will have to notify his probation officer before leaving for Washington . Hemmert resigned his Springboro council seat on February 14 after the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force seized cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and two cars during the first of two searches of his residence. Hemmert was arrested after a second search on March 13 netted more cocaine and marijuana, and a special prosecutor was appointed. Hemmert was placed on probation a week ago. Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel acknowledged Hemmert had helped her raise campaign funds. Sounds like the kind of conduct we’ve all come to expec t from our Portly Part-time Prosecutor Don White over in Clermont County .

This is pretty much a boneheaded move by the NRCC...

While there is a zero-tolerance policy now in place with the Ohio GOP to deal with issues like this one, I also like to hear loud condemnations from the usual suspects too. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is scumbags like this guy that are damaging the Republican brand in general and the Ohio Republican namesake for certain.

And now a few clarifications...

First: One of my sources says this:

This “distinction award” is a fundraising gimmick. The “honorees” from this thing make a contribution and get this recognition in return (kind of like buying a “membership” card from the RNC). It’s made to look far more official than it actually is, and they’ve been doing this for years much to our dismay. As for the dinner with the president, it’s nothing more than the annual dinner he does for the NRCC. They used to call this thing the “President’s Advisory Council” until too many people started throwing it around like it was official.

Second: This guy resigned before condemnation could be effectively leveraged (which is a good thing if you ask me).

NRSC Outraises Dems; GOP Not Dead

Wow. This is interesting. According to this piece on CQ Politics, the National Republican Senatorial Committee outraised their Democratic counterparts in April. Yes, they do still lag behind in the money race; but this victory is important because it shows that Republicans aren't as dead in this cycle as we all once thought.

Here, though, is the bad news:

But the DSCC has otherwise outpaced the NRSC in fundraising for the entire election cycle — $76.5 million to $47.9 million — in part because there is a strong presumption that Democrats will improve upon their 51-49 operational majority in a year in which the Republicans must defend 23 of the 35 Senate contests. Indeed, the DSCC ended April with $37.6 million cash-on-hand — or nearly twice the $19.4 million that the NRSC had left to spend as this began.

We still have a LONG way to go...

Although, I will point out the fundraising patterns for the two parties are remarkaly different. Republicans tend to donate to the RNC whereas Democrats appear to allocate their funds to the Congressional committees.

According to my math, the Republicans are actually leading in fundraising...

RNC = $143.3 million
NRCC = $69.3 million
NRSC = $47.9 million
GOP Total = $260.5 million

DNC = $77.6 million
DCCC = $92.6 million
DSCC = $76.5 million
DEM Total = $246.7 million

Sources: House, Senate, National.

Boehner to Get Involved in Campaigns

CQ Politics has an interesting piece on Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- and his decision to get more involved in House campaigns that includes this bit:

The minority leader also told his caucus that even though most state primaries are over, he and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole , R-Okla., will get more involved in the remaining ones by trying to head off divisive and potentially expensive primary fights for House nominations. There are two ways to do that — getting behind a candidate before a primary campaign gets underway in earnest to head off challengers, or actively backing one candidate if a contest appears unavoidable. The sources said Boehner didn’t specify which method he and Cole will choose.

OH-18 is one such race that would have benefited from this strategy having been employed much earlier...

I really don't have a problem with the NRCC getting behind a primary candidate if that candidate is a conservative or if there is a large field to choose from...but I generally think that the suits in Dee Cee really don't know much about who the right candidate is locally. If they devise a method for evaluating which candidate to back, I could probably go along with this; but if it's which ever candidate scratches the most backs, forget it.

Primaries are often the only time real reform can come to the party and I am generally opposed to interference in that process by the national party structure.

Tom Davis is NOT the Answer for NRCC

If you've read me long enough, you know that I think current mis-manager of the NRCC Tom Cole is a joke. Lately, I've been hearing that Tom Davis (R-VA) might be a better fit. Tom Davis is NOT the answer to the problems plaguing the NRCC.

First of all, Davis seems to think that "Bush is radioactive." Not with the people that the NRCC needs to raise money with... Diehard Republicans who commit to fundraising tend to support the President and his policies. I'll point out that the President has a higher approval rating than Congressional Republicans do...

Secondly, Davis's assertion that Bush is the problem does nothing but pass the buck. Congressiona lRepublicans have to face the reality that they lost their majority because they were acting like Democrats. John Boehner gets this and has been constructing a plan to return to the majority, but people like Tom Davis prefer to have thier crummy cake and eat it too. They will be doing it in the minority.

While we're talking about leadership, let's take a moment to address all of those conservatives out there calling for John Boehner's head... Eric Cantor is a great guy, and a terrific conservative; but he is also still learning the ropes and is not ready yet to lead the congressional caucus. He is going to be a wonderful leader for our party someday, let's not rush him to the Big Leagues like the Cincinnati Reds did to Homer Bailey... So, please, let's support conservatives who know what they are doing and can help us out now. Change for the sake of change is not change that we deserve.

Boehner is doing the right things. Look at his voting record...if the Republicans would do as he does, they would be back on the right track...