Democrats Support Morrison,
Approve Platform at Wichita Gathering
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, District Attorney
Nola Fulston among attendees last weekend WICHITA – Excited
about the party’s message of hope and opportunity, nearly
350 Democrats from across the state attended the annual Kansas
Democratic Party’s Demofest State Convention Saturday in
Wichita.
Highlights
of the weekend included door-to-door visits to a local neighborhood
by Governor Sebelius, Lieutenant Governor candidate Mark Parkinson
and Attorney General candidate Paul Morrison; the unanimous approval
of a new 2006 Democratic platform; and a sold-out cookout featuring
Morrison, Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Fulston and Missouri
Attorney General Jay Nixon.
“This was one of the most inspiring state
gatherings in recent history,” Kansas Democratic Party Chairman
Larry Gates said. “New Democrats like Paul Morrison and
Mark Parkinson joined long-time party leaders and activists in
making a commitment to work for progress and hope this November
by electing Democrats who will move our state forward.”
At the Saturday cookout, speakers Nixon and Fulston
talked about the importance of electing an experienced lawman
like Paul Morrison as Kansas’ next Attorney General. “The
job is about keeping Kansans safe,” Nixon said, “It
is not a pulpit for personal agendas.”
On Friday night, the Platform Committee of the
Kansas Democratic Party unanimously adopted a new platform emphasizing
the core issues of strengthening schools, creating jobs, providing
health care and improving safety. The 2006 State Party Platform
can be read at www.ksdp.org/platform.
Four Kansas Democratic Party volunteers and activists
were honored with the Joan M. Finney Distinguished Service Award
during the weekend. Awardees included Terry Crowder (Topeka),
Cathy Wilheim (Wichita), Mary Fulton (Wichita) and Craig Gunther
(Valley Falls).
Democrats also thanked current Lt. Governor John
Moore for his service to our state during Demofest weekend. Lt.
Governor Moore is retiring at the end of his term and has worked
the past four years to grow our economy, to increase the troop
size in Kansas and to lower the cost of health care.
Join us
for Demofest 2006!
Governor
Kathleen Sebelius and Chairman Larry Gates invite you to attend:
Demofest 2006
on Saturday, August 26, in Wichita.
Demofest is an annual gathering of Democrats from all over the
state of Kansas. It’s a great time to celebrate being a
Kansas Democrat and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded people!
Special Guest: Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon
Attend Demofest 2006 as Jay Nixon endorses Paul Morrison
as Kansas' next Attorney General
Click
here to register instantly online!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
for Saturday, August 26:
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.....................................Registration
Open
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m..................................Canvassing
Training
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m......................................Caucus
Meetings
(LGBT, Asian, Hispanic, African American)
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.....................................Caucus
Meetings
(Labor, Local Elected Officials, Progressives, Veterans)
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m....................................Caucus
Meetings
(Disabilities, County Chairs, KFWDC, Young Democrats)
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.....Demofest Cookout with Special Guest:
Jay Nixon, Missouri Attorney General
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.................Congressional District Meetings
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m..........................State Committee
Meeting
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.......KDP Donor Appreciation Reception
(For donors of $100 or more in the past year, or you can renew
at the door)
LOCATION:
Meetings, training and Demofest cookout will be held at the:
Eugene Hughes Metropolitan Complex
5015 E. 29th St. N in Wichita
Saturday's KDP Donor Appreciation Reception will be held at the:
Broadview Hotel,
400 W Douglas Avenue
in Wichita
Hotel reservations may be made at the special discounted rate
of $84
from the Broadview Hotel.
Call (316) 262-5000 for reservations.
Click
here to register instantly online!
TICKET PRICES:
$30 Per Person
(includes registration and ticket for cookout with Jay Nixon)
$10 Per Person
(for registration only, no lunch. Your $10 registration fee will
cover the costs of this conference and allow us to focus our resources
on electing Democrats this year)
Click
here to register instantly online!
Special Event for Demofest Weekend!
We will be organizing a five-site neighborhood organizing project
during the morning of Demofest. Kansas Democratic Party Field
Organizers will train you how to canvass on Saturday, August 26
from 9 - 10 a.m., and then disperse you into the field with lists
to ID voters! Canvassing will continue throughout the morning,
please join us for the entire event, or during any free time you
may have that Satuday.
Help us celebrate Demofest by working to get Democrats elected!
Click
here to register instantly online!
Lt. Governor Moore
to Chair Sebelius Campaign
Moore
named as Honorary State Chair of Sebelius/Parkinson ‘06
Lt. Governor John Moore will chair the campaign to re-elect
Governor Kathleen Sebelius and her 2006 running mate, Mark Parkinson.
Moore was elected Lt. Governor with Sebelius in 2002. He served
as Secretary of Commerce and subsequently led the highly successful
Governor's Strategic Military Planning Commission that represented
Kansas during the most recent round of military base closings
and realignments. Kansas will gain 13,000 troops and related civilian
jobs. Moore announced that he would not seek a second term in
order to spend more time at home with his wife, Marty, in Wichita
"During the past four years I have seen the Governor confront
a large number of challenging and complex issues which she inherited
from previous administrations. Her unique ability to find practical
solutions to those issues, and make the most of each opportunity,
has resulted in Kansas -- and Kansans -- being much better off
than four years ago.” Moore said. “Kathleen deserves
to be re-elected and I am pleased to assume this role to help
make that happen. Given four more years, I believe the governor
will usher in an unprecedented era of prosperity in our state."
Governor Sebelius’ reelection campaign focuses on Kansas
principles, not partisan politics. By tackling issues that are
important to all Kansans – excellent schools, growing the
economy, and lowering the cost of healthcare – Sebelius
stands upon an extraordinary record of accomplishments and progress.
“Our state has benefited from John’s leadership
and service,” Sebelius said. “We’ve made great
progress these past four years and his continued support and commitment
are greatly appreciated.”
Prior to serving as Lt. Governor, Moore worked at Cessna Aircraft.
He started in 1982 and was named one of two executive vice presidents
in 1999. He left that post in July 2002 to seek the office of
Lt. Governor.
Moore and his wife Marty have been married for more than 40
years. They have two children, Clay Moore, Shawnee, and Stacia
Wohlford, Lawrence, and five grandchildren.
GOP Has
Made America Less Safe
The
failed policies of Washington Republicans continue to make America
less safe. As recently as this morning, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman
used misleading rhetoric to cover up the fact that Republicans
have consistently blocked Democratic attempts to make our country
secure. And, the latest polls continue to show that the American
people are dissatisfied with the President and his party on a
number of issues and want Democratic leadership in Congress.
“Whenever the Republican Party is in political crisis
they fall back on their well adapted strategy of ‘fear and
smear’ to try to win elections,” said Democratic National
Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. “Ken Mehlman’s
desperate ranting and childish name calling show just how loose
his party's grasp on reality really is. He knows as well as anyone
how many times his party has opposed Democrats’ efforts
to improve America's security, if Republicans were serious about
keeping America safe, they would join Democrats and enact the
9/11 Commission recommendations immediately. It’s time for
Bush and Republicans to adapt to the reality that the American
people want a new direction that only Democrats can deliver.”
New Newsweek Poll: Americans Want A New Direction; Want
Democrats To Win In November. “Right now 53 percent
of Americans would like to see the Democrats win control of Congress,
compared to just 34 percent who want the Republicans to retain
control. Most worrisome for the GOP? Almost one in 10 Republicans,
9 percent, hope the Democrats win. … The worst news for
the GOP, which controls the White House and both houses of Congress,
is that a clear majority of Americans agree on one thing: 67 percent
say they are dissatisfied with the direction of the country.”
[Newsweek, 8/13/06]
GOP Opposed Democratic
Proposals To Keep America Safe
Democrats
Fought for Aviation Security; Republicans Blocked Effort To Increase
Funding. Since 9/11, Senate Democrats have repeatedly
tried to increase investments in aviation security. For example,
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered an amendment to the FY 2006
Homeland Security Appropriations bill to provide $302 million
for improved screening of cargo carried on commercial airliners.
House Democrats have also repeatedly fought to increase aviation
security investments. For example, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
offered a motion to recommit the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization
with instructions to authorize $400 million more in FY 2006 for
in-line checked baggage screening system installations as well
as to require that all air cargo on passenger planes be screened
within three years. [2005 Senate Vote #180, 7/14/05; 2005 House
Vote #188, 5/18/05]
Democrats Fought for Port Security; Republicans Blocked
Effort To Increase Funding. Senate Democrats have repeatedly
fought to increase port security investments. For example, Sen.
Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to the FY 2005 Homeland
Security Appropriations bill to increase funding for Port Security
Grants by $300 million. Since 9/11, House Democrats have repeatedly
tried to increase investments in port security. For example, Rep.
Martin Sabo (D-MN) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Supplemental
Appropriations bill to increase port security funding by $825
million. The amendment includes $400 million to place radiation
portal monitors at all U.S. ports of entry. [2004 Senate Vote
#171, 9/9/04; 2006 House Vote #56, 3/16/06]
Democrats Fought for First Responders; Republicans Blocked
Effort To Increase Funding. Since 9/11, Senate Democrats
have repeatedly tried to increase investments in first responders.
For example, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered an amendment
to the FY 2006 Budget Resolution to invest $5 billion to provide
interoperable communications equipment for first responders. House
Democrats have also repeatedly fought to increase first responder
investments. For example, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) offered a motion
to recommit the FY 2003 Continuing Appropriations bill, to add
provisions ensuring $3.5 billion in new money for the nation's
first responders. The President had requested only $1 billion
in new money for first responders in his FY 2003 budget. [2006
Senate Vote #45, 3/15/06; 2003 House Vote #16, 1/28/03]
Democrats Fought for Border Security; Republicans Blocked
Effort To Increase Funding. Senate Democrats have also
repeatedly fought to increase border security investments. For
example, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) offered an amendment to the FY
2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill to increase funding for
border security by $390 million, providing for the hiring of additional
Border Patrol agents and the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Democrats succeeded in adopting the Byrd amendment - by a vote
of 65 to 34. However, most of this additional border security
funding was removed by the GOP in conference. Since 9/11, House
Democrats have also tried to increase investments in border security.
For example, Rep. David Obey (D-WI) offered a motion to recommit
the conference report on FY 2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill
with instructions to add $284 million to fund an additional 550
Border Patrol agents, an additional 200 immigration agents, and
unmanned border aerial vehicles. [2005 Senate Vote #105, 4/20/05;
2005 House Vote #160, 5/5/05]
Democrats Fought for Rail and Transit Security.
Since 9/11, Senate Democrats have repeatedly tried to increase
investments in rail and transit security. For example, Sen. Robert
Byrd (D-WV) offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Homeland Security
Appropriations bill to provide $1.2 billion for transit security
grants and $265 million for intercity rail transportation. House
Democrats have also repeatedly fought to increase rail and transit
security investments. For example, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
offered a Democratic substitute to the FY 2006 Homeland Security
Authorization bill. This substitute included key provisions to
bolster rail and transit security - including a three-year $2.8
billion grant program to improve transit security and a three-year
$1 billion program to improve rail security. [2005 Senate Vote
#184, 7/14/05; 2005 House Vote #187, 5/18/05]
GOP Failed To Implement
9/11Commission Recommendations
• 9/11 COMMISSIONER THOMAS KEANE: "We're
Not As Safe As We Should Be." In an interview on
“Meet the Press”, Hamilton said, "When you and
I go to the airport, there still is not a unified watch list.
There should be. We should know everybody who’s getting
on that plane. If any agency has any problems with them, they
shouldn't be allowed to get on the plane. … We still haven't
got the proper technology for screening baggage. … The Congress
simply has not given the agency dollars to put those things into
effect. But those are major steps that no should be taken at the
airports. Until they're done, we're not as safe as we should be.”
[“Meet the Press”, NBC, 8/13/06]
• 9/11 COMMISSIONER LEE HAMILTON: "We Are
Not As Safe As We Should Be." In an interview on
“Meet the Press”, Keane said "I'm still nervous
about it [the possibility of an attack]. I think we are not as
safe as we should be five years after the event." [“Meet
the Press”, NBC, 8/13/06]
9/11 Commission Gave F’s And D’s To The
Bush Administration. The 9/11 Commission gave the Bush
Administration 5 F's and 12 D's on the implementation of the Commission's
recommendations for homeland security. [Final Report on 9/11 Commission
Recommendations, 12/05]
AIRPORT SECURITY: Still No Unified Terrorist Watch List.
There remains no unified terrorist watch list for screening airline
passengers. In its December 2005 report card, the 9/11 Commission
gave the Administration a failing grade for its efforts to improve
passenger pre-screening, noting that "few improvements have
been made to the existing passenger screening system since right
after 9/11. The completion of the testing phase of TSA's pre-screening
program for airline passengers has been delayed. A new system,
utilizing all names on the consolidated terrorist watch list,
is therefore not yet in operation." While $130 million has
been spent on the Secure Flight program - a system that would
match airline passengers against terrorist watch lists - the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) reports that it remains in development
and faces considerable management and oversight challenges. The
TSA is in the process of reassessing the viability of Secure Flight,
after suspending the program in March due to security and privacy
concerns. [9/11 Public Discourse Project, December 2005; govexec.com,
6/25/06]
PORTS: Screening Technology at U.S. Ports Still Inadequate.
“The radiation-detection technology currently used
in the world’s ports by the Coast Guard and Customs and
Border Protection Agency is not adequately capable of detecting
a nuclear weapon or a lightly shielded dirty bomb…The flaws
in detection technology require the Pentagon’s counterproliferation
teams to physically board container ships at sea to determine
if they are carrying weapons of mass destruction. Even if there
were enough trained boarding teams to perform these inspections
on a regular basis -- and there are not -- there is still the
practical problem of inspecting the contents of cargo containers
at sea…This factor, when added to the sheer number of containers
on each ship -- upwards of 3,000 -- guarantees that in the absence
of very detailed intelligence, inspectors will be able to perform
only the most superficial of examinations.” [“Port
Security is Still a House of Cards,” Stephen E. Flynn, Far
Eastern Economic Review, Jan./Feb 2006]
BORDERS: Millions Wasted On Inadequate Border Security
Efforts. Millions of tax dollars have been wasted as
a result of failed border security technology initiatives that
have been undertaken by the Department – the Integrated
Surveillance Intelligence System and the America’s Shield
Initiatives. The Administration has failed to provide promised
funding for Border Patrol agents (20 percent short), detention
bed spaces (20 percent short), and the Immigration and Customs
agent resources called for by the 9/11 Act (75 percent short).
[“The State of Homeland Security, 2006” prepared by
the Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security; 2/06]
FIRST RESPONDERS: Emergency Preparedness Still Inadequate.
The President’s budget for 2007 proposed to cut
$612 million from first responder grants and training programs.
The budget cuts funding levels for programs designed to assist
state and local law enforcement agencies by more than $1 billion
compared to FY 2006, the Firefighters Grant Program was cut by
50 percent, and the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium,
which trains first responders, was cut by 66 percent. In addition,
the President’s 2007 budget requested no funding to enhance
interoperable communications. [“The State of Homeland Security,
2006” prepared by the Democratic Staff of the Committee
on Homeland Security; 2/06]
RAIL AND TRANSIT SECURITY: Bush Has Not Improved Rail
and Transit Security. Terrorist groups have already targeted
surface transportation for attacks, including the attack on a
Moscow Metro rail car in 2004, a coordinated series of 10 explosions
on four commuter trains in Madrid that same year, and a coordinated
series of four explosions on three London subway trains and one
bus in 2005. Despite this, the TSA budget dedicates only 1 percent
of the department’s funding to surface transportation security.
The budget also eliminates dedicated grants used by public transportation
systems to increase security, forcing surface transportation to
compe te with ports and other critical infrastructure for funding.
[“The State of Homeland Security, 2006” prepared by
the Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security; 2/06]
America
Is Less Safe Because Of The Bush Administration
9/11 COMMISSIONER LEE HAMILTON: “I think
[the London terror plot] says that they’re still out there,
they're still plotting... this is a scenario that was included
in the 9/11 report.” [“Meet The Press”, NBC,
8/13/06]
HUNT FOR BIN-LADEN: Failure to Hunt for Bin Laden "Gravest
Error in The War against al Qaeda." According to
the Washington Post, "The Bush Administration has concluded
that Osama bin Laden was present during the battle for Tora Bora
late last year and that failure to commit U.S. ground troops to
hunt him was its gravest error in the war against al Qaeda, according
to civilian and military officials with first-hand knowledge."
"We messed up by not getting into Tora Bora sooner and letting
the Afghans do all the work," said a senior official with
direct responsibilities in counterterrorism. "Clearly a decision
point came when we started bombing Tora Bora and we decided just
to bomb, because that's when he escaped.We didn't put U.S. forces
on the ground, despite all the brave talk, and that is what we
have had to change since then." [Washington Post, 4/17/02]
NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION: Iran Pursuing Nuclear Arms Program.
Iran hid its nuclear program for more than a dozen years from
the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear monitoring
arm of the United Nations, and now the United States and Europe
contend that Iran is pursuing an arms program. In January of 2006,
Iran restarted its effort to make atomic fuel after negotiations
with Britain, France and Germany over the fate of its atomic program
broke down. [New York Times, 4/28/06; New York Times, 8/7/06]
Experts Say Bush Administration Strategy Emboldened
Iranian Nuclear Program. The Bush Administration refused
to negotiate with Iran for years, when the country was willing
to make real concessions on its nuclear program. Just after the
U.S. takeover of Baghdad in 2003, Iran proposed a dialogue with
the United States. According to former senior director of the
National Security Council, Flynt Leverett, the offer was "a
serious effort." The Bush Administration's refusal to enter
into talks, according to Middle East expert Trita Parsi, "strengthened
the hands of those in Iran who believe that the only way to compel
the United States to talk is not by sending peace offers, but
by being a nuisance." [Washington Post, 6/18/06; American
Prospect, June 2006]
IRAQ / CIVIL WAR: Top Generals Pace And Abizaid:
"Sectarian Violence…As Bad As I've Seen It." Two
top U.S. generals said that the sectarian violence in Iraq was
much worse than they had ever anticipated and could lead to civil
war in what the Washington Post called "the military's most
dire assessment of conditions in Iraq since the war began 40 months
ago." "The sectarian violence is probably as bad as
I've seen it," General John P. Abizaid, commander of U.S.
military operations in the Middle East, said. "If not stopped,
it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war." General
Pace agreed, saying, "We do have the possibility of that
developing to a civil war." [Washington Post, 8/4/06]
A politics
of the common good: A moral vision for America
The following is a column by Kansas Democratic Party Chairman
Lawrence C. Gates:
In
Brent Castillo’s piece "Democrat Faith Still in Old
Wine Skins" the author cheapens the role of religion in public
life by limiting it to one or two issues. When at its best, faith
calls us to something greater than ourselves.
I was raised in a Catholic family that taught me the importance
of serving God and giving back to my community. Although we went
to Mass every Sunday, it was the way my parents lived their lives
that taught me the most about the need to serve and sacrifice
for others. These values were reinforced by the political and
religious leaders of the day who called us to look beyond ourselves
in order to give back to the country that we love.
We are now faced with a moral crisis that extends much deeper
than the questions of criminalizing abortion and outlawing gay
marriage. Symptoms of this include the increasing difficulty of
raising a family, the growing divide between the rich and poor,
the rising cost of health care, the culture of corruption in Washington
and the environmental hazards that threaten future generations.
At their very core, these maladies reflect the most pressing moral
crisis facing our country: a lack of commitment to the common
good.
The common good is that cherished and sacred concept central
to all faiths and embodied for Christians in the Golden Rule.
This ideal maintains that individuals and communities are at their
greatest when they reach beyond themselves, recognizing the personal
responsibility inherent in the belief that we should treat others
as we wish to be treated; that we should love our neighbor as
we love ourselves.
Although some are quick to label our opposition as the party
of faith, the ‘me first’ mentality inherent to their
leadership’s ideology flies in the face of fundamental Christian
values, namely the Golden Rule. Ignoring our schools and voting
against health care for Kansas kids are indicators of a morally
bankrupt agenda.
The Democratic Party and Governor Kathleen Sebelius are working
to provide moral leadership by strengthening those institutions
in our society that exist for the benefit of all. We work towards
this vision by offering good governance, strengthening schools,
increasing access to affordable health care and by fostering an
economy in support of families. These policies define the Democratic
ethic for the common good.
The Democratic Party puts forward political leaders and ideas
that inspire us to come together to promote the common good. Instead
of asking "What’s in it for me?," Democrats ask,
"What can I give back?" That’s why I am a Democrat
and that’s why the moral vision offered by Democrats speaks
to people of religious faith.
DNC Marks
the 41st Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
Democratic
National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement
on the 41st anniversary of the historic Voting Rights Act:
“This weekend, our nation marked the 41st Anniversary
of the landmark Voting Rights Act, which was recently reauthorized
as the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting
Rights Act. Forty-one years after its original passage, this historic
legislation has been preserved to protect the next generation
of American voters from discrimination at the voting booth.
"Unfortunately the threat to equal voting rights remains.
From partisan redistricting to restrictive voter ID regulations,
to the vulnerabilities of electronic voting machines, to attempts
by Congressional Republicans to water down the VRA with amendments
only a few weeks ago, the assault on voting rights continues today.
That is why it is not enough simply to sign this legislation.
As a nation we must redouble our commitment to ensuring that its
promise is realized for all Americans.
"Voting is a fundamental right in our democracy, and a
predicate to all other rights Americans hold dear. In order to
truly honor the Voting Rights Act we must work everyday to ensure
that all legally eligible voters have the right to vote and to
have that vote counted."
The Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute:
The DNC, through its Voting Rights Institute, has announced
expanded efforts for national voter protection. These will include
a national voter protection hotline, election protection staff
in 15 key states and a series of efforts designed to help Americans
register to vote and find out where to cast their ballots.
In addition to the national voter protection hotline, the DNC's
voter protection strategy for 2006 includes:
• COORDINATING NATIONAL ELECTION PROTECTION STRATEGY:
At the DNC's Summer Meeting in Chicago, the DNC Voting Rights
Institute and the National Lawyers Council will meet with the
leadership of every state party to lay out their step by step
plans for protecting voters at the polls at every level;
• PROVIDING ELECTION PROTECTION STAFF: The DNC will place
election protection staff in 15 key states and provide training
and step-by-step Election Protection manuals to other states.
• RECRUITING LEGAL ASSISTANCE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
The National Lawyers Council is recruiting 7,500 pro-bono lawyers
and law students to support the DNC's election protection program.
These lawyers will be placed in precincts to augment voter protection
efforts at every level-including not just statewide office and
Congressional races, but local and county races as well. These
offices from state representatives to county sheriffs and judges
will have a profound impact on the lives of real citizens throughout
the year.
• ADVANCING LEGISLATION FOR VERIFIED VOTING: The DNC will
continue working with Congressional leaders, grassroots activists
and state parties to build support for federal legislation to
mandate a verified voting paper trail for voting machines that
has been proven as the best method of securing votes.
• FILING LITIGATION TO BLOCK LEGISLATION: The DNC will
work with state parties to file litigation to prevent imposition
of egregious photo ID and other Republican sponsored legislation
that disenfranchise voters. This follows the successful partnership
the DNC has undertaken with state parties pursuing legal challenges
to, for example, Indiana's voter ID law and to the effort to investigate
the criminal phone-jamming scheme in New Hampshire.
• MONITORING STATE LEGISLATION: The National Lawyers Council
and the Voting Rights Institute will continue to meet with top
election law attorneys and monitor state legislative initiatives
that have the potential to dilute the voting rights of key constituency
voters. They are also updating manuals from the last election
cycle to reflect new changes in election laws across the country.
Aug 3, 2006
LA Times- House Republicans
face tougher races
Voter hostility to Bush leaves many vulnerable
By Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON -- Election Day was five long months away, but Representative
Deborah Pryce, an Ohio Republican, decided to air her first television
campaign ad early to set the tone for what promised to be a tough
re election fight.
But when the ad was broadcast in June, it contained an embarrassing
error. Pryce's first name was spelled ``Deboarah." The blunder
was especially surprising coming from the camp of a seven-term
incumbent and senior member of the House Republican leadership.
When it comes to hardball campaigning, Pryce is something of
a rookie. She has not faced a serious challenge since she was
first elected to Congress in 1992. But that has abruptly changed
this year -- for her, and for some other House Republicans accustomed
to coasting to reelection.
With the political winds blowing squarely against the GOP, several
senior lawmakers are facing unusually serious challenges that
have forced them to dust off campaign tools that, in some cases,
are a bit rusty.
In California, Republican Representative John Doolittle has
agreed to debate a Democratic opponent for the first time in more
than a decade.
In Connecticut, GOP Representative Nancy Johnson, in her 24th
year in Congress, has already aired five expensive television
ads. In New York, supporters of Republican Representative Jim
Walsh from Syracuse goofed at one event by distributing four-year-old
campaign literature.
With Democrats needing a 15-seat gain to win control of the
House, most of their top targets are junior GOP lawmakers or perennially
vulnerable incumbents in swing districts.
Amy Walter, an analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report,
sees such incumbents as ``canaries in the mineshaft" whose
fate will determine whether the GOP loses control of the House.
When Republicans won the chamber in 1994, their victory was
built in part on the surprise defeats of several senior Democratic
incumbents, such as then-House speaker Tom Foley of Washington.
Republicans have one advantage that Democrats did not have in
1994. Then, many of the party's incumbents did not realize they
were in trouble until it was too late to do much about it. This
year, GOP leaders already have sensed political danger and urged
lawmakers to prepare.
``We are encouraging every incumbent to take their challenger
seriously," said Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican
Congressional Committee. ``Don't wait until Labor Day to decide
`I need a campaign.' "
Entrenched Republicans are running harder than ever because
of voter hostility toward President Bush and Congress.
Walsh, a nine-term incumbent who had no Democratic opponent
in 2004 and whose father served in Congress, has dominated the
politics of his New York district for years. But his pollster,
Jeff Stonegash, said surveys indicate Bush's unpopularity could
pose a risk to Walsh and other Republicans.
``Thank you, George Bush," said Stonegash. ``People have
become willing to consider a challenger."
Walsh is still favored to defeat his Democratic opponent, former
congressional aide Dan Maffei, but he is not taking the election
for granted. Walsh spent more than $100,000 on TV ads in June.
``All Republicans need to be aggressive in this environment,"
said Walsh.
The political arm of Moveon.org, an online liberal advocacy
group, tried to whip up opposition this spring to selected GOP
incumbents with a series of television ads accusing them of shilling
for special interests that helped finance their campaigns. One
target was Johnson, a moderate Republican who has had an iron
grip on her district in Connecticut despite its Democratic leanings.
This year she faces her toughest challenge in years.
Her response to the Moveon.org attacks was a tribute to the
financial clout of long-time incumbents: She immediately dipped
into her vast campaign treasury to air two rebuttal ads in April.
She followed that with three spots with positive messages. And
she still ended up with $2.6 million in cash on hand at the end
of June.
Meanwhile, in this race and others, Democrats' prospects hinge
largely on their ability to redirect voters' attention to the
national political landscape and the links between their local
GOP House member and Bush's unpopular policies.
Past News
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