President Brad Woodhouse Op-Ed: The TRUTH About the Koch Agenda
Don't miss American Bridge President Brad Woodhouse's new op-ed on CNN.com on the truth behind the Koch agenda, and visit RealKochFacts.com to learn more.
They called Social Security "the most serious threat to the future stability of our society next to the threat of nuclear war." They wanted to abolish all minimum wage laws, while giving tax breaks to the rich and big oil. All in a self-serving attempt to drive the policy discourse further toward their extreme ideals to benefit their own bottom line. Voters deserve to know the truth behind the Kochs' self-serving agenda and just what they stand for. So, at American Bridge, we've launched RealKochFacts.com, a new research and rapid response resource to highlight the truth about the Koch agenda and what it means for working families in states around the country.You can read the full op-ed over on CNN.com
Founder David Brock Talks With POLITICO
In the most recent Open Mike with Mike Allen of POLITICO, he chats with American Bridge founder David Brock.
Mike Allen: “The Clinton camp is pushing back hard against Karl Rove's statement the other day.” David Brock: “If you're asking does it backfire, the answer to that is yes. I think Rove was so grotesque in the overstepping that it ended up being a big mistake, even though I understand what he was trying to do. This was really part of a pattern on Karl Rove's part. We've seen it before — sleazy, personal attacks for partisan reasons.” Allen: “Of the 2016 Republican candidates, does that look like a target-rich environment or are these guys kind of boring? Brock: “We've been tracking all the potentials. Chris Christie can be fun to track. As we know, he can be incredibly colorful. Rand Paul can also be an interesting kind of person to track. I don't find him to be plain vanilla or boring. This is a pretty massive intelligence-gathering operation we have going here.”You watch the full Open Mike video over at POLITICO here.
Newsweek: Political First Responders
Newsweek is out today with a must read profile of American Bridge, describing Bridge's beginnings and featuring some of our best successes from our first two cycles thus far. In 2012, American Bridge was quick to point out Mitt Romney's missteps and hypocrisy:
When GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said illegal immigrants come to the U.S. for a “free deal,” Bridge recorded the comment and gave it to super PACs and unions, which used it in Spanish-language ads across the country.When Romney said “I get speaker’s fees from time to time, but not very much,” Bridge quickly circulated a video showing “not very much” was actually $374,327.62, sparking a media firestorm.This cycle, American Bridge is holding House, Senate and Gubernatorial candidates accountable for their words and actions.
Inside the war room: Meet the Democrats who are watching every move the GOP makes
Take a peek inside American Bridge's war room on the first day of CPAC 2014 with American Bridge President Brad Woodhouse and ABC's Jeff Zeleny. Watch the video here.
Inside the war room: Meet the Democrats who are watching every move the GOP makes By Jeff Zeleny and Jordyn Phelps With one of the biggest Republican gatherings of the year in full swing at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a group of Democratic operatives in Washington is fighting back -- waging a full-out public relations war to counter CPAC. “We are kind of the central apparatus for tracking and research, really, on the progressive side. And so at an event like CPAC, we put our resources to work,” said American Bridge PAC president Brad Woodhouse, speaking to “The Fine Print” during a rare tour of the Democratic group’s so-called war room. The room is filled with rows of desks equipped with double-monitor computer screens, which a group of about 40 Democratic operatives are using to monitor and fact-check speeches at CPAC as they happen, issue rapid responses, and monitor the media and social networking sites.
TPM: "GA GOPers Meet Unemployment Debate Question With Awkward Pause (VIDEO)"
Via TPM:
When a moderator for a recent Georgia Republican primary debate asked candidates by a show of hands whether they would vote to extend benefits for the thousands of American workers who have been stuck with long-term unemployment, the question was met with an awkward pause. At the Mayor's Day Senate Forum in Atlanta earlier in the week, none of the six candidates raised their hands in favor of extending benefits, but when the opposite question was asked -- who would vote against such a proposal -- all six candidates raised their hands. Rep. Paul Broun's (R-GA) arm shot up the fastest. The candidates' reaction could indicate that the extension of unemployment benefits could become an issue in Republican primaries.
American Bridge Wins Reed Awards For Best Direct Mail Piece, IE Campaign
Arlington, VA – Campaigns & Elections announced that American Bridge 21st Century has been awarded multiple 2013 Reed Awards for excellence in the categories of Best Direct Mail Piece of 2012 and Independent Expenditure Campaign. The awards recognized American Bridge’s groundbreaking “talking” mailer titled “Todd Akin: We’ve Heard Enough.” After first discovering and disseminating Akin’s infamous “legitimate rape” comments, American Bridge utilized the talking mailer to educate Missouri voters about Todd Akin’s extreme positions on many issues. In addition to his views on rape, the mailer showed Akin’s out-of-the-mainstream stances on Medicare, Social Security and student loans.
Op-Ed: How Democratic Groups Beat The Republican Super PACs In 2012
American Bridge President Rodell Mollineau penned an op-ed featured in The Daily Beast today. Below is an excerpt.
Much has already been written about the influence of outside spending on this election cycle. One could make a compelling argument that in 2010 super PACs were undervalued, especially by Democrats. Conversely, one could argue that in 2012 the impact of these groups was overestimated, this time to the detriment of Republicans. So how much impact do they have? The truth is somewhere in the middle. Like it or not, these groups have an important role, but campaigns still begin and end with the candidate’s ability to communicate a compelling vision to voters. Over the last 18 months, I think super PACs did what should be expected of them. They played a supporting role, pushed narratives, gave cover to candidates, and in some cases nudged the needle a point or two in select states and races. It just so happened that Democratic groups did a better job of this than Republicans. Here’s why.Read the piece in its entirety here.
The Maddow Blog: The 'Romneycare' Anniversary
On April 12, 2012, The Maddow Blog reported:
Exactly six years ago today, then-Gov. Mitt Romney put his signature on his most notably political accomplishment: an overhaul of Massachusetts' health care system, which brought coverage to all of the state's residents, thanks in part to a government mandate. To mark the occasion, American Bridge 21st Century released this video, showing Romney's remarks at the time, many of which sound, with the benefit of hindsight, like a defense of President Obama's Affordable Care Act.
TPM: GOP Congressman: We Can’t Impeach Obama Because We Don’t Have The Votes Yet
On April 11, 2012, Talking Points Memo reported:
Why hasn’t Congress impeached President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder? Rep. Todd Akin says it’s simply a lack of votes. But he says that may change eventually.
ThinkProgress: Romney Campaign Enlists GOP Women Who Opposed Equal Pay Bills To Attack Obama
On April 11, 2012, ThinkProgress reported:
Romney’s campaign followed these two releases with a statement from his former Massachusetts Lt. Governor, Kerry Healey (R). Though she too takes the curious tact of blaming her party’s “war on women” on President Obama, American Bridge 21st Century notes that while in office, Healey “publicly condemned Romney for vetoing spending for women’s health, including breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment, calling the move: ‘penny-wise, pound-foolish.’”