AB Leadership

Lincoln Journal-Star: Eyes and ears tracking the candidates

They forget. No longer can a politician or officeholder say or do anything in a setting, public or private, formal or informal, large or small, without considering that he or she may be speaking to the world. Video cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, iPhones and other smartphone technology may be -- and probably will be -- there. And soon they are on YouTube or splashed across Page 1 or on the 10 o'clock news.

TPM: ‘Ponzi’ Is Back! Perry Doubles Down On Social Security Attacks In Iowa (VIDEO)

Earlier this week, it seemed Rick Perry was going to put the Ponzi scheme away forever. But have no fear, America: it’s back in Perry’s repertoire. [...] Polls show the Ponzi stuff could be hurting Perry’s perceived electability among Republicans and it seems to turn-off independents. So it might make sense if he left the rhetoric on the cutting room floor. Not happening. Here’s Perry in Iowa on Friday, both using “Ponzi Scheme” again and claiming his plan for Social Security is just part of the same discussion of entitlements started by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and his Medicare-eliminating (in favor of a vouchers) Republican budget plan. [...] Watch the video, clipped by American Bridge, the Democratic-leaning tracking outfit:

POLITICO: Romney changes tune on 'socialism'

"Mitt Romney told CNN yesterday that unlike Rick Perry, he doesn't think it's wise to decribe Barack Obama as a socialist. [...] Said Romney: "I don't use the word socialist or I haven't so far, but I do agree that the president's approach is government heavy, government intensive, and it's not working." [...] But the Democratic research and tracking group American Bridge points out that Romney's comments are not entirely consistent with his past descriptions of President Obama: In his 2010 book, "No Apology," Romney warned that Obama was moving America in the direction of European-style socialism. "It is an often-remarked-upon irony that at a time when Europe is moving away from socialism and its many failures, President Obama is moving us toward that direction," Romney wrote. Saying that Obama is a "socialist" is not exactly the same thing as saying the president is "moving us toward" socialism. But there's not a huge meaningful distinction."

AP: Candidates Bash Stimulus, Campaign At Companies

On September 15, 2011, the Associated Press reported: 

"Republican presidential contenders have crisscrossed the nation bashing President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plans as a colossal waste of taxpayer money. But with an awkward frequency, these same candidates are campaigning at businesses that benefited from the president's landmark stimulus package.

With the cameras rolling, the Republicans celebrate the hard work of local entrepreneurs in places like Pella, Iowa, and Milford, N.H., while later condemning the federal resources that helped those entrepreneurs navigate the economic downturn..."

WMUR: "Rick Perry May Have Some Explaining To Do Regarding Past Comments About The New Hampshire Primary"

New Hampshire's WMUR, whose coverage heavily influences the state's presidential primary, weighed in last night on Perry's 1992 comments questioning the importance of New Hampshire in the presidential nominating contests. The footage was first released by American Bridge 21st Century earlier this week. WMUR anchor Jennifer Vaughn reported that, "A Democratic group posted a video of Perry from the early 90's where he seemed to be questioning the relevance of our state's first-in-the-nation primary."  Take a look at the station's report:

Bloomberg: Perry’s Merck Donations Raise Questions About Vaccine Mandate

"Texas Governor Rick Perry ‘s decision to require pre-teen girls to be vaccinated against a virus that causes cervical cancer has ignited debate over whether the presidential hopeful used his office to do favors for political allies. Perry, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, received at least $23,500 in campaign contributions from drug-maker Merck & Co., including $5,000 in 2006, the year before he ordered girls throughout the state to take a new Merck vaccine. The drug-maker also has donated about $500,000 to the Republican Governors Association, a group which Perry headed twice and has been among his most generous campaign donors...

Boston Globe: Facing possible Warren challenge, Brown burnishes image as Wall Street reformer

"Facing a possible challenge from Elizabeth Warren next year, Senator Scott Brown appears to be positioning himself as a steadfast Wall Street reformer in an attempt to defuse one of the Harvard professor’s most important credentials while defending himself against potential attacks on the campaign trail. [...] Democratic groups are accusing Brown of “trying to rewrite history” ahead of next year’s election, accusing the senator of distorting his position for political gain. “Scott Brown tried to completely derail this bill,” said Rodell Mollineau, president of a liberal “super PAC,” American Bridge 21st Century. Mollineau worked for the Senate Majority Leader’s office when the bill was passed. “He was playing his own game of chicken, so for him to sit there and say that he was the savior that rescued the bill is disingenuous at best,” said Mollineau."

Boston Globe: In 1992, Perry Disparaged The N.H. Primary (VIDEO)

On September 12, 2011, the Boston Globe reported:

"How times change. In February 1992, after President George H.W. Bush beat Pat Buchanan by a less-than-expected margin in the New Hampshire presidential primary, the Texas agriculture commissioner had some unflattering things to say about the Granite State’s nominating process. Speaking to the Houston Rotary Club, the commissioner voiced his support for the Texan president. “I haven’t figured out New Hampshire yet,” he said, according to a video of his remarks posted online by the Democratic-backed group American Bridge. “New Hampshire is so small up there, there were 55,000 people [who] voted in New Hampshire in one side of this thing - matter of fact, whoever that guy was who was running against the president got 55,000 votes. But Denton County [Texas] has got more votes than that that will vote in the primary up there. So I haven’t figured out why that’s so important.”

Dallas Morning News: Pawlenty endorses Romney, raising some eyebrows

"Tim Pawlenty , the first casualty of Rick Perry's entry in the GOP presidential race, today threw his support to Perry's main rival, Mitt Romney, despite longstanding qualms about Romney's record on health care. [...] Democrats are having all sorts of fun with the conversion. The Democratic National Committee and American Bridge, a liberal political action committee, dusted off a series of damning comments Pawlenty aimed at Romney --- golden oldies date waaaaay back to... a month ago. "Obamacare was patterned after Mitt's plan in Massachusetts. And for Mitt or anyone else to say there aren't substantial similarities or they are not essentially the same plan -- it just isn't credible. So that's why I called it Obamneycare, and I think that's a fair label," Pawlenty said in Ames, Iowa, at an Aug. 11 debate. Two months before that, on Sean Hannity's show, Pawlenty asserted that Romney was directly responsible for the "development and construction of Obamacare." Romney, he said, "was involved in developing it, he really laid the groundwork...I don't think you can prosecute the political case against President Obama if you are a co-conspirator in one of the main charges against the president, on the political level."

TPM: Jon Bruning Explains Why He Compared Poor To Racoons

"When last we heard from Nebraska Attorney General Job Bruning (R), who is running for Senate, he was walking back comparisons he made between poor people on welfare and raccoons scavenging for insects. But he went on to blame “the liberal intelligentsia” for the controversy and defend the basic point. In a radio interview last month with local station KLIN, audio of which was posted Thursday by Democratic Super PAC American Bridge, Bruning said that he understands the struggles of the poor, but that his raccoon metaphor still holds up.