AP: Going Off-The-Cuff, Romney Does Himself Few Favors
On October 28, 2011, the Associated Press reported:
"Mitt Romney may need a censor. For himself. In the last few weeks in Nevada, the man who owns several homes told the state hit tough by the housing crisis: "Don't try and stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom." At one point in Iowa, earlier this year, the former venture capitalist uttered, "Corporations are people," with the country in the midst of a debate over Wall Street vs. Main Street. At an event in economically suffering Florida, the retiree — who is a multimillionaire many times over — told out-of-work voters, "I'm also unemployed." Over the past year, the Republican presidential candidate has amassed a collection of off-the-cuff comments that expose his vulnerabilities and, taken together, cast him as out-of-touch with Americans who face staggering unemployment, widespread foreclosures and a dire outlook on the economy..."
AP: Flat tax renews fight on ‘trickle-down economics’
On October 26, 2011, the Associated Press reported:
The flat tax is making a comeback among Republican presidential candidates. But it faces tough opposition in Congress because it tends to favor the rich at the expense of other taxpayers, renewing an old debate about “trickle-down economics.’’ Most of the top GOP contenders — Mitt Romney’s an exception — offer a variation of the tax plan in which everyone pays the same rate. Businessman Herman Cain has his 9-9-9 proposal, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a 20 percent flat tax on income this week. Even Romney foresees a flatter tax system in the future, though he favors something closer to the current setup in the short term...
Huffington Post: Democrats Target Big Oil Profits In Latest Attack On GOP Senate Candidates
On October 27, 2011 The Huffington Post wrote:
"The Democrats' Senate campaign committee is making good Thursday on its promise to try to tar several GOP contenders with their votes protecting tax breaks for oil companies. A Democratic source said an online campaign will use targeted Google and Facebook ads that coincide with oil companies announcing their latest round of mega profits. The ads, launching in four states, target Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, former Virginia Sen. George Allen, Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake and Montana Rep. Dennis Rehberg, all of whom have opposed ending tax subsidies for oil companies..."Click here to read more.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Heller upsets Latin Chamber of Commerce by canceling Vegas meeting
On October 26, 2011 The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote:
"Members of the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas are upset with U.S. Sen. Dean Heller for canceling a meeting with them this week after he reached out to the Hispanic group. Heller, R-Nev., refused to go ahead with a roundtable Tuesday night because a staffer for his Senate opponent, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., was present as well as a camera.
Boston Globe: Brown stumps for cash in Texas
On October 26, 2011, the Boston Globe reported:
Senator Scott Brown sought help from the deep pockets of Texas earlier this week to raise money for what is expected to be a tough and expensive reelection campaign. On Monday, two prominent Houston GOP boosters hosted a reception and dinner for Brown and Texas Senator John Cornyn, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Yesterday, Brown held a luncheon at the San Antonio Country Club. Brown’s campaign declined to provide details about his visit to the Lonestar State...
Billings Gazette: Abramoff-connected lobbyist sentenced to prison had Montana clients
On October 26, 2011, the Assoicated Press and Billings Gazette reported:
Kevin Ring, a former lobbyist who was a rising star under Jack Abramoff’s tutelage, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly two years in prison for giving public officials meals and event tickets. Ring represented two clients in Montana — and both have said he did a good job for them. [...] Carter County hired Ring in 2003 — at the suggestion of U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., who said he advised the county that a lobbyist could help its quest to secure highway funding, and gave them some names, including Ring’s. Ring gave $2,000 in campaign donations to Rehberg in 2002 and 2003 and $1,000 to then U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.
VIDEO: Mitt Romney's Ohio "Confusion"
Here's American Bridge's newest video demonstrating perhaps Romney's fastest & most transparently political flip yet: Yesterday's refusal to weigh in on local Ohio issues & today's statement "fully support[ing]" Gov. Kasich's anti-union measure. Yesterday: “I’m not speaking about the particular ballot issues, those are up to the people of Ohio." Today: "I’m sorry if I created any confusion in that regard. I fully support Gov. Kasich’s – I think it’s called ‘Question 2′ in Ohio. Fully support that."
MEMO: Rubio Had At Least Twenty Opportunities To Correct The Record
As the story of Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s parents’ departure from Cuba continues to unfold, it should be noted that Rubio has had at least twenty opportunities throughout his years as a public figure to correct media accounts of his family’s history. While the extent to which Rubio embellished their story can be debated, there is no doubt that he actively perpetuated an incorrect retelling by failing to correct the record any number of times.
American Bridge 21st Century has found twenty opportunities for Rubio to correct this popular myth.
If he was not taking advantage of the obvious political advantages afforded to him by the myth of his parents’ departure from Cuba, why did Marco Rubio pass up so many opportunities to correct the record? The fact is he did not mind this popular – yet untrue – tale because it helped advance his political career in the eyes of Florida voters. Now that the truth has been exposed, Rubio owes his constituents an explanation.
See the examples after the jump.
LA Times: Tea party group puts more pressure on Lugar
On October 25, 2011 The LA Times wrote:
"The tea party pressure on Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar continues to mount. FreedomWorks PAC, an offshoot of the advocacy group led by Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, has endorsed Lugar’s primary opponent, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. “Over the past few months we have been speaking with our Indiana members and allies, including those affiliated with the Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate, and two things are clear: they want Richard Mourdock to be their senator and they are going to do the hard work necessary to make it happen,” said Max Pappas, executive director of FreedomWorks PAC, in a statement..."
Cleveland Jewish News: Nazi reenactor gives $1,000 to Mandel Senate campaign
Marilyn Karfeld at the Cleveland Jewish News highlights Josh Mandel's acceptance of a $1000 contribution from a Nazi reenactor:
"Rich Iott, a 2010 Ohio Republican congressional candidate who for years dressed up in SS uniforms to participate in Nazi reenactments, has given $1,000 to Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel's Senate campaign. The October Federal Elections Commission filing by Citizens for Josh Mandel shows Iott donated the money on Sept. 5 to Mandel's primary-election campaign..."