MEMO: Republican Candidates And The Debt Limit
To: Interested Parties From: Rodell Mollineau, President American Bridge Date: 8/5/11 RE: Republican Candidates and the Debt Limit This past week we witnessed the Republicans and their Tea Party allies play a dangerous game of chicken with our nation’s economy. They drove the economy right to the brink threatening to let our nation fail to pay its bills for the first time in history. And while eventually the Republican leaders came to their senses and agreed to raise the debt ceiling, what was truly frightening was how Republican candidates for both President and the Senate ran to the far right advocating either default or the dangerous economic policies, deemed “cut cap and balance,” that would have sent our economy right over the cliff.
Background:
All respected economic experts agreed we had to raise our debt ceiling and instituting the “cut, cap, and balance” would be a death knell to our economy.“This would be an unprecedented event in American history. A default would inflict catastrophic, far-reaching damage on our Nation’s economy, significantly reducing growth, and increasing unemployment… Default would not only increase borrowing costs for the Federal government, but also for families, businesses, and local governments – reducing investment and job creation throughout the economy.” [letter from Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, 5/13/11]
NBC News: Justice Asked To Probe Mystery Donation To Pro-Romney Group
On August 4, 2011, NBC News reported:
"Two campaign reform groups are asking the Justice Department to investigate a mysterious $1 million contribution to a political committee backing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney from an obscure company that shut down shortly after making the donation. The contribution to Restore Our Future, a so-called “super PAC” formed by three former Romney political aides, drew scrutiny following an NBC News report on Thursday . The firm that gave the money, called W Spann LLC, was formed in March – with no listed officers or directors — made the contribution in April, then dissolved itself in July, according to corporate records."More from NBC News after the jump
Washington Post Editorial: An early flip-flop for Senate candidate George Allen
An August 3, 2011 Washington Post editorial wrote: AS A ONE-TERM Republican senator, George Allen voted four times to…
Plain Dealer editorial: Josh Mandel's opportunism
The Plain Dealer editorialized on Josh Mandel's opposition to the debt deal. Mandel's position may appeal to the Tea Party…
ABC News: Impeach President Obama Over Libya? Jon Huntsman Punts
On August 3, 2011, ABC News reported:
"And this week, when asked by a New Hampshire resident whether President Obama should be impeached over Libya, Huntsman refused to say, telling the voter that he’d 'let Congress make that decision.'"
Dallas Morning News: Democrats Itch To See Texas Gov. Rick Perry In White House Hunt
On August 2, 2011, the Dallas Morning News reported:
Democratic operatives outside Austin are also scouring Perry’s record. Last week, American Bridge 21st Century — a liberal PAC formed to raise and spend unlimited money in the 2012 elections — flagged a new report that Texas had 86 mass layoffs in June, up from 50 in May, with a substantial uptick in initial jobless claims. “Rick Perry is the flavor of month” in a “weak, uninspiring field” of Republicans, said Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge. “Once the American people realize that his economic record as governor is based on smoke and mirrors, and his social record is miles out of the mainstream, his campaign will become an historical footnote just like Fred Thompson’s and Rudy Giuliani’s.”More from the Dallas Morning News after the jump.
Plain Dealer: Josh Mandel would have voted against debt deal, blasts Sherrod Brown
Steve Koff at the Plain Dealer reports: U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel, who's currently the Ohio treasurer, would have voted…
AP: Romney And Huntsman In Spotlight As GOP Contenders Weigh In On Debt Deal In Washington
On August 2, 2011, the Associated Press reported:
A Democrat-friendly outside group, American Bridge, echoed the criticism of Romney. “It’s great to see that after more than a month of negotiations, Mitt Romney finally decided to weigh in on one of the most important issues facing our nation,” American Bridge spokesman Ty Matsdorf said. “As somebody who is trying to campaign as a savvy businessman, you would have thought he would have tried to lead his party, but instead he has decided to kowtow to the tea party.”More from the Associated Press after the jump
Boston Globe: Brown’s decision to skip ‘It Gets Better’ video brings a wave of criticism
On July 31, 2011, the Boston Globe reported:
In an act organized by [Brown's] senior partner, Senator John F. Kerry, the 11 Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation made an “It Gets Better’’ video aimed at offering moral support to gay teenagers contemplating suicide or struggling with depression. The 12th member of the delegation - Brown - declined to participate, prompting immediate questions when the video was released Wednesday.
AP: Lugar: Norquist tax pledge, others hamper Congress
On July 31, 2011. the Associated Press reported:
Lugar is the only Republican in the state’s Congressional delegation who hasn’t signed Norquist’s pledge, which requires the signer to “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.” The pledge is popular in Tea Party circles, and for Lugar, who faces a tough primary challenge from State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, a Tea Party favorite, signing it might seem to make sense. But Lugar said he won’t sign any political pledges because they tie lawmakers’ hands.