by Frank James
How low has the Republican brand fallen? How's this? Jackie Kucinich of The Hill reports that the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee told Republican House candidates to bash congressional Republicans.
Here's a snippet:
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told GOP congressional hopefuls on Thursday that they should not be afraid to criticize both political parties - including Republican members of the House.
During a conference call, the National Republican Congressional Committee chairman instructed candidates, campaign managers and press secretaries that given the anti-incumbent environment, it could be beneficial for House GOP candidates to distance themselves from politicians they may be serving with next year.
"These [congressional approval] ratings are worse than we had on the eve of losing the majority," Cole said. "Don't be afraid to say you are disappointed in fellow Republicans... don't hesitate to be anti-Washington, D.C."
The NRCC chief discouraged candidates from attending the national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, saying that spending days there would be a "waste of time," and they would be better off campaigning.
Cole stressed to the congressional candidates that they must capitalize on the energy issue, which has given the GOP a rare burst of political momentum.
Not bad advice, really. With Congress being held in such low regard by voters, this is probably the way Democratic candidates should go to.
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Comments
Make it hurt so good - is the new NRCC campaign strategy?
What I wouldn't give to be a political cartoonist.
Posted by: Zook | August 1, 2008 10:37 AM
They haven't been bashing the GOP, they are running as Democrats!
That is when the republicans aren't filibustering bills, like S. 3001, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. This bill would have provided pay raises for troops, health care and protection from IEDs.
Republicans in Congress are only willing to vote yea on bills that give Oil companies carte blanche to earn even bigger profits!
Posted by: athena | August 1, 2008 11:14 AM
How low has Frank James fallen?
So low that he recycles articles from Jackie Kucinich.
Kucinich? Name ring a bell?
Yes, that's the daughter of far-left Dem Congressman Dennis Kucinich, onetime presidential candidate whose "populist" message wasn't even popular among Democrats. See http://bigheaddc.com/category/jackie-kucinich/
for more on her.
No possible bias there.....
How did Frank James miss that obvious connection? Or did he know of it, yet hide it from readers?
Posted by: Bruce | August 1, 2008 11:40 AM
Bruce, the reporter works for the Hill, the DC congresscritter's newspaper? The left wing rag that has Dick Morris as one of its columnists?
Why shouldn't she have a career? Just because you don't like her dad's politics. Grow up!
Posted by: athena | August 1, 2008 11:51 AM
"athena", are you in favor of reporters hiding facts from their readers? Shouldn't you criticize the reporter, rather than the person who points out what the reporter did?
And FYI, Ms. Kucinich has been criticized in the past for biased reporting. The criticisms were reported in HuffPo, the left-wing website that Mr. James frequently cites.
Posted by: Bruce | August 1, 2008 7:08 PM