The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is on the attack against Nebraska 2nd District Congressman Lee Terry and four of his Republican colleagues. The group includes Joe "You Lie!" Wilson (SC-02).
The DCCC has come up with a radio spot knocking Terry and the others for a recent vote regarding TARP spending.
Hear it here:
Now first, note that this "buy" is for $1,725 on KFAB -- a paltry amount. If they were really serious about attacking Terry, it would have been more like $10K. Instead they're looking for the free-media angle in the MMM and...blogs like this (dammit!).
But if you were the Dems where your President's popularity has sunk at Titanic-like speed, support for the Health Care re-form bill has collapsed, and Democrat House incumbents are dropping like flies, what would you do?
Why you would harken back to the Bush administration and try to change the subject as quickly as possible!
Of course the GOP notes that the opposition to this Nancy Pelosi-Barney Frank bill was BI-partisan. Among other things, Terry voted to end TARP and get the money paid back to the Treasury.
But frankly, we're a little surprised that the DCCC still thinks spending any money against Lee Terry is going to get them anywhere.
The 2nd District Electoral win last year was based on a cult-of-personality candidate (who has fizzled) and new-voter turnout. That ain't gonna happen with Democrat Tom White, no matter how many ads they try to drop into the 2nd.
Then again, maybe the DCCC is just spending the last few bucks they can on offense before they're permanently on defense in places where House Dems are retiring and the possible other 30 seats the GOP may pick up.
Don't be surprised when the DCCC gravy train soon ends its slippery run to Nebraska's 2nd District.
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42 comments:
"You Suck Tom White", there is my stab at civil discourse...lol
The bottom line is Tom White has a lot of history being less than a model legislator. Way to Partisan.
While TW is obviously an intelligent man, he hasn't built much of a reputation for working with others. Nebraskans have only elected people who have sacrificed for others, and worked across the isle. TW is really in a bad spot.
So, apparently, the DCCC's game plan is to spend as little money on Tom White as possible?
Meanwhile, the NRCC is busting their ass in every way possible to win every single "Red State" Dem seat they can-AND maintain every single Republican seat they already own.
I guess that means that since none of their other pathetic attempts at radio ads (I think there have been at least 4 totaling about $5-$6000 LOL) have moved any numbers on Lee Terry, they will be pulling out early? Poor Tommie Boy, and, he doesn't even have the ability to rerun for the Legislature since a very high quality(and totally politically naive)candidate is already running against him for his seat in the Legislature.
Bye, bye Tommie! Enjoy your millions as a trial attorney.
Let's play the "What Would Tom White Do" game.
I'll start! How would Tom White vote today in Congress? Would he vote to raise the Debt Ceiling so that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid don't have to stop spending and President Obama won't have to veto the Omnibus Bill that the Dems passed in the House yesterday filled with massive pet project spending? Will he call our President on the carpet for failing the American people by not fulfilling his promise of last Spring when he signed his first pork bloated spending bill, that he would never permit the runaway earmark spending again?
Come on out and play Ian, or are you chicken?
Here's how to calculate the probability of Tom White winning in November 2010. Is unemployment over 5%? If no, White has 50% chance of winning. If yes, White has 0% chance of winning. Smart money is on 0%.
"Tom White, come out and Play, Tom White come out and play"
Careful folks. Prematurely declaring Junior the winner can lead to a toxic combination of conservative voter apathy and energized opposition.
Well, if they are going to be such cheapskates, they will never beat Lee Terry. They need to spend more. I mean, c'mon, Lee Terry is vulnerable. Really, he is. I pinky swear. Crank it up DCCC! Start shoveling those dollars into the CD2. You can do it!
I agree with Observer's comments, but what is more interesting is that Tom White does not want to admit he would swallow Obama care as a congressman.
To suggest that Lee Terry was against the TARP is a lie. He voted for it before he voted against it. That's very John Kerry of him.
Tom White is a joke!
This district has not been well represented since John Christiansen held the seat.
Hal daub was the best congressman we hve had in 50 years
Interesting that Binny is in the OWH today denying claims that the WH threatened him saying vote for Healthcare or lose Offutt; also denied vehemently by the WH. I might believe them except this wasn’t the first time this WH has used Offutt as a club to get what they want.
Barksdale AFB comes to mind Anonymous above. "YOU LIE" Ben Nelson
There are a couple dozen Dems that voted against the financial services bill yet for TARP. Is the DCCC gonna attack them too?
Hypocrisy...buyt no one will really think about it in NE2--not when they only spend $1700 on KFAB.
It will be interesting to see how much money the DCCC raises for White this Quarter. I bet not much.
If they really were targeting Tom, they'd be doing $300,00 in TV ads and not $1700 in radio.
The Dems spent $1,000,000 in coordinated attack ads and mail against Terry in 2008 and still couldn't beat him--even w/Obama taking the district.
They can do it again--and they'll lose again--because 2010 is going to favor the GOP big time.
Plus, I know progressive voters who couldn't care less about Tom and aren't going to vote for him.
I've seen as much activity and hype on Tom White this fall as I've seen on the NDP's recruitment of candidates.
Which is to say, not much...
Is Tom White's game plan just to run a credible (but losing) race this time and then hope he'll get pulled in if Obama wins NE2 again in 2012? I've heard that scenario.
Anon 3:45: that scenario may sound familiar because it's the one Jim Esch used. Only he failed. Of course, I don't think it's a given that Obama is the Dem nominee in 2012. Let me go out on a limb here and predict that Obama loses to a primary challenger: Hillary Clinton immediately comes to mind. Watch for her to jump ship after the 2010 massacre.
Maybe it's wishful thinking, maybe it's the alternative medicines that the government won't pay for, but when the only thing that got you your job is your smile, you're in a heap of trouble if you don't deliver.
What's funny is how the Dems dump on their former candidates--prior to Nov 2008, they repeatedly said Esch was a great candidate, was running an excellent campaign and was well qualified for the job. He lost--but instead of sucking it up, they dumped all over him--no wonder he switched to an I voter. Can't blame him. What will everyone be saying about White in Dec. 2010....lol
They'll be saying, "Good morning Congressman White."
What are you smoking?
5:21--are you doing an Esch--his staffers were calling people in DC in Oct. 08 to find out what neighborhoods they should live in. Hope they got some good buys!
lol
At 10:10 Anon, who thinks "Nebraskans have only elected people who have sacrificed for others, and worked across the isle"--You mean Adrian Smith and Mike Johanns, Dave Heineman. . .
An earlier post nailed it.
With unemployment probably over 10 percent on election day, White is toast. He supported Obama's economic program and stimulus--news flash--it is not working.
And then White, to throw gasoline on the fire, supports a $1 trillion takeover of the health care system.
Tom might be a good Rep. for somewhere like Cleveland--but not NE2.
What spoke volumes was when White ducked reporters for a full week before he came out in favor of the $1 trillion House healh bill.
You can run but you cannot hide, TW.
Also--remember when he intro'd a bill during the Special Session that was ruled out of order and not germane? I thought he had gone to law school. Good job, TW.
The big one though was White's lead advocacy of not placing an age limit on the children to which Safe Haven applied.
Result---->over 30 people drive here from around the country to dump their teens off at the E.R.
Tom's biggest accomplishment in the leg. has been to make Nebr. look foolish to the nation. What are you doing for an encore, Tom?
anonymous 5.53,
Funny you should ask - Amnesia Haze - a little souvenier from my last trip to Amsterdam.
Let's play again.
What would Tom White do?
Would he vote to arbitrarily increase the United States of America's credit limit at the People's Bank of China? Or, 2 votes later, would he vote to spend HALF of that increase on, yet another, ineffective stimulus bill full of pet projects?
Come on Ian, come out and play, bring the best boss in the world, the one that doesn't care if you show up for work each day.
Ian, come out, come out, wherever you are.
Hilarious--now Howard Dean, former DNC chair, is trashing the healthcare bill. Nothing like the Dems fighting against each other--keep it up, guys!
Anon 11:03--great points--but let's hope TW keeps to his press strategy--which is to duck and avoid the press when they ask him any questions on issues. He's getting the reputation of shallowness--this will work against him when he finally trys to get press coverage next year against Terry. At that point, they'll be so jaded on him his attempts will fizzle.
I have noticed that White has dropped his original charge that Terry is too partisan.
The Hill newspaper survey of Dems listed Terry as being one of the most bi-partisan members. Blows TW's argument out of the water.
Makes sense to drop it.
And the Dems did that because what really matters is not how much crap you can get your name plastered on, but how much legislation you can influence to actually accomplish something for the American people.
Be a ball hog, even if it's a crappy game plan or bear down, in the trenches and fight to get every goal you can.
Lee terry fights for Nebraska and America. Tom White just likes to fight-you can even ask his friends in the Bar about that.
This is hands down my favorite photo of Tom White!
And, the contrast photo of Congressman Terry is great. Lee Terry looks professional, out and about in his District; while Tom White looks like it's "Howdy Doody Time".
Love it!
Ian won't rise to the bait to "come out and play". Wanna know why?
Because he is a bottom feeder.
9:23--good point--the fact is, Terry is all over the district...constantly. I think he's had at least 4-6 town halls this year (including the big one this summer) and about 15-20 "Coffee w/Lee". People know him, like him, respect him and see that he is accessible and grounded in the community.
Those kind of attributes are devastating for a challenger--sorry, White.
I can honestly say that I have never once seen Tom White in public. Hmm, maybe we don't frequent the same places? Must be the difference in bank account balances?
Cook Report today says Repubs likely to gain between 20-30 seats in the House.
If unemployment is still 10% next summer (a good chance, unfortunately), they could get to over 40. That's control of the House.
Anon 6:22--I'm not saying White doesn't circulate around the community, maybe he does. But I know Terry is constantly around the district--multiple meetings, open forums etc all of the time. That's hard to overcome when you are a little-known challenger, White or anyone else.
Prior posts--the dynamic, too, is changing as far as the 'climate'. 2006 and 08 were bad years to be a Republican yet Terry won. 2010 is going to be a year that tilts Republican--that 'climate' will favor Terry. Plus, in endorsing the Obama stimulus plan/economic progtam and the $1 trillion House healthcare bill, White has pigeonholed himself as a patsy for Pelosi.
Personally, I think Terry can win NE2 on the House healthcare vote alone.
White's locked in supporting the $1trillion gov't takeover. Terry opposed it--that's the race, folks.
Prior post--agree h/c vote is important. But jobs will be #1 issue next year. White's also wrong on that one. The Obama econ program (and 'stimulus' that he endorsed) isn't working--he'll be tied to that also. 10% unemployment=TWhite
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