Salon.com > NRCC

GOP fundraises off Benghazi attack

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Because no good scandal should go to waste, the National Republican Congressional Committee has enlisted John Bolton to turn the Benghazi attack into cash for Republican congressional campaigns.

"As an Under Secretary of State during the September 11, 2001, attacks, and later as Ambassador to the UN, I saw very closely what a terrorist event looks like," Bolton wrote in an email solicitation sent to supporters this morning. "What's happened with Benghazi is not how it's supposed to be handled and I think it could be a hinge point for the Obama administration."

Then came the ask: "Will you give $5 to support the NRCC in their goal to hold the administration accountable for Benghazi? Your $5 will go a long way. Americans deserve an explanation -- please help out," Bolton wrote.

The GOP’s new plan: Hit Dems from the left

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:38:00 +0000

Earlier this month, while progressive groups were slamming President Obama from the left on his decision to include a cut to Social Security benefits in his budget, the man responsible for getting Republicans elected to Congress .. .also hit Obama from the left. The move was surprising, considering that the vast majority of Republicans disagreed with Rep. Greg Walden, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, and John Boehner even said said so publicly.

Walden's move was understandable, though. He's in a bit of a predicament: On one hand, Republicans want to reform (i.e., cut) entitlement programs, but on the other, Walden needs to get Republicans elected to Congress and the public hates the idea of cutting Social Security. What's an NRCC chairman to do? Go with the poll numbers, and forget your party, apparently.

National Dems attack Sanford with “Appalachian Trail” ad

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:36:00 +0000

National Democrats have waded into Mark Sanford's congressional race, launching an attack ad that references the "Appalachian Trail" and Sanford's affair during his time as governor of South Carolina.

The ad, called "A Walk," shows someone hiking through the woods, meant to signify "hiking the Appalachian Trail," or what Sanford staffers said he was doing when he disappeared from the state in 2009 and went to Argentina for an affair. Sanford "walked out on us, violated our trust, secretly used thousands of taxpayer dollars flying to Argentina and then lied about it," the ad says.

"Sanford paid the largest ethics fine in state history. Now he wants our trust again? Maybe Mark Sanford should just keep walking," it continues.

NRCC drops Mark Sanford

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:31:00 +0000

The NRCC is backing away from the congressional campaign of former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, reportedly after revelations that Sanford's ex-wife filed a trespassing complaint against him.

Politico reports:

Blindsided by news that Sanford’s ex-wife has accused him of trespassing and concluding he has no plausible path to victory, the National Republican Congressional Committee has decided not to spend more money on Sanford’s behalf ahead of the May 7 special election.

“Mark Sanford has proven he knows what it takes to win elections. At this time, the NRCC will not be engaged in this special election,” said Andrea Bozek, an NRCC spokeswoman.

The decision by the NRCC comes the same day the Associated Press reported that Jenny Sanford, Mark Sanford's ex-wife, filed a trespassing complaint that accused him of ”enter[ing] into a pattern of entering onto plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff has informed defendant on a number of occasions that this behavior is in violation of the court’s order and has demanded that it not occur again.”

The GOP’s opening shot on Obama’s Social Security cuts

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:10:00 +0000

The White House took a big risk in including chained CPI in their budget proposal, despite fierce protestations from their political allies, but they're confident they can win any fight with Republicans who attack them for wanting to cut Social Security benefits, as two senior administration officials explained to us this week. Now we will find out if they're right, as a key Republican has become the first in his party to attack the president from the left on social safety net cuts.

Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer yesterday, Oregon Rep. Greg Walden -- the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of the House GOP -- said Obama's budget represents "a shocking attack on seniors":

“I think you’re crossing that line very quickly here in terms of denying access to seniors for health care in districts like mine certainly and around the country."

A Republican website without “Republicans”

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0000

The new website for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, has earned a lot of attention in the past week for its bold new attempt to win the Internet and elections by imitating BuzzFeed. On the website today, you can find items like "13 Animals That Are Really Bummed on ObamaCare’s Third Birthday" or a video of President Obama whiffing 20 free throws. There's more substantive fare too, like a polling memo on the Keystone XL pipeline.

One thing you won't find on the front page, however, is the word "Republican," except for at the very bottom in a disclaimer box that reads, "Paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee."

GOP wants to know why its polls were so wrong

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:49:00 +0000

After getting blindsided by big losses in the 2012 elections, the National Republican Congressional Committee is looking to overhaul its polling operation and figure out why its internal numbers were so off-base.

The NRCC, which campaigns on behalf of House Republicans, has acknowledged that it underestimated Democratic voter turnout and turnout of minorities last election cycle, which accounted for its flawed predictions in November. But Republicans don't want to make the same mistake in 2014 when Democrats will try to pick off the GOP's 17-seat majority in the House.

From Politico:

Do Republicans comprehend what sequestration is?

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:22:00 +0000

We all know sequestration is super boring and no one is paying attention to it, but our brave newspaper columnists have to press on and write about it nonetheless, so maybe we should forgive Peggy Noonan for being a little confused about the package of $1.2 trillion in spending cuts that will go into effect at midnight tonight.

In her Wall Street Journal column today, which thankfully lacks any attempts to read John Boehner's “vibrations,” Noonan ruminates at length about whom the American people will blame for the pain the sequester will inflict:

Everyone has been wondering how the public will react when the sequester kicks in. The American people are in the position of hostages who'll have to decide who the hostage-taker is. People will get mad at either the president or the Republicans in Congress. That anger will force one side to rethink or back down. Or maybe the public will get mad at both. [...] If the sequester brings chaos and discomfort, it's certainly possible the Republicans will be blamed. But it's just as possible President Obama will be.

Salon.com > NRCC

GOP fundraises off Benghazi attack

The GOP’s new plan: Hit Dems from the left

National Dems attack Sanford with “Appalachian Trail” ad

More problems for Mark Sanford

NRCC drops Mark Sanford

The GOP’s opening shot on Obama’s Social Security cuts

A Republican website without “Republicans”

GOP wants to know why its polls were so wrong

Do Republicans comprehend what sequestration is?