GOP Plans Votes to Put Democrats on the Spot

[kskiska]

Tuesday, March 2, 2004; Page A01

Republicans plan to use Congress to pull Sen. John F. Kerry and vulnerable Democrats into the cultural wars over gay rights, abortion and guns, envisioning a series of debates and votes that will highlight the candidates' positions on divisive issues, according to congressional aides and GOP officials.

The strategy will be on full display today, as Kerry (Mass.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), the leading Democratic presidential candidates, plan to interrupt their Super Tuesday campaigning to fly to Washington for half a dozen votes on gun legislation, including liability protections for gun manufacturers. Both men oppose the liability bill, placing them in their party's majority even though some prominent Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- support the bill.

A top Edwards aide said the senator is "not thrilled" to be voting on gun control one week before southern states such as Texas hold their primaries. Kerry, who has missed every Senate vote this year -- plus several key votes last year -- canceled a Florida campaign event tonight to be on hand for the gun votes, several of which are expected to be close.

Steve Elmendorf, a senior Kerry adviser, said of the strategy by congressional Republicans and the administration, "We just have to aggressively defend our interests and make sure they do not abuse their power by coming up with phony political ideas." He said Kerry will rely on fellow Democrats to defend him in Congress most of the time.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20867-2004Mar1.html

[stepnw1f]

1. Bush Will Just

Make himeslf look desperate. The damage has been done, and like any black-eye it will go away, but the memory doesn't. Memory through association can work for the Dems this time, just like it worked for the Reps against Gore.

BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED, BUSH LIED = Bush is a LIAR

[Q3JR4]

2. Or better yet,

"Bush Lied, People Died." Easy to remember and it has the same feel to it that "Equal Rights, Not Special Rights" during the Colorado amendment debacle did.

[PassingFair]

3. Here they come: god, guns and gays!

We need Howard to frame our own debates! Let's get him a radio show, QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tobius]

4. missed every senate vote this year?

and several key votes last year. does he still get full pay, or do they consider his time out on the trail campaigning and deduct accordingly?

[Wink]

5. Of course they want this.

It keeps the peasants from focusing on the real issues (jobs, the economy, war, and all the lies of GWB).

[FeebMaster]

6. Well, you know,

for some people, guns, abortion, and gay rights are real issues.

[salin]

7. the are real issues

but for some who vote on them... are they really the absolute most important issues facing them - or does the economy, policies about social security (and for all intense purposes, ending its benefits), about sending sons and daughters to war on false/trumped up pretexts, mass exportation of jobs with no real policy to try to curb the trend - for some of these voters - perhaps these votes might curb the valence of the impact of the issues you raise.

[FeebMaster]

8. I suppose that's

for the people voting to decide.

[salin]

11. without a question

just pointing out that when framed correctly in the debate - some folks do rearrange priorities - even if just temporarily (e.g., "just this election) ... that is how we ended up with the "swing voter" phenomenon.

[SoCalDem]

9. Too bad we don't have secret ballots in the senate.

I have a feeling that they would vote their conscience then.. I have a sneaky suspicion that a lot of the repubes only vote the way they do because they are afraid of being trashed by their fellow party members..

This is why it's always a good thing to hold the control.. They have coontrol and naturally they are going to make it rough for us..

If you were a math whiz and were allowed to choose the questions for a test, would you load the test with geography questions??

To the victors, go the spoils.. :(

[Kinkistyle]

10. The door swings both ways.

Forcing congressional votes on Gay Marriage also forces republicans to take a position on it, and in this day and age, supporting a gay marriage constitutional ban will alienate MANY constituents.