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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJeff Merkley Says Targeting The Koch Brothers Helped Him Survive The GOP Wave
(snip)
Reflecting on the campaign in an interview with The Huffington Post in his office on Capitol Hill, Merkley seemed relieved that it was over. He said he was still working through why he and other progressives, like Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and incoming Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), won while so many other Democrats lost.
He could, however, point to the turning point in his race: his decision to go after the billionaires Charles and David Koch, whose political groups spent at least $100 million this election cycle.
"It was a very deliberate decision to call out the Koch brothers directly," said Merkley.
(snip)
"People have different campaigns, they have different quality of opponents, they have different quality of voter turnout operations," Merkley said. "We had really great coordination in the whole get-out-the-vote effort. Message is a part of the piece, but it's not the entire piece."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/22/jeff-merkley-koch-brothers_n_6194302.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
grasswire
(50,130 posts)With a Democratic platform. Unapologetic. Middle class.
This statement above is a bit of a failure to extol Democratic values and principles.
He ran FOR something, not just against something.
WhiteTara
(29,721 posts)this is Walton territory and the majority of Arkansans are Koch-roaches one and all.
tritsofme
(17,397 posts)Regardless it is good that he is returning, Merkley has been a great senator.
dilby
(2,273 posts)Crazy ex-girlfriend types who stalked and harassed an ex husband and an ex boyfriend. The woman was nuts.
fredamae
(4,458 posts)speak for anyone else...I'll stand with any Democrat who does this-with full enthusiasm.
Pretending the Kochs/Alec/Rove et al aren't hurting us by buying willing lawmakers is a disservice to constituencies everywhere.
Dem leaders would be wise to learn from Merkley, Warren, Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown and Franken for starters, imo.
These lawmakers have a literal "army" of supporters behind them...because they're correct!