Top GOP super PAC sets its 2018 strategy: Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi

[DonViejo]

Last edited Tue Jun 27, 2017, 10:10 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Washington Post



By Mike DeBonis June 27 at 6:00 AM

The leader of the most important House GOP super PAC said Tuesday that the group will double-down on tried-and-true tactics for electing Republicans in 2018: tying Democratic candidates to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, which has ties to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), plans to spend $100 million before next year’s midterm elections, and Executive Director Corry Bliss said in a memo released Tuesday that he sees no reason to abandon a strategy that has paid dividends for six years — most recently in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, where CLF advertising featuring Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her San Francisco district helped define and defeat Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff in this month’s special election there.

“During the 2018 cycle, CLF will spend millions of dollars highlighting Nancy Pelosi’s toxic agenda and reminding voters across the country that Democratic candidates are nothing more than rubber stamps for her out-of-touch, liberal policies,” Bliss said in the memo.

Supporting that decision is not only the result in Georgia, where CLF funded $7 million worth of mailers and TV spots featuring cable cars and hippies, but a spate of internal polling that CLF shares in the memo for the first time. In 11 districts Democrats have identified as 2018 targets, Pelosi’s favorability is at least 10 points underwater. In one district — Nebraska’s 2nd, where Democrat Brad Ashford is seeking to reclaim the seat he lost last year to Republican Don Bacon — 60 percent of those polled had an unfavorable impression of Pelosi.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/27/top-gop-super-pac-sets-its-2018-strategy-pelosi-pelosi-pelosi/

---

Without Clinton or Obama, Pelosi Becomes GOP’s Top Target

Democrats divided after continued election losses

Posted Jun 26, 2017 5:01 AM
Rema Rahman
@Rema Rahman

When Nancy Pelosi boasted last week she was “worth the trouble,” even when congressional candidates were negatively tied to her, the National Republican Congressional Committee ironically sang its own praises for the House minority leader.

“We couldn’t agree more!” was all an email blast read that included a clip of Pelosi’s point of view.

That came the same day President Donald Trump tweeted he hoped Democrats “do not force Nancy P out” because it would be “very bad for the Republican Party.” The notion of GOP campaigns using Pelosi’s unpopularity to motivate their base — and, as a result, thanking her for helping them win elections — is a tactic that has developed over a decade and half of her being in congressional leadership.

Negative ads

But for the first time in a decade, there is no Hillary Clinton in the spotlight or a Barack Obama White House, leaving Pelosi as one of the most well-known members of the party with unobstructed exposure to negative campaign rhetoric going into 2018 midterms.

more
http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/without-clinton-obama-pelosi-becomes-gops-top-target

[no_hypocrisy]

1. One trick pony.

We can only hope that's their best shot.

[Chasstev365]

2. It's not right, but it will be effective with morons in the swing districts we need

[stephensolomita]

5. So, what's the counter move?

[PatrickforO]

6. Developing MASSIVE voting strength at the grass roots level, and

developing a strong bench of young, fiery, populist Democrats that don't equivocate when it comes to talking kitchen table issues.

[liskddksil]

13. Viable Options

1. She announces that she won't run for re-election
2. Our 2018 candidates like Joe Cunningham unilaterally distance themselves and pledge to vote for another speaker https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2017/06/21/first-time-candidate-announces-democratic-challenge-to-mark-sanford-by-standing-against-nancy-pelosi
3. We spend massive amount of money on Ads in every competitive seat to rehab her image

[zipplewrath]

18. #3

I actually think that if the AHCA can be stopped, the DNC would do well to produce some adds "thanking" Pelosi for "standing up for health care". Nothing huge. Some 30 second bits with lots of images of children and people in hospitals. It could end with Pelosi saying "I'm Nancy Pelosi and I want to say thank you for this add".

[SharonClark]

46. So who would Joe support for speaker?

[Chasstev365]

15. Try to convey that Trumpcare is not reform, rather, it's another tax cut for the upper 1%

[stephensolomita]

24. All Of The Above

Republicans have chosen a specific strategy to pursue. The Democrats are still firing in all directions. All of the above suggestions are fine, but we need focus.

[yallerdawg]

3. If it works...

why on earth would ANYONE change it.

[Orrex]

4. This is misdirection

That is, their much-touted Pelosi strategy is intended to distract us from their unethical gerrymandering and criminal voter suppression campaigns, not to mention their all-but-proven partnership with Russia.

[IronLionZion]

7. Bring it! They're never going to say we're too moderate, always too liberal

they even did this successfully to Tom Daschle from liberal South Dakota

The Clintons, Kerry, Gore, Obama, always too liberal.

San Francisco has good values.

[greymattermom]

8. So Pelosi needs to say some things that get covered

The Handel ads were terrible. How about Pelosi says "The Republican deathcare plan cuts access to hospitals for half of American women giving birth. We estimate at ??thousand babies will die because of it. What happened to the right to life? Now you will have the right to death for half of all American babies."

[FarPoint]

9. They defeated Hillary...Now they want Pelosi...

We see their strategy.

[BeyondGeography]

10. Filemon Vela (among others) thinks this is a winner for them in swing districts

[ehrnst]

25. Curious he assigns more power to her over elections than he does

the actual Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who he never names.

Note he would support replacing her with Tim Ryan, who seems to be rather publicly bitter about losing to her, despite the fact that she suggested opening up committee posts for those like him, with less than 5 years experience in the House. Makes total sense.

It would be interesting to know who the other 10 were that met about this, especially since he states he has no fear of retribution.

[BeyondGeography]

29. Maybe because there weren't any anti-Ossoff ads featuring Tom Perez?

Not that hard, is it?

[ehrnst]

30. Because we always let the GOP drive who and what gets done in the Democratic party.

This is a new thing - when did it start, this need to get rid of people in our party leadership because the GOP hates them?

Certainly not during campaigns with Obama, who was even more vilified than Nancy by voters for things that weren't really his doing.

I didn't know that the GOP would simply stop with the targeting of our house leader if we simply changed who was in it to someone that they liked more, and that they would lay off the negative ads against our house candidates. I guess you learn something new every day!!

Or perhaps they hate her because she is so good at what she does. You know, like they did Obama.

[BeyondGeography]

31. Your question was why are some House D's running away from Pelosi

instead of blaming the DNC for losing elections. It was answered.

[ehrnst]

32. No, actually I asked why they didn't mention the person in charge of House elections

when they were blaming the House Minority Leader for the results of House elections.

(Also, I didn't mention the DNC - perhaps you are confusing me with someone else.)

Is that clearer?

Still not answered.

But by the way, I heard loud and clear that anyone who the GOP uses in ads against our house candidates needs to be replaced ASAP, so we'll be able to win those house elections.

Because I guess they won't find anyone other than the Minority Leader to vilify in ads.

Makes total sense...

[BeyondGeography]

33. They (the Republicans) went after Ben Ray Lujan's (unknown) boss (known)

And it worked. So some House D's think it's time for a new boss. Funny how that works.

[ehrnst]

34. Actually Lujan is the chairman of DCCC - dedicated soley to electing House dems. Not unknown.

Pelosi, who is not responsible for house candidates is not his boss. (known) Facts matter.

I also never said that that I wondered why the Republicans went after her - but those Democrats we have been talking about, any more than I was talking about the DNC. Is that clearer? Or is that a red herring I smell...


Why would those Democrats decide to blame her instead of him for the afore mentioned less than stellar oucomes of elections that are the perview DCCC leadership?

And all of these people who are on the DCCC (not the DNC) - how are they less responsible for election outcomes than the House Minority Leader?

DCCC Leadership

Regional Vice Chair Betty McCollum

Regional Vice Chair Ted Lieu

Regional Vice Chair Joe Kennedy III

Regional Vice Chair Donald McEachin

Rep. Jared Polis, Regional Vice Chair & LGBT Council Co-Chair

DCCC Finance Co-Chair Don Beyer

DCCC Finance Co-Chair Suzan DelBene

Frontline Chairwoman Annie Kuster

DCCC National Chair for Candidate Services Jan Schakowsky

Recruitment Chair Denny Heck

Recruitment Vice Chair Katherine Clark

Women LEAD Co-Chair Debbie Dingell

WomenLEAD Co-Chair Lois Frankel

WomenLEAD Co-Chair Val Demings

LGBT Council Co-Chair Mark Takano

TEAM Co-Chair Hon. Raul Ruiz M.D.

TEAM Co-Chair Gwen Moore

TEAM Co-Chair Dan Kildee

TEAM Co-Chair Norma Torres

Labor Council Co-Chair Mark Pocan

Labor Council Co-Chair Bobby Scott

Partners & Allies Council Co-Chair Jim Himes

Partners & Allies Council Co-Chair Richard Neal

Partners & Allies Council Co-Chair Terri Sewell

Partners & Allies Council Co-Chair Joaquin Castro

[BeyondGeography]

35. None of whom will ever make a headline unless they shoot someone

Keep on dancing.

[ehrnst]

36. I see you continue to avoid the question about why a woman in power gets targeted

when it's someone elses - who happens to be a man - responsibility to deliver.

Keep on dancing.

[BeyondGeography]

38. Here's what the actual D congressman who voted for Pelosi in January said

in the clip above:

"When you consider the face that we lost elections in 2012, 2014, 2014 and now four special elections, the fact is that we have to win swing districts. And in those swing districts, we have to appeal to independent voters and Republican voters who are disenchanted with Trump's policies. And Leader Pelosi, who is a remarkable, historic figure, just doesn't perform well in those districts."

Is he stupid? Is he letting Republicans tell him what to do or think? Why doesn't he aim his fire at the southeast regional chair of the DCCC?

[ehrnst]

39. the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

-the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives

-the only political committee in the country whose principal mission is to support Democratic House candidates every step of the way to victory.

Not a single mention of the DCCC from that actual D congressman (from Texas) who voted for Pelosi "in January?"- she was re-elected to leadership in November.

What election for Pelosi in January are you talking about?

So, I have to wonder, why didn't he didn't think this about Pelosi - that you know all those elections going back to 2012 - well, only the ones that were lost, anyway - were the fault of the House Minority Leader not "performing" - when he voted for her in November? Why did he commit to her with all those reservations?

I also noted that he would replace Pelosi with Tim Ryan, who he "has talked with" since Ryan was voted down, and who still seems rather angry about it. I think that it would be stupid to rule out some kind of deal for Ryan to support Vela's priorities during that conversation.

Also, I think that when he talks about all the elections (well, at least just the ones that were lost - she doesn't get any credit for him or Ryan winning in 2012, 2014 and 2016...of course) are due to ONE PERSON's "lack of performance" he's not talking about just the southwest. He's laying the blame (well at least for the elections that were lost) entirely on someone not even in the DCCC.

I also have to wonder why Tim Ryan has been in the house since 2003, and has been appointed to only one committee, where as Vela was elected in 2012, and sits on two. Makes you think that there are other issues keeping people from voting Ryan to leadership other than Pelosi's magic anti-man wand.


His behavior since losing the vote might point to why. Funny how that works.

[BeyondGeography]

40. I think Ryan is pretty mediocre

the fact that he has made as much headway as he has against Pelosi should tell you something about the constituency for changing leadership in the House.

Many Democratic House members obviously feel a correlation between the ID of our House Leader and the potential to take the House back in 2018. You disagree. But I very much doubt that you have anything to teach them about the relative impact of the DCCC and a nationally known figure who has been D House Leader for 14 years on our chances.

[ehrnst]

43. I doubt that DU has anything to teach House Democrats about who they should

choose as their leader by 2/3.

Which is what they did. Because they work with each other, and have far more insight into what experience and skills are needed to do the job of Minority Leader.

[DownriverDem]

11. Don't fall for it

Pelosi is one of the most productive reps in the House. This is just a repub plan to divide us. Remember how that worked out last November?

[Dorn]

12. Let's hope the Democrats strategy isn't: Trump, Trump, Trump

Remember that the way Berlusconi was beaten was to focus on a positive agenda and not on the horrors of Berlusconi's actions.

[Zambero]

16. To a certain extent "Trump, Trump, Trump" does itself

However, it must re reinforced. And yes, a positive agenda that serves the best interests of all citizens and not just a select few, along the lines of what Schumer is advocating, should be front and center. The two are not mutually exclusive and are also linked in the sense that moving forward with a progressive agenda is impossible as long as Trump and his minions in Congress continue to hold the levers of power.

[Zambero]

14. Trump, Trump, Trump

The unhinged elephant in everyone's living room the room is omnipresent. As long as it remains in office, diversionary tactics that might have worked in the past will be taking a back seat.

[Dopers_Greed]

17. It was an incredibly effective strategy in November

The anti-Hillary propaganda got to even my progressives friends, who refused to vote against the most regressive candidate of all time.

[Grins]

19. Go for it!!! Spend that money!!

She will still win and pick up new seats as you blow your (literal and figurative) wad over a losing cause.

[Juliusseizure]

20. Unpopular opinion

If Nancy Pelosi if used as a distraction to win elections, IF that use is effective, and if her leadership is replaceable, then part of a pragmatic strategy is to reconsider that leadership, and seriously think about replacing her with another qualified democrat with greater popular appeal.

And if that requires getting a white male with a hillbilly accent, so be it. Perception is often reality. People voted for a billionaire Trump University CEO to drain the swamp, for a pathological liar because he's a straightalker, for a real estate developer from Queens because he was relateable. Most people are very very politically uninformed and go on perception alone.

Of course its not her fault. But what's the greater priority? Maintaining loyalty to a replaceable congressional leader or winning elections?

[Squinch]

28. I lulzed. Let's change her name to Offred, too. That will go over big with your

largely mythical former Democratic rust belt white male Trump voter. Who mostly does not exist.

[Juliusseizure]

44. GOP strategy - "Pelosi Pelosi"

I'm assuming the GOP wouldn't be focusing on her in political ads in the 6th district in Georgia, and now pretty much every other congressional district, unless it was helpful in some way.

If Dem internal polling show she may negatively impact elections in districts Dems hope to flip in 2018, then that's a concern. If that's the case, and I'm Pelosi, I humbly resign for the country's good. It takes very few votes to win these elections.

[Squinch]

45. Any woman we put forward will receive the same treatment. The answer is NOT to stop putting women

forward in order to woo something as real as bigfoot.

[murielm99]

21. They are afraid.

We will take back the House. Trump and Pence will be out on their asses because they are both criminals. Nancy will be the next President.

I think we should spread that far and wide. They are afraid.

Let them spin their wheels attacking Nancy. We don't have to respond, or we can turn it back on them.

[EL34x4]

27. People who honestly believe this will happen are part of the problem.

We need to come up with solutions that exist in the realm of reality, not fantasyland.

Nancy Pelosi will not be the next President.

[murielm99]

42. I remember Watergate.

I remember Spiro Agnew's resignation. He was crooked, and had to be dealt with before we could deal with Nixon. I was stunned, by that and many of the far-fetched things that were happening back then.

I see people here and in other places speculating that Orrin Hatch could be our next President. While that seems far-fetched, many of the things that are happening now are far-fetched.

They are afraid of us. They know there are more of us than them. They fear Pelosi, and that is why they are attacking her. We need to ignore their attacks and stay with her leadership.

Solutions? GOTV and stop voter repression. Take back the House. But none of that will happen overnight.

While I don't believe that Nancy will be the next President, I am afraid of what will happen from day to day, with them in power. Any far-fetched thing can happen. We live in fantasyland right now.

[Yavin4]

22. Pelosi is from San Francisco, and who wants to live like the people there?

With all those good paying Tech jobs, open-minded-highly educated populace, rich traditions of music, the arts, comedy, and other culture, beautiful scenery, and a global model of urban living. Who want's that hellscape????

[chowder66]

23. Then let's just flood social (media) with Pro Pelosi information starting now. ny

[Squinch]

26. It's cheap, too, because all they have to do is a "find and replace" word search:

Find "Hillary", replace with "Pelosi."

Because you know, one vagina holder is as bad as another, and for largely the same reasons.

[ehrnst]

37. This! (nt)

[DeminPennswoods]

41. Wouldn't matter if Jerry Falwell was the Dem leader

the GOP strategy would be exactly the same: demonize, demonize, demonize. That's literally all the GOP has.

So stop wring your hands and start talking about the party that can't govern and is morally bankrupt.

[dalton99a]

47. Because Republicans want to attack Pelosi, Democrats must get rid of Pelosi

Because Republicans want to attack XYZ, Democrats must get rid of XYZ