Democrats Downplay Special Election Implications

DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fla.) downplayed the GOP upset in a conference call with reporters Wednesday, saying that pundits should not draw predictions on the 2012 presidential election based on the results from Tuesday’s special elections.

“If you’re looking for predictions like that, you should really be looking at the president’s standing against the Republican candidates in the battleground states, not the results of two House special elections; one of which was in a ruby red district which the Republicans carried even in 2008,” Wasserman Shultz said.

“The other seat opened up under what can best be called unusual circumstances,” the DNC chair said of former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s departure.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who also served New York’s ninth congressional district for 18 years, said that the district’s demographics have changed since he served in the ’80s and ’90s and that it should not be classified as a bellwether district. Schumer said the district’s Orthodox Jewish population has become more prominent and has created a more conservative base.

“The bottom line is it’s not a bellwether district,” Schumer said. “Anybody who tries to extrapolate between what’s happened in [NY-9] and what would happen in New York City, New York state or the country is making a big mistake.”

DNC Chair Says America Is Now Half Blue, Half Red

By Kyle LaFleur

Former Virginia Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine addressed reporters at DNC Headquarters briefly during election night to show his optimism for the Democrats’ chances.

“Once the West Virginia and Connecticut races tipped our way, it made it very difficult for [Republicans],” Kaine said while touting the fact that only a few months ago many, believed the Democrats would lose both houses.  

The Chairman said he took Democrat Rick Boucher’s loss in his Virginia congressional race personally and that now that state can be seen as a microcosm of the entire nation. 

“Maybe it is a message from the American public,” Kaine said. “We got a Democrat in the White House. We’ll have maybe a majority of Republican governors. We’ll have a Democratic Senate and a Republican House. Everybody’s got to to work together and thats what I know the President will focus on.”

DNC Sporting New Look

By Kyle LaFleur — Talk Radio News Service

The Democratic National Committee today unveiled a new logo, slogan and website during an event held on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  

The new party logo is a light blue D with a darker blue circle around it that sits above the new slogan, “Change that Matters.” 

“The new identity of the party captures that spirit and unites us all,” said DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. “Democrats, all of us, working for the changes that matter.”

The website allows users to connect with a multitude of Democratic groups, view multimedia materials and use social media to connect with the party. The site also detects where the viewer is in order to give them more tailored information on their local Democratic candidates.

“It’s highly local and highly action orientated,” said DNC New Media Director Natalie Foster.

With less than eight weeks until the midterm elections, Democrats hope this new look and web presence will help to sway voters to keep them in the majority.

“We are unveiling it now because there are tools that matter for this election now and we want voters to have everything they need at their finger tips,” said Foster.

Angle Echoes Barton, Calls BP’s Escrow Account A Slush Fund

Democrats are rushing to link Nevada’s Republican Senatorial candidate Sharron Angle to Rep. Joe Barton, the Texas Republican who landed in hot water after apologizing to BP for alleged White House intimidation and calling the $20 billion escrow account for Gulf Coast victims a “slush fund.”

During an appearance on a Las Vegas radio show, Angle fielded a call from a listener who described the escrow account as a slush fund. Angle then said that she agreed with the listener’s sentiment.

“I think you named it clearly,” Angle said. “It’s a slush fund.”

Angle’s remarks quickly made the rounds on the blogosphere and the Democratic National Committee sent out nine emails publicizing the statements.

Following the uproar, Angle clarified her comment on her campaign website.

“Having had some time to think about it, the caller and I shouldn’t have used the term “slush fund”; that was incorrect,” Angle wrote.

Angle, who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), is no stranger to controversy. A tea party favorite, she has called for the elimination of the Department of Education and is opposed to abortion even in cases of rape or incest.



Democrats Must Stop "Fanning The Flames" Of Threats Against Congress, Says Cantor

By Monique Cala
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Thursday that Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Chris Van Hollen are making a ‘partisan issue’ out of recent security threats against members of Congress who voted 'yes' to healthcare reform.

“It is reckless to use these incidents as media vehicles for political game. That is why I have deep concerns that some, Chris Van Hollen and Tim Kaine in particular, are dangerously fanning the flames by suggesting that these incidents be used as a political weapon,” said Cantor.

Cantor insisted that threats to Members, such as angry letters, emails or voicemails, should be treated as security issues and dealt with by the appropriate law enforcement officials.

“I am not naive enough to think that letters, statements or press releases will prevent anyone disturbed enough to commit violence, from acting,” said Cantor. “But I do know that such letters, statements and press releases can very easily fan the flames. Enough is enough, it has to stop.”