The Real Democrat Story

Christine Jennings' Downward Spiral Continues

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:21:42 EST

Jennings Campaign's Legal Advisor Indicted in Alleged Money-Laundering Scheme

Last night, the entire House of Representatives unanimously rejected Christine Jennings' congressional challenge that she has been contesting for the last 16 months. Christine Jennings' failed congressional bid now seems to be a minor issue compared to the latest news that Jennings' campaign legal advisor has been indicted on money laundering and other charges related to the case of Colombian drug kingpin Fabio Ochoa Vazquez.

The most recent news sheds even more disturbing light on Jennings' campaign practices. First, it was discovered that during her run for Florida's 13th Congressional District that she failed to pay payroll taxes for over three years. The next piece of bad news came when her sour-grape lawsuit was rejected by multiple independent investigations.

Now, the latest breaking news exposes the impending scandal of the indictment of Jennings' campaign legal advisor. According to the Miami Herald:

"Ben Kuehne surrendered Thursday on federal criminal charges for his behind-the-scenes role in a complex international drug-trafficking case."

"An indictment, unsealed at his morning court appearance, charges Kuehne in a money-laundering conspiracy with approving tainted legal payments by an accused Colombian drug kingpin to his defense attorney in Miami." (Miami Herald, 2/7/08)

"From failing to pay taxes on campaign salaries to her campaign's association with a lawyer now under criminal investigation, Christine Jennings continues to prove that she is her own biggest political liability," NRCC spokeswoman Julie Shutley said. "Christine Jennings has piled up a record of distrust with the people of Florida's 13th Congressional District that will be obvious at the ballot box in November."

Christine Jennings' downward spiral is sending the message to Florida's 13th District that Jennings would bring more problems and politics as usual to Washington. The "issues" that Christine Jennings campaign has brought to the table are not the agents of change that voters want.

Boyda Takes Side of Lawyers Over American's Security

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:48:48 EST

BounceBoyda.com, February 24, 2008: "I've been assured that Nancy Boyda is only against the FISA bill because the trial lawyers (her husband Steve) tell her to be. Here is the relevant quote that proves Boyda-Pelosi (yes, it's appropriate when spouting the party talking points) is either clueless or running cover for the trial lawyers:... 'The Protect America Act does away with court oversight and puts everything in the executive branch,' Boyda said.... This is simply not true.... So, why would Nancy Boyda take such a public position she either knows to be untrue, or show that she was too lazy to read the legislation first? It's simple, because the trial lawyers want to file more frivolous lawsuits. Boyda also said she doesn't favor giving immunity to the telephone and communication companies.... What's alarming is that you are so in the pocket of your biggest campaign contributors that you will say anything to defend them. The President and the Administration have been very clear why these companies need immunity. The companies got a legal opinion from the Justice Department that these actions were taken in accordance with the law and to protect us from future terrorist attacks. Why should good actors be punished by allowing unlimited frivolous lawsuits and why should my phone bills go up because of it? Had enough of Nancy being in the pocket of the trial lawyers?" (more)

GOP Saddles up in Texas (TX-22, TX-23)

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:48:11 EST

Associated Press, February 25, 2008: "...National Republicans have set their sights on finding someone who might evict Lampson and Rodriguez in November. 'These are the ball game, absolutely,' said Hans Klingler, the state GOP spokesman. Lampson, who won his seat after scandal forced DeLay to resign, and Rodriguez, whose district was redrawn to include more Hispanics after a court fight over minority voting rights, routinely appear in news releases headlined 'Target Dems ...' from the National Republican Congressional Committee...Two Republicans are competing for the right to challenge Rodriguez, and 10 fill the GOP ballot in the race to face Lampson. 'When candidates can barely contain themselves in getting into a race, that says that there's probably a pretty good opportunity to capitalize on,' said Ken Spain, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman." (more)

Clinton Fear Factor Fairs Well for PA GOP

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:53:21 EST

Pennsyltucky Politics Blog, February 21, 2008: "...the ground game may prove tougher this time around for Democrats.... U.S. Rep. Chris Carney in the 10th Congressional District is a top Republican target.... And then there's the potential Hillary Clinton factor. Freshmen Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Susquehanna County, and Jason Altmire, D-Beaver County...will likely be keeping a wide berth from Clinton should she become the Democratic nominee.... The former first lady and U.S. senator from New York is a magnet for Republican criticism, which she's acknowledged herself... But she's also a divisive figure, who polls show is viewed negatively by about 40 percent of the electorate.... Congressional candidates like Carney as well as state House candidates worried about their own re-elections aren't too excited about the prospects of having to defend Clinton... Add to this mix the excitement of Republicans to regain some of their 2006 losses, particularly in the 10th District, where Republican businessmen Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett are vying to challenge Carney. State GOP Chairman Robert Gleason Jr. predicts Republicans will win at least two congressional seats and possibly as many as six.... Among the other possible pickups Gleason cites is the 11th Congressional District, where Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Wilkes-Barre in a rematch... The Barletta-Kanjorski race will garner the most attention thanks to the mayor's national prominence from the immigration issue. But Kanjorski start's the race with $1.5 million in the bank and their views on immigration aren't all that different. Republicans expect Barletta, a favorite of Lou Dobbs, to rake in money nationally, especially after each appearance on Dobb's CNN show." (more)

Democrats Deliver Payback to Trial Lawyer Lobby, Abandon Terrorist Surveillance Program

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:46:54 EST

Gary Trauner, candidate for Wyoming's Congressional District, has yet to say where he stands on the recent actions by the Democrats in Washington to play political games instead of protecting America's security.

Just last week, the Democrats skipped town after repeatedly blocking bipartisan legislation to renew the terrorist surveillance program, opening the floodgates for their trial lawyer friends to tie up the court systems with frivolous lawsuits against private telecommunications companies who have done their patriotic duty in choosing to assist in terrorist surveillances.

Will the $2,500 in campaign cash that Trauner has taken from trial lawyers convince him to vote in lock-step for Pelosi's dangerous national security agenda?

Democrats voted for weak FISA legislation which failed to ensure that the intelligence community had all necessary tools available in order to carry out their surveillance duties when the United States is at risk of an imminent attack (House Roll Call 1119).

Democrats voted for their FISA legislation which would have reopened the terrorist loophole in our intelligence laws and would endanger our national security (House Roll Call 1120).

Democrats voted to burden American taxpayers with wasteful and useless earmarks at the expense of important funding for our nation's intelligence programs (House Roll Call 1125).

By accepting $43,500 in contributions from Democrat leaders in Washington, Gary Trauner has already shown he will embrace the Democrat leadership in Washington.

"The voters want a Congressman who will work to strengthen our national security, not weaken it, and House Democrats have failed to do so at every turn," said NRCC Communications Director Jessica Boulanger. "Trauner's cozy ties to the Democrat leadership and lobbyists in Washington make him a liability for the people of Wyoming's Congressional District."

The Democrats failure to work across the aisle has hamstrung our intelligence community with 30-year-old laws, endangering efforts to protect America from potential terrorist threats.

Sources: http://fec.gov; www.politicalmoneyline.com

Semper Fi

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:54:36 EST

You might have heard about Berkeley's City Council's recent vote to tell the Marines to close their recruiting station in the city. With this vote, they told the Marines that their recruiting office is not welcome in their city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as an uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

In response to this, I will be introducing the "Semper Fi Act" in the House of Representatives. This act rescinds all of the funding contained in the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act for the City of Berkeley, CA and transfers those funds to the Marines for recruiting.

During the meeting, the City Council also voted to give protest group Code Pink a parking space in front of the recruiting office once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week. According to the City Council agenda, they "Encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley."

The Marine Corps has been protecting Americans and our freedoms for 233 years. Americans understand and appreciate that. You don't have to join the Marine Corps, or even like it, but you should at the very least let the Marines do their job and respect them for it.

The action by the Berkeley City Council indicates that they have a disdain for and do not appreciate Marines for what they do and have done for this country, our democracy, and our freedoms. If they have so little respect and understanding of that, there is no reason for the rest of us, outside the city of Berkeley, to subsidize their actions with our taxpayer funds.

GOP poised for 'clean sweep' in Nebraska elections

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:51:50 EST

The AP is reporting that Nebraska looks to be a sweep for the Republicans.

"All three of Nebraska's U.S. representatives will seek re-election this year, hoping for another Republican sweep. U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who represents Nebraska's 1st District, is the latest to confirm his plans... U.S. Rep. Lee Terry said Monday... 'I've decided to run again because there's so much unfinished business that I'm involved with,' Terry said.... He pointed to his work to halt unnecessary earmarks, including a one-year, self-imposed moratorium on proposing earmarks himself.... In the 3rd District, Republican Congressman Adrian Smith will run for a second term representing the western two-thirds of Nebraska.... Terry has nearly $455,000 cash on hand to spend on campaigning, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission.... Smith won 55 percent of the vote to beat Democrat Scott Kleeb in the 2006 election, and has more than $237,000 cash on hand, according to the FEC.... Fortenberry defeated former Lt. Gov. Maxine Moul with about 60 percent of the vote. Fortenberry has nearly $297,000 on hand." (more)

Jennings jabbed for 'whining about her loss' in 06 [FL-13]

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:16:10 EST

Washington Times' Inside the Beltway Blog reported the following:

"Maybe - the emphasis here being on the word maybe - Christine Jennings will finally concede defeat now that the Government Accountability Office says it, too, couldn't find anything wrong with the touch-screen voting machines used by Sarasota County, Fla., voters in the November 2006 congressional election. But don't hold your breath. 'One year and four independent investigations later, Christine Jennings is still whining about her loss to Rep. Vern Buchanan,' the National Republican Congressional Committee noted in recent days. And now her campaign is upset because last Friday's lengthy GAO report on the working voting machines was released to the Washington press corps 'prematurely.'" (more)

Melissa Hart's initial tv ad drawing attention to Altmire

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:44:08 EST

Boyda still breaking promises

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:28:09 EST

Boyda leads the list of candidates who broke campaign promises.

From the Washington Times:

"Republican strategists say freshmen House Democrats are vulnerable to charges they broke 2006 campaign promises to fight pork-barrel spending as a result of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to disregard Republican calls for more earmark reforms. Democrats facing criticism include Rep. Nancy Boyda of Kansas, ...the [Republican] official said. 'This will catch up with them on the campaign trail.'" (more)

House Democrats: Party More Important than National Security

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:19:17 EST

Remember what we were told at the beginning of the 110th Congress? Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declared that with the Democrats in control Congress would be returning to a 5 day work week. Presumably this decision was made to show that now that the Democrats ruled the Hill, the peoples business would be accomplished. This of course all being contingent on the people wisely agreeing with the Democrats ideas. Well, the work week that started Monday, Jan 28th wasn't five days long. In fact it started on the 28th and went to the 29th. That's a 2 day work week, not a 5 day work week. The reason the week was so short was because the Democrats had their annual party retreat starting on Wednesday.

A party retreat, or even short work week, isn't necessarily a bad thing. Members of Congress are human, inspite of the fact that some would have you think otherwise, and require breaks from their work just like the rest of us. The problem with this particular break though was that in hurrying out the door and off to their retreat, House Democrats failed to act responsibly on a very important issue that impacts the security of all of us.

Since assuming the majority in 2007, House Democrats have played kick-the-can with the Protect America Act. This legislation remedies a flawed FISA court ruling placing greater restrictions on the actions of U.S. intelligence agencies when those agencies seek to gather information from international phone calls that pass through the United States. Contrary to the popular interpretation, U.S. intelligence is not eavesdropping on phone calls between American citizens. The Protect America Act simply authorizes and codifies legal protections for intelligence agencies and private sector telecommunication companies that work or assist in the work of gathering intelligence from international suspects. The actions of the intelligence agencies do not violate any part of the Constitution.

Of course the facts can't get in the way of politics and Democrats and their liberal friends such as MoveOn.org have publicly turned this issue into a campaign against the Bush administration's waging of the War on Terror (better named the Islamic Terrorists' War on Freedom). Privately, however, Democrats have faced the dilemma of governing as opposed to the campaigning that earns them big bucks from George Soros types.

With U.S. intelligence agencies facing a very severe limitation on their power to gather critical pieces of information, the President called on Congress in the summer of 2007 to pass legislation remedying the problem. In August the Democrat controlled House and Senate passed the Protect America Act. They set the law to expire in 6 months.

Six months later Congress, instead of passing a permanent solution solving this problem and allowing our intelligence forces to plan ahead and continue to protect us, has passed a 15 day extension. A fifteen day solution to a national security problem just so House Democrats can head out on their merry little retreat and deal with the problems later is conduct unbecoming for the majority party of the legislative body that deems itself "the people's House."

While this may be the kind of tactic that one should expect of some of the older Democratic lawmakers, it certainly isn't what freshmen Democrats such as Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) promised voters when they ran for election in 2006. In both cases, the then candidates ran on a platform of changing the culture of Washington. Specifically, Joe Donnelly stated that "As your congressman, I am determined to make sure that our men and women serving both here and abroad have the tools, training, and leadership they need to protect us here at home and to pursue and defeat our adversaries abroad."

Rep. Donnelly, those who protect America need more than a 15 day extension on a tool that is utterly critical for them to do their job and keep America safe. They deserve better, your constituents deserve better, America deserves better.

Brian Sikma is an Associate with The Wabash Group and he runs the blog Hill On The Hill.

House Democrats: Party More Important than National Security

Rep. McCarthy answers your questions

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:12:05 EST

A couple of weeks ago, we encouraged our supporters to read this blog post and comment on what the Republican Party's New Year's resolutions should be.

As we noted in last week's newsletter, the response was overwhelming, and we thank you for all your thoughts. Below is the first response from Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California.

We encourage you to read this post and leave comments below. The more great questions, the more opportunity Republican members will have to answer your questions.

Blog comment 1: The Democrats have built their platform on "It's Time for Change." (And are successfully wooing our young with it) I say let the Republican's platform be "It's Time to get our Country Back" to what our Forefathers intended. Hooray for the Constitution!

Posted by Nancy S on January 17, 2008 at 1:35 PM

From Congressman Kevin McCarthy:

Nancy, you are correct. Our country was built on more than just a slogan or poll-tested catch phrase; it was built on a Constitution of everlasting ideals. President Ronald Reagan understood this. He offered a bold vision of hope that a strong national defense would protect our country from outside threats and a more efficient government would provide the economic freedom for Americans to prosper. Are Washington Democrats going to actually solve our country's challenges when they seem to only embrace poll-tested rhetoric at the expense of sound fiscal policy? One of our presidential candidates, Mayor Giuliani, is correct that there are really two types of change: change for the better and change for the worse. Expanding government bureaucracies, driving up the deficit by throwing more money at government programs, and raising taxes on American families stands to weaken our economy and is a change for the worse. Demoralizing our troops' mission by continually holding votes to cut off support in Iraq at a time of progress through the new surge strategy is a change for the worse. We can make change, but we need to come together and make smart changes that strengthen our country. We should move forward by renewing our Republican principles and vision of a smaller government that spends more time insisting that hard-earned tax dollars from American families are spent wisely.

Through the strength, purpose, and support of Republicans like you, we can succeed in creating a stronger America.

* click here to read Congressman Walberg's response

Rep. Tim Walberg answers your questions

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:10:02 EST

We encourage you to read this post and leave comments below. The more great questions, the more opportunity Republican members will have to answer your questions.

Blog comment 2: It's time for the Republican Party and our country to get back to Reagan principles and to the Constitution. We need to get government to stop trying to micro-manage our lives. We don't need government controlled and financed education, health care, and retirement. Give us the freedom to take care of those things ourselves by lowering our taxes. The function of our government, as laid down by our Founding Fathers, is principally to protect us. That means our government should get serious about securing our borders, stopping illegal immigration, preserving our sovereignty and culture, and effectively pursuing the War on Islamic Terror.

Posted by Susan F. on January 17, 2008 at 2:57 PM

From Congressman Tim Walberg:

Since I began my first term in Congress last year, I've been asked numerous times if I feel the Republican Party has a problem with its "brand."

As I travel across my south-central Michigan district and meet with my constituents, I realize a great amount of uncertainty exists as to what the Republican brand really is.

I agree with my respected House colleague Mike Pence, who often says Republicans lost the majority in Congress in 2006 "because we walked away from the limited government principles that minted the Republican Congress."

Today, our country faces an uncertain future internationally, and while our national economy continues to grow at a slow pace, many areas of the country, like my home state of Michigan, still face high unemployment and serious economic problems.

During these trying times, the American public wants leaders who don't make decisions solely to secure their political futures and maintain the status quo in Washington, D.C.

Instead, our country longs for real leadership and resolve, men and women who share a vision of making America the "shining city upon a hill" President Ronald Reagan so often referred to.

I humbly offer three core principles I believe Republicans must uphold as we seek to restore public confidence in the Republican brand name.

Bring fiscal responsibility back to Congress

Just as American families in my district make difficult decisions every day to ensure their budgets are balanced, Congress must operate within its means and reduce federal deficit spending.

The Republican name used to be synonymous with limiting the size and scope of government, and we are re-establishing that reputation. We need to stand up to the Washington, D.C. status quo by continuing to work to eliminate government waste, making certain taxpayer dollars go to meaningful programs and leaving resources directly with the people.

Congress should immediately make strides to bring long-term entitlement spending under control. By expanding personal investment accounts for retirement savings and allowing people more control over their health care, we will restore financial stability and foster wealth accumulation in our programs.

Defend America's hard-earned freedoms

While it is important to acknowledge mistakes have been made in Iraq, we must ensure that the war on terrorism is not fought on American soil.

We are not shirking from our obligation to protect our families and nation from the enemies of freedom, and we are providing American men and women in combat with resources that will enable them to come home safe and victorious.

We are also working to improve our broken immigration system by pursing policy initiatives that toughen border security and end illegal immigration.

Pursue effective and innovative solutions to problems we currently face without expanding the size and scope of government

Despite our minority status, Republicans are playing a major role in policy debates during the 110th Congress.

We prevented the Democrats from moving two million children from private to government health care. Residents of my district continue to stress to me that they want health care decisions to be made by patients and doctors, not by the government.

We stopped the Democrats from raising taxes last year, and we are demonstrating to the American people that we are the party standing between the Democrats and hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes.

One of our greatest national liabilities is our overwhelming dependence on foreign oil. Our country needs to diversify our energy supply through American alternative energy sources and bolster our domestic oil production.

Ten years ago Republicans were known as the party of Ronald Reagan, but big-government policies supported by the past few sessions of Congress muddled and transformed the American public's perception of our party.

We are following the principles listed above in such as way that Americans can discern the difference between our core values and those of the opposing party, Republicans are building an identity to be proud of.

Dems' Top Recruit Bails on Bid for Congress (WV-02)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:40:29 EST

Martinsburg Journal, January 27, 2008: The man many Democrats thought their strongest candidate to challenge West Virginia's only Republican in Congress dropped out of the race Saturday. State Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, said he wouldn't be filing to challenge U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., for the state's 2nd Congressional District seat. Unger's decision was announced in a press release by Cara Spaziani, his press secretary, Saturday morning. Saturday at midnight was the deadline for candidates to file for the seat. Unger had already raised at least $150,000 and lined up support from the state's two U.S. House Democrats and some of their congressional colleagues, according to the Associated Press. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also had supported Unger's candidacy. (more)

Issa Tapped to Chair NRCC's March Dinner

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:05:11 EST

California Congressman excited about chairing the NRCC President's dinner. [click]