July 16, 2009
Posted: July 16th, 2009 01:15 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The image war over the impact of President Obama's stimulus plan escalated Thursday, as Democrats targeted another major GOP congressional critic of the package, and the vice president again raised the stakes with a visit to the lawmaker's home state.

Hours before House Minority Whip Eric Cantor spoke on a conference call slamming the effectiveness of the administration's stimulus policy, the Democratic National Committee launched a pre-emptive strike: a tough statement tarring opponents of the plan – including the Virginia congressman - as foes of economic recovery.

Vice President Joe Biden is headlining another stimulus-promoting event Thursday, this time in Richmond, Virginia. "I ask those critics...Would they not help prevent (layoffs of) thousands of teachers, firefighters, cops?" Biden is planning to say, according to prepared remarks. "Would they not give a tax cut to 95 percent of the American people? Would they sit back and do nothing as our economy collapsed?"

(Updated after the jump with Cantor, GOP response)

Cantor shot back Thursday afternoon. "We are told Vice President Biden is in Virginia this afternoon to highlight stimulus progress, but he, along with the Obama administration, will hear from my fellow citizens that spending money does not necessarily equal success for the stimulus program," he told reporters on a conference call. "....A stimulus bill should have an immediate economic impact and create real, long-term jobs, and this stimulus bill has clearly not created jobs or fixed our economy."

"It's not that surprising that yet another Republican has been caught speaking out of both sides of his mouth on the effects of the Recovery Act," DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan said in a Thursday statement. "But, Cantor and his fellow Republicans can't have it both ways. Either they are for economic recovery and the jobs it's bringing to the folks they represent, or they are against it."

Last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner found himself in the DNC's sights: Democrats released a tough Web video blasting him for saying the stimulus hadn't delivered for his state.

"In fact, millions in recovery act funds have been committed to dozens of projects creating jobs for people right here in Ohio," the narrator said in the DNC video. "…Now John Boehner is using baseless attacks to mislead the public about the success of the Recovery Act."

Democrats continued the assault with e-mails and conference calls, as Biden made his way to Cincinnati, in Boehner's home state of Ohio. The DNC also went live with a cable buy aimed at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and launched attacks on much lesser-known GOP critics of the stimulus policy in key battlegrounds like Ohio and Florida.

UPDATE: Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring called the stimulus a "bad deal" and a "misguided ...pork-barrel bill." He also blasted the DNC's statement as politically tone-deaf.

"For (Virginia Gov. Tim) Kaine's DNC to flatly state that there is an economic recovery misses the current and increasing double-digit unemployment in Richmond and the 8.1% unemployment in Central Virginia," he said in a statement. "To declare an 'economic recovery' when so many Virginian families are being negatively impacted by this Administrations economic policy is a truly shocking statement that should be retracted....

"...A stimulus bill should have an immediate economic impact and create real, long term jobs, and this stimulus has not created jobs or fixed our economy."

Filed under: DNC • Eric Cantor


Gotomario.com - The Mario Solis Marich Show » CANTOR LATEST DNC TARGET IN STIMULUS IMAGE WAR   July 16th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

[...] Hours before House Minority Whip Eric Cantor spoke on a conference call slamming the effectiveness of the administration's stimulus policy, the Democratic National Committee launched a pre-emptive strike: a tough statement tarring opponents of the plan – including the Virginia congressman — as foes of economic recovery. READ MORE... [...]

Wake Up Liberals   July 16th, 2009 5:03 pm ET

All of you uneducated liberals who follow the media all think the GOP is out to give tax breaks to just the rich. That cannot be further from the truth.

RESEARCH PEOPLE. The current Dem administration is all about taxing EVERYONE and giving benefits to people who are to lazy to work. It sounds peachy keen and nice, but it isn't. It will put us all in debt and force people who actually work for their money to pay for everything.

Kat   July 16th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

Biden the spin doctor!!! Does he really believe if he says the stimulus works that the stimulus really works. He twisted the facts with fantasy and some of the American people are still buying into it!!!

Marie MD   July 16th, 2009 4:54 pm ET

The repugs talk and complain about everything the Democrats and our President are doing, but . . . . . . do they have a solution? If so, how about giving it up so you can help all Americans. Oh yeah, that's right, you only care for the "real" Americans. The heck with the rest of us.
BTW – mccain? Where's bin laden. If you know, please tell the Special Forces.

EC   July 16th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

Brother! When former Senator Phil Gramm said the "US is a nation of whiners"; he wasn't kidding! (Especially our "leaders")

Looks like more people root for failure than doing something to create success. This goes for Republicans and Democrats alike.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 16th, 2009 4:47 pm ET

@ phoenix86

You're nuts. 2010 is when the GOP will be layed to rest. The only life support they may get is if they get someone who is not a Party of No member who actually has some NEW ideas besides for tax cuts for the rich. Finally the People have taken the country back from the corporate thugs.

Shibumi   July 16th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

Only Biden the Clown is stupid enough to brag about a "tax cut to 95% of the American people". At $13/ week, I've been living high on the hog!!! Now the first thing I say at McDonald's is "supersize it!"
Meanwhile, the banks (Wall Street) are making huge profits just a few months after having to beg for money to stay afloat.
Just little Bo Bo taking care of those that take care of him.

seebofubar   July 16th, 2009 4:38 pm ET

I find it very funny how some pepole claim that the republican party lacks credibility when the democrats have elected the most decietfull, ignorant, self serving, anti-american, good for nothing sorry excuse for a community organizer for a president. Those of you who can still think for yourselvs, actually see what this dangerous man is doing to our country BEFORE IT"S TOO LATE!

Trade Freedom for Security, Lose Both   July 16th, 2009 4:37 pm ET

@too late – You're right. So why doesn't Obama man up and restore those individual freedoms?

Keith, CO   July 16th, 2009 4:37 pm ET

I am getting my escape plan ready. You better gets yours ready…before Obama starts to regulate movement of citizens.
---------------------–
Your have to be kidding right, this must be some form of satire right?
Either that or you loons have become a parody of yourselves.
I'm laughing with you or at you. One or the other.

LCA   July 16th, 2009 4:30 pm ET

The Democrat party has become a corrupt joke! They only thing that morally bankrupt party cares about is holding on to its power-hungry corruption! I was a life-long Democrat and very active in the party until last year. It now sickens me to see what has become of my once honorable party!

too late   July 16th, 2009 4:29 pm ET

Someone forgot with the patriot act we are all tracked – thanks to the GOP. The GOP and NRA scream about 2nd amendment rights. Where were they when the previous administration took away many of our 1st amendment rights?

phoenix86   July 16th, 2009 4:19 pm ET

Take your best shot DNC. You're solid majorities are over in 2010 and your boy is out the door in 2012. Replaced by sanity.

Time for moveon.org to be moving on....

Trade Freedom for Security, Lose Both   July 16th, 2009 4:12 pm ET

I am getting my escape plan ready. You better gets yours ready...before Obama starts to regulate movement of citizens.

Larry   July 16th, 2009 4:11 pm ET

Save your energy DNC. Cantor is just another GOP mouth with no credibility.

Rob   July 16th, 2009 4:08 pm ET

'economic recovery'? Where? certainly not in the US! We were threatened by Obama that if the stimulus wasn't passed that unemployment would go up past 8%. Well he got his little pork project passed and guess what, we're now OVER 8%.

If this is the Democrats idea of a successful economic recovery I certainly don't want to know what their version of an unsuccessful one is.

Careful Dems, ya can't throw Biden out there with his "We inherited this depression" speech much longer. You all have plunged us further than any other president.

annie s   July 16th, 2009 4:03 pm ET

I am thrilled that the Democrats are finally standing up against the lying, fear mongering Republicans and trying to get the truth out there. Well done Vice President Biden – keep the pressure on!

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 16th, 2009 4:01 pm ET

Cantor and Boehner are going down. The "Sherriff" Joe Biden is in town and is calling your bluff. You guys and the rest of your NO gang are toast. Rather than try to help the situation, you republicans are making it worse by being a Party of Obstruction. Since you guys are all for the 2nd Amendment, how about the American people take up arms against you for blocking our needs!

Frank   July 16th, 2009 3:59 pm ET

It's about time that someone started making Republicans pay a price for their obstructionism.

johnnie   July 16th, 2009 3:59 pm ET

Eric Cantor is a lightweight in the (RING) with a (HEAVYWEIGHT) JOE BIDEN, Cantor is about to see what (POLITICS) are all about, The Vice President is a (LION) and has been around the block many times with the (gop) and ready now to throw some serious (PUNCHES), Cantor is going to get a (JAB) and (UPPERCUT) from the Vice President, the stimulus is going to be so effective in Virginia, because the President and VicePresident won Virginia (HUGE) . And it was political sucide for (ERIC CANTOR) to vote against the (stimulus) and this is only (ROUND ONE CANTOR) you just got knocked out. The Vice President has been waiting for this moment to take to (CANTOR). You can run (CANTOR) but you cant hide ,you and the (GOP) have lied about the stimulus being on track ,to try to distract for (HEALTH CARE REFORM). Now you look like the (TRUE LOSER) you are.The (STIMULUS IS WORKING CANTOR) will see how you will explained this to your state, you are being counted (OUT) your weak.

ann   July 16th, 2009 3:55 pm ET

The Hall Monitor strikes again.

Jacob   July 16th, 2009 3:49 pm ET

Too bad Democrats could not have spent more time working a stimulus plan that would actually create jobs and help the economy than attacking those who oppose their ridiculous agenda. Its Obama mob style politics as usual which means plenty of flowery speeches with no action and attacking any reasonable thoughts. He is going to worse than Carter as a president. An empty suit orator.

Jeff in Atlanta   July 16th, 2009 3:43 pm ET

The dimocratic gestapo strikes again. Too many similarities.

God forbid you have a different opinion.

Problem is, it is becoming increasingly evident to anyone who can actually think for themselves that the pork stimulus is not working, (as so many predicted), so these attack commercials are just coming off as bitter and vengeful.

tpbco   July 16th, 2009 3:42 pm ET

Gee, I thought it was only Republicans that used fear tactics like this...

Guess not.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 16th, 2009 3:38 pm ET

I can't vote out the rest of the Paty of No scumbags, but I can vote Cantor out. He's gone next year.

yuri   July 16th, 2009 3:36 pm ET

Paul Krugman, the 2008 Nobel Laureate in economics says the stimulus package is not enough, and Peter Morici of Univ. of Maryland opines that BHO's economic stimulus plan is doomed to fail. We would like both of those bozos jump into the arena and start gladiating.

RNC = DNC = politics as usual   July 16th, 2009 3:30 pm ET

Notice to members of the DNC:
We'll have no more of this thinking-for-yourself thing.

Instead of crossing party lines, sounds like Obama's troops are making sure the lines DON'T get crossed.

Matt in MN   July 16th, 2009 3:26 pm ET

Change we can believe in?

Sure seems like typical political games as usual.

Democrati Ignorati   July 16th, 2009 3:25 pm ET

Obama said earlier this week that unemployment would top 10% this year. This from the guy that said no higher than 8% and saving 3 million jobs.

Now who's talking out of both sides.

Adam   July 16th, 2009 3:23 pm ET

It's stupid for the Democrats to try and play the 'At least we tried SOMETHING' card when what they accomplished was wasting the most money in the history of civilization.

Michigan Jim   July 16th, 2009 3:16 pm ET

"Either they are for economic recovery and the jobs it's bringing to the folks they represent, or they are against it."

Of course the GOP is "for" economic recovery - what an asinine formulation of the issue. What the GOP is against is parachuting $787 billion of borrowed bailout money around the country in the hope that it does some good, some how, some where.

citizenjane   July 16th, 2009 3:15 pm ET

"GOP baseless attacks misleading the public" You think?

Go get 'em, DNC . . .

John from California   July 16th, 2009 3:11 pm ET

The republicans want the economic stimulus plan to fail because they love the economy the way it is right now.

The republican goal was always to keep the people in the middle class at the lowest wage possible to allow maximum profits for the richest few (the real republicans).

Any suggestions by the republicans that they want a strong economy is a blatant distortion of their real goals. The republican party created this economic mess and they want to prolong it as long as possible.

David In West Virginia   July 16th, 2009 3:11 pm ET

While I wish the stimulus funds would reach the states at a faster rate, I must commend Pres. Obama for his efforts to turn the economy around. Whether or not the Bush Administration is totally responsible for the economic downturn, we, as a nation do not know to what extent our economy is hurting nor how deep the recession is. I do know that the U.S. can not continue to outsource its manufacturing base to cheaper labor in China and the rest of the world and we have all our leaders to blame for this. I do blame Pres. Bush for not being honest and candid with the American people as to the health of our economy. He lied to us and allowed this country to go into a deep recession. That much I do know.

GI Joe   July 16th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

Hmmmm – very interesting indeed.

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