September 29, 2009
Posted: September 29th, 2009 06:36 PM ET

From
National Democrats new TV ad is aimed at trying to convince senior citizens that Republicans are perpetuating falsehoods about President Obama's efforts to reform health care.
National Democrats new TV ad is aimed at trying to convince senior citizens that Republicans are perpetuating falsehoods about President Obama's efforts to reform health care.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – National Democrats will begin airing a new TV ad Wednesday aimed at trying to convince senior citizens that Republicans are perpetuating falsehoods about President Obama's efforts to reform health care.

"Republicans are trying to scare seniors about health reform," a narrator says at the opening of the ad as pictures of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner flash on the screen.

"The truth is health reform will help seniors by enhancing their drug coverage, reducing the premiums they pay for drugs and medical care, and helping keep Medicare solvent," adds the narrator.

The Democratic National Committee is financing the 30-second spot, which will air on national cable and in Washington, DC. A DNC official would not say how much money was being spent on the ad, but described it as a "substantial buy."

The new push by the DNC to woo seniors comes as a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows that 54 percent of people age 65 and older oppose Obama's health care plan, while 41 percent favor it.

Follow Mark Preston on Twitter: @prestoncnn

Filed under: Democratic National Committee • Health care • Republicans


August 20, 2009
Posted: August 20th, 2009 03:34 PM ET

From

(CNN) – Buoyed by last month's high-profile Chicago fundraiser featuring President Obama, the Democratic National Committee reports it raked in over $9 million for the month of July - a cash haul that far exceeds that of the Republican National Committee during the same time period.

According to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission Thursday, the DNC raised just over $9.1 million last month, and has more than $16 million cash on hand. Including various refunds and rebates, the DNC reports its total receipts at close to $9.3 million for the month.  It also reports carrying a debt of more than $5 million.

Earlier Thursday, the RNC said it raised $6 million in July. The committee also said Thursday it has close to $22 million cash on hand and is carrying no debt.

The July fundraising hauls suggest both parties campaign coffers will be well-stocked as the midterm election season begins to heat up.

Filed under: Democratic National Committee • President Obama


August 4, 2009
Posted: August 4th, 2009 04:33 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee released a sharply-worded statement Tuesday accusing Republicans of colluding with "K Street Lobbyists" to incite "angry mobs" of extremists to disrupt health care town halls in congressional districts around the country.

Full statement as released by DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse:

Statement from DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse on the Republican Party and Allied Groups’ Mob Rule:

The Republicans and their allied groups – desperate after losing two consecutive elections and every major policy fight on Capitol Hill – are inciting angry mobs of a small number of rabid right wing extremists funded by K Street Lobbyists to disrupt thoughtful discussions about the future of health care in America taking place in Congressional Districts across the country.

However, much like we saw at the McCain-Palin rallies last year where crowds were baited with cries of 'socialist,' 'communist,' and where the birthers movement was born – these mobs of extremists are not interested in having a thoughtful discussion about the issues – but like some Republican leaders have said – they are interested in ‘breaking’ the President and destroying his Presidency.

These mobs are bussed in by well funded, highly organized groups run by Republican operatives and funded by the special interests who are desperately trying to stop the agenda for change the President was elected to bring to Washington. Despite the headline grabbing nature of these angry mobs and their disruptions of events, they are not reflective of where the American people are on the issues – or the hundreds of thousands of thoughtful discussions taking place around kitchen tables, water coolers and in homes.

The right wing extremists’ use of things like devil horns on pictures of our elected officials, hanging members of Congress in effigy, breathlessly questioning the President's citizenship and the use of Nazi SS symbols and the like just shows how outside of the mainstream the Republican Party and their allies are. This type of anger and discord did not serve Republicans well in 2008 – and it is bound to backfire again.

UPDATE: Republican reaction to the DNC statement after the jump

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Democratic National Committee


May 25, 2009
Posted: May 25th, 2009 02:49 PM ET

From
Tim Kaine, right, performed at a fundraiser along with Boyd Tinsely of the Dave Matthews Band.
Tim Kaine, right, performed at a fundraiser along with Boyd Tinsely of the Dave Matthews Band.

(CNN) – Tim Kaine is a multi-tasker. He's currently holding down two jobs, governing the state of Virginia while also serving as President Obama's partisan-in-chief at the Democratic National Committee.

And he plays a mean harmonica.

Clad in khaki pants and a blue plaid shirt, and occasionally tapping his feet, Kaine showed off his musical talents last Friday night in Richmond at a fundraiser for his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward.

Joined on a stage by Boyd Tinsley, the violinist for the Dave Matthews Band, Kaine performed a few songs on his harmonica, including Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." He even serenaded the audience of Democrats, offering supporting vocals on a cover version of the bluegrass track "Will the Circle be Unbroken."

A savvy politician, Kaine was sure to lower expectations before his performance.

"Be gentle with me," he told the crowd. "Boyd gave me a big plug about being a great musician. Not so great. But hey, you've already paid, so you're not getting your money back."

Kaine is an old hand when it comes to jamming with a bluegrass groups. During his 2005 campaign and in his time in office, the governor has often hopped on stages at cultural festivals and political events to show off his harmonica skills.

Still, no bluegrass anthem has been recorded in Kaine's honor, as was the case with "The Ballad of Mark Warner," a tune by the Bluegrass Brothers that served as the unofficial soundtrack of Warner's 2001 gubernatorial bid.

Filed under: Democratic National Committee • Tim Kaine


January 21, 2009
Posted: January 21st, 2009 09:32 AM ET

From
 Obama tapped Kaine to head the DNC.
Obama tapped Kaine to head the DNC.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - There's a changing of the guard Wednesday as the Democratic Party holds its annual winter meeting.

Democratic National Committee members are expected to elect Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as DNC chairman. Earlier this month then-President-elect Barack Obama announced his decision to appoint Kaine to lead the Democratic Party.

Kaine will succeed outgoing DNC Chairman Howard Dean, who's held the job for the last four years. Both Dean and Kaine are expected to make remarks at today's meeting.

Filed under: Democratic National Committee


January 4, 2009
Posted: January 4th, 2009 07:39 PM ET

(CNN) - Virginia Gov. Time Kaine has been tapped to serve as chairman of the Democratic National Committee to replace Howard Dean, two Democratic officials told CNN Sunday.

Kaine will serve on a part-time basis until his term as governor expires, the officials said.

Full story

–CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry contributed to this report.

Filed under: Democratic National Committee • Tim Kaine



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