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Bloggers Mount Robo-call Campaign Against Democrats Who Oppose SCHIP Expansion
This is interesting: Jane Hamsher brings word that bloggers are bringing their activism on the battle over SCHIP to a new level. This morning Blue America joined up with BlogPac to fund robo-calls into the districts of five Democratic members of the House who voted against the kids' health care bill.
The five are: Jim Marshall (GA), Baron Hill (IN), Gene Taylor (MS), Bob Etheridge (NC), and Mike McIntyre (NC).
The idea here is to supplement efforts by the DCCC, who are putting pressure on Republicans in moderate districts to vote for the measure. The blog campaign is focused on conservative Dems who continue to hold out against SCHIP -- people whom the DCCC would obviously not be targeting.
You can listen to the robocalls, which Hamsher says were recorded by Michelle James, a full time working mother who can’t afford health care for her son who has bronchitis, right here.
Democrats get a strong candidate, Martin Chavez in the NM Senate race.
They also get a candidate in the NC race!
Full roundup here.
October 8, 2007 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I totally endorse this campaign. It's worth mentioning that all of these conservative democrats are listed in Chris bowers' excellent list of so-called Bush Dogs, who capitulate on a number of issues important to progressives. They're not simply Blue Dogs (Pat Murphy is a Blue Dog with a very good record): the regularly side with the GOP on Iraq, health care, you name it.
October 8, 2007 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad this is happening -- the Democratic vote for overide should be unanimous
What about the 3 other House Dems who voted against the bill first time through (Kucinich - Ohio, Castor - FL, Boren -OK)? Are they not being targeted in this campaign? Have they already committed to switch their votes?
Kucinich in particular absolutely needs to understand that this vote is critical to any national support he might claim as a progressive candidate - as well as making him even more vulnerable to a primary back home. While the initial vote against may have been a symbolic protest against a bill that didn't go far enough and that discriminates against immigrant children, standing with George Bush against expansion of health access for children cannot be considered a truly progressive position.
October 8, 2007 6:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any word from David Kurtz as to whether he'd support this effort? He didn't see the point in Lieberman's ouster.
October 8, 2007 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will support a candidate that BANS robo-calling. I don't care what the cause is... I HATE ROBO-CALLS!
October 9, 2007 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
No surprise the dirty tricks the far right go to when they are called out for their non-caring for children. My first impulse was to organize a calling system to bug those who voted against it. But alas, I realize that sort of thing just admits my point of view has no basis in honesty. Besides, Republicans have used the roto- calling even in an election. They realize they cannot win on the merits. All the time I am so happy I left that party while it still had some class. Obviously it has no class now.
October 9, 2007 2:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good idea. The Democrats really should be threatening them internally as well with loss of funds and/or positions on committees or whatever other possible sanctions they can use.
Every Democrat must support the SCHIP veto override.
October 9, 2007 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink