The House and Senate – with significant Democratic support – recently voted to condemn MoveOn. This “brands” MoveOn as a radical, extremist, unpatriotic, unAmerican organization. And it does the same to MoveOn’s members. So from now on any Democrat receiving an endorsement, money, volunteers or other support from MoveOn or any other segment of the Democratic base is open to attack.
Here are examples – just from today – of what any Democratic politician should expect from now on. This will turn into a drumbeat.
Baltimore Sun: MoveOn dust-up hits Bean race,
In an ongoing attempt to bludgeon Democrats with MoveOn.org’s controversial “General Betray US” ad in the New York Times, Republicans seized on a Politico.com report today that pegged 44 congressional Democrats — including Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) — as having voted to condemn the MoveOn ad even though they accepted the group’s campaign cash.
Bean voted for a House resolution condemning the ad, which accused the American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, of “cooking the books for the White House” on the war. One of Bean’s prospective GOP opponents, businessman Steve Greenberg, called the vote “blatant hypocrisy” in a press release today, because Bean has taken more than $80,000 from MoveOn and its members over her congressional career.
SF Bay Area ABC: Should Politicians Say No To Controversial MoveOn.org Cash?,
Presidential campaign cash is the focus of a new republican attack plan. First they went after a controversial ad from MoveOn.org and now, they are calling on democrats to refuse political contributions from that organization.
…The GOP is targeting those democrats who voted to condemn the ad. In the Bay Area there is only one; 11th district Democrat Jerry McNerney from Pleasanton.
… Jerry McNerney did vote to condemn the MoveOn ad and he has taken more than $50,000 dollars in contributions from MoveOn and will continue to take their money.
Denver Post: MoveOn.org critics accept its donations,
Forty-four congressional Democrats who voted to condemn MoveOn.org for its ad branding Army Gen. David Petraeus “General Betray Us” have accepted more than $3.9 million in contributions from the anti-war group and its members since 2002, reports Politico.com. In Colorado, it’s Sen. Ken Salazar, right, ($318,700), Rep. John Salazar ($102,900), and Rep. Ed Perlmutter ($5,000). In Montana, Sen. John Tester ($350,200).
Wingnutopia: Townhall.com::Hillary Clinton (D.-MoveOn.org) Is A Radical
She is a radical, and one far outside the mainstream of American politics. In the growing recognition of the true nature of her political ideology is the obvious strategy for whoever the GOP nominee is: Throw the light on what she believes and proposes and keep it there.
First, Hillary refused to denounce the MoveOn.org assault on General Petraeus’ patriotism…
… Hillary is not mainstream. She’s not even on the far left bank of the mainstream.
She is way, way out there –a genuine ’60s girl, and the ideas and staff she would bring to the White House would represent a sharp break with all that has gone before in American politics.
MoveOn.org Bullies Crack Down on Critics,
MoveOn.org, the left-wing extremists who bashed the commander of American forces in Iraq as a traitor, should get out of the political kitchen.
… Acceptable speech to MoveOn.org: Likening President Bush to Adolf Hitler, as they did in 2004.
Note that they’re talking about accepting contributions and other help from MoveOn or its members.
The Democrats who voted to condemn MoveOn — their own base — have seriously, seriously damaged their own efforts and the efforts of every other Democrat.