Obama Pushes Proposed Fee On Financial Firms
In this weekend’s YouTube address, President Obama promoted his proposed fee on major financial firms, in an effort to recover government money spent on the TARP bailout to save the industry from collapse. And he blasted the financial industry and Republicans for opposing the fee:
“Of course, I would like the banks to embrace this sense of mutual responsibility. So far, though, they have ferociously fought financial reform,” said Obama. “The industry has even joined forces with the opposition party to launch a massive lobbying campaign against common-sense rules to protect consumers and prevent another crisis. Now, like clockwork, the banks and politicians who curry their favor are already trying to stop this fee from going into effect. The very same firms reaping billions of dollars in profits, and reportedly handing out more money in bonuses and compensation than ever before in history, are now pleading poverty. It’s a sight to see.”
GOP Address: Castle Supports Fight In Afghanistan, Credits McChrystal And Gates
This weekend’s Republican address was delivered by Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), the party’s candidate for Vice President Biden’s old Senate seat. Castle discussed the importance of the fight in Afghanistan, and prominently gave credit to Gen. Stanley McChrystal and to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates:
“Understanding the realities on the ground in Afghanistan directly from our top military commanders is essential,” said Castle. “Republicans are pleased with the decision by Secretary Gates to stay on as head of the Pentagon, and, we urge the President to follow his advice of making strategic decisions based on conditions on the ground. Secretary Gates has worked to reaffirm our short and long-term goals to our troops and continues to commend their sacrifice. This outreach is very important and we thank him.”
Obama, Bush And Clinton Launch Haiti Aid Appeal
President Obama formally launched a fundraising effort at the White House today, with former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. “Presidents Bush and Clinton will help the American people to do their part, because responding to disaster is the work of all of us,” said Obama, speaking in the White House Rose Garden. “In these difficult hours, America stands united.”
Van Hollen: ‘Reconciliation Is An Option’ For Health Care, If Dems Lose MA-SEN
Appearing on Bloomberg TV, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), kept the door open to using the budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform with 51 votes in the Senate, if Democrats were to lose the Massachusetts special Senate election. “Even before Massachusetts and that race was on the radar screen, we prepared for the process of using reconciliation,” said Van Hollen, who is also chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He also added: “Reconciliation is an option.”
Democratic Members Cast Out For Coakley
CQ reports that Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley received over $20,000 on January 12 and 13 from Democratic members of Congress, who transferred money from their own campaigns and PACs. Donors to Coakley include Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA), and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA).
Massachusetts Dems Mailer: Scott Brown Wants Hospitals To Turn Away Rape Victims
As Greg Sargent reports, the Massachusetts Democratic Party has a very hard-hitting new mailer against Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown, attacking him for backing legislation to allow hospitals to deny emergency contraception to rape victims. “1,736 women were raped in Massachusetts in 2008,” the mailer says. “Scott Brown wants hospitals to turn them all away.”
Bill Clinton Records Robocall For Coakley
As Greg also reports, former President Bill Clinton has recorded a robocall for Coakley. Bill says: “The Republicans are spending millions of dollars to win Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat and they’re telling you that they’ve got a better economic plan, when all they want is to bring back President Bush’s economic policies. They’re telling you they’ve got a health care plan, when all they want is to leave the health insurance companies in control of America’s health care and bankrupt the country.”
