Labor Group Ad Attacks Rush As GOP Leader
The Democratic assault on the GOP as the Party of Limbaugh continues apace, with the labor-backed group Americans United For Change airing this new ad on national cable and in the D.C. media market — essentially targeted at the political media and high-information voters:
“Call the Republican leadership. Tell them to just say no to the politics of Rush Limbaugh,” the announcer says, followed by Limbaugh’s signature line: “I hope he fails!”
Plouffe: Party Of Limbaugh Could Fall Even Lower
Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe also has a new op-ed piece in the Washington Post, with the straightforward title “Minority Leader Limbaugh,” predicting a long period in the wilderness for the GOP. “But if the GOP sticks with its strategy of failure as the only option,” says Plouffe, “further eroding its brand with the people who decide elections, we may find out what it means for a political party to hit rock bottom.”
Ex-Bush Speechwriter: GOP Could Be “Marginalized” By Limbaugh
Former Bush speechwriter David Frum told the Washington Post that the math surrounding Rush Limbaugh works against the Republicans. “We can’t win elections by getting our core voters agitated,” said Frum. “But if you’re a talk radio host and you have 5 million who listen and there are 50 million people who hate you, you can make a nice living. If you’re a Republican Party, you’re marginalized.”
Obama To Announce Reform Of Federal Contracts
President Obama will be speaking at 10 a.m. ET in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where he will lay out a plan to reform the federal contracting process, and promise to save the taxpayers tens of billions of dollars in waste. At 7:30 p.m. ET, the President and First Lady will host a dinner at the White House for the chairs of the Congressional committees.
Gordon Brown To Speak To Congress
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be speaking to a joint session of Congress today at 11 a.m. ET. Vice President Biden will also be in attendance.
Biden Meeting With Chiefs of Police, Former Secretaries of State
Vice President Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder will be hosting a reception this afternoon for members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Biden will then be meeting with former Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher, to review a report of the National War Powers Commission. Tonight, Biden will attend the President and First Lady’s dinner for the Congressional Committee chairs.
NYT: States Mining Stimulus For Road Projects
The New York Times reports that the states are already getting to work on spending the stimulus money, putting portions of it towards road projects that had been on hold: “The work, however mundane much of it is, cannot come too soon for a construction industry buffeted by an unemployment rate that has risen to twice the national average as many states cut back on building.”
Steele: People Don’t Know What I’m Doing — And I Like It
In an interview with the Politico, Michael Steele fired back at Republican chatter that he isn’t doing a good job as chairman — that he’s made gaffes, and he still hasn’t put in place an effective organizational structure. I know some folks in Washington feel that they’re kind of on the outside of this,” Steele said, “that they don’t have the day-to-day blow by blow of what I’m doing. And that’s exactly how I like it.”
