White House Attacks Worry Moderate Democrats

By JONATHAN ALLEN | 10/23/09 4:47 AM EDT

A White House effort to undermine conservative critics is generating a backlash on Capitol Hill — and not just from Republicans.

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Well, well, well. So, Mr. President, let me ask you this. If the Liberal Democrats are admonishing you for this, as well as the Republicans, wouldn't it be safe to say that maybe you should STOP with all this nonsense, and get down to REAL White House issues?)**

“It’s a mistake,” said Rep. Jason Altmire, a moderate Democrat from western Pennsylvania. “I think it’s beneath the White House to get into a tit for tat with news organizations.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: I totally agree Mr. Altmire, but let's be honest here. Is Mr. Obama even listening to you? I mean, it seems to me that he is letting this go in one big ear and out the other one. I mean, let's face it, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Obama only hears what he wants to hear.)**


Altmire was talking about the Obama administration’s efforts to undercut Fox News. But he said his remarks applied just the same to White House efforts to marginalize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a powerful business lobby targeted for its opposition to climate change legislation.

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Uh-oh. Mr. President, it looks to me like you are about to piss off some very important people here. Maybe you should back up a little and re-group. I mean, if these people [Chamber of Commerce] backed you during the Presidential Elections, I would say it is safe to say that they will pull their support and you will LOSE in 2012)**


“There’s no reason to gratuitously piss off all those companies,” added another Democrat, Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia. “The Chamber isn’t an opponent.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Oh, but yes there IS a reason to piss them off. One reason is because they 'oppose' Obama's agenda, and another is because Obama wants 'total control' over everything in sight. I mean, be realistic here. Obama sees the world [America] as one great big giant 'Monopoly' board, and he is moving right along and buying up everything he sees with OUR MONEY! It is a little thing we like to call 'GREED'. )**


POLITICO reported earlier this week on an all-fronts push by the White House to cut the legs out from under its toughest critics, whether it’s the Chamber, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck and the rest of the Fox News operation.

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Ok, now why is Obama so afraid of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck? And I find it rather insulting that Sean Hannity, and Micheal Savage were not mentioned. How rude, indeed, and please let us not forget about the many 'bloggers' that are also helping them blow the whistle on the 'Wimp House'. Uhhh, Mr. Wussident, be careful who you declare war on)**


White House Communications Director Anita Dunn has defended the push, saying the administration made “a fundamental decision that we needed to be more aggressive in both protecting our position and in delineating our differences with those who were attacking us.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: I thought this Maoist was a 'Czar'??? In any case, she is a blithering idiotic Obamabot who believes in a 'welfare state'. ATTACKING YOU??? Oh please. It is called 'TELLING the TRUTH', which is something that 'the annointed one' does not have the mental capacity to do)**


Congressional Republicans counterattacked Thursday. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the administration was “targeting those who don’t immediately fall in line” with “Chicago-style politics” aimed at “shutting the American people out and demonizing their opponents.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Dear Mr. President, WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA--WILL NOT BE SILENCED! NOT NOW--NOT EVER! WE ARE HERE TO STAY, AND WE WANT TO KNOW ONE THING--"CAN--YOU--HEAR--US--NOW"???)**


Boehner’s No. 2, Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) complained that the nation’s problems are growing while the White House “bickers with a cable news network.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: I am beginning to smell a Conservative victory brewing on the horizon. I love the smell of bar-b-qued POTUS smothered with onions)**


Liberal Democrats have little heartburn over the administration’s attacks on Fox and Limbaugh. But the attacks make moderates uneasy — especially when they extend to the Chamber of Commerce.

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Well, I can only suggest that the libturd demoncrap obamabot leftis lunatics go get them some 'R-O-L-A-I-D-S and stay away from 'Taco Hell' and the burritos)**


While Limbaugh and Fox commentators like Beck make no secret of their dislike for Democrats, the Chamber’s Republican lean is partially counteracted by nominal and financial support for pro-business Democrats who need to win votes from pro-business Republicans. The campaign websites of moderate Democrats from across the country are filled with endorsements from the Chamber of Commerce.


Rep. Brad Ellsworth of Indiana, for example, has this testimonial from a Chamber official on his site: “On issues ranging from lowering taxes to increasing trade, Indiana’s businesses and workers have no better friend than Brad Ellsworth.”


Ellsworth got a $5,000 campaign contribution from the Chamber in the past election.


Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), another recipient of a Chamber contribution, said Thursday that he had no intention of stepping into the middle of a fight between the White House and the Chamber, but he did note that he had won an award for his voting record from the national Chamber of Commerce.


A senior House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity while questioning the wisdom of the White House strategy, said: “I have no problem with [going after] Rush at all. I don’t have much of a problem with Fox. I think the Chamber’s another story.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Ha ha ha! I am absolutely certain that Rush Limbaugh could care less about the Wimp House's petty childishness. POTUS and FLOTUS and DOTUS do NOT scare him)**


The Democrat took issue with Chamber leaders in Washington, who he said “do not do a good job of representing the interests of their members.” But he also acknowledged the benefits the Chamber’s goodwill can confer on certain segments of the caucus.


He said that the White House is trying to “take advantage of the discontent within the Chamber. Several flagship companies, including Apple and PG&E, have cut ties with the Chamber to protest its opposition to the climate change legislation that passed the House earlier this year.


Some Democratic critics of the White House attacks say it may strengthen the relationship between the Chamber and moderate Democrats in Congress, who will fast become the organization’s best hope for addressing its concerns if it is frozen out by the White House.


“I don’t think the White House’s relationship with the Chamber will have any effect on individual members’ relationships with the Chamber,” said Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a centrist Democrat. “I think we’ll be judged on how we conduct ourselves.”

**(MY THOUGHTS ON THIS: Oh ho ho!!! YOU ARE ALREADY BEING JUDGED BY YOUR CONDUCT! AND, so far, YOU ARE FAILING MISERABLY! Ha ha ha ha!!!)**

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Ok, as always, I will come back later and get your thoughts on this. I want to know what you think about all this. Could this petty little fight possibly bring us a conservative victory in 2012?