Democratic Fusillade
I’m not sure why all of this happened in one day, but the Darcy Burner campaign and national Democrats today put out four separate hits on eastside Republican Congressman Dave Reichert — in less than eight hours.
All of the hits are interesting, and here they come, in reverse chronological order:
3:55 pm: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in a press release, slams Reichert for voting today against a House amendment that “would have guaranteed 100% scanning and sealing of America-bound cargo” — a complaint that just added to the growing list of complaints Democrats have about Reichert’s moves on port security (other complaints include Reichert’s vote against $825 million for port security in March and his vote against blocking the Dubai Ports deal, also in March).
2:18 pm: The DCCC announces that its attack web site, www.gopauctionhouse.org, has named Reichert as its “GOP Crony of the Week.”
10:30 am: Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who chairs the DCCC, joins a conference call with Burner and a number of reporters from Seattle and D.C. to talk about rising gas prices, the country’s “energy crisis,” and Reichert’s vote to give tax breaks to oil companies (the oil and gas industry has given Reichert $40,000 in contributions since 2004).
“We should have a hybdrid-based energy policy,” Emanuel says. “Darcy, in my view, represents the new policies that we should have.” (Burner drives a hybrid SUV and today released a plan to “invest in energy independence.” [See 8:46 am.])
8:46 am: Burner calls for repealing the $14 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas companies that the Republican-controlled Congress has approved (with the help of Reichert). She calls for meaningful legislation against energy price gouging, increasing incentives for the purchase and production of alternative-fuel vehicles, and investments in new technology.
“Dave Reichert has endorsed the Bush energy policies that have failed the consumers of Washington,” said Burner. “He voted for the Bush energy bill that gave billions to the oil industry and failed to make investments that would reduce our addiction to oil. Reichert stands with Bush and big oil — I will stand with the consumers of Washington State.”
Like I said, I’m not sure why all of this happened in one day, but whatever the reason, it does seem to indicate that the Democrats are focused on this race and are prepared to hit Reichert hard, early, and often.
Whoa. The stuff the DCCC has posted about Reichert on their gopauctionhouse.org site is pretty damning.
http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/members/DaveReichertWA-8.html