Dems Raise Money Off GOP Threat To Repeal Health Care

In the past week, Democrats and Democratic strategists have tried to publicly box in Republicans on the question of whether they will do the bidding of their right wing base, and try to repeal health care reform if voters send them back to power. But in a sign that Democrats think they've hit a sweet spot, they've begun using the threat of "repealism" as a fundraising tool.

"[T]he GOP is so desperate to stop our progress, before that [health care] vote Republican Senator Tom Coburn literally called on supporters to pray for some Democratic Senator not to be able to make it to the Capitol for the vote," reads an email from Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), sent to a large list in the middle of last week. "And already, Newt Gingrich proclaimed, 'When we get a majority, we're repealing the whole thing.'"

"We can't let them do this," the letter goes on. "We need to not only keep the gains we've made, but expand them."

Kendrick Meek in Florida, Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, and Lee Fisher in Ohio all stood with us in 2004, and they are fighting for us now. They all supported a strong public option in the health care fight, and all stand up for real clean energy reform.

And they're all running in seats currently held by Republicans. Just imagine the change that will bring to the Senate, replacing three Republicans with three great progressives.

Apparently the drive is proving successful.

According to Kerry's New Media Director Brian Young, people receiving the fundraising pitch have been 30 to 40 percent more likely to donate on the basis of the repeal threat than they have during other fundraising drives this year--and that has pushed their fundraising total up 70 percent over separate election-related fundraising in the second half of 2009.

"Really, there was no way to avoid talking about health care on a fundraising appeal this month, and we were explicit on what's at stake next year: continued efforts to reform our system, or going backwards," Young says. "We weren't intimidated by the GOP bloviating about this issue (they always pretend things are moving their way), but, honestly, the response was even more positive than we expected."

The DSCC is getting involved, too.

"It's hard to believe that Republicans could be so united against legislation that will expand health care coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans, add choices and competition, force insurance companies to abide by strong new regulations and cut costs for families," reads a fundraising letter sent yesterday by chairman Robert Menendez. "Now that they lost this battle, they will be focusing their fight -- and their millions and millions of dollars - on defeating us. That's why it's imperative that we match them now and at every fundraising goal from here on out."

"It's really great to once again be on the offense on health care," said one senior Democratic strategist. "If it was so terrible that they'd filibuster it at any turn, surely they'd want to come to Washington and repeal it, but they know what a tough position they'd be in with voters if they said, 'we're going to take this away from you.'"

You can read the Kerry email in its entirety below.

Hello XXXXX,

At just before 2 am on Monday morning, the Senate finally overcame months upon months of GOP roadblocks on healthcare reform, and we will pass a bill in the next couple of days.

You and I have traveled some rocky roads together the years when we were buried in the minority -- you know that vote would've been impossible two years ago and unthinkable four years ago. Now, the GOP is so desperate to stop our progress, before that vote Republican Senator Tom Coburn literally called on supporters to pray for some Democratic Senator not to be able to make it to the Capitol for the vote.

And already, Newt Gingrich proclaimed, "When we get a majority, we're repealing the whole thing."

Sarah Palin is out raising money for Republican Senate candidates, and Glenn Beck is still twisting the facts to try to whip people up.

We can't let them do this. We need to not only keep the gains we've made, but expand them.

Can you contribute to three great progressives to make that happen?

Kendrick Meek in Florida, Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, and Lee Fisher in Ohio all stood with us in 2004, and they are fighting for us now. They all supported a strong public option in the health care fight, and all stand up for real clean energy reform.

And they're all running in seats currently held by Republicans. Just imagine the change that will bring to the Senate, replacing three Republicans with three great progressives.

They all can win, but it won't be easy. Sarah Palin is already helping Lee Fisher's opponent, former Bush aide Rob Portman. And she'll surely be working hard against Kendrick and Paul, as well. These are tough battlegrounds, but they are all in states that voted for Barack Obama, so with your help, we can win them.

So please contribute $25, $50, or $100 right now and keep fighting for progressive values.

We're changing things in Washington, and we need to keep it up. Thanks for all you've done to get us this far.

Sincerely,

John Kerry