DNC Tries To Link GOP With Angle's BP 'Slush Fund' Comment

The Democratic National Committee is trying to tie the Republican party to Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and her unfortunate comments suggesting the escrow account for victims of the Gulf Coast oil spill is a "slush fund." Just like they did with Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) saying the fund was a shakedown and apologizing to BP, the Democrats and even President Obama jumped all over Angle to say that's how the GOP would govern if they win back control of Congress.

The DNC claimed the party received such an "overwhelming response" to the new Web site called BP Republicans they launched last week that they are adding in others who put their foot in their mouth over the oil spill. A party source says they are trying to tell voters that Republicans have done little but show "empathy" toward BP and "big oil" in the months since the oil began gushing into the gulf.

DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse today will send a letter to the party's mailing list running through comments from Barton, Angle, Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Senate candidate Rand Paul (R-KY). "We want folks to know this wasn't just a gaffe or slip of the tongue -- this is how the Republicans would govern," Woodhouse wrote in the email, obtained by TPM.

An excerpt from Woodhouse's note:

For weeks, Republicans have been tripping over each other as they rush to defend BP. They've apologized to the oil giant, accused the President of a shakedown, and called for deregulation of the oil and gas industry. It's as if they've forgotten that they have a responsibility to the people of the Gulf who've seen their lives and livelihoods upended by this tragedy.

...

While the site we've created is a parody, this isn't a laughing matter. We need to make sure voters know who was standing with BP throughout this crisis, and we need your help to do it.