Janet Napolitano

NRCC Uses Napolitano Blunder On Flight 253 To Hammer House Dems

Eric Kleefeld | December 29, 2009, 5:55PM

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

The Republican Party is using Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to attack House Democrats in the wake of her much-derided comment that "the system worked" in response to the near-bombing of Flight 253.

(Napolitano was speaking of the response to the attack after the fact, but her detractors are understandably more focused on the intelligence failures before the event.)

The NRCC has put out a new press release against swing-seat Democrats on the Homeland Security and Government Oversight committees, calling on them to demand that Napolitano testify to Congress: "Will (member name) finally demand answers from Secretary Napolitano, or will (he/she) continue to silently endorse her alarming statement that 'the system worked' in the face of building evidence that the administration is unable to confront serious threats against the American people?"

Interestingly, one of the Dems on the receiving end of this press release is Rep. Chris Carney (PA) -- who was being courted by the GOP last week to switch parties, and even got a phone call from Sen. John McCain. Carney then put out a statement turning down the offer, but also thanking the GOP and declaring "their outreach a sure sign that I have worked in a truly bipartisan manner." Now they're attacking him in a press release. It looks like that courtship was over as quickly as it began.

The full press release is available after the jump.

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Chris Carney

GOP Looking For More Party Switchers, Uses McCain To Target Chris Carney

Eric Kleefeld | December 23, 2009, 5:41PM

Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA)

Republicans are going fishing for more party-switching House Democrats, the Politico reports -- with the latest target being second-term Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Carney, who received a phone call from Sen. John McCain himself.

Senate Republicans are also reportedly receiving a list of party-switching targets in the House.

"I just said, 'Whatever you do, I know that you'll make right decision for the country,'" said McCain. Carney is also being courted to switch by Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Bill Shuster. Carney was elected in 2006 by a 53%-47%, defeating a scandal-plagued Republican incumbent. He was re-elected by 56%-44% in 2008, at the same time as McCain carried his district by 54%-45%.

If someone were sitting down and making a list of obvious targets in the Democratic caucus that Republicans could court, Carney wouldn't be at the top of it. He voted for the House health care bill this past November, which surely wouldn't endear him to the conservative GOP activist base. However, a House Republican told the site that they'd gotten "a nibble" from Carney, whatever that means. Politico also reports: "A source familiar with the call [with McCain] said that Republicans thought Carney may be susceptible to McCain's entreaty because, like the senator, the 50-year old House member served in the Navy."

A Navy background makes for a Democrat becoming a Republican? How about they try Admiral Joe Sestak next?