Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Family Research Council Suggests DADT Keeps Soldiers From Getting HIV

Christina Bellantoni | July 30, 2010, 2:26PM

A gay veteran and the president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins.

In its bid to block the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Family Research Council is arguing that soldiers could get HIV if gay men and lesbians are allowed to serve openly -- and that kids might read porn instead of the Bible. In a 98-minute Webcast caught by the LGBT POV blog, FRC's Tony Perkins promised to explain, "How the military is being used to advance a radical agenda."

Perkins began the webcast (watch it in full below) with a warning: "What you will see and hear tonight may enrage you." The broadcast included Oliver North, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO). FRC has been campaigning adamantly against the repeal of the Clinton-era ban on gays in the military.

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Ethics

GOP Hurt By Anti 'Swamp' Campaign In '06 Aims To Turn Tables In '10 With Rangel Charges

Christina Bellantoni | July 30, 2010, 1:19PM

Speaker Nancy Pelsoi, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Prepare for Charlie Rangel to become a household name during the fall campaigns, political operatives from both parties are saying. The Republican plan for August, according to aides TPM spoke with this week, is to tie the party to Rangel and the fact he was charged with 13 violations yesterday. The GOP says it's only fair game, since the Democrats in 2006 ran on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pledge to "drain the swamp" and tried to link all of the Republican candidates with disgraced former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX).

Republicans are tickled pink that a spotlight is shining on Rangel (D-NY) just as the campaign season kicks into high gear, and campaign operatives are advising GOP candidates across the country to try and nationalize his ethics charges and get Democrats to defend him. Vulnerable House Democrats are feeling the squeeze, and Republicans are digging up their 2006 statements accusing the GOP leadership of fostering a culture of corruption. The looming midterms are one reason House Democrats had been urging Rangel behind-the-scenes to cut a deal, and why Republicans are saying he missed his window.

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2010 elections

Dems Call On GOPers To Renounce Phyllis Schlafly Over Remarks About 'Unmarried Women' (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 29, 2010, 4:28PM

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly took aim at "unmarried women" at a recent fundraiser and in an interview with TPM, saying that they overwhelmingly support President Obama and are all on welfare. Democrats aim to exploit the comments to pressure the more than 60 Republican candidates who have earned Schlafly's endorsement.

"Unmarried women, 70% of unmarried women, voted for Obama, and this is because when you kick your husband out, you've got to have big brother government to be your provider," said Schlafly, president of Eagle Forum and infamous for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment.

A liberal organization recorded the Schlafly comments at a Troy, Michigan fundraiser Saturday for a Republican congressional candidate, the Detroit Free Press reported. In an interview with TPM this afternoon Schlafly stood by her comments and said Obama is trying to boost welfare rolls to help with his reelection and to help Democrats.

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2010 elections

Obama To Headline House Dems' Fundraiser As Some Grumble He's More Likely To Help The Senate

Christina Bellantoni | July 29, 2010, 1:48PM

President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

President Obama will head to Los Angeles next month for a major fundraiser to help House Democrats, gearing up his political activity with less than 100 days to go before the fall midterm elections.

Over the last few days, Democratic political operatives at press events and on calls with supporters have pointedly said they've "noticed" that Obama has gotten more aggressive and helpful in recent weeks. It might have something to do with a dust-up between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs earlier this month over how likely it is the Republicans have a chance at seizing control of Congress in November.

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Immigration

Jan Brewer On Immigration Setback: Send Money So We Can Keep 'Fighting For America' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 29, 2010, 12:25PM

Jan Brewer

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has said she's disappointed that a federal judge blocked portions of her state's new immigration law but she's using the setback to raise money for her effort to fight the Obama administration.

Appearing last night on Fox News' Hannity, Brewer (R) said she's been encouraged by the support from her home state and across the country as supporters of her efforts send money and kind notes about what she's done. Meanwhile, opponents of the law have used it as a rallying cry to fight for a comprehensive immigration reform measure in Congress.

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2010 elections

'Speaker Boehner'? Republicans Sell Access In Hopes Of Winning Back House

Christina Bellantoni | July 29, 2010, 9:15AM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the background (D-CA)

House Republicans are attempting to nationalize the fall elections in hopes of winning back control of the chamber, with a new effort to raise money called Boehner for Speaker. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has a lot at stake in November, and he's going all-in.

Donors giving big bucks or helping to raise at least $100,000 for the National Republican Congressional Committee will get "meetings with Boehner, calls from senior aides with updates on the campaign and 'VIP access to all events, including roundtables, briefings, breakout discussions and interactive panel discussions," according to Politico, which obtained some materials Boehner's office was shopping around for the new campaign.

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2010 elections

DNC Sends Cash To Campaign Committees And State Parties

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 6:13PM

Tim Kaine, DNC chair

The Democratic National Committee has transferred piles of cash from its campaign account to the Senate and House campaign committees and several states, investing big in hopes of retaining the party's seats and majorities during the November elections.

The DNC gave $833,333 to the Senate campaign arm the DSCC and $833,333 to the House campaign arm the DCCC. The DNC also gave $100,000 to the Maryland Democratic Party, $400,000 to the Florida Democratic Party and $333,333 to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

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Immigration

Brewer Says AZ Will Appeal Ruling She Thinks Is Just 'Bump In The Road' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 3:48PM

Jan Brewer

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) has pledged to appeal the judge's ruling against portions of her new immigration law, telling reporters today that it was "a little bump in the road."

Brewer said "the federal government got relief from the courts to not do their job." She said the federal government must "step up ... and do the job that they have the responsibility to do for the people of America and the people of Arizona."

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MO-SEN

Missouri Tea Partiers Rip Michele Bachmann For Backing Roy Blunt

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 2:52PM

Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Tea party groups in Missouri are furious that national tea party icon, Rep. Michele Bachmann, endorsed the strong frontrunner for the Senate nomination Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO). Bachmann will join Blunt for a fundraiser and to make campaign calls in his St. Louis headquarters Saturday.

Given that Bachmann has emerged as a tea party hero and formed the brand-new Tea Party Caucus in Congress, the groups said "we were shocked" that she is backing Blunt since he voted for the TARP bailout funds and "Cash for Clunkers."

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Immigration

Judge Rules Against Portions Of Arizona Immigration Law

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 1:38PM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

A federal judge today blocked several parts of Arizona's new immigration law, putting them on hold as the overall law was scheduled to take effect Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled that the portions of the law that most angered its opponents -- including the checking of immigration status during stops for unrelated offenses -- would not be allowed to be enforced. The Associated Press reported that the sections would be put on hold until the courts resolve the issues. White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters on Air Force one that the Department of Justice would be reacting to the ruling.

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2010 elections

Dems To Define GOP With 'Republican-Tea Party Contract With America' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 28, 2010, 6:00AM

Tim Kaine, DNC chair

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine today will announce a new party initiative aimed at defining the Republicans who want to win control of Congress as tea partiers who want to repeal everything and abolish federal agencies.

A Democratic official offering TPM an early preview of what Kaine would say during an 11 a.m. press conference today with members of Congress framed the push as "a preemptive strike" against the Republican plans to roll out a new "contract" with America for the fall elections.

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Immigration

DREAM Dashed? Dems Divided Over Bill To Give Green Cards To Undocumented Students

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 6:11PM

Democrats had until recently been keeping alive the possibility of considering a comprehensive immigration reform measure this year, but now that they acknowledge it isn't politically possible, the party is fracturing over whether to tackle a smaller portion of the problem in the form of the DREAM Act.

Officially titled the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, the bill has been discussed for years as a reasonable change that members from both parties can get behind. In short, the Dream Act would allow a conditional permanent residency for students who graduate from high school and earn or are on track to earn a college degree. It would help potentially millions of illegal immigrants who were brought here illegally by their parents as young children and attended schools in the U.S. all their life.

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MO-SEN

Joe The Plumber Backs Roy Blunt Rival In Missouri's GOP Primary (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 1:49PM

Joe the Plumber and US Senate candidate Chuck Purgason (R-MO)

Democrats are treating Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) like the certain Senate nominee this fall, but Blunt's rival in next week's Republican primary is getting an insurgent boost from Sam "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher.

Wurzelbacher endorsed state lawmaker Chuck Purgason for the Aug. 3 Republican primary in Missouri, saying in a new television ad (which he paid for) that voters "do have a choice" in the race. He noted his emergence on the national stage and said he's made it his goal to "stop politicians like Obama." Wurzelbacher calls Blunt a "Washington insider," and Purgason a "man with character."

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pigford

Hoyer 'Very Disappointed' That USDA Race Settlement Stripped From War Bill

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 11:00AM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said today that he is "very disappointed" that senators struck settlement funds for African-American farmers who faced discrimination from a supplemental spending bill his chamber passed earlier this year.

The funds, known at the Pigford II settlement, are intended to compensate farmers for long-standing racial discrimination they faced from USDA that, in many cases, resulted in the loss of their farms. The settlement achieved a level of publicity last week after some conservatives attempted to use the firing of Shirley Sherrod to claim that the settlement procedures had led to fraud.

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2010 elections

Rough Road Ahead: November Looms As Progressives Question Priorities (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 27, 2010, 9:18AM

A donkey on a long road winding into the horizon.

There's no doubt about it, things aren't looking good for November for the Democratic party. It's way too early to know if they will lose the House, but there is broad agreement that 100 days from now, there will be losses and Democratic numbers in Congress will dwindle.

On the ground in Las Vegas for the last several days, TPM took the temperature of Netroots Nation activists, the candidates courting them for dollars and door-knocking and the official party operatives who need progressives engaged if they want to prevent a total wipeout this fall. Most campaign types sounded hopeful notes that it won't be as bad in the end as it looks now, and there seems to be broad agreement that, if the races are put into the context of the idea that Democrats move forward and the Republicans want to take you back to the Bush era, they might just stave off the worst of the losses.

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Financial Reform

Administration Warms To Warren, The New Progressive Darling

Christina Bellantoni | July 26, 2010, 3:40PM

Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel created to oversee the expenditure of TARP, Elizabeth Warren.

Even as the administration began sounding a more positive note on the potential of Elizabeth Warren earning President Obama's nod for the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, she's emerged as the clear progressive favorite for the post.

Obama's team has recently seemed to warm to the idea that Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd splashed cold water on last week, with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs saying this afternoon that she's "terrific."

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Pres '12

Pawlenty Says Palin Can Wait To Jump Into 2012 Race

Christina Bellantoni | July 26, 2010, 11:20AM

MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Fmr. AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) today said that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's popularity and stature means she can bide her time before making a decision whether to seek a White House bid against President Obama.

"Given her status, she could afford to wait, I think, a lot longer than most other candidates because she has kind of a built in level of familiarity and awareness and support that might not be the same for others. So she could probably wait a lot longer to make any potential decision," Pawlenty told reporters at a breakfast this morning hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

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Pres '12

It's A Landslide! Netroots Want Sarah Palin To Run For President

Christina Bellantoni | July 26, 2010, 12:00AM

President Barack Obama and Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Well, it's official. Progressive Democrats want President Obama to face off against former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2012 as the battle for the ages.

An early release of the Netroots Nation straw poll taken from Thursday through Sunday and obtained by TPM shows that attendees of the convention in Las Vegas overwhelmingly want Palin to mount a presidential bid.

Respondents were asked who would they "most like to see" as the GOP nominee to challenge Obama for reelection two years from now. Netroots attendees preferred Sarah Palin, with 48 percent of them choosing her. The next closest vote-getter was libertarian Rep. Ron Paul with 11 percent, followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum with 10 percent and former Gov. Mitt Romney with 9 percent.

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NV-SEN

Silver State Showdown: Reid And Angle Barnstorm Las Vegas For Conventions

Christina Bellantoni | July 25, 2010, 1:24PM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Harry Reid and Sharron Angle were the boogeymen in the backdrop of this week's political conventions in Las Vegas, with activists on the liberal and conservative side of the spectrum setting their sights on defeating the other. Reid (D-NV) and Angle (R-NV) each spent less than two hours addressing their respective groups -- Netroots Nation and RightOnline -- but their electoral showdown was high on the agenda at each.

Reid barely mentioned Angle during his remarks to Netroots Saturday, promising instead that he'd keep fighting for progressive agenda items like the public option and immigration reform. (Reid faced little overall pushback even though progressives are frustrated with the progress of his Senate Democrats, but was confronted by Dan Choi over gay rights.) Other Netroots speakers did most of the attacking when it came to Angle, highlighting her positions on Social Security and accusing her of inciting violence by referencing "Second Amendment solutions" to get Reid out of Washington.

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Netroots Nation

Franken: 'If Republicans Take Over Congress, They'll Implement A Truly Dangerous Agenda' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 25, 2010, 10:28AM

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

Las Vegas -- Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) last night told progressive activists and bloggers that they have a responsibility to stay engaged during the crucial midterm elections -- lest they allow Republicans to not just roll back the Obama administration's real gains, but enact an agenda he called "dangerous." Franken then acknowledged that it's a tough election year but, especially in Sen. Harry Reid's home state, Reid (D-NV) shouldn't be underestimated.

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