TPMDC
John Cornyn

Poll: Public Wants Congress To Keep Working On Health Care
A new CNN poll has mixed news for the health care bill, with a total of 59% saying that Congress should continue to work on it. However, only 26% said the current bills should be passed with only minor changes, with 33% saying major changes should be made. Only 24% said to start over on new bills, and only 15% said to pass no bill at all.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will sign at 11 a.m. ET the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, extending unemployment benefits and other aid in the recession. He will depart the White House at 2:20 p.m. ET, and will visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center at 2:35 p.m. ET. He will arrive back at the White House at 4:15 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4:25 p.m. ET with Congressman-elect Bill Owens (D-NY), and will meet at 5:10 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (21) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Barack Obama, Bill Owens, Fort Hood, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Honduras, Jim DeMint, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, NRSC, Roundup

NRSC

NRSC Won't Spend Money In Contested Primaries

Eric Kleefeld | November 4, 2009, 2:05PM

State Rep. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R)

On the heels of the NY-23 special House election, in which Conservative Party insurgent Doug Hoffman overtook moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava, only to lose to Democrat Bill Owens, NRSC chairman John Cornyn (R-TX) has announced that the GOP's national Senate committee will not be spending money in contested primaries.

"There's no incentive for us to weigh in," Cornyn told ABC News. "We have to look at our resources."

This could have huge ramifications in the Florida Senate race, where moderate Gov. Charlie Crist has been endorsed by the NRSC, and faces the more conservative former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. Crist has already emerged as a new top target for the same right-wing activists who went after Scozzafava.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (21) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)
Topics: Charlie Crist, FL-SEN, John Cornyn, Marco Rubio, NRSC, NY-23

Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 25, 2009, 1:02PM

Schumer: Dems 'Very Close' To 60 Votes
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that Democrats are approaching 60 votes for a compromise public option: "The liberals, they like it stronger, but they're willing to live with level playing field, opt-out. The more moderate Democrats, there are some who actually like it. As long as it's a level playing field, they're comfortable with it. There are others who say that, 'I'm not sure I like it, but I won't hold up passage of the bill.' I think we're very close to getting the 60 votes we need to move forward, and my guess is that the public option level playing field with the state opt-out will be in the bill. But Leader Reid will make that decision after he talks to everybody several times.

Abdullah Calls For 'Dramatic Increase' In American Troops In Afghanistan
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Afghan presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah called for a "dramatic increase" in the number of American troops in his country: "If the situation is not reversed from deteriorating further the security situation, so the future of this country will be at risk, and the future of the engagement of the international community will be at risk. So this situation requires a sort of dramatic increase in the number of troops in order to stop -- stop it from further deteriorating and reversing it. The permanent solution is in a road map that Afghanistan stands on its own feet in a few years down the road, troops -- number of troops could be decreased in Afghanistan, finally, and eventually will stand on its own feet."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (22) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan, Bob McDonnell, Chuck Schumer, Claire McCaskill, Creigh Deeds, Dick Cheney, Health Care, John Cornyn, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Public Option, Roundup, Russ Feingold, VA-GOV

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 5:34PM

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Dr. , Afghan presidential candidate; Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA).

• Fox News Sunday: Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan presidential candidate; Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ).

• NBC, Meet The Press: SEn. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (5) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Abdullah Abdullah, Ben Nelson, Chuck Schumer, Claire McCaskill, Jim Webb, John Cornyn, John McCain, Jon Kyl, Mitch McConnell, Orrin Hatch, Russ Feingold, Sunday Shows

Health Care

Taking Stock Of AHIP Report - Last 36 Hours Have Galvanized Both Sides

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 12:36PM

Robert Zirkelbach, Press Secretary AHIP, Pricewaterhouse Coopers building, CEO Karen Ignagni

It's been called a "bombshell," but Democrats are saying the America's Health Insurance Plans report has helped unify the party around the health care bill(s). They say it's much easier to fight the big, bad insurance lobby that burned the White House than, for example, a Congressional Budget Office report showing increased costs and insurmountable debt as the American people are wary of skyrocketing deficits.

However, a key Democratic Senate leadership aide told TPMDC that while the report angered Democrats, it is highly unlikely to move any votes for the final bill. Another Democrat agreed the report "should" galvanize the party but doubted Democrats would take full advantage of the report, which left out some key elements in its analysis.

Responding to that news, the DNC's Brad Woodhouse referred to it as the "AHIP Hatchet Job" and warned that anyone using the "phony" report will be subject to one of the party's "Call you out" campaigns.

"This should lay to rest any notion that the AHIP report has any credibility whatsoever or that it should be used by members of Congress in their deliberations over health insurance reform," Woodhouse said.

Organizing for America, the spinoff of the Obama campaign housed at the DNC, hasn't planned any formal pushback yet but is making sure volunteers have the talking points so they can shoot the report down if they are asked while knocking on doors and making calls.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (13) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)
Topics: AHIP, DNC, Health Care, John Cornyn, PricewaterhouseCoopers, White House

Chuck Schumer

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | October 2, 2009, 4:31PM

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

• CBS, Face The Nation: National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Gen. Anthony Zinni, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO).

• CNN, State Of The Union: National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ).

• Fox News Sunday: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (3) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Barbara Boxer, Bob Casey, Carl Levin, Chuck Schumer, Evan Bayh, Ike Skelton, James Jones, John Cornyn, Jon Kyl, Lindsey Graham, Saxby Chambliss, Susan Rice

Senate Finance Committee

Rockefeller To Cornyn: You're In The Insurance Industry's Pocket

Rachel Slajda | September 24, 2009, 6:17PM

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

The Senate Finance Committee markup of its health care reform bill has had a few heated moments over the past few days. But this one, spotted by Think Progress, caught our eye.

Discussing one of Sen. John Cornyn's (R-TX) amendments, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) said, "If there's anything which is clear, it's that the insurance industry is not running this markup, but it is running certain people in this markup."

He went on to say that Cornyn's amendment -- one that would add caveats to an employer mandate -- "is about giving subsidies to insurance companies... instead of giving it, helping people. This is the grandfather of all grandfathers."

"With all due respect, Senator, I don't know what amendment you're referring to --," Cornyn said.

"I'm referring to yours," Rockefeller said.

"You're certainly not referring to my amendment --," Cornyn said.

"I am," Rockefeller said.

Video after the jump.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (12) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)
Topics: Health Care, Jay Rockefeller, John Cornyn, John Rockefeller, Senate Finance Committee

Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 12, 2009, 1:01PM

Obama: Losing Insurance Can Happen To Anybody
In this week's YouTube address, President Obama warned that losing health insurance is something that can happen to anybody -- and according to a new report from the Treasury Department, it will happen to half of all Americans under 65, unless something is done about it:

"If you're under the age of 21 today, chances are more than half that you'll find yourself uninsured at some point in that time. And more than one-third of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year," said Obama. "I refuse to allow that future to happen. In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance - not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law - they won't."

Cornyn: Instead of More Speeches, Obama Should Listen To Republicans
In this week's Republican address, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) praised President Obama for taking a bipartisan approach to the Afghanistan War -- and attacked Obama's health care proposals:

"He's paid lip service to bipartisanship while rejecting the ideas that would build bipartisan support," said Cornyn. "As a result, the President has alienated not only independents and divided his own party, but Republicans as well. And, he's ignored the clear wishes of the American people. So the President gave another big speech this week to try to turn his numbers around. But instead of talking, the President and Congressional Democrats should spend a little more time listening."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (24) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: ACORN, Afghanistan, Al Franken, Barack Obama, Census, Health Care, Joe Wilson, John Cornyn, MA-SEN, Tea Party, Tom Harkin

Barack Obama

Cornyn to Obama: Are You Collecting Info On Your Health Care Enemies?

Brian Beutler | August 6, 2009, 2:26PM

As we reported previously, the administration is stepping up a program to counter health care misinformation before falsehoods become conventional wisdom. As part of that effort, the White House's new media director, Macon Phillips, has asked supporters to let him know if they "get...email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy." That way, the White House can explain, publicly, why this or that incorrect allegation is in fact incorrect.

For Sen. John Cornyn, though, this is all straight out of 1984. "I write to express my concern about a new White House program to monitor American citizens' speech opposing your health care policies," writes Cornyn (who, cough, supported President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program) in a letter to President Obama.

By requesting that citizens send "fishy" emails to the White House, it is inevitable that the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and private speech of U.S. citizens will be reported to the White House. You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.

You can read the letter here. Presumably, the White House is interested in the misinformation itself, and not the names and email addresses of the people propagating it. But, of course, in politics, clumsy phrasing can cause a major head ache, and I smell a new conservative meme brewing.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (15) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: Barack Obama, Health Care, John Cornyn

CA-SEN

Cornyn Talking Up Fiorina's Prospects In California Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | August 5, 2009, 4:56PM

Do Republicans think they can take on Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in 2010? For now at least, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, NRSC chairman John Cornyn is talking up the prospects of potential GOP candidate Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard.

"(Carly) Fiorina...even before she announces her candidacy she is within four points in a Rasmussen poll against Barbara Boxer," said Cornyn. "Of course Sen. Boxer's had some YouTube moments lately that I think are sort of raising questions about her liability, even in a place like California."

California is a state that is big and expensive, leans to the left, and voted for Obama by a 61%-37% margin last year. But hey, there's something to be said for aiming high.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (12) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: CA-SEN, John Cornyn, Senate '10

John Cornyn

Cornyn: Dems "Ought To Be Ashamed" For Using Race In Sotomayor Debates

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 9:59AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has accused the Democrats of using race as a wedge issue in the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation process -- that is, the Dems have been "giving cover to groups and individuals to nurture racial grievances for political advantage."

Cornyn was responding to statements from Harry Reid and other Democrats, that the GOP's opposition to Sotomayor will hurt them among Latino voters.

"I don't think it influences people's votes, but what it does encourage is a very poisonous -- indeed a very toxic -- tone of destructive politics," said Cornyn. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Of course, this accusation can certainly cut both ways. Remember how the right wing celebrated the New Haven firefighters case?

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (70) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)
Topics: John Cornyn, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

Health Care

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 30, 2009, 9:01AM

CBS/NYT Poll: Public Conflicted About Health Care
A new CBS/New York Times poll finds the public feeling conflicted about health care reform. On the one hand 66% of adults favor a public options, and 55% say the government should guarantee health coverage for all Americans. On the other hand, 56% are very concerned that businesses would cut jobs if government acts to cover all Americans, and a 45% plurality are very concerned that their own taxes would go up.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, at 3 p.m. ET. He will meet with Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner at 4 p.m. ET, and with Vice President Biden at 4:30 p.m. Then at 6 p.m. ET, he will meet outside the Oval Office with Cambridge Police Sergeant James Crowley and Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr, for that round of beer that was announced last week.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (16) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Barack Obama, Birth Certificate, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, John Cornyn, Rudy Giuliani, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

John Cornyn

Cornyn's Office Apologizes For India Comments, Says He Misspoke

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 9:08AM

Sen. John Cornyn's office has apologized for his statement last week that America needs the F-22 fighter plane in order to deal with the national security threat from India -- which is an ally of the United States -- saying he misspoke.

"Senator Cornyn misspoke saying 'India' when he meant to say 'China,'" Cornyn's spokesman said in a statement to the Times of India. "As Founder and Co-chairman of the Senate India Caucus, no Senator has greater respect or admiration for India or values our relationship with them more. Sen. Cornyn regrets the mistake and apologizes for any misunderstanding this may have caused."

The YouTube in which Cornyn made the statement has been taken down from his account.

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Topics: John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Cornyn: We Need F-22 To Protect Us From...India?

Eric Kleefeld | July 24, 2009, 6:14PM

Check out this new Web video from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), in which he he says we need to keep the F-22 fighter plane in order to deal with emerging international threats -- including India, which is an ally of the United States:

"It's important to our national security because we're not just fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq," Cornyn says. "We're fighting -- we have graver threats and greater threats than that: From a rising India, with increased exercise of their military power; Russia; Iran, that's threatening to build a nuclear weapon; with North Korea, shooting intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of hitting American soil."

The stuff about North Korea and Iran should be expected as a talking point about national security. But why is he including a country that is not in any way an enemy, with a military that does not pose a credible threat to the US in the first place?

(Via Joshua Kucera.)

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Topics: John Cornyn

John Cornyn

Cornyn to Sotomayor: 'You Will Get An Up Or Down Vote On The Senate Floor'

Brian Beutler | July 15, 2009, 9:54AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has taken a softer approach than most of his colleagues to Sonia Sotomayor since President Obama nominated her to the Supreme Court. But now, with her confirmation hearings entering their third day, the high-ranking Republican is saying he'll go to the mat for Sotomayor if Republicans try to filibuster her.

Of course some have been filibustered, they've been denied the opportunity to have an up or down vote on the Senate floor. I told you when we visited in my office, that's not going to happen to you if I have anything to say about it. You will get that up or down vote on the Senate floor.

Cornyn's job, of course, is to make sure vulnerable Republicans don't lose their Senate seats, and that task is complicated when the Republican party is seen as--or is actually--hostile to Hispanics. A filibuster attempt against the first Latina nominated to the Supreme Court would probably be a major headache for him.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (14) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Cornyn, Republicans, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

John McCain

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 12, 2009, 1:20PM

Palin Plans To Stay Involved In Politics
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) told the Washington Times that she'll be staying involved in politics: "I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation." She did not rule out a presidential campaign in the future. "I'm not ruling out anything - it is the way I have lived my life from the youngest age," she said. "Let me peek out there and see if there's an open door somewhere. And if there's even a little crack of light, I'll hope to plow through it."

McCain: Palin Will Continue To Be A Major Factor
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was asked about Sarah Palin's resignation. "Obviously I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't shocked," said McCain. "I love and respect her and her family, I'm grateful that she agreed to run with me." He added: "I'm confident that she will be a major factor in the national scene and in Alaska as well."

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (28) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)
Topics: Dianne Feinstein, Dick Cheney, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, John McCain, Kathleen Sebelius, Sarah Palin, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

Tea Party

GOP Pols Losing Control Of Tea Party Movement?

Eric Kleefeld | July 6, 2009, 12:33PM

Thousands of right-wing activists across this country rang in the Independence Day holiday with yet another round of tea-party protests against President Obama, inadvertently highlighting an interesting divide in the Republican Party. On the one hand are the hard-line activists who attend these things, versus the more mainstream politicians who want to win elections and are looking for their votes -- and are running into all manner of conflicts as a result, or finding themselves taking on some rather interesting policy stances along the way.

Most notably, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, was booed at the event in Austin -- on the grounds that he's part of the problem in Washington, having voted for the Wall St. bailout last fall. "I'm not part of Washington," Cornyn said in his own defense. "I happen to work there, but on behalf of Texas, and I can vote 'no' on these reckless spending bills, on the refusal to cut taxes."

Gov. Rick Perry -- who famously seemed to raise the specter of Texas seceding from the union during the April Tax Day protests -- was also booed at the same Austin event as Cornyn. Attendees saw him as yet another tax-hiking tyrant, because he supports toll roads in order to relieve traffic congestion.

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Topics: John Cornyn, Marty Seifert, Rick Perry, Tea Party

John Cornyn

Cornyn On Minnesota Race: "It's Troubling To Think" What Dems Will Do With 60 Seats

Eric Kleefeld | June 30, 2009, 4:58PM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has released this statement on Sen.-elect Al Franken's (D-MN) victory:

"I would like to commend both Norm Coleman and Al Franken on a hard fought campaign. In particular, I would like to be among the first to welcome Al Franken to the United States Senate.

"This has been a long process and while both sides would have preferred a speedier outcome, full, fair and free elections are what make our nation great. That's why I have so much respect for Norm Coleman. I've known Norm not just as a friend and colleague, but as a devoted public servant who recognized that this legal challenge was not just about him. It was about making sure no Minnesotan was disenfranchised in this election.

PERMALINK | COMMENTS (8) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)
Topics: John Cornyn, MN-SEN, Senate '10

John Cornyn

Cornyn Promises Continued Support For Coleman

Eric Kleefeld | June 23, 2009, 2:24PM

While we're all waiting for a decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court about the state's ever-continuing disputed 2008 Senate race between Republican former Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic comedian Al Franken, the national GOP is reiterating its continued support for Coleman if he appeals a much-expected defeat -- and that avenues exist to stop Al Franken from being certified as the winner.

"We'll do everything we can to support Norm as long as he has appellate remedies to pursue," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in an interview with David Weigel.

Cornyn noted that if Franken wins the appeals, the Governor and state Secretary of State will be required to give him a certificate of election -- his golden ticket into the Senate. But, Cornyn said, Coleman could potentially appeal to the Supreme Court: "The justice that's responsible for that area -- I think it's Justice Alito -- could issue a stay in the issuance of the election certificate, and it could be referred to the entire court."

"I say all this as 'could,'" said Cornyn, "not as 'will or should.'"

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Topics: John Cornyn, MN-SEN

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama To Muslim World: "Cycle Of Suspicion And Discord Must End"
In his big speech earlier today in Cairo, Egypt, President Obama reached out to Muslims the world over in an appeal for peace, religious tolerance and understanding, and an overall new beginning for international relations. "So long as our relationship is defined by our differences," Obama said, "we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end."

Obama's Day In Egypt
President Obama arrived in Cairo, Egypt, at 2:10 a.m. ET (9:10 a.m. local time), and participated in a welcome ceremony at the Quba palace at 2:40 a.m. ET. At 3 a.m. ET, he held a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and at 4:50 a.m. ET he and Sec. of State Clinton toured the Sultan Hassan Mosque. At 6:10 a.m. ET, he gave his big speech. At 8:45 a.m. ET, he toured the Pyramids and the Sphinx. At 11 a.m. ET, he will depart from Cairo International Airport, en route to Dresden, Germany.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, NY-SEN, Pres '12, Senate '10, Sonia Sotomayor, Stimulus, Supreme Court

Supreme Court

Sotomayor Spark Lights Intra-GOP Conflagration

Eric Kleefeld | May 29, 2009, 12:15PM

After a week of escalating race and gender rhetoric from the right over the Sotomayor nomination, it's now looking like some in the Republican Party -- those concerned with actually getting elected -- have become alarmed by the political damage the more extreme members of their party may be doing and are moving to rein in the vitriol. It's the starkest example yet of an interesting division within the right, one that has been apparent for some time, but which the Sotomayor nomination has not only crystalized but accelerated: the right-wing bomb-throwers obsessed with ideological purity versus the right-wing pragmatists who want the party to actually win election again some day.

Make no mistake -- all of these people are staunch conservatives. While the bomb-throwers include folks like Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and a colorful cast of other players, the practical folks include the likes of Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), RNC chairman Michael Steele, and pundit Peggy Noonan.

Where you stand depends on where you sit: If your job is to whip up publicity and/or money, then haranguing on Sotomayor is the way to go. But if your job is to not alienate key groups of voters and to work to bring them back, it's a different story entirely.

Let's compare and contrast.

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Topics: John Cornyn, Michael Steele, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

FL-SEN

Cornyn Explains Crist Endorsement For Florida Race: 100% Conservative GOP Is A "Pipedream"

Eric Kleefeld | May 29, 2009, 9:59AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), in his role as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is now reaching out to right-wing activists upset with the national party's endorsement of moderate Republican Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, who supported the stimulus bill, against a more conservative candidate in the primary for the open GOP-held Senate seat.

In a new post at RedState.com, Cornyn sets out to explain that Crist represents the strongest chance for Republicans to hold this seat -- and to give a basic political science lesson in how the American two-party system works:

Some believe that we should be a monolithic Party; I disagree. While we all might wish for a Party comprised only of people who agree with us 100 percent of the time, this is a pipedream. Each Party is fundamentally a coalition of individuals rallying around core principles with some variations along the way. My job as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee is to recruit candidates who have the best chance of winning and holding seats - and to do so in as many states as possible.

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Topics: FL-SEN, John Cornyn, Senate '10

FL-SEN

Cornyn: Crist Can Win In 2010 Florida Senate Race -- And Save Money

Eric Kleefeld | May 27, 2009, 11:24AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, gave this interesting explanation to Human Events for why his committee has stepped in so early to support moderate Florida Gov. Charlie Crist over his more conservative challenger Marco Rubio:

"Gov. Crist is the strongest candidate that will enable us to hold the seat," Cornyn told me, "Marco Rubio...[has] a bright future ahead of him, but right now the Mason Dixon poll shows Crist beating him in a primary by 53% to 18%." By nominating Crist, Cornyn believes, "we won't have to spend precious resources in Florida" to retain the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (who has also endorsed Crist).

So it's not just about getting a winning candidate in Florida, but it's also about getting a candidate who can win by a sufficient margin so that the party won't have to spend too much money in a big swing state.

The Democrats have been able to behave effectively in this rational manner for recent cycles -- probably the best example would be the recruitment of Bob Casey in the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race. So the question here is whether the GOP's current activist base can line up in the same way.

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Topics: FL-SEN, John Cornyn, Senate '10

John Cornyn

Cornyn Disagrees With Pete Sessions: Obama Not Intentionally Killing Free Enterprise

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2009, 11:30AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is apparently not agreeing with Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, who said in the New York Times on Monday that the Obama Administration was deliberately increasing unemployment and lowering stock prices, "intended to inflict damage and hardship on the free enterprise system, if not to kill it."

The Dallas Morning News asked Cornyn whether he agreed that Obama wants higher unemployment and other economic problems. "Absolutely not," said Cornyn.

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Topics: John Cornyn, Pete Sessions

John Cornyn

The GOP: Not A National Party?

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2009, 11:54AM

At the Senate GOP leadership's press conference on Tuesday, after Sen. Arlen Specter switched from the Republicans to the Democrats, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) made a very interesting statement in his capacity as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee:

"I will tell you that in 2010 we are working very hard to make sure that we have the kind of candidates across the country on a national scale," said Cornyn, "that will allow the Republican Party to regain our status as a national party, and run competitive races in blue states, and purple states, and in red states."

So was Cornyn saying that the GOP is not right now a national party? I asked NRSC press secretary Amber Wilkerson for comment, and she pointed me in the direction of something Cornyn said at CPAC earlier this year, about the need to be a big tent that can appeal to voters across the country.

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Topics: Arlen Specter, John Cornyn, Republicans

MN-SEN

Cornyn Warns Against Danger Of 60 Dem Seats -- In Case Of "Unlikely" Coleman Loss

Eric Kleefeld | April 29, 2009, 6:38PM

In a guest-post today at the conservative Power Line blog, NRSC chairman John Cornyn has an interesting line in terms of playing up the dangers of a filibuster-proof Democratic majority:

Second, in the unfortunate and unlikely event that Senator Norm Coleman loses his legal battle in Minnesota, Harry Reid will now have his long-coveted 60-seat, filibuster-proof supermajority in the United States Senate. With Nancy Pelosi firmly in control of the U.S. House of Representatives and President Obama just 100 days into his administration, Republicans will have lost the ability to meaningfully impact legislation in any way.

Note that Cornyn refers to a Coleman legal defeat as an "unlikely" event -- despite the fact that hardly any neutral observer would predict that Coleman will win his court fight.

Cornyn has to walk a very fine line here. He obviously needs to communicate to the base just how dangerous a 60-seat Democratic majority is -- but if he admits that such a thing is actually happening, then he's given away far too much in the final remaining battle of the 2008 election.

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Topics: Arlen Specter, John Cornyn, MN-SEN

Arlen Specter

Snowe: The GOP Did Leave Specter Behind

Brian Beutler | April 29, 2009, 11:48AM

As I noted below, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) thinks the Republican party will be fine as long as it embraces "mainstream" Americans like Pat Toomey, who stick to their laurels and don't push conservative voters on to a trail of tears to the South. Perhaps Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) will turn to that advice for when, as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he addresses the question, which he raised yesterday, of how to turn the GOP into a national party once more. Or perhaps he'll pay more attention to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who wrote penned for the New York Times a counterpoint of sorts to Jim DeMint's bizarre interpretation of Arlen Specter's move into the Democratic party.

"Republicans [have] turned a blind eye to the iceberg under the surface," she wrote, "failing to undertake the re-evaluation of our inclusiveness as a party that could have forestalled many of the losses we have suffered."