Dems' new excuse

NY Post ^ | September 25, 2010 | Jacob Sullum

[Scanian]

As Democrats head for what promises to be an election fiasco of historic propor tions, a pre-emptive excuse has begun to circulate: It's all because of Citizens United.

Team Donkey fans claim the Jan. 21 decision, in which the Supreme Court overturned restrictions on the political speech of corporations, triggered a flood of negative advertising by what President Obama calls "shadowy groups with harmless-sounding names."

If independent groups favoring Team Elephant have a spending advantage so far, it's not because of recent changes in the law. Most of the advertising that irks Democrats was legal before Citizens United, and the plausible prospect of taking over one or both houses of Congress has energized Republicans, while Dems are dispirited by the unpopularity of their party's policies.

In his radio address last Saturday, President Obama complained about "special interests using front groups with misleading names" who are saying mean things about Democrats on TV, a development he attributed to Citizens United. Yet similar complaints have been heard from both major parties in every recent election cycle

[Jess Kitting]

Same old story: The Dems play the blame and shame game, and the Republicans let them.

[arista]

Their logic: I don’t like the bad things people are saying about me, so let’s take away people’s free speech rights.

[y6162]

There is only one person to blame for the Democrats demise: Nancy Pelosi.

[Pollster1]

They’re right in the sense that without free speech, the ruling class Dems could control the little people much more effectively.

[BelegStrongbow]

You must have missed the clip from CNN showing Paul Ryan pointing out that it is impossible to have an adult discussion if a Democrat is present. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz wasn’t even mature enough to clearly appreciate what he was saying and certainly too slow mentally to be able to respond with anything more lucid than mendacity and false charges.

Wolf Blitzer didn’t really get it either. I’m not sure either of them even really heard what Paul said, though he said it twice.

[Red_Devil 232]

Do know where or if that clip can be found? I would love to see it.

[Thermalseeker]

It's all because of Citizens United.

When the facts aren't on your side, throw up a straw man to blame and distract.....man, is this never ending crap getting tiresome.....

[Jess Kitting]

I never watch CNN, let alone Wolf Blitzer.

Glad to hear that Paul Ryan got his message on the air, twice. Even though the CNN folks weren't paying attention, perhaps some of their listeners (do they have any left?) were.

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the..............................HA ha!!!

[Right Wing Assault]

what President Obama calls "shadowy groups with harmless-sounding names."

ACORN?

[Chi-townChief]

Doesn’t he mean Team Jackass??

[paddles]

How ‘bout, “CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS?”

[csmusaret]

I believe this graph better illustrates the true reason...

[csmusaret]

Or this one.....

[Right Wing Assault]

“People for the American Way” is another.

[aruanan]

Bump for later retrieval.

[aruanan]

while Dems are dispirited by the unpopularity of their party's policies.

Also because so many elected Democrats are just such smarmy pricks.

[meyer]

President Obama complained about "special interests using front groups with misleading names"

You mean like "ACORN","moveon.org", or "Democrat"?

[Fresh Wind]

A few more:

Accountability Now
ActBlue
Alliance for Climate Protection
AlterNet
America Coming Together
America Votes
American Progress Action Fund
American Public Policy Committee
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
Americans United for Change
Americans for Financial Reform
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
Bluegrass Freedom Fund
Campaign Money Watch
Campaign for America’s Future
Campaign to Defend America
Center for American Progress
Center for Community Change
Center for Progressive Leadership
Change to Win Coalition
Citizens for Progress
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Colorado Democracy Alliance
Common Purpose Project
Conservative Transparency
Democracy Alliance
Democracy for America
EMILY’s List (U.S.)
Health Care for America Now
Institute for Policy Studies
Media Fund
Media Matters for America
Mid Atlantic Leadership Fund
MoveOn
NARAL
National Education Association
National Organization for Women
Netroots Nation
New Democrat Network
New Politics Institute
Oklahoma Freedom Fund
Open Society Institute
OpenLeft.com
Organizing for America
Patriot Majority
People for the American Way
Pioneer Majority
Planned Parenthood
Progress Now
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Progressive Democrats of America
Progressive Majority
Progressive Media USA
Progressive Strategies LLC
Public Campaign Action Fund
Public Citizen
Public Security Now
SPIN Project
The American Prospect
The Fund for America
TrueMajority
USAction
VoteVets.org
Win Without War
Working Assets