Democrats map out election plan - "A New Direction for America"

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/26/06 | Liz Sidoti - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Democrats plan to press for a minimum wage increase and "tough, smart" national security in their final push to wrest power from the Republicans in the November elections.

House and Senate Democrats will hold a joint meeting on Thursday to discuss events planned for the 100 days leading up to midterm congressional elections and lay out their party agenda, called "A New Direction for America."

It's a compilation of positions the party has staked out over the past few months on income, national security, energy, education, health care and retirement accounts.

"We're going across the country to make our case," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. "We're going to reject the divisive politics of the last six years, and unite America behind an agenda that works for all."

His counterpart in the House, Nancy Pelosi of California, said Democrats offer change. "Americans know the country is going in the wrong direction," she said.

Republicans control Congress but the Iraq war, inflated gas prices and a soaring federal deficit have soured the political environment for the GOP. Polls show the public favors a Democratic takeover, and Democrats hope to make their closing pitches in a series of campaign events focused on issues including college affordability and Medicare prescription drugs.

Danny Diaz, a Republican National Committee spokesman, said: "It is both ironic and amusing that Democrats believe they are making a final argument to the American people, while being incapable of deciding how much to raise taxes on working families or how quickly to retreat from Iraq."

On Saturday, exactly 100 days before the Nov. 7 election, the Democratic National Committee will reach out to voters through more than 800 picnics, pig roasts, phone banks and neighborhood canvasses.

In early August, House and Senate Democrats plan to hold at least 160 town hall meetings, press conferences and speeches in states and congressional districts. Larger events also will be staged in some of the most competitive states. In New Jersey, for instance, Reid will join Sen. Bob Menendez, who is in a tight race, to outline port security problems and solutions.

Democrats also will press for a minimum wage raise on Labor Day and hold an event about Hurricane Katrina recovery in Louisiana in late August, a year after the deadly storm.

[crazyhorse691]

Danny Diaz, a Republican National Committee spokesman, said: "It is both ironic and amusing that Democrats believe they are making a final argument to the American people, while being incapable of deciding how much to raise taxes on working families or how quickly to retreat from Iraq."

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That pretty well sums it up while still staying under the nicenice umbrella.

[MichiganConservative]

"We're going across the country to make our case," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. "We're going to reject the divisive politics of the last six years, and unite America behind an agenda that works for all."

Does this mean they're going to reject the Democrat's divisive politics? Somehow, I don't think that's what he meant. These people are power-hungry communists. They must not ever regain power. I'd like to deport them, starting with Reid and Nancy "The Zombie" Pelosi.

[ErnBatavia]

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. "We're going to reject the divisive politics of the last six years

Err, umm, Harry....have you looked in a mirror lately?

[AdvisorB]

Another great job from DTD or as the leftist RATs like to say, DDT.

[alex]

Frankly, I like the tone of all those articles: there is no word about whether these policies will be good or bad for people and for the country, they write only conning people in voting for Dims.

[Pukin Dog]

Picnics and pig roasts?

Someone didnt get the memo.

That was supposed to read "sit-ins and tofu burgers"

What a shame.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Even if you grant that raising the minimum wage is a good thing (which it isn't), it's a proposal that only effects a few million people out over 120 million voters -- and most of those few million are poor people who are most likely democrats.

How does a proposal aimed at such a small minority of the population make it as a major campaign plank?

[rodguy911]

HOw do you run on a platform of it's all GW's fault.

[ErnBatavia]

May the 'Rats continue in their clueless maze-running.

[MichiganConservative]

Are you figuring in all the union people who have their wages set relative to the minimum wage?

[cardinal4]

Pulling out the old minimum wage card again. Vote for us and we'll pay you more! Of course, we'll have to raise your taxes to pay for it but....

I agree. If the minimum wage is raised, employers will have to cut payroll, resulting a loss of tax revenue. Couple that with the unemployement benefits being paid out, and the only way to recoup the revenue loss, is to raise taxes! It is like giving me money while taking it from wife..

[mjwise]

It also makes their touchy-feely liberal base feel good as they motor around in their $50,000 a pop SUVs. Think of it as a sort of a personal excuse from having to practice any sort of charity. "Wow, higher minimum wage! Government IS taking care of it!"

[1066AD]

It really doesn't matter what policies they propose, although it's nice to see something other than "agin the GOP", the problem is when you look and see who would be in the congressional committee chairs etc. Then one can only shudder.

[MaDeuce]

"raising the minimum wage ...How does a proposal aimed at such a small minority of the population make it as a major campaign plank?"

Because (1) a lot of Union contracts are tied to minimum wage as a multiplier factor i.e. the lowest paid guy gets 5 times minimum wage etc...
(2) Your forgetting the "feel good" factor of people who make way more than minimum, but "feel good" that the "little people" are getting a few crumbs more on someone elses dime.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

I can guarantee that "new direction" involves a hard left turn.

[tomzz]

Democrats map out election plan - "A New Direction for America"

You mean BACKWARDS, right? How is that a NEW direction?? Don't most vehicles have reverse gears?

[do the dhue]

never cease to amaze me. They should have thought about uniting people before they spewed their hate rhetoric.

When we went to Bosnia, Republicans shut up and went with. Today, we still have troops there. Funny thing is, they are not being killed. This means to me that they are no longer needed. I am not hearing the Demorats calling for them to come home.

Our Troops are still needed in Iraq. That don't stop the rats from calling for our troops to leave Iraq. I think we still have a job to do and leaving early would be a detriment to our National Security.

The entire DNC is a National Security threat and I will never unite with them and I will always fight against them.

[do the dhue]

Democrats map out election plan - "A New Direction for America"

Do you think it means they are going to act like they love this country and her Troops?

NAAAAAAAAAAA

[EQAndyBuzz]

Here is their new slogan:

"Jesus was a Democrat"

[Secret Agent Man]

This is just pure bull$hit. There is no one platform that ALL can agree with. There is no way they can unite everyone and make them all happy.

They can't even make everyone supposedly in their own party happy.

Mental Jackoffs.