GOP will play the Pelosi card in 2010 congressional races

Sacramento Bee ^ | 2/21/10 | Rob Hotakainen

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON – If all politics are local, don't tell that to Jimmy Higdon.

Higdon, a Republican from Kentucky, won a state Senate seat in December in a largely Democratic district with an unlikely strategy: He nationalized his race, warning of one-party rule by featuring Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pictures in his television advertisements and campaign literature. Higdon, who was outspent by a 4-to-1 ratio, is glad she's so unpopular.

"It worked for me. … And I'm really happy that I had a good team that recognized that," he said. "Because that's not something I would have dreamed up."

Expect the GOP to replicate the strategy in political races around the country this year.

"The strategists will try to make her the lightning rod who represents all that is wrong in Washington," said Jeffrey McCall, a media studies professor at DePauw University in Indiana.

Pelosi, who has a job approval rating of 39 percent in her home state of California, is taking hits from all sides these days.

Newspaper cartoonists and comedy writers routinely take shots at her, and some Democratic women are still smarting from the speaker's decision to back Barack Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 presidential race.

"The thrill is gone. … The speaker didn't turn out to be the elected official that many of us hoped,"

[SmithL]

National Republican Congressional Committee OHIO: The National Republican Congressional Committee launched this ad in April 2009, attempting to link Democratic Rep. Zack Space with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. The campaign: Even though the next primary was still more than a year away – May 4, 2010 – Republicans who are trying to unseat Space accused him of voting for runaway government spending.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Shades of the past. I can remember when Newt Gingrich was the “poster boy” for every Democratic Candidate. What goes around, comes around.

[SmokingJoe]

“It worked for me. … And I'm really happy that I had a good team that recognized that,” he said. “Because that's not something I would have dreamed up.”

What planet are our Republican “leaders” living on?
This guy didn't know Pelolousy is one of the most hated politicians in this country, for her loony left policies?

[Paleo Conservative]

Pelosi galore.

[Michael.SF.]

He is not saying that. He is saying that he would not have thought of using her as a strategy to win in Kentucky

[chimera]

And when Gingrich was planning the ‘92 comeback, he made a point of linking every ‘Rat candidate to the disgraced Jim Wright and other nationally-unpopular ‘Rats (Gephart et al.). It's a good strategy nationally, since the things they do in DC affect all of us. I'm a bit surprised it was effective in a local race. Maybe that's the real lesson learned here.

[LostInBayport]

This card? Hmmm..."Old Maid" is too nice. How about "Old Power-Mad Marxist Hag"?

[ncalburt]

It a brilliant strategy that should be used by Reps and senators across the country.

Stop this SF radical leftist from destroying this country !!

Nationalize HER.
Even the lefties in my office hate her.

[LRS]

...featuring Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pictures ...

OH NO! Not a face card!!!

[dforest]

Yeah, most of the people who watched that ad with Pelosi remembered the last time and why they had to throw a brick through their new HD TV.

Pissed ‘em off

[Huebolt]

Nancy Pelosi makes one remember the Salem witch trials, and understand how and why it happened.

N.B. Recognition of motivation and intent is not endorsement of the action : )

[freespirited]

He said there could come a point where beating up on a woman could backfire with the public

Maybe other women. Not Nancy.

[bjorn14]

I have thought from day one that we should tie every Demorcat (and RINO)to Nancy. Something along the lines of (in female voice over) You know I like Rep. Smith but the fact that he votes with Nancy Pelosi makes me uncomfortable......It might be good for SF but not in our distrit/State.

[Publius6961]

Who ever thought that from the political horror novel, 1984, Big Brother would turn out to be "Big Sister?"

I'm not sure that even Hillary would be so brainless as to consistently insist that events are the opposite of reality...

[ncalburt]

Don't believe even a single vowel published by this radical leftist rag.

[SuziQ]

I sure hope they use her, and Dingy Harry Reid, and ‘nationalize’ every single Congressional election this year.

[SandRat]

[60Gunner]

I recall the GOP and certain talk radio blatherers hanging the specter of Nancy Pelosi as SOTH over our heads during the 2006 and 2008 elections. It did not deter angry Americans from voting the Republicans out of power in 2006 and, more emphatically, in 2008. Contrary to what RINO blowhards might claim, it was not voter ignorance that led to the ouster of the Republicans in 2006 and 2008. Rather, it was the consistent and infuriating display of moral and ethical cowardice through one capitulation after another to the Democrat minority- and this, after the resounding victories of 2004- that caused voters to revolt.

If Pelosi remains SOTH in 2011, it will be because the Republican Party AGAIN failed- or refused- to promote a candidate worthy of our votes.

If such a thing indeed happens, then conservatives will have no recourse but to burn down the entire party and rebuild from the ashes.

[Judith Anne]

You could be right. I remember that, too...