Stabenow's best quarter ever

By DAVID CATANESE/Politico

Maybe they should start calling her "Debbie-Raise-It-Now."

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow has turned her best fundraising quarter ever, taking in close to $1.5 million during the first three months of the year, POLITICO has learned.

The record haul for the second-term Democrat came during the blow-up surrounding acontroversial Superbowl ad aired by GOP opponent Pete Hoekstra, which featured a young Asian woman talking in broken English. "Thank you Michigan Sen. Debbie Spend-It-Now.  Debbie spends so much American money, you borrow more and more from us," said an actress on a bicycle, who later apologized for participating.

A campaign aide said the quarter was "fueled in part by a large influx of online and small donations in the wake of Hoekstra's Superbowl ad."

The advertisement was widely panned as derogatory and tone-deaf, even by Republicans who were uncomfortable with the stereotypes it fomented.

Stabenow now has $7 million on hand to spend for her reelection.

"Debbie Stabenow is on the side of Michigan's middle class families, so groups like the drug companies and big oil are trying to replace her with someone who will work for them instead," said Stabenow spokesman Nate Byer.  "But when Hoekstra and out-of-state interest groups launched ridiculous negative attacks, people in Michigan responded forcefully with an outpouring of support that gave Debbie her best fundraising quarter ever." 

Truth Squad:60 Plus Association: 'Urge Senator Stabenow to support real Medicare reform'

Who: 60 Plus Association
Featured material: Television ad
Truth squad call: Flagrant foul

Questionable statements:

“Hi friend. I’m Pat Boone.”

Who is Pat Boone and why is he appearing in this ad? And whose friend is he?

Boone, who may be unknown to anyone under 50, is a singer who’s had an eclectic career. He was one of the most successful pop crooners of the 1950s, morphed into doing heavy-metal covers for a brief period in the 1990s and now hosts a nationally syndicated gospel music radio show.

He also has said he believes President Barack Obama was born in Kenya and that Obama’s long-form U.S. birth certificate is “Photoshop fraud.”

Boone, 77, is the spokesman for the 60 Plus Association, which describes itself as a conservative alternative to AARP. He also is seen frequently on daytime television as pitchman for a company that makes walk-in bathtubs for the elderly.

Boone: “Last year a lot of promises were made regarding health-care reform, but America’s seniors knew forcing a bill through Congress when Americans overwhelmingly opposed it would be disastrous. And we were right."

The Affordable Care Act, which this ad addresses, was signed into law in March 2010. It is highly controversial, especially the law’s provision that requires most Americans to buy health insurance by 2014. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the law’s constitutionality over three days, starting March 26.

But the ad’s claim that Americans overwhelmingly oppose the act is overblown.

Polls have been all over the map, but one earlier this month by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a highly respected health care research organization mentioned in the ad, found Americans are almost evenly split on the law.

Forty-one percent of those in the national poll said they had a favorable view of the act and 40 percent said they had an unfavorable view of it. Nineteen percent said they didn’t know or refused to answer.

The ad offers no evidence to support Boone’s claim that the Affordable Care Act has been “disastrous.”

Millions of Michigan residents have benefited from the law, according to the Obama administration, which recently released a report on the law’s accomplishments.

But Republicans say the law will raise health-care costs, eliminate jobs and threaten the future of Medicare.

Woman’s voice: "President Obama’s health-care law cuts $500 billion from Medicare and creates a board of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. It’s like a Medicare IRS with the power to cut Medicare in order to pay for new government programs."

Claims that the Affordable Health Care Act cuts $500 billion are misleading. The law attempts to slow spending by $500 billion over 10 years, but overall Medicare spending will still rise during that period, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The board Boone is talking about is the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which would be created to help hold down Medicare costs. They are not “15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats,” but rather health-care experts and other citizens appointed by Obama and confirmed by the Senate.

The Republican-controlled House voted on March 22 to repeal the board, but the Senate is unlikely to take up the measure.

Boone: "This IPAB (Independent Payment Advisory Board) board can ration care and deny certain Medicare treatments so Washington can fund more wasteful spending. Your choices could be limited and you may not be able to keep your own doctor."

The board makes binding recommendations on cutting spending, if Medicare grows beyond certain targets. But it does not have the power to review individual cases or deny treatments.

Politifact gave Boone a “pants on fire” rating for making these claims.

"Medicare will be bankrupt in nine years."

There is great concern about the long-term financial viability of Medicare. That’s the reason for the creation of IPAB. But Medicare is not on the verge of bankruptcy, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"But Washington politicians like Debbie Stabenow are ignoring the problem, putting their own re-elections first. Call Senator Stabenow. Urge her to support real Medicare reform and protect our seniors."

Stabenow’s office points to a number of efforts by the senator to preserve Medicare and lower costs for seniors, including support for phasing out the “doughnut hole” prescription-drug cost.

The ad doesn’t explain what it means by “real Medicare reform.” The 60 Plus Association has created a website in which it says the organization says its top priorities are “ending the federal estate tax, saving Social Security and Medicare, repealing Obamacare and creating energy security for seniors.”

"Tell her: unaccountable bureaucrats should never have the power to deny you the care you deserve."

Conservatives, such as the 60 Plus Association, seem to want to have it both ways. They argue that there is no inherent right to health care, but then claim that attempts to limit spending on Medicare are tantamount to withholding care that seniors “deserve.”

Overall impression:

The 60 Plus Association is a 504(c)(4) nonprofit tax-exempt organization that is not required to disclose the source of its funding, and it does not. It was founded in 1992 in Virginia by James L. Martin, a one-time journalist and former Republican operative, according to FactCheck.org. The organization says it has a “free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach to seniors issues.”

The group is running ads against five Democratic senators who voted for the Affordable Care Act and are up for re-election this year: Stabenow, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bill Nelson of Florida, Jon Tester of Montana and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

Truth Squad call:

This ad is full of exaggerations, distortions and factual inaccuracies. It represents fear-mongering designed to build support for overturning the Affordable Care Act.

Foul or no foul: Flagrant foul for blatant disregard of facts.

Michigan Residents Say “No Thanks” to Koch Brothers’ Front Group

From Michigan Democratic Party

Americans for Prosperity Propaganda funded by Big Oil Special Interests

LANSING – Out-of-state special interest front groups have already started spending big in Michigan by launching false TV ads attacking Senator Stabenow. Independent fact checkers have repeatedly called these ads “just wrong,” and also “ridiculous.”

Today, Americans for Prosperity – another deep-pocketed organization funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers who made their fortune in the oil industry – launched its election plans by funding biased partisan polls to further the Koch’s extreme agenda in Michigan. This is a typical tactic for the Koch brothers and Americans for Prosperity.  In other states, the group has used partisan polling firms asking selective questions to try to mislead voters.

“Debbie stands up for Michigan’s middle class, not out-of-state oil billionaires like the Koch brothers,” said Mark Brewer, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. “Americans for Prosperity, is nothing more than a front group that has a long history of trying to buy elections to the benefit Big Oil and other special interests.  Senator Stabenow is doing everything she can to break the stranglehold that Big Oil has on the US economy so it’s no wonder Big Oil is coming after her.”

Brewer was joined by a group of Michigan residents who said “no thanks” to the Koch Brothers and to outside interest groups trying to push their special interest agendas.

“Senator Stabenow is fighting for jobs and economic growth in Michigan,” said Percy Johnson, an autoworker from Troy. “She’s fought to end taxpayer giveaways to companies that ship our jobs overseas and to help middle class families get back on their feet in tough times.  These guys don’t care about Michigan, they just care about their own bottom line.”

“The middle class is being asked to sacrifice and all I see is Big Oil fighting for even greater profit,” said Ashley Forsberg, a nurse at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. “Groups like AFP want to see Medicare eliminated so oil companies and other special interests can get more tax cuts.  That’s wrong. I can’t afford biased polls, lobbyists and negative TV ads, but I know Debbie is fighting for middle class families like mine.”

The Koch brothers and Americans for Prosperity present a vision for Michigan that puts special interests first, not Michigan residents. According to news reports, Koch Industries has enriched itself at the expense of consumers by keeping oil off the market, storing it in offshore tankers, and waiting to cash in when the cost of oil rises.  They’ve also worked to protect tax breaks for companies that send American jobs overseas, and squash investments in new clean energy technologies that would reduce America’s dependence on Big Oil.

On the other hand, Senator Stabenow has a long record of fighting for policies that will build a stronger economy.  She has led the effort to develop advanced battery technologies in Michigan, help farmers and agricultural businesses expand as Chairwoman of the Agriculture committee, stood up for small businesses and is a leader in the effort to end China’s predatory trade practices.

The Koch brothers made billions taking advantage of the American people – it’s no wonder they need to fund their own polls to justify their false attacks against Senator Stabenow.

New poll gives Debbie Stabenow 21-point lead over Pete Hoekstra

By Troy Reimink/MLive.com

A new poll shows incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, with a sizable lead against challenger Pete Hoekstra, a Republican former representative from Holland.

The data, released today by NBC News-Marist, shows Stabenow leading Hoekstra 53-32, with 15 percent of respondents undecided.

MSNBC's Michael O'Brien states what seems obvious -- that Hoekstra might have dug himself into a hole with hisnow-infamous Super Bowl ad:

Hoekstra's disadvantage may well reflect a degree of fallout related to an ad run by his campaign in Michigan on Super Bowl Sunday. The Republican candidate took fire for racial overtones in the ad, which depicts an Asian woman speaking in broken English, facetiously thanking Stabenow for spending policies which, the ad contends, help China.

Polling from the previous week showed fellow GOP contender Clark Durant trailing Stabenow 33-50, with the remainder undecided, according to Talking Points Memo's poll aggregator.

Stabenow earlier this week said Hoekstra "should be embarrassed" by his ad, which featured an Asian-American actress, in broken English, thanking "Senator Spenditnow" for sending American dollars overseas.

Pete Hoekstra website tied to controversial Super Bowl ad taken down, but campaign calls move natural progression

By Nate Reens/MLive

GRAND RAPIDS – The websitedebbiespenditnow.com, which featured a Chinese theme and controversial ad criticizing U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, has been taken down and redirected to the campaign of former U.S. Rep Pete Hoekstra, a Republican seeking to knock of the Democratic incumbent.

The affiliation between the sites has never been hidden – Hoekstra has sought to brand Stabenow as an excessive spender who threatens the country in comparison to his fiscal restraint. But on Thursday, four days after a heavily criticized Super Bowl ad that played on racial stereotypes and drew national attention, the site was redirected topetespenditnot.com, a pitch that extols the strengths of the Holland Republican who served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Campaign spokesman Paul Ciaramitaro said it is a natural progression from the first commercial.

“After hundreds of thousands of visitors to the micro-site saw our first campaign ad and the effects of Stabenow's reckless spending, we wanted to direct traffic to Pete's site where voters can see our second ad, which lays out Pete's vision of fiscal discipline and economic growth,” he said.

The website switch came on the first day that Hoekstra's top opponent in the Republican primary,Clark Durant, launched a commercial that puts both the Holland hopeful and the incumbent Democrat in the same net.

Durant said in an interview with the Press and MLive.com that Hoekstra supported raising the debt ceiling, voted for the Wall Street bailout and has been symptomatic of the problems within the federal government.

The commercial and website "demeans people, misleads the public and is hypocritical on Stabenow's spending." It led Durant to enter his televised response.

"I realized it reflected everything that is wrong with Washington," said Durant, who polling shows to be Hoekstra's top competition for the Republican nod. "I couldn't sit on the sideline and let it go.

"I didn't want to attack anybody, but I want people to know that their voting records on the most fundamental of issues are nearly identical."

Durant said he also didn't like the name-calling by Hoekstra.

"We need to have serious conversations because our country has serious debt and serious issues that need to be addressed," Durant said.

Hoekstra's campaign said it had no response to the Durant ad, and that they were focusing their energy on defeating Stabenow.

GOP Recycling Hoekstra for Senate, Even Though Originally Seen as Inadequate

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING—The Michigan GOP’s floundering effort to find a candidate to run against Debbie Stabenow for U.S. Senate took another bizarre turn over the weekend, as news reports revealed Republican leaders were working to convince Pete Hoekstra–a candidate party leaders once considered inadequate–to go back on his decision not to run.

Last March, when potential Republican candidates considering a run included former congressman and current Washington lobbyist Hoekstra, Michigan GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak told the Detroit News that he was hopeful that a much stronger candidate, one who was “head and shoulders” above Hoekstra and the rest of the current field, would enter the race.  Now that Republicans have failed to find a serious candidate Republican leaders have apparently decided they may have to settle for Hoekstra.

Reporting on this news, Politico wrote Friday: “Hoekstra has a reputation as a weak fundraiser and was stung by his loss in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.  Nevertheless, the fact that he’s reconsidering indicates the problems Republicans are having recruiting a top candidate in the Midwestern battleground state.” (More publications on Hoekstra’s weakness as a candidate below).

“First Republicans said they wanted someone much stronger than Hoekstra, now they’ve decided they may have to make do with him,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer.  “Hoekstra is seen as a lackluster campaigner and fundraiser, as evidenced by his failed run for governor last year.  Even with new candidates announcing they were getting in the race last week, Republicans are looking at their field and deciding once-inadequate Hoekstra may be the best they can come up with.”

Hoekstra is not only seen as a lackluster campaigner, but also has a long record of consistently voting against Michigan families while simultaneously voting for special giveaways for special interests.  Hoekstra supported President George W. Bush’s failed plan to privatize Social Security, taking seniors’ benefits and risking them on Wall Street.  He supported Paul Ryan’s 2009 budget plan to end Medicare.  And while representing the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country, Hoekstra voted to completely end unemployment insurance benefits for thousands of Michigan residents laid-off through no fault of their own.  But while voting to cut middle class seniors and families, he voted against limiting the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bonuses bailed out executives were awarding themselves.

State and national observers have suggested that Stabenow’s ability to achieve results on issues important to Michigan families and her record of winning elections have dissuaded top candidates from entering the race.  As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Stabenow is helping to strengthen Michigan agriculture, the state’s 2nd largest industry.  She is also a prominent leader on stopping other countries’ unfair trade practices, working to create jobs in high-tech manufacturing like advanced batteries and fighting to stop Asian and Canadian trash from ruining Michigan’s natural resources.

Senator Stabenow is a skilled campaigner who has never lost to a Republican opponent.  She is in an extremely strong position heading into the campaign, with over $4 million on hand for the 2012 race.  Facing a strong incumbent, the GOP is floundering in its effort to find a serious candidate to enter the race.

What People Are Saying About Pete Hoekstra:

Hoekstra “Weak Fundraiser.” Politico wrote, “Hoekstra has a reputation as a weak fundraiser and was stung by his loss in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.” [Politico, 7/15/2011]

Hoekstra “Lackluster Fundraiser.” According to the Detroit Free Press, Hoekstra has a “reputation as a lackluster fundraiser who was relatively unknown outside his west Michigan base.” [Detroit Free Press, 8/4/2010]

Hoekstra Has Virtually No Michigan Base From Which to Build a Campaign or Fundraise. In 2010, Hoekstra’s campaign suffered “by joining the race from Washington…he had no natural statewide organization from which to raise money or build a campaign.” [Detroit Free Press, 7/25/2010]

Hoekstra: One of Weakest Fundraisers in 2010 Governor’s Race. According to the Hotline, in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, “Hoekstra’s emphasized the time he has spent in the state more than the dollars he’s put up behind his relatively few TV ads, as he’s proven one of the weaker fundraisers in the race.” [National Journal’s Hotline, 8/3/2010]

Hoekstra Suffered From “Lack of Campaign Cash.” In the 2010 governor’s race Hoekstra suffered from “a lack of campaign cash that has limited his ability to counter early attack ads with his own campaign spots.”  [National Journal’s Hotline, 7/20/2010]

County Water Resources Commissioner

From Michigan Democratic Party:

LANSING – Last March, with the potential Republican candidate field for U.S. Senate filled with big names–from a former governor to Members of Congress to a former Secretary of State to an eventual presidential candidate–GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak told the Detroit News that he predicted an even bigger name, a candidate “head and shoulders” above the current field, would enter the race and overshadow them all.  Months later, all the names in the original potential challenger list (plus a radio host and two yet-to-be-named former Detroit Red Wings) have since become dropouts.  Michigan Republicans had been left wondering when their “Head and Shoulders” candidate would arrive.

In all, the GOP’s top ten choices have withered from the chance to challenge Senator Debbie Stabenow (see the document attached for a chronology of GOP dropouts).  Now that the GOP’s eleventh choice, county water resources commissioner John McCulloch has entered the race, Republicans are asking–is this… it?

State and national experts have weighed in.  National Journal said earlier this month: “The bench has gotten so barren that Michigan Republican Party officials have started touting a local charter-schools activist and a county water-resources commissioner (McCulloch) as possible contenders. The names currently being mentioned make Dick DeVos and Mike Bouchard, recruits who got trounced in closely watched statewide contests over the last decade, look like all-stars in comparison.“  Detroit News columnist and editor Nolan Finley says: “Republicans are left, for the moment, with a pack of potential candidates nominally led by Dr. Rob Steele, the tea party physician who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. John Dingell last year, and John McCulloch, the Oakland County drain commissioner. The GOP still covets” a strong candidate.

“It’s really not surprising that top candidates do not want to challenge Debbie Stabenow,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brewer said. “Debbie Stabenow is getting results on issues important to Michigan families like job creation, fighting unfair trade and protecting the Great Lakes.  She is in a very strong position so it’s not hard to see why Republicans are having trouble finding a top candidate willing to run against her.” 

State and national observers have suggested that Stabenow’s ability to achieve results on issues important to Michigan families and her record of winning elections have dissuaded top candidates from entering the race.  As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Stabenow is helping to strengthen Michigan agriculture, the state’s 2nd largest industry.  She is one of the country’s most prominent leaders in the fight against unfair trade practices of China and other countries.  She’s working to create jobs in high-tech manufacturing like advanced batteries and new energy technology.  And she is leading the effort to stop Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes and stop Canadian trash from packing Michigan’s landfills.

Senator Stabenow is a skilled campaigner who has never lost to a Republican opponent.  She works hard every day and has never taken voters for granted.  Senator Stabenow is in an extremely strong position heading into the campaign, with over $4 million on hand for the 2012 race.  Facing a strong incumbent, the GOP is floundering in its effort to find a serious candidate to enter the race.

###

Motor City Liberal Comment: Word of advice whatever Nolan Finley tells you always and I mean always believe the opposite because it saves you a lot of trouble from  fact checking him. Let's get real here the reason why the Republicans' top tier choices are declining to run against Senator Stabenow is because they know the people that suffer from "hatin' that Negro President" syndrome in the last election now regrets making the very corporate friendly Rick Snyder governor and they really regret giving the Republicans super majorities in both chambers in the state house.

And they know they're going to deal with people taking their rage on them because they're pissed at Snyder, they also know they're going have a weak Republican presidential ticket and Stabenow will get aid from President Obama's 2012 campaign so they're thinking why not let the guy that gets L Brooks Patterson's morning donut and coffee get his ass kick by Debbie Stabenow and run against at another time?

Another One Bites the Dust: GOP Still Can’t Find Top Candidate against Stabenow

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING – With Terri Lynn Land out of the race, will the GOP be able get any candidates who are “head and shoulders” (in the words of GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak) above the rest to take on U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2012? Today’s announcement that Terri Lynn Land is not running is news that National Journal says “rob[s] Republicans of an opportunity to recruit a strong challenger to Stabenow and up[s] the pressure on the Michigan GOP to produce a competitive candidate for 2012.” 

National Journal reports that Land’s decision not to run was based largely on the fact that national Republicans realize Stabenow’s strength and are not making Michigan a priority: “Sources close to Land said she never felt reassured by national Republicans that Michigan was a high priority, and worried that she would enter the general election against a well-funded Democratic incumbent lacking both financial and organizational support from the GOP establishment. Sources say that had she felt confident in receiving the support of national Republican groups she would have been more likely to enter the race.”

Last month Republican front-runner  Pete Hoekstra also announced he would not enter the race. 

“It’s not surprising that top candidates do not want to challenge Debbie Stabenow,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “Debbie Stabenow is getting results on issues important to Michigan families like supporting small businesses, growing our agriculture industry, standing up to China’s unfair trade policies and stopping Asian Carp.  She is in a very strong position so it’s not a surprise that Republicans are having trouble finding a top tier candidate willing to run against her.”

Debbie Stabenow is an effective leader for Michigan, achieving results on issues critically important to Michigan families.  As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture committee, Sen. Stabenow is helping to strengthen Michigan’s 2nd largest industry, agriculture.  She has passed important legislation to cut taxes and reduce paperwork for Michigan’s small businesses.  She is one of the country’s most prominent leaders in the fight to prosecute China for unfair trade practices and standing up to their currency manipulation that kills Michigan manufacturing jobs.  She’s working to create jobs in high-tech manufacturing like advanced batteries and new vehicle technology.  And she is leading the effort to stop Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes and stop Canadian trash from packing Michigan’s landfills.

Senator Stabenow is a skilled campaigner who has never lost to a Republican opponent.  She works hard every day and has never taken voters for granted.  Senator Stabenow is in an extremely strong position heading into the campaign, having raised over $5 million already for the 2012 race.  Facing a strong incumbent, the GOP is floundering in its effort to find a serious candidate to enter the race.

“It’s no wonder Republicans are struggling to find someone to run against Senator Stabenow,” continued Brewer. “Recently, GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak said he hoped a candidate who was ‘head and shoulders’ above the rest of the field would enter the race–and that was when Hoekstra and Land were still possible contenders. If the Chairman of the Republican Party thought the field was weak before, imagine how he feels now that the party’s top two contenders have shied away from the challenge.”

Report: Stabenow one of several members of Congress to receive death threats

By TODD SPANGLER WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan was one of several members of Congress who received death threats last year, according to a report released today by Politico.The Washington, D.C.-based publication reviewed FBI documents related to the threats which were released under a Freedom of Information Act request. In the meantime, the U.S. Senate’s sergeant at arms, Terrance Gainer, told Politico threats against members of Congress were up 300% in the first few months of 2010, as the health care reform legislation was passed.

In the case of Stabenow, a Democrat, Politico said the records showed a man left voice mail messages for her at several of her Michigan offices in February 2009.

“We’re gonna (expletive) get you,” the man said in one message, the publication reported. “We’re gonna get you with a lot of (expletive) bolt action. Like we did RFK; like we did MLK. We know who you are. We’ll get you.”

According to the records, FBI agents traced the calls back to a 54-year-old Texas man who once had many handguns, shotguns and rifles. He told law enforcement agents that he was “really, really drunk” when he made the calls and was just “venting” over concerns of government overreach.