U.S. Chamber of Commerce sets sights on Democrats ahead of midterm elections

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, already one of Washington's largest lobbying groups, is gearing up to play a major role in this year's midterm elections on a scale that rivals the nation's two main political parties.

***

The group will target vulnerable Democrats in up to two dozen states with ads, get-out-the-vote operations and other grass-roots efforts. The chamber plans to spend at least $50 million on its lobbying and other political activities this year, a 40 percent increase from 2008.

The strategy follows the chamber's record lobbying effort at the end of 2009, when it spent nearly $800,000 a day rallying opposition to Democratic proposals in Congress. All told, the organization spent more money on political activities last year than either the Democratic National Committee or the Republican National Committee, which serve as the main fundraising and grass-roots operations for the parties.

***

One early example of its influence came in January, when the chamber spent $1 million on ads to help Republican Scott Brown win a hotly contested special election for the U.S. Senate in Democratic-leaning Massachusetts. The group praised Brown as a candidate who "empowers business, not politicians" and hailed his Jan. 19 victory.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031602040.html?hpid=topnews

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has grass roots supporters? Seriously? Mainstreet for Wall Street types?

[Cha]

1. Why yes..teabaggers such as virginia thomas..

clarence's wife and US chamber of commerce are made for each other.

[high density]

2. Corporate grass-roots

Isn't that an oxymoron?

[tridim]

3. FU SCOTUS

[TankLV]

4. And Dog Bite Man. Is any SURPRISED by this?

Wake me when something DIFFERENT happens with the chamberpot guys...

[Loudmxr]

5. Go ahead CCers!! History is not on your side.

I read something quite uplifting the other day. One of the reasons that the Demos lost so big in '94 was that they DIDN'T pass health care.

That's right! They were seen as inept and disorganized. They couldn't get the job done for the American people.

Americans like ACTION!! They like people who will take a stand. That is why Grayson is winning the Republican primary poll.

[groundloop]

6. Why doesn't the Chamber of Commerse just run for office?

They're a corporate-person now, so why not?

[TomCADem]

8. No, No, No, That's Phase II - Citizens United, Part II

The sad thing is that this is all just the tip of the iceberg. Can you imagine what happens when a corporation in a local race can simply dictate to a local politician, "do what we want or we will bury you." Eventually, the local politicians who one day become the national politicians will be completely bought and sold due to the Citizens United decision.

[4_TN_TITANS]

7. $800,000 a day on lobbying?!?!?!

No wonder nothing for the average joe makes it through DC.