DNC Paid For Nelson Ads After Health Care Vote

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: National Journal Hotine

By Reid Wilson

The DNC supplied hundreds of thousands of dollars to the NE Dem Party just after the Senate passed health care reform, money that was used to pay for ads on behalf of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), one of the final Dem holdouts but ultimately a supporter of the bill.

On Jan. 11, just after the Senate voted on Christmas Eve to pass the bill, the DNC transferred $809K to the NE Dem Party, according to reports filed with the FEC. A month later, on Feb. 11, the DNC transferred another $169K to the party.

NE Dems used the money to run ads defending Nelson's reputation. The state party bought $779K in airtime in Jan., enough to blanket the state with pro-Nelson ads for weeks at a time. The party spent about $95K to produce those ads with Dixon/Davis Media Group.

Nelson used the ads to bolster his image, even though he doesn't face voters again until '12. The ads began airing during the Nebraska-Arizona matchup at the Holiday Bowl, on Dec. 30, touting the bill's benefits. Nelson appears on screen in both spots, but the ads were paid for by the NE Dem Party.

Read more: http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/08/dnc_paid_for_ne.php

[zipplewrath]

1. And they wonder

Why I don't give them any more money.

[joeybee12]

2. Almost a million dollars to someone in a safe seat, to someone not up until 2012

Wow, they spend their money wisely!

[FBaggins]

11. but someone who might switch parties if November's results are close enough.

I think someone wants to play nice with him.

I also think it's throwing good money after bad.

[Warpy]

3. I suppose they're now wondering why they only get corporate donations

and all the small scale donations that add up so fast for the party have gone to individual candidates.

Kaine needs to go. The DLC needs to go. They've cursed us long enough, thank you very much, it's time to sideline the whole stinking bunch.

[formercia]

7. I can't agree more.

The cancer needs to be cut out of the Democratic Party, or they should change their name to the Corporate party Loyal Opposition.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. The final smoking gun that healthcare legislation was a fixed game from the start

The Obama people cut deals in private to KILL a public option. Nelson and Lieberman were both more than willing to help in the charade.

[Iowa]

5. Yep.

[xchrom]

6. And he's not up for re-election til when? 2012?

And you could use those dollars to pressure for a public option as well.

[LaPera]

8. Tim Kaine: A weak head of the DNC with none of the brilliance or perception of the great Howard Dean

The DNC isn't the necessary powerhouse as it was under Dean's leadership to aggressively stay on top and attack the republicans deceptions and their usual onslaught of lies, smokescreens & smears - The DNC is NOT suppose to be just about simply raising money - Tim Kaine runs the DNC like a lost ship floating aimlessly.

I send my donations instead to Howard Dean's Democracy For America {DFA)
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/

[Roland99]

10. But he's the Beltway's darling, don'tcha know!

Fuck Rahm Emanuel...little corporate whore bastard prick.

[No Elephants]

9. Yep. Obama, POTUS, CIC, head of the Democratic Party and Reid's pick, has no leverage

over Democratic Senators. None. Nada. Zip.


:rofl:


Well, not unless we want to credit him with "passing" a bill.

[activa8tr]

12. It's called horsetrading, it's sick, we know it, but I have to wonder

how much of this has to go on these days in order to get ANY thing done in Congress.

I mean, if it weren't for Republicans shitting (yes shitting) on every piece of progressive legislation, (no matter how "tame" and "pro-corporate" like that final HC bill was), we wouldn't have to horse trade like this with fellow Dems.

It stinks to high heaven, but it's only because of those 41 non-Dem seats in the Senate that the DNC is forced to do this kind of stuff now. If we had 60 seats, we could kiss Ben Nelson's ass goodbye in 2012.

[bluestateguy]

13. That's why you should give money to candidates, not party committees

The DCCC, DSCC and DNC will spend all the money on Blue Dog weasels who screw everything up. Give to individual candidates who you deem worthy of your money.

[fogonthelake]

14. yes, you are right. I stopped

donations to the national organizations and give only directly to the local and state candidates==progressive.

[meow mix]

15. another good reason to cease donation

sorry guys.. stop being conservative republicans and maybe we'll talk

[CanonRay]

16. Wait until they call me for money the next time

they are going to get an earfull.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Freddie Stubbs.