Ten Democrats Getting Chamber of Commerce's Help, and Happy to Have It

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Democratic Members Proud of Chamber's Support

In some corners of Democratic politics the uproar coming from senior party officials about how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is paying for its massive 2010 election advertising campaign is falling on deaf ears.

That's because the Chamber, which has already spent millions on ads boosting Republican Congressional candidates across the country, has also thrown its support behind 10 business-friendly Democrats. In districts from Utah to Virginia, the Chamber has gone on the air with television ads for these candidates and they don't seem to be complaining.

In Georgia's 8th Congressional District the Chamber recently sponsored an issue ad supportive of Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall, who is battling former Republican state legislator Austin Scott for a fifth term in the House.

"We're very thankful to have the Chamber's support," Marshall's spokesman Doug Moore said in an interview with ABC News. "We were glad to wake up one morning and have someone supporting us and not attacking us."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ten-democrats-chamber-commerces-happy/story?id=11864010

[rfranklin]

1. Thanks for providing them cover, assholes!

Just got to love those DINOs.

[MX96391]

11. DINO or Tea Partier, which do you want?

I'll take the DINO.

[hedgehog]

2. Hmmm..... out of 435 races, the Chamber finds only 10 Democrats

it loves.

Nice to see such a bi-partisan group!

[ProSense]

3. Hmmmm?

Wonder why?


To the Chamber, "business-friendly" is anyone who supports the Republican agenda.

[Winterblues]

4. Business, historically has always done much better under Democratic Administrations

So when they say business friendly, IMO that is code for against the public welfare....To use a Republican phrase we want to "lift all boats" and not just the wealthy ones..

[OHdem10]

5. Pro Business Democrats. need I say more.

[tavalon]

6. Well, now, we have our target DINOS all set out in a row

Would someone with more Photoshop savvy than me put their pictures up with our proud new logo pasted on them? Preferably on their asses. Oh, wait, the ass was our old logo. Our new logo looks more like a target. Hmmmmmmm.

[nunyabidness]

7. Thats not the point, it`s the fact that foreign corporations may be influencing all elections.

Not just Republicans. Thats the problem. Besides, I would`nt be alarmed if the COC threw some token money at Dems just to balance out the skepticism.

[AlbertCat]

8. if the COC threw some token money at Dems

Indeed.
As it says above:

"the Chamber recently sponsored an issue ad"

How recently? After it's donations were publicly questioned?

[librechik]

9. They should give the Chamber money back. Period.

They won't Blue Dogs are just like Republicans.

[DavidSegal]

10. New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Disaffiliates from National: Let's Make it the First of Many

Cross-posted at HuffPo-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-segal/new-hampshire-chamber-of-_b_773226.html


The Greater Hudson Chamber of Commerce has had enough: It's so fed up with the shameless politicking that's being done in its name that it disaffiliated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.

Will you help make sure it's the first of many by signing on to Demand Progress's letter urging local chambers of commerce to disaffiliate?

http://demandprogress.org/chamber/

The so-called United States Chamber of Commerce -- flush with donations from foreign lands -- has spent countless millions lobbying Washington against progressive policies. That includes more than $81 million so far this year to work against health care, workers' rights, social security, environmental initiatives and more. Combined with its anti-consumer rights Institute for Legal Reform, it spent $144 million on lobbying in 2009 alone.

Now the Chamber's being used as a laundromat, through which corporations like Chevron, Dow Chemical, and Goldman Sachs are washing millions of dirty dollars as they try to throw next week's elections. The Chamber is taking advantage of the Citizens United decision by spending more than $75 million this cycle, with over 90% of its money going to support Republicans.

But the Chamber is also spending your money: It's supported by a network of dues-paying local affiliates -- some representing small towns, and others whole states. You can look for affiliates over here.

The Chamber is controlled by the big boys -- Wall Street, Big Oil, Big Pharma, and the rest of the gang. But the hometown affiliates help pay for its bureaucracy and give it a good name -- one that's steadily being sullied as the Chamber pushes a radical agenda that hurts most Americans.

The national chamber's egregious political spending is already the object of consternation in many local chapters: they include plenty of all small businesses, and even non-profits and social service agencies, that sure as hell aren't happy about the dirty politicking that's being done on their behalf or the potential that their plight will be made even worse by a Republican-controlled Congress. Even some bigger companies, like Apple, have already severed their ties.

Combating corporate control of the government is the fight of our lifetime: If we don't fix the way people get elected, we will never be able to address any of the other issues that we all care about. We need to figure out ways to fight back, and fast: This session's Congress -- elected in a pre-Citizens United world -- failed even to pass the pathetic Disclose Act this summer. As congressmembers get elected based on the new rules they'll have even less incentive to change them.

It's a daunting undertaking. But you can help us hit them where it hurts: Please join us as we call on more local chapters to disaffiliate.

We'll make sure the chapters hear your calls -- and we'll keep you informed as our effort proceeds, so you can choose where to spend your money without worrying that you're forwarding the radical right's attempt to usurp our democracy.