Blue America: Bruce Braley, IA-01 @----->firedoglake

[LincolnMcGrath]

Blue America: Bruce Braley, IA-01

By Howie Klein



Bruce Braley is a complete natural for us. What might throw some people isn’t anything Bruce says — he’s right on on every single issue — but the fact that the DCCC seems to be targeting his race. In fact, 2 weeks ago they got him the coveted national radio slot to respond to Bush’s Saturday address.

First some basic facts about Iowa’s first congressional district, where the Republican incumbent, Jim Nussle, is making a pointless bid to run for governor. It’s a moderate district that both Gore and Kerry won. In fact, 4 years of George Bush made IA-01 quite a bit more Democratic in the 2004 election than it had been in 2000.

Now, the candidate the Republicans have come up with to replace him, multimillionaire restaurateur Michael "Welfare" Whalen, is far to the right of even Nussle. Although he’ll be a dependable Bush/corporate rubber stamp on immigration "policy"– let in all the undocumented laborers possible to hold wages down and keep unions weak– Whalen’s right wing agenda is most dangerous to Iowans when it comes to his mania for privatizing (abolishing) Social Security.

Interestingly, when asked to name his idea of a role model for himself if he ever makes it to the House, "Welfare" Whalen picked Mike Pence (R-IN), a man with the 15th most reactionary voting record in Congress who has a perfect voting record of always under all circumstances ignoring his constituents’ needs to support Big Business’ demands. If Whalen gets into Congress and he models himself on Pence, Iowa farmers, Iowa small businessmen, Iowa working men and women, Iowa’s middle class, Iowa’s women, Iowa’s children will all be worse off.



Blue America: Bruce Braley, IA-01

[justgamma]

1. Thanks for posting this.

Russ Feingold thinks this is a very important race. This one we could pick up. I love to see any publicity Bruce can get.

[LincolnMcGrath]

2. Bruce is a great guy and will make a fine public servant.

Say NO to Mike "Welfare" Whalen

[ralps]

3. Bruce sounds like a great guy & I really like Howie Klein's Blue America

FDL posts. K&R

[LincolnMcGrath]

4. kick