U.S. Chamber of Commerce Backs Democrat (at Least for Now)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/u-s-chamber-backs-senate-democrat-with-campaign-ad/?src=busln

The conventional wisdom is that Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, up for re-election this fall, is one of several Democrats in danger of losing her seat. But right now, a Republican opponent is the least of her worries. Ms. Lincoln, one of the most conservative members of her caucus, is facing a tough primary challenge from the left, in the person of Lt. Governor Bill Halter. And on Tuesday, Salon’s Mike Madden reported that she was receiving help from an unexpected quarter: the United States Chamber of Commerce, in the name of small business.

A Chamber 30-second spot declares that “for years, small businesses have counted on Senator Blanche Lincoln” — for tax cuts, incentives for homegrown manufacturing and research and development, and for rewriting “unfair” tax laws. The commercial is unexpected, given that the Chamber has pledged to spend, according to the Washington Post, $50 million to “target vulnerable Democrats in up to two dozen states with ads, get-out-the-vote operations and other grass-roots efforts.” But a Chamber spokesman, J.P. Fielder, pointed out that the organization endorsed Ms. Lincoln in 2004, when she last ran for re-election. He described the current ad as “a significant buy” that “will run for an extended period.”

snip

And it is striking that the Chamber would laud Ms. Lincoln for, as the ad puts it, “creat(ing) bonus incentives to companies that research and manufacture their products in the U.S.” As an ardent backer of free trade, the Chamber has opposed some measures which are thought by their advocates to favor American job creation over hiring abroad. The Chamber opposed so-called “Buy American” provisions in last year’s Recovery Act, as Salon later noted. It has also fought efforts to tax the foreign profits of American companies.

Mr. Fielder declined to say if the organization would back the incumbent in the general election. “These ads speak for our current support for Sen. Lincoln,” he said in an e-mail message.

[midnight]

1. The chamber has a whole lot of money and that means a whole lot of voice.

So for right now the group who won't support "Buy American" or tax American co. that make foreign profits, but they will support Blanch Lincoln? Doesn't sound good for Ms. Lincoln.

[Rageneau]

2. More verification that Lincoln is not a Democrat

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not endorse Democrats.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

3. Yes of course. Lincoln is neither (D) nor (R), but rather

(*WM).

Legend:
(D)= Democratic Party
(R)= RePIGliCON Party
(I)= Independent Party
(T)= Tea-HADIST Party
(*WM)= WALLY-World Party

Hence the Chamber's :puke: :puke: $$$$$$$ in '04 & again now.

The average American has more to fear from the US Chamber of Commerce than from Al Qaida.

More Americans have died because of the Chamber and its assault on worker rights, worker protection, consumer protection, environmental rules etc. than Al Qaida could ever dream of.