Democrats Sense a Change in the Wind
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – House Democrats kicked off their midterm election effort for 2006, charging that in the 11 years since Republicans took control of Congress they have reneged on their Contract with America promises to end congressional corruption and balance the budget.
“George Bush and the Republicans have made a mess of things in this country,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) said.
The House Democrats’ campaign committee launched a new website Monday, called “Campaign for Change,” to underscore their strategy for 2006. Wednesday night House Democrats had scheduled a fundraising event that they estimated would raise $1 million.
The strategy pronouncements came on the same day that then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was indicted in Texas.
Mr. McGovern rejected the argument that Democrats lack ideas, citing Democratic platform items like “a real prescription drug bill” which would allow government to negotiate the price of drugs, affordable housing initiatives, and “progressive” tax relief, which he said would benefit the middle class and those aspiring to it.
Americans, regardless of their politics, are disgusted by the cronyism of the current administration, Mr. McGoven said. He pointed to appointments like that of Michael Brown, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Rep. John Olver (D-Amherst) compared the atmosphere surrounding the 2006 election to that of 1994, when Republicans took over the House for the first time in 40 years. “The Americans threw us out of the Congress.because. we were just continuing to move forward on an agenda that the country was getting tired of, which seemed to be bigger government,” he said.
Mr. Olver cited the banking scandals that happened before that election, and said that Democratic initiatives like the assault weapons bill and President Clinton’s healthcare bill were perceived by the public as overreaching.
Now, he said, the roles of the two parties were reversed: Failures in Iraq and the Gulf Coast, combined with a growing deficit and “incompetents in high places,” have contributed to “a movement for change,” he argued. He called the proposed GOP overhaul of Social Security their great overstep, akin to the Clinton healthcare bill.
“It’s a question of whether or not people have had enough,” Mr. Olver said. And if they haven’t had enough, “We’ll be in the minority again.”
Sarah Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, expressed cautious confidence about the Democrats’ position.
“Anyone who suggests they know what will happen 13 months from now doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” she said. “But I’d rather be us than them right now.”
Carl Forti of the National Republican Congressional Committee said, “I think we’re in great shape. primed and ready.”
Mr. Forti argued that any attempt by Democrats to nationalize next year’s election would fail, and he called national polls irrelevant. Voters vote for their own local congressman and incumbents are popular with their constituents, he said.
Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) said Democrats had “a series of issues playing to our favor,” especially Social Security. He added that Democrats should approach other issues with the same unanimity with which they responded to the Republican’s Social Security plan.
Ms. Feinberg, speaking hours after majority leader Tom Delay was indicted by a Texas grand jury for an alleged conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, said that Republicans currently preside over the most ethically troubled Congress in history.
But Mr. Forti said Delay’s woes will not bring about a repeat of 1994. “I don’t know of a single congressman who has lost an election because of something another congressman did,” he said.
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