GOP Kicks Off "America Speaking Out" -- With America Footing the Bill

[Emit]

May 25, 2010

AMERICA SPEAKING OUT -- WITH AMERICA FOOTING THE BILL.... Sixteen years ago, House Republicans put together the "Contract With America" based on polls and focus groups. This year, House GOP leaders are launching the "America Speaking Out" project, in the hopes of crafting a new "contract" based on public feedback and interactive social media.

The biggest difference, however, is that this time, American taxpayers are being asked to finance the partisan initiative.

Republican officials will kick off the project with an event in D.C. this morning, and it's been described, accurately, as an initiative intended to help the GOP craft "a set of policy items that Republicans would pursue if they won back control of the House in November."

When asked about this yesterday, GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) was vague about financing. "'America Speaking Out' is not a project of the political" campaign arm, Pence said, reluctant to go into further detail.

Now we know why. Republicans are claiming that the project will be kept separate from their campaign committees, and can therefore be financed by taxpayers.

Congressional scholar Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said it is not credible to say the agenda is not intended for the 2010 campaign cycle.

"Its only purpose is as a campaign document," Mann said in an e-mail. "They are in no position to shape policy before the election. It is a defensive move, to deal with the criticism that they are the party of 'no.'"

But Meredith McGehee, policy director at the Campaign Legal Center, said Republicans have to maintain that the document is not meant for the campaign trail, even if it is only a charade. "If they don't, they are in danger of using taxpayer funds for campaign purposes," she said.

But given what Republicans have already stated publicly, the notion that the "America Speaking Out" project isn't intended for the midterm elections is ridiculous.

This isn't even thinly veiled -- the partisan, campaign-related function is as plain as day. (...)

~snip~

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023961.php

Bachmann helps launch GOP ‘Americans Speaking Out’ site

Rep. Michele Bachmann spent Tuesday heavily promoting a new website by the House Republican Conference. “America Speaking Out” was created “to build a new policy agenda for America by engaging Americans through a variety of different platforms,” and it’s paid for with taxpayer money. (...)

~snip~

http://minnesotaindependent.com/59336/bachmann-helps-launch-gop-americans-speaking-out-site

[Scuba]

1. Oh, but it's been worth it...

...from free unicorns and rainbows, to locking up Uncle Joe because he was reading Mother Jones, the suggestions have been beyond hysterical.

[Emit]

2. "Sarah Palin and Levis Johnson need to get back together ..."

"Sarah Palin and Levis Johnson need to get back together for the sakes of Truck and Tractor"

:)

[Scuba]

3. good one... i didn't see that

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Now is this a real tour or virtual? Cause if it's a

real tour, I want to be there when it comes to Nashville and say a few words!

[barbtries]

5. ok so what's to stop dems

from speaking out to them? i can think of lots of things i'd like to bring up to those tools.

[socialist_n_TN]

6. Same idea! See my post above............

I'm just not sure it's a real tour or just something virtual.

[neverforget]

7. The GOP needs to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.

[Touchdown]

8. Ninja Cats for everyone!

:woohoo: