Political Wire

Republicans Launch Technology Catch-Up Effort

March 28, 2013 at 9:20 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Republicans are moving aggressively to repair their technological shortcomings from the 2012 election, opening a new tech race to counter a glaring weakness against President Obama,” the AP reports.

“With the blessing of party leaders, a new crop of Republican-backed outside groups is developing tools to improve communication with voters, predict their behavior and track Democratic opponents. After watching Obama win re-election with the aid of an unprecedented technological machine, GOP officials concede an urgent need for major changes in the way they reach voters. They are turning to a younger generation of tech experts expected to play a bigger role in the 2014 midterm elections and beyond.”

Clinton Urged Kerry to Support Gay Marriage Ban

March 28, 2013 at 9:09 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Robert Shrum says Bill Clinton advises John Kerry in 2004 that he should consider supporting a ban on same-sex marriage, something the former president now denies. However, Shrum stands by his story and wrote about it in his book No Excuses.

“I don’t even see the point of the denial. Attempting to rewrite the history–tortured rationalizations for Clinton’s signing of the Defense of Marriage Act in the first place, a reflex defensiveness about advice in 2004 that was wrong in principle and even politically–seems a futile effort to redeem a tarnished part of a presidential legacy. I applaud Bill Clinton’s change of position–and that change highlights where we are now and where our country should and will go.”

McConnell Plans Scorched Earth Campaign

March 28, 2013 at 9:06 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Mitch McConnnell (R-KY) “is preparing to wage a ruthless campaign to hang on to his job,” Politico reports.

“He’s already on the air with nearly $200,000 in TV and radio ads, is assembling streams of data to target voters with tailor-made messages, and has quietly moved to lock down support from virtually every state GOP legislator. He says he’ll use ‘every penny’ of a war chest certain to exceed the $21 million he spent in 2008.”

Said McConnell: “My view is if you’re going to be a bigger target, you’re going to adopt different tactics. I think we’ve made it pretty clear … that we intend to be very aggressive from Day One. And we are. And that
involves not ignoring any potential opponent.”

The Week: Why no one wants to take on Mitch McConnell.

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Quote of the Day

March 28, 2013 at 9:02 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“We were prepared to do that had we had the votes to do it after the
election. Well, the election didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to. The monstrosity has … begun to be implemented and we’re not giving up the fight.”

— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in an interview with National Journal on the GOP’s “secret plan” to repeal Obamacare.

Why Republicans Should Want to Lose Gay Marriage Case

March 28, 2013 at 5:21 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Week: “Most members of the Republican Party hope that the Supreme Court will not use the two gay-marriage cases it heard this week to issue a broad ruling affirming the constitutional right of gays and lesbians to marry. However, top officials in the GOP are reportedly praying for precisely that outcome, calculating that it would be the most effective way to remove gay marriage as a political liability.”

Menino Will Not Run For 6th Term

March 28, 2013 at 5:17 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (D) will announce at a press conference “that he will not seek a sixth term in office,” the Boston Globe reports.

“Menino arrived at his decision late last week and weighed it for the last several days to be sure he felt comfortable following through, the officials said. He plans to tell most of his aides and advisers Thursday morning. A grim mood rippled through City Hall as municipal workers speculated about what could be coming.”

Obama Sees Immigration Reform by Fall

March 28, 2013 at 4:26 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama told Telemundo that he is optimistic that – if lawmakers release a draft bill early next month – he will be able to sign comprehensive immigration reform into law before autumn.

Said Obama: “If we have a bill introduced at the beginning of next month — as these senators indicate it will be — then I’m confident that we can get it done certainly before the end of the summer.”

Roll Call: “Obama had previously warned that he would interject himself into the
process with his own measure if Congress takes too long to act. But
Obama on Wednesday said he was pleased with the progress the group of
eight senators has made and believes they will produce a bill.”

David Hawkings: Any immigration delay works against Obama.

Judd Will Not Run

March 27, 2013 at 5:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Ashley Judd announce on Twitter she will not run for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky.

A source close to Judd tells the Washington Post that Secretary of State Allison
Lundergan Grimes’ interest in potential race made the decision not to
run easier.

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

March 27, 2013 at 5:13 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I have always said I’ve had a big personality, and I’ve always said I’m a pushy broad, and I’ve always said I want to get things done. Sometimes to get things done you have to be aggressive.”

— New York City mayoral candidate Christine Quinn (D), quoted by ABC News, responding to a scathing New York Times profile.

Gun Control Poised to Fail Yet Again

March 27, 2013 at 4:59 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Stu Rothenberg: “Whether you are a staunch supporter of the National Rifle Association or an enthusiastic backer of the effort by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein for stronger gun control laws, it now should be clear who is winning — indeed, who has won — the latest skirmish in the gun control wars.”

Palin Prepares for 2014

March 27, 2013 at 4:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sarah Palin released a video suggesting she’ll play a role in the 2014 elections.

[Read more…]

Hagan Declares Support for Same-Sex Marriage

March 27, 2013 at 4:01 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), who is up for re-election in 2014, became the latest Democrat to announce her support for gay marriage in an interview with the Raleigh News & Observer.

Roll Call: “With Hagan’s reversal, there are now only nine Democratic senators who have not expressed support for gay marriage rights.”

Former Florida GOP Chief Sent to Jail

March 27, 2013 at 3:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer was sentenced to 18 months in state prison, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Greer last month “pleaded guilty to money laundering and theft, admitting he had created a company called Victory Strategies to siphon to himself and an associate some $200,000 of party donations.”

Said a judge: “You’re now a convicted felon, sir. I feel that this crime deserves prison. You egregiously violated a position of trust.”

DOMA Is In Trouble

March 27, 2013 at 2:42 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

SCOTUSblog: “If the Supreme Court can find its way through a dense procedural
thicket, and confront the constitutionality of the federal law that
defined marriage as limited to a man and a woman, that law may be gone,
after a seventeen-year existence. That was the overriding impression
after just under two hours of argument Wednesday on the fate of the
Defense of Marriage Act.”

Roll Call: 14 most telling moments from today’s hearing.

Huckabee Warns Evangelicals Could Leave GOP

March 27, 2013 at 12:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Mike Huckabee was asked by Newsmax if he thinks the Republican party will eventually support same-sex marriage.

Said Huckabee: “They might. And if they do, they’re going to lose a large part of their base because evangelicals will take a walk.”

Gohmert Tried to Get Out of Parking Ticket

March 27, 2013 at 11:59 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) “got into a late-night verbal altercation with U.S. Park Police officers earlier this month, pulling rank in an attempt to get out of a parking ticket near the Lincoln Memorial,” Politico reports.

“He told the Park Police that his congressional parking placard allows him to park in that spot, and he’s on the committee that oversees the agency.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

March 27, 2013 at 11:49 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I am going to spend the entire day with Prince Harry. Believe me, no one is going to be getting naked.”

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in a radio interview on Prince Harry’s visit to New Jersey.

Nevada May Expel Troubled Lawmaker

March 27, 2013 at 11:45 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Troubled Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) “was recommended for expulsion from the Legislature by a panel of his colleagues Tuesday, the culmination of more than three hours of closed-door debate about his fitness to serve,” the Las Vegas Review Journal reports.

The panel voted 6-1 to oust Brooks from his seat “following weeks of erratic behavior, including a domestic violence arrest and alleged threats of violence toward Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D)… The full Assembly will now decide Brooks’ fate, a decision that could come as early as Wednesday. An action to expel Brooks will require a two-thirds vote, and would be unprecedented in Nevada history.”

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